Green building comes to area

Green living is coming to Southwest Florida and it will only be a matter of time before more and more of the area becomes earth-friendly.

A new branch of the Tampa-based United States Green Building Council chapter has opened in Fort Myers. It is the 81st of its kind.

"We're so new that we are still putting our plan together," said Lynn Murtagh, the group's chairman. "We have plans to have meetings with speakers talking on different topics concerning green building."

Instead of opening a new chapter, group organizers decided to open a branch and that would allow members access to Tampa and Sarasota based meetings as well.

"We will educate our peers, build networks and share resources," Murtagh said. "People like to network and talk about these issues."

The issue at the forefront of the Fort Myers branch is a recent bill signed by Gov. Christ stating that all government buildings from here on out be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.

The designation "promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality," according to the national Web site.

"We have to pass this planet on to our kids one day and it'd be nice to give them one with air they can breathe and water they can drink," said Murtagh about the branch that will become the official local LEED certifying organization.

"Productivity increases in LEED certified buildings and they are just more environmentally friendly."

A membership kickoff is scheduled for Sept. 16 and it will be the first official gathering of the new branch.

"What a lot of people don't understand is that corporations join the national organization and individuals just join a local chapter," said Ken Bushle, the chapter adviser. He has helped bring interested members together. "The most important thing is that this is a forum for people who are interested in sustainability to meet and share ideas."

The sharing of ideas will also help foster discussions about how to be more green-friendly.

"In terms of joining the chapter, it's an individual commitment and how to bring these technologies to the local marketplace," Bushle said. "We will strategize to work together and cooperate to move this program forward."