STOCKHOLM, September 28, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, Oct. 5, representatives from the U.S., Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland Green Building Councils will meet with key business leaders in the Nordic countries to discuss regional green building drivers. Market environmental drivers of green building in the Nordics play a critical role as the region works to establish itself as a leader in the global green building movement.

As the LEED green building program adapts itself to different regions around the world, we will simultaneously identify similar eco-systems that would benefit so that we are using existing tools and strategies, making them replicable worldwide, said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEED, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). We will be able to modify LEED to address a variety of local environmental issues and concerns through various green building strategies.

WHO: Leading members of the U.S. and Nordic Green Building Councils.

USGBC attendees include: Rick Fedrizzi, President CEO Founding Chair; Roger Platt, SVP Global Policy Law; and Scot Horst, SVP LEED, USGBC.

WHAT: Nordic Summit on Green Building to discuss green building market drivers and tools. Case studies of green building projects from around the globe will also be featured.

Representatives from USGBC will be available for media briefings throughout the day.

Tours of the Flat Iron Building available at 9:30 a.m.

Lunch will take place at Aquavit Restaurant in the nearby Clarion Sign Hotel at 12:30 p.m. A reception will follow the Summit at 5 p.m. and will be hosted at the residence of His Excellency Matthew W. Barzun, U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WHERE: Flat Iron Building, Torsgatan, Lilla Bantorget; Stockholm, Sweden

Media are invited to schedule interviews throughout the day and RSVP to the event: tholowka@usgbc.org or +1-202-828-1144.

U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 16,000 member companies and organizations, and 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute US$554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO(2) emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Nearly 42,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 6.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org.

Contact : Taryn Holowka Communications Director, USGBC +1-202-828-1144 tholowka@usgbc.org Follow us on Twitter at @USGBC

SOURCE: U.S. Green Building Council

CONTACT: Taryn Holowka, Communications Director, USGBC, +1-202-828-1144,tholowka@usgbc.org