Strategic Plan

[Three-year strategy, 2011 – 2014]
download the strategic plan

 
OUR VISION: GREEN BUILDINGS FOR ALL

The Delaware Valley Green Building Council works to achieve our ambitious vision by educating, inspiring, and advocating for better practices, plans and programs – steps that will create greener buildings and a healthier, more sustainable quality of life for residents in the region.

Our updated strategy supports a movement led nationally by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that promotes green buildings and communities through its LEED certification and accreditation programs, robust educational offerings, advocacy, and public policy work. USGBC also promotes its work at its annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which will be held in Philadelphia in 2013. DVGBC is one of 79 chapters in our national network that are plugged into the best domestic and international thinking in our field—leadership that is making healthy, cost-efficient, and energy-saving green buildings and neighborhoods a part of sustainable communities for all.  All chapters tailor goals and programs to their region’s specific needs and issues, but we work together toward a shared mission.

The following three-year framework is designed to lead DVGBC—our staff, board, committees and volunteers—as we strive to have a transformational impact on the communities in our own region.  Through our work as a regional nonprofit organization that is mission-based and member-oriented, we hope to make the Delaware Valley—from the State of Delaware to the Philadelphia region and up into the Lehigh Valley—one of the most healthy, prosperous, and environmentally-sound regions in the country to live, work, and learn.

The plan takes into consideration the size of our small but highly professional and experienced staff and its capacity to work with the wealth of intellectual and human capital in our membership and larger network of partners.  We believe that leveraging the knowledge and practical experience of this collaborative and diverse group of experts and volunteers helps us to attain our goal of creating sustainable communities through green building policies and practices.  The green building innovators in our region are national leaders in the field and have built the industry and organization over the last decade.

We look forward to working with current and new partners.

FRAMING OUR WORK AROUND ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

We believe that our platform and agenda must connect and respond to issues that we have identified as critical needs or priorities in the region, state, and nation.  Through our discovery process, we examined the key issues and also observed roles for nonprofits and other organizations that work in our sector.  What follows is a summary of those observations and the issues connected to each.  Later in this document we lay out a strategy that addresses each area and how we plan to connect to issues and offer solutions for change and improvement.

1.       Changing how we construct and operate buildings can make an enormous difference in reducing energy use, green house gases, and construction waste; we can mitigate health and environmental impacts and create jobs at the same time.

Buildings account for 40% of the energy consumed in the United States, nearly 14% of water use, the largest proportion of landfill waste, and contribute 39% of the nation’s CO₂ emissions. Green building practices can reduce water and energy impacts by a third to a half, and waste by up to 70%. As we work on reducing these environmental impacts, we can create a more prosperous region:  green building and product manufacturing companies who belong to USGBC account for $1 billion in annual revenue in Philadelphia alone.

2.       Leveraging breakthrough research, policy, and practice in our region will help drive the market for commercial energy efficiency retrofits.

One of our greatest opportunities is working with the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy Efficiency Buildings (GPIC), a $129 million federal investment that will impact the entire Mid-Atlantic region.  If successful, it will dramatically increase the uptake of energy efficiency retrofits in its ten-country focus area, thereby also reducing carbon emissions from new and existing buildings.  It will also stimulate private investment and job creation in our region.  DVGBC is part of the GPIC team through its representation on the Advisory Committee for Policy, Markets & Behavior and on the Communications Committee; ensuring that important community institutions like K-12 schools, hospitals, and higher education facilities are including in the project scope; and ensuring that the critical perspective of the region’s practitioners and building owners and operators—who collectively will make use of approaches, products, and services generated through GPIC’s initiatives—are included in GPIC’s work from the onset.  

3.       Public policy leadership is necessary for us to make significant changes in building practices both regionally and in the two states we serve.

Significant statewide efforts are needed to ensure that Pennsylvania and Delaware governments take advantage of 2012 updates in building and energy codes, and lead by example by establishing green building mandates for state-owned buildings.  Localities are well-positioned to pass effective energy and waste measures that will save money and improve sustainability in their communities if DVGBC and partners work together with decision-makers.

