CHICAGO, March 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter announced its 2009 Natural Leaders Awards winners, with a formal ceremony to recognize the recipients to be held at the Fourth Emerald Gala on Saturday, May 16. The Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that contribute to the region's sustainability and that help support the USBGC - Chicago Chapter's mission to lead the regional transformation of the built environment to become ecologically sustainable, profitable, and healthy through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Awards are given in four categories: Intent to Matter, Re-Generation, SMALL feet/large FEAT and Environmotion. The Environmental Law and Policy Center received the Intent to Matter award for excellence in sustainable design, construction, or operations. The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) successfully crafted and passed energy efficient building codes that take advantage of available technology while giving builders choices in what technologies to use and saving consumers 11-15% on annual utility bills. In 2005, the Commercial Energy Efficiency Building Code became law while the residential building code passed both the Illinois House and the Illinois Senate in 2008. Howard Learner, ELPC's executive director, was also instrumental in the development of the City of Chicago's Climate Action Plan, which includes more than two dozen policy ideas focusing on buildings, energy generation, transportation, industry, and waste reduction practices. ELPC's work is a major step toward making green buildings and policy the standard for Chicago and State of Illinois.
