The buildings where we live, work and have fun during our leisure time have a greater impact on the environment and the natural resources than any other results of human actions. Designing, building and enjoying buildings that are sustainable from an environmental, social and economic point of view can and must be a feasible target.

The Green Building Council Italia, connected to GBC’s located in other countries and in particular the US council, creator of the LEED rating system, is an association of companies, bodies and organisations, based on the common approval and promotion of the integration between scientific, technical and operative expertise.

The aim of this association is to develop and adapt LEED to the Italian scenario, transforming the current market so that the construction of “green buildings” - i.e. buildings with a low impact on the environment – becomes a common practice within society. One of the first targets will be adapting the LEED® to the Italian scenario in order to transform it into a tool for growth and development also through debate with the stakeholders involved in a sustainable building industry.

The members of GBC Italia, inspired by their belief in these principles, have decided to take an active role both in their own sectors as well as in the activities promoted by GBC Italia activities in order to:

• develop and provide high-quality successful sustainable products and buildings,

• provide a comprehensive portfolio of services answering to the different needs of the building industry, in line with sustainability policies and characterized by high-quality standards,

• support continuous growth in the expertise of the building industry as a whole and consequently improving the performance criteria of the LEED Italia,

• promote the tangible and intangible advantages entailed by “green buildings” during their entire life cycle, including environmental, economic and social benefits,

• promote membership in GBC Italia among the leaders and the stakeholders of the public and private building industry,

• develop innovative support tools and services for the LEED products, strengthen LEED as the standard for all activities related to “green buildings” for both residential and non-residential buildings and consolidate the results of its development in Italy as well as in Europe,

• improve the awareness of the industrial sector about the latest, most useful and innovative techniques,

• support GBC Italia in its promotion of the LEED culture at different levels among citizens, companies, public administrations as a reference for defining and implementing sustainability policies.

With this in mind, by becoming GBC Italia members, they undertake to take steps

to:

• define LEED Italia by the end of 2009, by participating in technical committees and promoting the integration between entrepreneurial expertise and technical and scientific knowledge;

• expand the association both at a local and sectorial level;

• find ways to enable the Association to attain complete operative and economic independence.