The following guidelines present a model process for the establishment of a Green Building Council. It is expected that individual processes will have to deviate significantly from this roadmap to accommodate local regulatory frameworks, established organisations or societies with similar aims and the structure of the local commercial property / real estate industry.

The aim of this document is to assist newly forming Councils with guidelines produced from the experience of others. In this spirit it is hoped all users of this document can contribute their own experiences for incorporation in future updates.

Step 1

Establish core founding group.

Choosing the right participants to start a GBC is essential to the effort’s success. An organizing core group is typically composed of individuals from seven to 10 companies from a range of building sectors who are interested in forming a council. This group begins meeting regularly with the intent of progressing through the steps to become a council with full membership in the WorldGBC. Founders must be passionate about the council’s mission, and ideally will have extensive networks and high credibility within the industry.

Click here to download document “How to choose the right group to start a GBC”

Step 2

Develop a business plan.

Your business plan will help you secure funders and board members, and will be submitted to the WorldGBC for official endorsement of the GBC effort.

An effective business plan should include:

• A mission statement
• Establishment costs (e.g., legal, out of pocket expenses)
• Ideal founding board representation
• Projected membership intake and income
• Industry activity streams
• Staffing needs
• Operational costs (office accommodation, salaries, consultants, general overhead)
• SWOT analysis

Membership Criteria: Applicants are required to submit a business plan for review by the Membership Committee.

Step 3

Form a founding board.

An effective board of directors is one of a GBC’s most valuable resources. In addition to being personally committed to the mission and vision of the council, your board members will ideally be industry leaders with broad networks and influence; will be from diverse sectors of the industry; will provide diverse geographic representation; and will bring corporate governance skills and experience to the GBC.

Click here to download document “How to choose the right group to start a GBC”

Membership Criteria: Founding Board must have at least 8 sectors represented. No single sector can have more than 20% of votes.

Step 4

Secure initial funding.

Past experience recommends that GBCs be financially viable for at least 12 months prior to launch. The more seed funding available at launch, the more active and visible the council can be—which is the key to attracting new members.

Potential seed funding sources include:

• Government
  Local, state, and/or federal government agencies may all be able to contribute seed capital.
  This capital should be associated with establishment and operational costs, rather than with specific deliverables. Seed funding contributed by one agency may also encourage other agencies to compete to match the initial contribution, quickly increasing the available funding.
• Founding membership
  In exchange for being recognized as founding members, organizations may be willing to provide higher annual dues up front in order to provide working capital.
  Membership Criteria: Applicants are required to submit Letters of Commitment from Founding Members and/or Bank Statements

Step 5

Create a constitution or legal bylaws.

The most expedient way to create a constitution or bylaws is to adapt an existing GBC’s constitution to your local laws, which will ensure that the organization is consistent with the requirements for membership in and endorsement by the World GBC. This document should be prepared by a suitably qualified lawyer and should demonstrate:

• Diverse and open membership
• Board composition
• Governance
• No private ownership

Membership Criteria: Applicants are required to submit their constitution or legal bylaws to the Membership Committee, who will review these and ensure that:

• Membership is open to all sectors, and it is comprised of organizations.
• Individual membership is allowed (optional)
• It ensures the diversity of the BOD.
• The BOD is elected by the membership
• The BOD is composed of organizations, and not individuals
• The organization is not privately owned

Step 6

Incorporate as a non-profit.

Legal or federal incorporation with nonprofit status is preferred for all councils. Incorporation as a legal entity bound by a constitution or bylaws is the final step in formalizing the council’s existence; the fiduciary responsibility of its board of directors; and the rights and privileges of its future membership. After completing this step the GBC can apply to become a member of the World GBC.

Membership Criteria: Applicants are required to submit a copy of their legal registration documents, duly recognized by the governing authority.

Step 7

Establish operations.

Be sure to have the key elements of your operations in place prior to launch, including:

• Staffing, especially the appointment of chief executive officer
• Bank accounts
• Office
• Corporate graphics
• Legal counsel
• Financial auditors
• Web presence
• Media advisory

Membership Criteria: Applicants are required to submit:

• Organizational chart demonstrating staffing structure (minimum projection of 5 full time staff after initial 2 years of operations)
• List of current staff members and positions (full time and part time)
• Logo and registered trade marks
• Bank information
• Office address
• Website
• Promotional materials (optional)

Step 8

Maximize the launch.

The publicity and recognition you can gain during your launch is only available once, so it’s worth it to invest the maximum effort in generating broad and positive coverage. The World GBC may be able to assist you by providing endorsements and statements for press releases, or by sending delegates to a launch event. High-profile attendees from your country and from other GBCs participating in your launch will help you raise the profile and credibility of the new council.

Membership Criteria:

Applicants are required to explain its membership requirements and the process for ordinary members to join the GBC.

Things to avoid:

1. Any funding streams being conditional on approval of activities or rights of veto
2. Dominance of any one industry sector in initial stages
3. Initial founding group and /or Board without direct industry experience or networks
4. Launch without sufficient funding

Things to encourage:

1. Active involvement of key industry leaders
2. Strict adherence to the GBC model
3. Alliances and co-operative arrangements with other groups of similar membership and aims, ie. Building Owners & Managers or Property Council, professional societies such as the Architectural Institute.
4. Government endorsement and assistance, not subservience
5. Gaining founding sponsors support

Guidelines

Members of the WorldGBC comply with the following guidelines:

• National or major economic zone coalition
• Public/Private open membership
• Nonprofit - no private ownership
• Diverse & Integrated representation
• Consensus-based
• Transparent
• The source for national (or major economic zone) green building leadership & transformation
• Active membership participation in the WorldGBC
• Share knowledge products with WorldGBC for exchange to all GBC's

Membership Fees and Reporting

Members of the WorldGBC must pay a membership fee and submit a report annually in order to renew their membership. (Download reporting template here)