USGBC-LI hosts second annual Building Green Long Island gala

On March 19, USGBC-LI hosted its second annual Building Green Long Island gala. The event was held at the Marriott Long Island and honored Babylon town supervisor Steve Bellone and the Blumenfeld Development Group for their visionary leadership in developing and implementing healthier, more efficient building standards and practices in both the public and private spheres of Long Island. At the carbon-neutral event, guests enjoyed locally-grown and organic foods from a specially-prepared menu and mingled with the leaders of Long Island's green building movement. "The event was very well attended," said KC Eisenberg, the gala committee co-chair. "Our fund-raising efforts were successful, thanks to the generous contributions of our supporters. We are grateful for our honorees for their charismatic presentations and dedication to green building on Long Island." The funds raised at the event will go toward continuing the chapter's educational programming for people from across the region. USGBC-LI will also continue its Scholarship Program, which honors the achievements of five local students. Each of the winners will receive a $1,500 scholarship to help them continue their education in green building. Over the coming months, USGBC-LI will be unrolling a packed schedule of seminars and other education programming to help individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries understand the LEED rating system and the social and economic benefits of green building. Thanks to the generous contributions of their supporters, USGBC-LI has grown exponentially over the last few years. But their work is not done: A projected 15 million new buildings will be constructed in the U.S. by 2015, consuming 40% of the annual U.S. energy supply and 70% of the nation's electricity. It is paramount that USGBC's resources and educational opportunities be available to as many people as possible so that these new buildings are designed in ways that ensure long-term financial and environmental prosperity. Supporting USGBC-LI in their efforts to raise funds to promote their vision of sustainability and responsible building practices allows each of us the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of our quality of life here on Long Island. USGBC-LI thanks all of the gala attendees and sponsors for their continued support.