- link Copy Url
- [  Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Earth Day Pioneer Denis Hayes’ New Challenge: Greenest Commercial Building in the World https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45945?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter")
- [  Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45945?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin")
- [  Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45945?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook")
- [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Earth Day Pioneer Denis Hayes’ New Challenge: Greenest Commercial Building in the World&body=ESG News from The Great Energy Challenge https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45945?absolute=1 "Share via email")
 
 

 [Environment](/CSR-News/environment-0)

 # Earth Day Pioneer Denis Hayes’ New Challenge: Greenest Commercial Building in the World

 

##### Posted by Christina Nunez

 

 

 Apr 22, 2014 3:30 PM ET

  Campaign:  [The Great Energy Challenge Energy Blog](/news/campaign/great-energy-challenge-energy-blog)  

[The Great Energy Challenge Energy Blog](http://energyblog.nationalgeographic.com/)

 

Forty-four years ago today, Denis Hayes convened the very first Earth Day, an event that drew millions to events across the United States and heralded a new global awareness of the need to preserve our natural resources.

 

Hayes is now at the vanguard of an effort to rethink our buildings and, by extension, our growing cities. More than two thirds of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. The planning decisions made in those cities will have a lasting impact on the well-being of people within them. (See related story: “[IEA Report Offers Prescription to Ease Urban Transit Congestion](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/07/130710-iea-report-urban-transport/).”)

 

**[Continue reading on The Great Energy Challenge.](http://energyblog.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/22/earth-day-pioneer-denis-hayes-new-challenge-greenest-commercial-building-in-the-world/)**



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/Screen_Shot_2014-01-03_at_4.14.25_PM.png)](/profiles/great-energy-challenge)

 



 

### More from The Great Energy Challenge

###### [Can Houseplants Really Clean the World's Smoggiest City?](/news/can-houseplants-really-clean-worlds-smoggiest-city)

 Dec 30, 2014 12:30 PM ET

  



###### [Big Energy Question: Clearing the Air? Challenges and Opportunities in India](/news/big-energy-question-clearing-air-challenges-and-opportunities-india)

 Dec 23, 2014 12:30 PM ET

  



###### [In Climate Talks, Spotlight Turns to India](/news/climate-talks-spotlight-turns-india)

 Nov 26, 2014 9:20 AM ET

  



###### [A Slew of Coal Plants Get New Lease on Life—With Gas](/news/slew-coal-plants-get-new-lease-life-gas)

 Nov 21, 2014 9:05 AM ET

  



###### [In Sao Paulo, Experts Eye the Future for Brazil’s Energy Mix](/news/sao-paulo-experts-eye-future-brazils-energy-mix)

 Nov 19, 2014 1:15 PM ET

  



###### [6 Questions About What's Next for Keystone XL as U.S. Senate Votes](/news/6-questions-about-whats-next-keystone-xl-us-senate-votes)

 Nov 18, 2014 2:30 PM ET

  



###### [Quiz: What You Don’t Know About South American Energy](/news/quiz-what-you-dont-know-about-south-american-energy)

 Nov 17, 2014 2:30 PM ET

  



###### [Tiny Batteries Could Revolutionize Green Energy](/news/tiny-batteries-could-revolutionize-green-energy)

 Nov 17, 2014 12:40 PM ET