Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has doubled its funding commitment for green building research grants to be awarded in 2008 to a grand total of $2 million. Of the additional $1 million in grants, $500,000 has been allocated for K-12 school facility research related to occupant impacts. The Green Building Research Fund was created to spur research that will advance sustainable building practices and encourage market transformation. A formal request for pre-proposals has been released, and pre-proposal abstracts are being accepted through March 6, 2008. The USGBC Research Committee has established the need for a vast increase in research funding and activity through its publication of Green Building Research Funding: An Assessment of Current Activity in the United States. Subsequently, the committee has sought broad input to create A National Green Building Research Agenda to focus attention on increasing research capacity and activity. For more information, visit www.miracd.com/usgbc2008Grant/.

In additional USGBC green school news, a new website launched by the USGBC gives students, parents, teachers, school administrators, elected officials and community members a new resource in the effort to ensure a future of green schools for every child within a generation. The website, www.buildgreenschools.org, is filled with facts on the benefits and costs of green schools. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.