Christine Ervin

Christine Ervin Profile

Christine Ervin is one of the nation’s top authorities on green energy, building, and consumer markets. Over the past 20 years, she has been one of the most effective leaders in the environmental movement, responsible for sweeping innovations such as the LEED green building rating system and policies designed to promote clean energy systems. She cofounded the annual Green Building Conference and Expo, the world’s largest event dedicated to the showcase and development of efficient environmental-friendly construction.

Christine’s resume encompasses both the private and public center. As first President and CEO of the U.S. Green Buildings Council, she led its evolution from a start-up organization to a highly influential coalition of industry leaders transforming the way buildings are designed, built, and operated in the U.S. and abroad. As Assistant Secretary for Energy for President Bill Clinton, she directed $ 1 billion in annual investments for clean technologies. Initiatives ranged from partnerships to leveraging private sector investments and a high new performance building roadmap to streamlining appliance standards and the EPA-DOE STAR partnership. Prior to that, she directed the Department of Energy in Oregon, one of the country’s leading states when it comes to innovation in environmental policy.

Currently Christine serves as an advisor for a number of companies serious about making a difference, including EPEAT, which benchmarks green electronic products in over 40 countries. Her knowledge and accomplishments make her an unrivaled speaker within the ecological and green market movement.

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  • Christine Ervin’s career as an environmental leader spans executive positions across national, state and nonprofit sectors. She is widely credited for being a major force in today’s vibrant green building markets.

  As first President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, Ervin led its growth from 200
  members and three staff in 1999 to become a highly influential coalition of nearly 5,000
  companies and organizations, 50 staff and 70 local chapters. During her five-year tenure, the
  Council’s LEED® green building rating system became the defacto national standard for
  certified green buildings and professional accreditation. In all, LEED products were initiated for
  new commercial markets, existing buildings, retail, real estate core and shell, homes,
  neighborhood development, schools, healthcare, laboratories and homes. She played the lead
  role in launching the Greenbuild™ International Conference and Expo in 2002 which quickly
  grew into the industry “go to” event of the year drawing more than 30,000 attendees in 2009.
  Christine also launched several initiatives to bring greater transparency, inclusion and
  international standards to Council practices.

  In 1993, Christine was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Assistant Secretary of Energy
  for the nation’s $1 billion portfolio of clean energy technologies for transportation, buildings,
  major industries and power systems. Initiatives during her tenure included: EPA-DOE
  ENERGY STAR™ partnership; national center on sustainable communities; a streamlined
  appliance standards program; high performance buildings; and voluntary market-based
  programs ranging from Million Solar Roofs and insurance partnerships to large-scale private
  sector financing for federal energy retrofits. Her office played a key role in the President’s
  Climate Change Action Partnership.

  In 1991, Christine was appointed by Governor Barbara Roberts to direct the Oregon Department
  of Energy and to lead a state task force on livable communities. Her portfolio included state
  programs to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, oversight of the Trojan nuclear
  power plant, Hanford Waste Reservation policy and siting of new energy facilities.

  Christine’s interest in market-based programs took root at the World Wildlife Fund/
  Conservation Foundation in 1989-91 where she focused on eco-labeling, life cycle assessments
  and consensus recommendations for pollution prevention. Previously, she directed budget
  policy for the State of Missouri, advising Governors and the legislature on statewide program
  and policy issues.

  From her Portland-based firm, Christine continues to advocate for strategies that will accelerate
  clean technologies and a sustainable economy. She serves on numerous public and private
  advisory boards including the American Council for Renewable Energy (ACORE), Green
  Building Services and Green Electronics Council to several venture capital and start-up firms.
  She also serves as Editor-at-Large for GreenerWorld Media based in Oakland.