Duluthian Rick Carter has been named one of 34 of the world’s most distinguished green building professionals in September by the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute (USGBCI). Carter, an employee of LHB, an engineering and architectural firm, is part of the inaugural class of LEED Fellows. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Fellow Program is USGBCI’s new and most prestigious designation, and it recognizes exceptional contributions to green building and significant professional achievement.
Carter was selected as one of the green building leaders who have made significant contributions to the field of green building and sustainability at a regional and national level. As a current member and past president of the USGBC’s Minnesota Chapter, Carter has been instrumental in broadening the mission of USGBC throughout Minnesota by speaking to promote greener building practices, providing tours of LEED buildings, representing USGBC at advocacy meetings with legislators, and leading LHB to be named one of the top green sustainable design firms in the upper Midwest. On the national level, Rick has served on the “LEED for Homes” program.
Carter, an accredited professional since 2002, has been a supporter of USGBC for more than 14 years, and LHB has been a member since 1997, one of the first member firms in Minnesota. In addition, he has contributed his expertise to help create guidelines in the state that support the principles of sustainable design, such as the Hennepin County Sustainable Guidelines, the State of Minnesota’s B3 Guidelines and the state’s benchmarking and Sustainable Building 2030 guidelines. Carter also contributes to the advancement of green building through the creation and teaching in the Master of Science in Sustainable Design program at the University of Minnesota.
In addition to his active professional endeavors, Carter is recognized for his participation and continual development of LHB’s philosophy to maintain accountability through sustainable design with measurable outcomes. Carter helped to develop LHB’s Performance Metrics™ system that determines actual returns on investment for clients interested in sustainable design. Carter has been integral on many of LHB’s projects that have significantly advanced sustainable design in the region including two National AIA COTE Top Ten award projects. He currently leads LHB’s effort to create case studies for the Minnesota Sustainable 2030 policy, a cutting-edge national model working towards designing zero-carbon buildings.