4.       Most change is accomplished first at the community level.  Reaching every community in our region is necessary for change and impact.

Since local/community change is critical, we must concentrate on a program or campaign that is important to every community.  Schools and children are a common denominator.  Greening schools is one of the most immediate and effective ways to provide healthier environments for children, save and reinvest public funds in every community in our region, and create the next generation of sustainability advocates. On average, 20% of Americans go to school every day and spend 30% of their waking hours in schools.  Green schools save an average of $100,000 per year, enough to hire a teacher, or purchase many more books or pieces of computer equipment. 

5.       Communicating our successes and leveraging high-profile opportunities is critical to achieving our mission.

Communicating who we are and what value we bring to our region is a critical piece as we take this organization to the next level in terms of being a player and influencer.    Policy makers and those who educate and persuade them, as well as leaders in the sustainability movement, turn to expert sources and partners to help inform their decisions and as they seek partners for collaborations.  DVGBC has an opportunity to increase awareness and support by packaging success stories and seeking high-profile opportunities that help leverage our work and experts. The new strategy and the four focus areas—discussed in the next section—will offer us the opportunity to present our value and impact. 

DVGBC will focus our efforts on communicating green building success stories through new web-based mapping and advocacy tools, by building relationships and connecting our member experts with key decision makers. The first three initiatives and strategies described in the next section will build greater awareness as we work toward 2013 when Greenbuild will be hosted in Philadelphia.

6.       Our movement is full of passionate practitioners and advocates, who are ready to lead, give, work, teach, and learn. We will engage our leaders to make best use of their expertise and experience.

From Delaware to the Lehigh Valley, design professionals, policy makers, builders, manufacturers, kids, teachers, parents, and community activists are part of our movement, and they are all eager to give their time, energy, and money to create more sustainable communities.  DVGBC is committed to harnessing that power in a way that assures that all voices are heard, and that more people are engaged in a way that makes optimal use of their talents and resources as we work together toward our shared mission. 

 OUR FOCUS AREAS

Based on a strategic planning process that helped us to consider the opportunities available to us as an organization over the next three years, as well as our decision to begin narrowing and deepening our focus to maximize our impact on the region, following are four specific campaigns, programs, partnerships and events where we plan to dedicate our resources:   

1.       Green schools

2.       Public policy and advocacy

3.       Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC)

4.       2013 GreenBuild Conference

1.       The Green Schools Campaign

The Green Schools Campaign will be DVGBC’s signature initiative over the next three years.  Seeking to affect every community in our region, it builds on the work of DVGBC’s Green Schools Circle, whose volunteers have worked in schools throughout the region for over eight years, and also takes advantage of the USGBC’s new Center for Green Schools.  DVGBC will develop and implement a Green Schools campaign that will work to lower operating costs and create healthy learning environments in the region’s schools.

We envision:

*      Schools working to enhance their educational environment so they can be more efficient, save money and create a healthier environment.

*      Schools calculate life cycle costs and not just the initial costs for decisions related to energy efficiency and sustainability.

*      Communities (with our support) advocating for state, municipal and district policies, regulations and investments that will help districts and schools overcome barriers to energy efficiency and sustainability.

*      New funding mechanisms created (with our input) to finance upfront costs energy efficiency and other improvements.

2.       State and Local Green Building Policy Initiative

DVGBC represents a large geographic area: two states and scores of local jurisdictions.  With a small staff and a big mandate, it will be critical to leverage and maximize: a) our membership in branches throughout our region, and b) our relationships with partner organizations in Pennsylvania and Delaware and c) our relationship with USGBC and the national chapter network.  At their core, our members are experts and professionals who pride themselves on creative, yet practical problem solving.  

One role of government is to set the standards that are in everyone’s individual interests but which require collective decision making to implement. We will bring our voices to the public arena in order to build support for the development and implementation of forward-thinking green building policy consistent with international and national best practices; encourage and support local green building programs and policies; and generate statewide support for green building measures to include building codes and incentives.  

We envision:

*      High performing buildings incentivized or required by state policies.

