Home >
Home

Sustainable Communities Committee

David R. Blanke
David R. Blanke
Principal, Energy Efficiency & Environmental Design Programs, Left Coast Solutions

David R. Blanke has over twenty years experience in energy efficiency in the areas of program planning, development, analysis, and implementation. He developed and managed the new construction energy efficiency programs for Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas & Electric. An energy industry expert, he has a background in architecture, engineering, energy efficiency, sustainable design and green building practices and programs. Mr. Blanke is currently a principal of his own sustainable design consultancy where he focuses on the integration of sustainable design, green building practices, and energy efficiency in new and existing construction. In addition, he is the southern California Division Director for Build It Green.

Elaine Hebert
Elaine Hebert
Retired, California Energy Commission President, Northern California Solar Energy Association

Ms. Hebert oversaw research in the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program, including projects on zero energy single and multi-family homes and sustainable communities. Previously, she worked as the Commission's liaison to the Green Building Initiative and spent 7 years in development and support of California’s Title 24 building codes for energy efficiency. Ms. Hebert volunteers as a director of the Northern California Solar Energy Association, a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and served as its president for over five years. In 2007, she was named an ASES fellow and in 2005 ASES selected her for its Rebecca Vories Award for exemplary volunteer efforts promoting solar.

Jeff Stevens
Jeff Stevens
Director of Planning, Danielian Associates

Mr. Stevens’ interest in sustainable design ranges from the site to the community scale. He designed the rainwater collection system for the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies and authored the Green Development Program for Centennial, which at 23,000 homes is the largest development project proposed in Los Angeles County history. Mr. Stevens serves on the Corresponding Committee for the development of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED-ND program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Developments). He is a LEED Accredited Professional and belongs to The American Society of Landscape Architects, the Urban Land Institute, and the American Planning Association.

Mark Grey, Ph.D.
Mark Grey
Director of Environmental Affairs, Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC)

Dr. Grey is Director of Environmental Affairs for BIA/SC and Technical Director for California’s Construction Industry Coalition on Water Quality. Previously, Dr. Grey operated his own consulting firm and served as Director of Technical Services for the nation’s largest publicly traded company involved in organic waste recycling. Dr. Grey has more than 20 years of experience working in the Pacific Northwest and California on environmental science and policy issues, and he is skilled at navigating California’s current complex regulatory landscape. He has directed multiple integrated studies to examine land use and development practices. Dr. Grey is a certified professional soil scientist and a member of the Soil Science Society of America.

Paul McDougall
Housing Policy Specialist, Division of Housing Policy Development, California Department of Housing and Community Development

Paul McDougall specializes in reviewing housing elements and legislation related to land use to advance the division’s mission: “administer, develop and advocate policies and laws to further housing and community development” (www.hcd.ca.gov/hpd/). He has assisted more than 100 jurisdictions spanning the length of the state with housing element preparation. He also serves on the Regional Housing Working Group for the San Diego Region. Mr. McDougall began his career with Laurin Associates, a private consulting firm, where he prepared various housing and community development planning documents including housing elements. He has been a member of the American Planning Association since 1998.

Peter Barsuk
Peter Barsuk
AIA, LEED AP, Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning Worldwide; USGBC Los Angeles Board of Directors

Mr. Barsuk has over 16 years of experience in architecture, sustainable development and green building design. As one of the leaders of the Sustainable Design Task Force at Gensler, he is charged with promoting the values and vision of sustainable design and resource conservation through communication, formulation of grass roots initiatives, and volunteer committees. Mr. Barsuk is Vice Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter Board where he has charge of chapter operations. For the past several years, he has assisted in the production and fundraising for the Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo and Green Building Gala.

Wayne Waite
Regional Energy Manager, Pacific Hawaii Region, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Mr. Waite has more than 20 years of senior-level experience in community and strategic planning, housing, transportation, land use, and public finance, including a stint as senior policy advisor to HUD’s Deputy Secretary Alfred DelliBovi and Secretary Jack Kemp. He currently works with HUD’s constituents to improve the energy efficiency of properties assisted or funded by HUD. He also serves as the regional liaison to the regional director for HUD’s America’s Affordable Communities Initiative. Recently, Mr. Waite completed an executive exchange program with the Nevada Housing Division, in which he developed plans and guidance for the state’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program and assisted in expanding Nevada’s energy efficiency programs. Mr. Waite serves on the Advisory Board of The Public Sustainability Partnership.