Our Organization: Mission & Vision

Mission:  To unite and inspire the building industry toward higher performance - through education, outreach, advocacy and the mutual exchange of ideas.

Vision:  To dramatically improve the long-term performance and value of buildings by advancing a whole building approach to design, construction and operation.

SBIC’s long-standing commitment to better buildings began back in the late ‘70’s with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy use.  By the 1990s, SBIC was working with GSA, DoD, EPA and DOE to develop the Sustainability Principles for Executive Order 13123: Optimize Site Potential, Minimize Energy Use and Use Renewable Energy Strategies, Conserve and Protect Water, Use Environmentally Preferable Products, Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality, and Optimize Operations and Maintenance Practices. This activity coincided with SBIC expanding its reach to cover the broader issues of sustainability (not just energy). SBIC conceptualized the Whole Building Design Guide (www.wbdg.org), along with our partners at NAVFAC, GSA, DoD and other federal agencies. 

In 2006, SBIC received the National Institute of Building Sciences Honor Award for its initiation and development of the WBDG, for its effective support of sustainable building technologies, and for advancing whole building performance through the integration and coordination of complex facility performance objectives. Most recently, SBIC has gone Beyond Green^TM, believing that it is not sufficient to create buildings that are simply green. We bring the same vigor to eight design objectives in order to create high-performance buildings that are accessible, aesthetic, cost-effective, functional, healthy, historic, safe/secure, as well as sustainable.

SBIC membership is open to organizations, trade associations, companies and individuals. Many of the original founding members have supported the work of the Council for over 25 years. Nonprofits, architects, engineers, home builders, utilities, consultants, product and material manufacturers, suppliers, universities, professors, students, other building-related professionals and interested individuals all participate in the Council’s mission.

In two and a half decades, SBIC has established and maintained successful partnerships with government agencies, companies, and a wide variety of organizations whose work relates to the built environment. Our proactive approach to partnering allows us to recognize a diverse array of experts and organizations and bring them together to learn from and complement each other’s talents and experience. When partnering with SBIC— whether the catalyzing event is a workshop, seminar, discussion forum, or a national policy initiative—the results are effective.

SBIC members and partners share the common goal of delivering buildings that provide long-term value and performance, reduce operating costs, keep occupants safe, comfortable and healthy and protect the natural environment.