*      Our region’s state and municipalities updating their building codes to reflect 2012 ICC codes and the International Green Construction Code.

*      Increased rates of water conservation and greywater use that complements stormwater management goals.

*      Utility disclosure policies implemented and higher rates of diversion for construction and demolition materials.

3.        The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) Initiative

GPIC is a groundbreaking national center for research and an economic engine for the region, funded by the Department of Energy (DOE).  Located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, GPIC seeks to advance the research, policy, practices and products that will spur the commercial marketplace to retrofit their buildings to scale, demonstrating 50% energy efficiency reductions by 2015 (DOE’s goal is to reduce annual energy use of buildings by 80% by 2050). Through commercialization and deployment of new energy efficiency technologies and practices, and training a highly skilled workforce to build, install, and service them, GPIC also hopes spur economic growth and stability throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic Region. 

DVGBC members will have the opportunity to be in the vanguard of innovation as DVGBC connects them to GPIC.  Practitioners will not be passive recipients of new technologies. Rather, through DVGBC they will form a network of experts offering rapid response on energy efficiency questions raised by GPIC researchers.

We envision:

*      A higher visibility for the GPIC project among the green building and larger communities.

*      Inclusion of K-12, Healthcare, and Higher Education facilities in GPIC research, programs, policies.

*      DVGBC members and regional practitioners being integrated into the project and process.

*      New DVGBC members, sponsors, and partners from GPIC’s stakeholders.

*      Attracting new industries and jobs to support energy efficiency improvements to the region.

*      The region becoming a national example of implementation of broad-scale energy efficiency measures that help achieve energy and climate goals.

*      The region solidifying its position as a green building innovation center, leading the country in policies and practices that move us closer to sustainability.

4.       Greenbuild 2013

The Greenbuild conference and expo will bring over 30,000 visitors to our region.  It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and raise the visibility of projects and expertise in the region, while bringing national industry attention to issues of particular import to DVGBC, such as historic preservation and social equity. The region will also benefit from the national and international experts converging here and touring best practices throughout the entire region.  While Greenbuild is a meeting of people in the field, we will engage the broader community in discussions and activities to raise awareness and expectations here at home.

We envision:

*      Visibility for USGBC, DVGBC, and regional leaders and partners.

*      A successful fundraising campaign leading up to 2013 and increased sponsorship after the event.

*      New partners and members for DVGBC.

*      An impactful legacy project.

*      Strengthening the relationships between green building and historic preservation organizations and professionals in the region and a partnership that endures beyond the conference.

Ongoing Work

Throughout our work in each of these four areas, we will continue to use the tools and practices that are critical to our members and that have been the pillars of development of our organization and the green building movement. Most important of these is green building education. We will support LEED accreditation and certification through USGBC and DVGBC offerings and to ensure continuing education credits are provided through our programs.

HOW OUR STRUCTURE SUPPORTS OUR NEW STRATEGY

Grounded in Mission

DVGBC is a mission-based nonprofit membership organization distinct from the many nonprofit trade associations that serve the building industry.  We are a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, which began as a trade organization, but evolved into a mission-based nonprofit.

A Governing Board

Typical to most nonprofit organizations, DVGBC began with a “working” board of directors and no staff. Board members played the role of both strategy makers and volunteer “doers” alongside others in membership.  DVGBC is moving from having a working board to a governing board. Governing boards focus on policy and strategy, leaving tactical decisions to professional staff.  Board committees continue to be active, but there is a distinction between governing committees exclusive to board members that set policy (e.g. Finance, Governance of Directors), and working committees involved in direct program implementation on which board members may serve, but which are also open to the larger membership (e.g. programs, advocacy).  The governing board may be expanded to include people outside of the field who have particular expertise or access that would be of benefit to DVGBC. They will, of course, share our passion for creating a sustainable community and economy.

