Engagement:  Partnering across departments and with other governmental, non-governmental and industry organizations can establish a shared vision, create synergies, and leverage combined resources. Collectively, these partners can help build a broader constituency for green building. Actions may include:

• Establish an internal green building working group. A work group will typically consist of staff from key departments that have influence over the plan’s success.
• Portland’s green building working group charged with implementing the City’s Green Building Policy includes staff from the Bureaus of Water, General Services, Environmental Services, Transportation, Sustainable Development, Parks, Planning, Development Services, and Maintenance, and the Portland Development Commission.
• Establish an advisory group of industry leaders, environmental organizations and key partners. Target opinion leaders that are respected by their peers and serve as role models. Their support can be leveraged to influence the broader community of stakeholders.
  • San Francisco’s Task Force on Green Building is comprised of 10 representatives from San Francisco’s ownership, developer, financial, architectural, engineering, and construction community.
• Forge strategic partnerships with utilities, industry organizations, other local and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Organizations with common goals can often leverage their combined resources to more effectively accomplish agreed upon priorities.
• Industry organizations often have state, regional or local chapters that may already be providing education and outreach about green building. For example, there are 70 US Green Building Council chapters across the nation, many with satellite branches that serve nearby communities. These chapters provide resources and education, and advocate for green buildings within their communities.