1 Planning a Green Building Tour February 3 rd, 2010 OVERVIEW Green Building Campaign Checklist Planning for March Green Building Tours Lessons Learned: Northern TX Green Building Tour

2 Cool Cities-USGBC Green Building Campaign Checklist January – March 2010 For full checklist, see: hecklist.pdf and USGBC extranet. hecklist.pdf Getting Started Setting Your Goal Getting Active Organize a green building tour week of March 15 th

3 Why Organize a Green Building Tour ? 1.Educate the public by highlighting local success. 2.Attract media attention to your goal. 3.Provide an opportunity for local champion to support goal. 4.Have a meaningful partnership and volunteer activity.

4 Form a Planning Committee Planning Committee responsibilities include: Selecting location(s) for the week of March 15 th Tour. Inviting speakers/presenters. Recruiting Tour guides and fill other volunteer roles. Organizing press event. Decide maximum number of people who can attend the tour. Inviting public to attend. Following-up with attendees after the event.

5 Fill Volunteer Roles Day-of Coordinator – Makes sure everything is running on time and volunteer roles are filled. Liaison for speakers, decision-maker, and media. Photographer. Tour guides. Greeters at a sign-in table and a take action table after event.

6 Create Materials and Invite the Public Create a local green buildings factsheet, including: Number and location of green buildings. Documented benefits (financial benefits, energy, CO2 saved). Invite the public to the Tour Community calendar- online, newspapers, radios. Coalition partners invite their members. Blog and Tweet. Green Building volunteers tell friends and family – listservs.

7 Prepare Media Materials Prepare and submit a media advisory, news release, and op- ed ( and USGBC extranet for samples). Plan for a brief news conference at start of Tour. Report to on your Tour plans as soon as possible, so we can highlight your Tour within a national news

8 Preparing for the News Conference Create a good visual for the media- include people and building. Should be 30 minutes or less with no more than three speakers (Example: 1 Cool Cities Rep, 1 USGBC Rep, Mayor) – 3-5 mins. Allow for questions from the press after speakers. One of the speakers should moderate the press conference- providing brief context for the day, introducing everyone, moderating the question and answer period, and closing the conference.

9 Tips for Organizing a Media Event Send media advisory to newspaper, radio, and TV three days before event and follow-up. Call attending press one day before event to confirm. Have press release on hand to give to reporters.

10 Tips for Organizing a Media Event, contd Take photos of event- send high resolution photo of attending decision maker and community members enjoying the tour. Blog and tweet about event, before and after the tour. Include photos! Send photo(s) and press release to local newspaper immediately after event.

11 Green Building Tour Follow-up Report back to and on success of Tour (press clips, online links,

12 Lessons Learned: Green Building Tour in Northern Texas Sean Garman USGBC North Texas Chapter

13 Additional Resources Sample green building tour media materials (media advisory and news release): & USGBC extranethttp://coolcities.us/ccforum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=834 Register at Cool Cities website to receive campaign updates and opportunities ( Visit the Green Building Forum for more resources: Jan – March 2010 Checklist: & USGBC extranet Contact and/or with questions and for further

14 Next National Green Building Workshop: Green Building Incentives SAVE THE DATE March 13 th, 5pm ET