Dr. Languell is founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions and recognized as a key leader in educating the development and construction industries and homebuyers about the benefits of Green Building and Sustainable Development.  In 2006 she was named the National Association of Homebuilders “Green Advocate of the Year”. 

Dr. Languell is an award-winning international author, and had been featured in numerous publications and television programs including CNN Headline News, HGTV, CNBC’s “Bullseye”, Gulfshore Business, and BusinessWeek, “How to Cure a Sick House”.  She works diligently to create healthy, efficient and sustainable projects including single-family residential construction, land development, commercial and multifamily residential construction and Green Building education/demonstration centers. Dr. Languell also serves as the director of the Florida Gulf Coast University WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center, a program that offers Green Building education to students and to the public.

Dr. Languell has partnered with some of the most respected builders and developers in Florida.  Languell’s professional accomplishments have been impressive including certifying approximately 80 percent of the Green homes in the state of Florida using the existing Florida Green Building Coalition Green Home Certification Standard.

Over the next few months the Planning Commission will be “Going Green” following the lead already taken by Governor Charlie Crist in Executive Orders 07-126, 07-127, and 07-128 on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy and Climate Change.  Planning Commission staff will encourage local governments to incorporate sustainable and “Green” planning principles and practices into their day to day operations and by adopting comprehensive plans that follow four guidelines.  The guidelines include:

1.      Reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, extracted underground metals and minerals;

2.      Reduction in dependence on chemicals and other manufactured substances that can accumulate in nature;

3.      Reduction in dependence on activities that harm life-sustaining ecosystems;

4.      Meeting the needs of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently.

 “Green and sustainable communities are the future of planning and construction,” stated Robert B. Hunter, FAICP, Planning Commission Executive Director.  “With limited natural resources and ever increasing energy costs, local governments can use planning as a tool to ensure our communities are sustainable and Green.  It is important that our local governments understand the importance of incorporating sustainable practices into their comprehensive plans.”

Planning Commission staff welcomes Dr. Jennifer Languell to Hillsborough County to kick off “Going Green” and encourages citizens, officials and homebuilders to attend this important presentation to gain insight into the future of the construction industry.  Dr. Languell will make her presentation on Monday, August 13 at 2:00 pm in the Planning Commission Boardroom, County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. 18^th Floor. Citizens and business leaders are encouraged to attend.  The presentation will also be shown live on HTV22.   

The Planning Commission is the official Land Planning Agency for the four jurisdictions, the cities of Plant City, Tampa, Temple Terrace and Unincorporated Hillsborough County.  It also serves as staff to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Hillsborough River Planning Board.

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