Dow, USGBC Work Together to Support Sustainable Cities
Dow Building Solutions, a global business unit of DowDuPont Specialty Products division, today introduced a collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to deliver solutions that contribute to building more sustainable communities and cities. Dow, a Worldwide Partner and Official Chemistry Company of the Olympic Movement and the Official Carbon Partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is seeking to develop carbon mitigation projects in the built environment. The goal of the collaboration is to measurably reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through improved energy efficiency in buildings. Both parties will take learnings from the collaboration to develop trainings and build capacity in the industry to catalyze broader energy efficiency efforts worldwide.
The latest data indicate that buildings are currently responsible for about one-third of global energy consumption, and about 30 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions and 20 percent of total CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce these emissions, Dow and USGBC will collectively advise two cities or communities to help in achieving LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification. With more than 2.2 million square feet of space certifying every day, LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for all building and home project types as well as cities and communities, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement used in more than 167 countries.