Dave Walls receives 2018 Green Hard Hat Award

Once a year, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), a non‐profit organization with more than 12,000 member companies nationwide, takes time to honor California’s outstanding leaders in green building at the state government level. This year, the USGBC honored International Code Council Executive Director of Sustainability Programs Dave Walls with its prestigious 2018 Green Hard Hat Award for his exceptional service to the state of California in relentless pursuit of a more sustainable state and for his leadership and accomplishments in the green building industry during a ceremony on June 28 in Sacramento, Calif.

Walls has been involved in enforcing and developing codes for nearly 30 years. Formerly the Executive Director of the California Building Standards Commission where he oversaw the adoption and publication of building codes in California and led efforts to create CALGreen, the first-in-the-nation statewide green building code, Walls joined the International Code Council in June 2011 as the executive director of sustainability programs. He supports efforts to secure adoptions of the International Green Construction Code, assists with developing and enhancing green-related products and services, and leads outreach efforts to industry organizations.

“Dave has been called the ‘Godfather of CALGreen,’ a title he wears very reluctantly, said USGBC Director of Codes Technical Development Wes Sullens. “But he really is a godfather of sorts. Dave led the effort to develop the first statewide green code in the nation. He looked to LEED and other green standards and rating systems for ideas in developing the code, and led the extensive stakeholder process to develop CALGreen.”

“The USGBC has embraced the importance of the green code and now even recognizes CALGreen specifically in our LEED rating system,” Sullens continued. “We realize that greening building codes is a critical part of USGBC’s mission to bring green buildings to all, and we’re honored that the now international movement to bring green strategies into codes started here in California.”

First launched in 2011 by a statewide collaboration of USGBC chapters, this annual state-focused advocacy and policy award has become a signature moment in Sacramento. Green Hard Hat awardees are responsible for the development or implementation of many of the state’s most important policies and programs that give California its brand of sustainability leadership of worldwide renown.

The issues championed by Green Hard Hat awardees include landmark legislation and government programs such as climate and energy legislation, statewide building benchmarking, healthy building materials, the CALGreen code, water conservation and reuse, smart growth and planning, and green government buildings.

The honor roll is long and continues to grow. This year’s Green Hard Hat Awardees are:

• Dave Walls, Executive Director, Sustainability Programs, International Code Council
• Mary Nichols, Chair, Air Resources Board
• Darrell Steinberg, Mayor, City of Sacramento
• Rob Bonta, Assemblymember, District 18
• Dan Carol, Senior Advisor, Infrastructure and Energy, Office of Governor Brown

Click here to view the full list of previous winners.