GSA receives 2024 leadership award for outstanding commitment to advancing green building

November 14, 2024

 Leadership Award recipients honored during annual Greenbuild conference 

WASHINGTON –– The General Services Administration (GSA) has been named a recipient of the 2024 Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). GSA is one of six recipients from around the world who are being recognized for using green building and sustainable practices to improve quality of life for those around them. This year’s recipients were recognized at the USGBC Leadership Awards Ceremony on Nov. 13, 2024 during the annual Greenbuild conference in Philadelphia.

The Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence is given to outstanding organizations whose vision, leadership and commitment have significantly advanced the green building industry.

“These studies reflect the depth of the federal government’s commitment to lead by example when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, investing in America, and moving our country toward a clean energy economy,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The teams’ dedication and ingenuity are why GSA continues to lead the way toward achieving what I call the triple-win: creating good-paying American jobs, saving money for taxpayers, and building a healthier future for the planet.”

GSA has been leading on sustainability and energy efficiency for decades with its first solar installation in 1978. GSA has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from federal buildings by more than half, reduced energy use intensity by almost 25% and saved taxpayers $826 million by cutting energy use throughout our portfolio since 2008.

In 2000, GSA was the first federal agency to join the USGBC and require LEED. In 2023, GSA achieved 200+ LEED certifications for the owned inventory including 19 Platinum and 76 Gold. GSA has 720 leases in 414 LEED certified buildings and over 26% of all GSA leases are in a LEED certified building.

Today, GSA has tenants in over 620 owned and leased buildings with LEED certifications.  These actions are supporting the growth of America’s clean manufacturing and clean energy industries and jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through reduced energy costs, and creating healthier communities.

GSA continues using the federal footprint to demonstrate the value of sustainability. GSA has conducted a series of groundbreaking studies over the years proving that green buildings were also high performing buildings with lower maintenance costs, higher occupant satisfaction, lower emissions and energy use.

“The USGBC Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations at the forefront of our movement to transform the built environment,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC. “This year’s honorees have made significant contributions to scaling green building across our industry. Their collective actions are helping make thriving, healthy, sustainable and resilient buildings and communities a reality for millions of people around the world.”

The 2024 Leadership Award recipients inspire the industry with their actions and passion, representing some of the best of USGBC’s over 5,000 members and a network of committed professionals. The efforts of the award recipients stand out as exceptional examples of sustainability leadership among a strong and growing network of projects, companies and individuals.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.