USGBC appoints David Purcell as chief marketing officer

The U.S. Green Building Council, the group behind the LEED green building rating system, has named David Purcell as its new chief marketing officer. Purcell has more than 30 years of marketing experience at companies like American Express, Visa, and Charles Schwab, and he will now lead USGBC's marketing and communications work from its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

This is a corporate leadership change rather than a new program or rebate, so it doesn't come with any new savings, deadlines, or rules for homeowners. USGBC's stated goal is to widen the reach of LEED, the certification system used to rate how efficiently buildings are designed and operated, along with a zero-waste certification called TRUE. The organization is also promoting its LEED v5 rating system, an updated version meant to speed up adoption of greener building practices.

If you've come across LEED certification while researching a home renovation or a new-construction property, this is the organization that sets those standards, and this appointment signals it plans to push harder on marketing and expanding who uses its programs. There's no direct action for homeowners here, but it's a sign that green building standards and certifications may get more visibility going forward. USGBC also mentioned its Greenbuild conference, happening October 20-23 in New York City, which is aimed at building professionals rather than individual homeowners.