FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

L.A. Community College District Honored for its Green Building Program — The Largest Public Sector Program in the Nation

Award from US Green Building Council Follows 5th Annual Sustainability Conference

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 14, 2006)  Capping a year of local leadership in promoting sustainable building practices, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) was honored on Friday, Dec. 1 with the United States Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter's (USGBC-LA) Sustainable Future Award at the 2nd annual "Swing Into Green" gala and awards ceremony.  The event at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles recognized the LACCD's Board of Trustees and Larry Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning for the LACCD for their leadership and continued commitment to green building and sustainability initiatives.

"We will continue to develop and promote environmentally-friendly construction and design practices that not only will benefit our students and community, but will also inspire others to develop similar goals," said Michael Waxman, president of the LACCD Board of Trustees. "We are very proud and honored to be recipients of this prestigious award."

The LACCD is currently undertaking the largest public sector green building program in the United States, funded by the $2.2 billion Proposition A/AA Bond Program. In April 2006, the LACCD opened its first green building, the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) building at Los Angeles Valley College.  The M&O building earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification from the US Green Building Council because it incorporates a number of features designed to reduce energy, water consumption, and light impacts.

In October 2006, the LACCD further illustrated its commitment to sustainability with the announcement of its plan to be the first community college district in the nation to “go off the grid” by generating its own power for all energy needs.  The LACCD is currently seeking requests for proposals to build photovoltaic (solar energy) panels that will produce enough electricity to meet daytime power needs at each of its nine colleges. 

The gala followed the LACCD’s 5th Annual Sustainability Conference, which featured leading international environmental experts who advocated for civic and business leaders to collaborate on the development and implementation of conservation policies.

"This annual conference gives the LACCD an opportunity to share with the community our vision and practices in sustainability," said Mona Field, member of the LACCD Board of Trustees.  "We want to actively engage our elected officials, local businesses, students, and other community members in this historic construction program to modernize our nine colleges in environmentally responsible manner."

The Los Angeles Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the country, educating more than 110,000 students at its nine colleges each year. The LACCD has embarked on a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its campuses, funded by the Proposition A/AA Bond Program. The District’s strong leadership in its adoption of sustainability practices has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the California Climate Registry, Global Green USA, and Flex Your Power. For more information, visit www.PropositionA.org.

High Resolution Photo Available Upon Request

From left to right: Larry Eisenberg, LACCD executive director of facilities, LACCD trustees Sylvia Scott-Hayes and Nancy Pearlman, Ed Begley Jr. actor and environmentalist, and LACCD Trustee Georgia Mercer.

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