Americans are learning a new language: GHGs (green house gases), carbon footprints, sinks and offsets — words that were foreign to us just a few years ago are now a familiar part of our lexicon. And, the more we learn about climate change, the more we understand that not only do we need to take action now, but that taking action is inextricable from critical questions about energy dependence, economic security, and human health.

Fortunately, the building industry is also learning a new language: the language of green building. We know that the built environment is the single greatest source of CO₂ emissions, and we also know that LEED-certified buildings cut CO₂ emissions by an average of 40 percent. Green building is an immediate, measurable solution to the important challenges ahead of us.

Language is a living practice. It grows and expands with use, shaping itself to the needs and ideas of the people who speak it. Green building is no exception; we are always striving to develop new strategies and new technologies to improve the health and performance of our buildings. USGBC is continuously working to improve the tools and resources we offer to our members, LEED users, and the building industry as a whole. In just the last few months, we’ve launched a new LEED rating system for schools, started the pilot program of LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND), and are nearly ready to launch LEED for Homes (LEED-H). We’re enhancing the performance of LEED, spearheading exciting research, and working to educate government leaders about how green building can help our country lead global action on climate change. We’ve developed new training courses and professional accreditation exams, and are preparing for our biggest Greenbuild conference ever.

They say it’s nearly impossible to learn a new language as an adult, but I think they’re wrong. We have made incredible progress and we are having an incredible impact. Working together, the building industry will be fluent in green building — and we will make the language of climate change obsolete.