Travels from Oregon, USA
Christine Ervin's speaking fee falls within range: $10,000 to $15,000
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.
Christine Ervin has led innovative collaborations to accelerate green markets for more than 25 years. As first President and CEO of the U.S. Green Buildings Council, she led its evolution from a start-up to become the highly influential coalition of industry leaders transforming the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Over her tenure, the Council launched and cemented the LEED rating system as the leading certification standard for green buildings. She also played a major role in launching the international Greenbuild conference and trade show which routinely attracts tens of thousands of attendees. Christine received USGBC’s leadership award in 2004 and 2014.
As Assistant Secretary of Energy for President Clinton, Christine directed $1 billion in annual investments for clean technologies. The office portfolio included the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at Golden, Colorado and programs at several other national laboratories. During her tenure, she oversaw dozens of programs comprising the President’s Climate Change Action Plan. Other key initiatives included private sector partnerships to accelerate clean energy investments; a research roadmap on high performance buildings; research on worker and health productivity; streamlining national appliance standards; Million Solar Roofs; and national centers for photovoltaic research and sustainable communities.
At the state level, she directed the highly respected Oregon Department of Energy and was Assistant Director for Missouri’s statewide office of policy, planning and budgeting. Previously, she conducted research at the Conservation Foundation/World Wildlife Fund focusing on energy policy, life cycle assessments and pollution prevention.
Christine has served on numerous fiduciary and advisory boards for venture capital firms; start-up companies including WattzOn/Glynt.ai; national advocacy efforts; and sustainability certification programs. She was a founding member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Council based on her long-standing interest in embedding sustainability factors into financial reporting systems. Christine also is passionate about boosting the role of women in leadership positions through such efforts as serving as Ambassador for the national C3E initiative (Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment program). Her consulting practice is based in Portland, Oregon.
Christine Ervin discusses the key factors that are successfully driving positive transformation in an industry that historically is known for its resistance to change. She cites two forces that are resetting the bar in construction and building: the LEED evaluation and rewards system for structures that meet environmental objectives and the business owners who have championed the movement. Christine, who was vital in launching LEED, indicates that it would never have taken off so quickly without the support of personal and private sector leaders. “The administrator for the GSA stood up, world’s largest property manager…he said all GSA building over a certain square footage are going to be LEED, not just certified, but the next level up: silver.” Reflecting on his promise, Christine states, “You can imagine almost the ripple of confidence that sent through the marketplace and the almost instant credibility that we had.”
Climate Change: More than a Moonshot
Scientists recently gave us a 12-year window to cut emissions 50 percent by 2030 in order to reduce severe climate disruption. This stark outlook has prompted proposals such as “Green New Deals” in the U.S. and Europe — spurring fresh conversations about our future and how emerging technologies and trends can reconcile economic resilience and vital ecosystem health. Christine paints the landscape on a large canvas — weaving together a reality check on current status, fact-checking different perspectives and show-casing high-impact strategies for winning this Earthshot.
Greening our Built World
Why is the green building market such a hotbed of innovation around the world? How does it translate the theory of sustainability into tangible results that affect people where they live and work? Christine’s fast-paced profile covers the latest trends, drivers, and inspiring case studies that demonstrate why this market is so crucial for health, prosperity and reducing risks from a disruptive climate.
Energy 3.0
Today's clean energy markets are growing faster than even enthusiasts predicted years ago — and much faster than mainstream analysts continue to project. Christine captures the fast trajectory of new technologies, obstacles that remain and what lies ahead including their role in U.S. competitiveness, jobs and decarbonizing our economy. She also focuses on the “soft” side of hard technologies that can make all the difference between a laboratory curiosity and a product that sweeps the market.
A New Design Manifesto: Designing for Speed, Scale and Synergy
Today’s environmental and social challenges are accelerating, scaling and interconnecting with each other. Climate change is the prime example affecting everything from economic damages to national security. Most policy responses haven’t kept up with these new forces. Christine makes the case for redesigning strategies for speed, scale and systemic impacts drawing inspiration from leadership in public and private sectors.
“Christine was the keynote speaker for our college’s 2024 graduation celebration, offering remarks that were inspiring to our students, faculty, and staff. With messages right on target, she urged our students to find their passion, seize opportunities and create meaningful change. Her anecdotes were insightful and her delivery so impeccable, that she gave us goosebumps at the end. Christine surely helped send our graduates off into the world with an extra boost of energy and inspiration!” Dean H. Tuba Ozkan-Haller, College of Earth, Oceans, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State Univ.
“Keynoting our 2020 Annual CFA Forecast Dinner, Christine’s call to action was clear: the investment industry has the ability to accelerate the pace of change for a more sustainable future and redefine what prosperity means for society. Christine’s incredible knowledge of climate change is indisputable. Her excellence as a public speaker, paired with her passion for the topic, engaged our audience of 500 finance professionals.” Emily Burt, Vice-President, CFA Society, Winnipeg
“Christine spoke to our 200+ audience at our 20th Anniversary event and did a superb job connecting our organization’s work to major global issues including climate change and economic disparity. She used her vast expertise to engage the audience in a meaningful way, adding the right amount of daunting statistics and humor. Ultimately, her involvement was a key element to hosting our most successful fundraiser yet!’“ Andrea Johnson, Executive Director, Green Empowerment
“Christine Ervin’s Game Changer Keynote for stakeholders and policy makers in the IT industry was far from being just another presentation by another expert. Her ability to communicate and her knowledge of the technical and environmental issues surrounding green buildings and sustainability made her talk a source of change, comment , and ongoing thought for all who attended.” David Rosenburg, Program Director, Uptime Institute′s 2009 Symposium
“We could not have made a better choice in asking Christine Ervin to serve as our inaugural speaker for Wofford College′s Santee-Cooper Lecture Series on Energy & Sustainability. Her convocation address to our student body, faculty, and honored guests was scintillating. …(T)hrough specific examples of innovation, she gave us hope that we will find a way through to sustainability.” John Lane, Associate Professor
“Christine Ervin was fantastic as our keynote speaker on sustainability for AH&LA′s 2008 Fall Conference and the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City…” Kimberly Miles, Senior Vice President, American Hotel & Lodging Association
” …thank you again for your outstanding presentation to our conference attendees. I have heard nothing but kudos.” Andy Sirmon, Strategic Marketing Manager, The Linc Network
“As our keynote speaker for Focus the Nation, Christine spoke with grace and enthusiasm on the possibilities for addressing climate change. It was incredibly uplifting to have a female environmental leader, with her experience and knowledge, share perspectives on how we already are beginning to make the changes we need to see in society.” Katie King, Campus Climate Challenge Campaign, Whitman College
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Speaker rating
Comments about seeing this speaker live? (This field not required to submit a star rating.)
Name *
Email *
Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Call us / email us / check availability and fee for your favorite speaker.
