Long Island U.S. Green Building Council Gala a tremendous success

The Long Island chapter of the US Green Building Council recently hosted its most successful gala to date. The event raised more than $200,000 to help support scholarships and educational programs at its third-annual Building Green Gala. The event attracted attendees from the real estate, construction and associated industries and honored Michael Dowling, president and CEO at North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. The organization, which promotes sustainable green building practices, recognized Dowling for targeting LEED certification as a minimum requirement for all new construction and renovation throughout their Health System. The USGBC-LI was proud to bestow their annual award for 'Leadership consistent with the Mission of the US Green Building Council' to Dowling for his visionary leadership in developing and implementing healthier, more efficient building standards and practices at North Shore-LIJ's facilities across Long Island and New York City. The gala featured a networking reception and multimedia presentation of notable North Shore-LIJ projects and initiatives. Event honoree Dowling offered inspiring and thoughtful remarks relating to the North Shore Health Care System's green building and health initiatives. Attendees were appreciative and embraced Dowling's comments and commitment to sustainable building on Long Island. Dowling and his team were honored for their commitment to all construction in the health system being built to LEED certification. With over 25 registered LEED projects on the boards they are leading the way in not only Long Island but the country as well. "Let's hope that this becomes a transforming moment in the design, construction, and operation of hospitals and health care facilities, and let's hope that following Dowling's lead, hospitals, health care facilities, and all building construction join in a familiar pledge to "first do no harm." To build in a manner that not only is responsible and healthy but in a way that can actually help heal their occupants, their communities and our planet" said Vince Capogna, LEED AP and USGBC-LI chapter chairman. "Our 2010 Annual Gala was a resounding affirmation of all that we should be doing in today's world. The USGBC-LI would also like to thank all of those who attended, our members, friends, and sponsors; especially our gold sponsors: Johnson Controls, Axis Construction and Gateway Insulation for their support. We had a wonderful evening with over 400 professionals from the real estate, construction and business industry in attendance," said gala chair Art Desin. For information about the USGBC-LI, please visit www.usgbc-li.org. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. USGBC developed the LEED building rating system, which is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. USGBC's core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. USGBC-LI works to bring these values to the communities of Long Island.