After more than a decade of transformative leadership in green building, the U.S. Green Building Council is finally launching its first ever magazine called USGBC+.

A taste of things to come: USGBC+ website still on the works.

USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi in his self-written article published last week said:

“That plus sign in the title may appear diminutive, but it packs a huge punch. It signifies the work we do every day at USGBC to bring you the resources and support you need to take your green building efforts to unimagined heights.”

USGBC’s complimentary magazine hopes to curate inspiring and insightful green building stories from all over the world, highlighting the exemplary goals, visions, and deeds of various individuals who, according to Fedrizzi, embody USGBC’s mantra LEED ON.

With LEEDv4 just some six months old since its launch last November, there’s still a lot to learn about the updated guidelines, specifically the new impact categories.  In this regard, USGBC+ will also be dishing out strategies and approaches to sustainability to educate and guide members.

The first issue, as detailed by USGBC’s press release, is particularly fitting in the transformative sense as it features the once financially-ruined Detroit and the efforts aimed at rebuilding the city.  (The magazine’s cover in fact is a 1930s mural by Diego Rivera who created a series of frescoes depicting the birth of the automotive industry led by the Ford Motor Company in the city.)  That said, sustainability can and must be the right approach in rebuilding the city.

Featured in the issue as well is New York’s One World Trade Center which opened its doors this year.  There’s also a piece on building reuse, in particular the micro-loft housing trend being embraced by urbanites these days.  Lots of other green building news, features, and tidbits are included of course.

While other companies are moving to an online-based digital version for their magazines, USGBC does the opposite with a dead-tree edition.  In many ways, there’s nothing like owning a hard copy whose pages you can flip than simply browsing them on a glowing electronic screen, so we hope it’s all recycled paper at least.  What’s important is that we never lose sight of the ever-pressing need for the planet to adopt more and more green building strategies.

USBGC+ will be rolling out to all members starting from mid-May to next month.  Meanwhile, an accompanying website, plus.usgbc.org, is still on the works.