Julie Herman

For Julie Herman, executive director of the Colorado Green Building Guild, it’s all about making a difference.

“Influencing policy and code updates — that’s one of the most satisfying and fulfilling achievements we have,” she said. “To give input at a practical level, and then to total up all the greenhouse-gas emissions we’re avoiding. To educate builders and contractors about how they can do their jobs more effectively, help the environment and save money.”

The guild — which until this year was called the Boulder Green Building Guild — is a nonprofit trade organization that advances the craft of environmentally responsible and…