By Robert Mattler, Associate, Newman Consulting Group
This item originally appeared on www.GreeningDetroit.com.
On January 30, a crowd of almost 250 people gathered at EMagine Theatre in Royal Oak, MI, to support two organizations interested in sustainability of our natural and built environment. While t
he purpose was to support two worthy organizations, the evening became a celebration of those interested and involved in all aspects of sustainability in southeastern Michigan. Sponsors, guests and attendees ate, drank, took building tours of the sustainable facility, networked and viewed the Emmy award-winning documentary, “Green Fire,” about the life of Aldo Leopold, one of our nations’ foremost and most revered conservationists.
This event brought together supporters of two organizations interested in sustainability, the Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy and the Detroit Regional Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The mission of the Conservancy is to "conserve, sustain and connect natural areas, lands and waters that make the places we live special."
The work conducted by Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy reflects some of the themes of the documentary movie with regard to a land ethic, treating the land as a natural partner and that we all are stewards, not owners of the land we inhabit. Similarly, the US Green Building Councils’ sustainability mission with respect to buildings also reflects and honors some of those same themes presented in GreenFire.
The local USGBC chapter is a non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our greater southeast Michigan region by increasing awareness of cost efficient, energy efficient and water efficient buildings and communities. Its mission is to transform the way in which buildings and communities are designed, built and operated within one generation in the greater Detroit region. As an advocate for this transformation, the local green building chapter seeks to reach out to like-minded individuals and organizations who can help support and further this mission.
Having Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy as a partner in this event helps the USGBC further its mission within a broader community. Newman Consulting Group was also a proud sponsor of this event.
In addition to the film and getting to know people, the evening included tours of the building, and Paul Glantz, owner of EMagine Theatres, shared some of the many reasons for building a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified facility.
Robert E. Mattler, Attorney, LEED AP BD+C, speaks and writes about emerging green real estate issues in Michigan and elsewhere. Bob is immediate past Chairman of the Commercial Real Estate Committee of the Detroit Regional Chapter of the US Green Building Council. Contact Bob at BobM@newmanconsultinggroup.us.
