As everyone finishes their 4th of July break and settles back into the routines of their work, it’s important to take a moment and think about the larger picture. For some people, their work is just a job, a way to pay the bills and something that they don’t put much thought into after the end of the day. For others, it can become something much more than that.
I believe that most of the people reading this chose careers in the built environment for something more than just a paycheck. I believe that we chose to work in this field out of a genuine desire to improve the living conditions of our buildings for our fellow citizens and their impacts on the environment. For us, this is about more than making a living and is really about improving the built environment and the lives of everyone in it. While there is a lot we can each do in our work and our everyday lives to pursue this goal, organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its sister organizations around the world provide a focus for our efforts and a way to accomplish goals that none of us could do ourselves.
I joined the USGBC out of a desire to show my commitment to improving the sustainability of buildings and to spend my time amongst likeminded individuals who are truly committed to moving to a more efficient, greener future. The people I have met and the events I’ve participated in have inspired me to do more in my everyday life and in my work to realize this goal and led me to volunteer with the A Midsummer Night’s Green planning committee. This event honors members and companies from all aspects of the building industry and serves as a reminder to us of all of the good work that is being done throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area. By showcasing the achievements of our local contractors, architects, engineers, and others, we show our commitment to a more sustainable future and provide inspiration for future projects. For me, anything I can do to help with this event is time well spent.
Ultimately however, this event is really about people. It’s about bringing together people who truly care about something larger than themselves and providing a forum for sharing ideas (and maybe a few beverages!) and for having a good time. The only way for us to succeed is by doing this together, and I cannot imagine a group of people I’d rather work with.
Jason O’Neill serves on the USGBC-NCR’s Midsummer Night’s Green event committee and as a sales engineer with Johnson Controls, a founding member and active partner with USGBC.