A Professional Staff

Again, typical of the natural evolution of high performing nonprofit organizations, decisions on which initiatives to focus on and how to allocate human and financial resources will be made by the elected board in close consultation with the executive director and other professional staff.  The staff ensures that the organization’s work is aligned with the strategic direction set by the board of directors, leads organizational initiatives, establishes partnerships with aligned organizations, supports volunteers and members in committee work, and is accountable to the board for meeting organizational goals, including raising sufficient funds to carry out work and keep the organization viable.

Member-Oriented

As a membership organization, DVGBC can leverage the dedicated committee leaders and committee members that help the organization reach its goals.  Some committees, like Advocacy, are chaired by staff members, while others, like Branch Programs, are chaired by volunteers. These critical members help provide strategic leadership in policy and program decision-making, connect the organization to their professional network, and are actively involved in implementation activities.  The size of the membership and their high level of engagement provide DVGBC with the expertise and experience to speak on behalf of the region’s green building industry when meeting with public policy makers, the building industry, the media and other stakeholders.  Other volunteers will also be recruited to help support those initiatives. 

Regionally-Focused

Branches, established in the Lehigh Valley, Bucks & Montgomery Counties, the Philadelphia Region and the State of Delaware, play a critical role in DVGBC.  Just as “all politics are local,” the issues and players in different parts of our region can be very different from one another. The priorities may be different in each of these areas, necessitating DVGBC taking a different approach to achieving the same core goals and mission.  Cultivation and support of branch leadership is an important organizational goal of DVGBC.

We model our values and carry out our mission through our goal setting, decision-making, and actions including:

If we are successful, in three years we will have:  1) increased awareness about green building in our region; 2) increased understanding about the role of DVGBC in supporting the development and implementation of green building practices; and, 3) strengthened the DVGBC organization through increased resources and member engagement.

HOW THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED

The parameters for the strategic plan were initially discussed and set by the board of directors.  This framework was developed over many months through a highly participatory, iterative process guided by a team of consultants led by Fairmount Ventures, Inc. that included Sage Communications and community organizer Cecilia Schickel.  DVGBC staff played an equally key role in guiding and informing the process.

A survey of a cross section of members was then conducted to identify what they perceived to be key issues both organizationally and programmatically.  These findings were synthesized and then presented and discussed with the full board. A strategic planning committee consisting of board members, staff, and outside stakeholders was formed and the group held a series of spirited meetings facilitated by the consultant team.  

The consultants and staff conducted research and interviewed outside experts to test ideas throughout the process. “White paper” documents that captured what was learned and the implications of these findings were circulated and commented upon by committee members between meetings.  The refined ideas were further tested with outside experts.

The Committee’s recommendations were repeatedly brought to board meetings to be discussed and vetted, culminating in a deeper discussion during a board retreat. This plan document captures the best collective thinking of the process’ many participants.

Strategic Planning Team:

Consultants:

Don Kligerman, Fairmount Ventures

Ceci Schickel, Community Organizer

Barbara Beck, Sage Communications

Sharon Gallagher, Sage Communications

Staff:

Janet Milkman, Executive Director

Heather Blakeslee, Deputy Executive Director

Board:

Joseph Healy, DVGBC Board Chair, Managing Principal WRT, Architecture and Planning

Howard Neukrug, Commissioner, Philadelphia Water Department

Kim Ilardi, Whiting Turner , Engineering – Delaware Branch

Frank Baldassare, President, e3Bank , Finance

Kristen Suzda, architect, historic preservationist, Emerging Professional committee

Other:

Kevin Campbell, Barry Isett, Engineering – Lehigh Valley branch

Mike O’Brien, former DVGBC President, VP Business Development WS Cumby, Construction management, Bucks Montgomery Branch

Rob Diemer, In-Posse engineer, former Chair, DVGBC

Bob Mulrooney, VP for Facilities Management, Christiana Care Health Services

Muscoe Martin, former Board member, architect, GPIC team, LEED development

Marguerite Anglin, architect, head of Phila NOMA, Board of CHAD

Cynthia Gale, green graphic designer, long time DVGBC marketing volunteer, Chester County

Rose Gray, APM, involved in green building projects, CDC work, received DVGBC award in 2009

Amy King, Chapters Director, U.S. Green Building Council