Greg Franta, Green Pioneer, Found Dead After Month's Search

By Michael Wilmeth

Franta, 58, was a leading figure in sustainable architecture whose commitment to environmentally sound design began in the 1970s.

In 1981, Franta founded the ENSAR Group, with which he guided more than 500 projects, including an effort at the behest of President Bill Clinton to improve the energy efficiency of the White House. ENSAR merged with the Rocky Mountain Institute in 2005, and Franta became head of the organization’s built-environment team, which grew from four to almost forty members.

Franta was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, co-founded and was past chair of AIA’s Committee on the Environment (COTE), and was a member of the National Board of Directors of the AIA. He was one of the creators of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, trained architects in the system’s use, and served on the Colorado LEED certification committee.

He also educated his fellow architects through publications; he was the author of AIA handbooks on glazing and energy design, and of Solar Building Architecture (MIT Press). At the time of his death he was working on a new book, Cool Buildings for a Cooler Planet. In 2006, he received the USGBC’s Leadership Award for education.

Those who knew Franta describe him as an inspiration, a mentor, and a good friend who took a sincere interest in those around him. Franta was a world traveler and an enthusiast for work and life, who combined passion for his mission with a buoyant lightness of spirit.

This article originally appeared on BuildingGreen.com