Taubman College Zachary Branigan, AICP, an associate at Carlisle/Wortman Associates, has earned LEED AP accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council,making him one of only 360 community planners in the world so qualified out of nearly 63,000 total certifications.
“There are significant community-wide, quality-of-life benefits for areas having green developments,” Branigan said. “Local units of government can enhance their communities and compete in the national marketplace for the best workers for 21st century companies by encouraging LEED certification and other sustainable practices. The connection between a sustainable economy and sustainable buildings and living has never been more urgent or apparent.”
Carlisle/Wortman Associates offer expertise for local governments in such areas of sustainable design as low impact storm water management, smart growth, alternative energy planning, and planning for technology.
The U.S. Green Building Council seeks to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. The organization encourages high performance green buildings through education, professional certification and the certification of buildings meeting the criteria of the LEED green building rating system.
Branigan received his bachelors degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, and his masters degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan in 2001. A native of Bay City and graduate of Bay City Western High School, Branigan lives in Ann Arbor.
Carlisle/Wortman Associates provides planning and administrative services to local governments. Working on either a retainer or project basis, CWA helps communities plan, regulate, and manage land use and development and provides temporary or interim staffing in planning and building departments. A subsidiary, Code Enforcement Services, reviews construction documents for compliance with building codes and enforces local codes. Based in Ann Arbor, the 20-year-old company also has an office in Clarkston, Mich. Their web site can be accessed at www.cwaplan.com.
