The Green Building Club is a student-led Presidio School of Management organization committed to engaging in the growing field of green building, as well as sustainable design and renewable energy systems. Our group focuses on multiple disciplines within the industry, providing professional resources and networking opportunities. Below is a sample of activities that are available to Club members.

Green Developer Speaker Series

The Green Building Club partners with the Haas School of Business to present the Green Developer Speaker Series, which features developers and builders from around the Bay Area. Past firms have included Cushman & Wakefield, Forest City Residential, Green Building Finance Consortium, Holliday Development, SRM and Associates, Swinerton and Webcor. In the Spring of 2008 we will focus on bringing in key industry experts to speak to our club members during our class sessions. Speakers include Richard Smith from Ecocity Builders and Bill Worthen of Simon & Associates.

Field Trips

During the summer of 2007, the Club organized three field trips to surrounding Bay Area sites. In Sonoma, we visited several wineries including Medlock Ames, which uses biodynamic practices in addition to having a sustainably built and operated facility. In Hopland, the Club toured the Solar Living Institute to learn about various green building techniques, including cob, strawbale, passive solar, and ecological design principles. We also had a private tour of the Hewlett Foundation in Palo Alto and learned about specific solutions to operating and maintaining the first California gold-level LEED certified building. In Los Altos, we toured the Presentation Center, one of the first institutional strawbale buildings in the Bay Area featuring a green roof, passive solar design and a wide variety of sustainable building materials. Stay tuned for future field trips!

LEED AP Study Groups

In the Fall of 2007, the Club initiated a LEED AP Study Group with the goal of collaboratively learning the material required to pass the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) exam. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED rating system has become the industry standard and the accreditation offers marketable and valuable credentials for students to present to employers, prospective employers or clients. LEED APs also gain notoriety by being listed on the USGBC website directory. There are over 40,000 LEED APs operating in the country, and the Club currently has 6 LEED AP members.

Fundraisers and Networking

Starting in 2008, the Club has partnered with Net Impact and other clubs at Presidio to promote club membership and activities, as well as raise funds to offset field trips and professional development costs.

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