Viridian's National Advocacy Leads to Pryor’s Bryant Tour

08 April 2011 / News / Comments Off

As past Chair and member of the USGBC Arkansas Advocacy Committee, April Ambrose attended the third annual USGBC Congressional Advocacy Day in September 2010 in Washington D.C. This was her second attendance to this event which provided an opportunity to interact with members of Congress and their staff to promote sound green building policy at the federal level. While there, April met with nearly all of the Arkansas congressional delegation regarding green building policy. April invited each of the legislators to tour one of the many LEED certified facilities and schools when in Arkansas. Only Senator Mark Pryor took advantage of this opportunity.

In March of 2011, Hurricane Creek Elementary School in Bryant, Arkansas was proud to welcome U.S. Senator Mark Pryor as he toured the building for a firsthand look at the state of the art energy management systems that earned Hurricane Creek Elementary School its LEED certification.

Senator Pryor's Communications Director Michael Teague, and Field Representative Deke Whitbeck accompanied him for the visit. Also in attendance were: Linda Smith, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council's Arkansas Chapter, Viridian's own Senior Project Manager April Ambrose, Terracon Biologist Jodi Taylor, and Trane representatives Cortney Herbst and Glen Irvin. Bryant School District's own Bob Padgett, District Maintenance Supervisor,Tammie Reitenger, HCE Principal, and Julie Boyd, HCE teacher and District Teacher of the Year, hosted the tour. The event was organized by JD Lowery, the Chair of the USGBC AR Advocacy Committee.

Senator Pryor was very impressed with the many technologies and aspects of the facility that helped it to become LEED certified. He is now a state and national advocate for Green Schools due to the inherent benefits including improved indoor air quality, reduced long-term utility and maintenance costs, increased daylight and so many more. In addition the tour received national media through the USGBC.