Green Supers Graduate From NYC Program

A thousand New York City building superintendents and resident managers have officially become green experts, the largest property services union in the country announced Monday. At an event held at SEIU Local 32BJ's lower Manhattan headquarters, the group became the first to graduate from the 32BJ-Thomas Shortman Green Supers training program.

The Green Supers program is a 40-hour class that provides building service workers with state-of-the-art practices in energy-efficient operations. It trains workers to identify and address energy waste, create a green operating plan and perform cost-benefit analysis for building owners and managers.

The labor-management program, approved by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Building Performance Institute, was expanded courtesy of a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Another 1,000 supers are currently enrolled in the program.

"Green Supers is a win-win for building owners, residents and tenants, and just about everyone," said Mike Fishman, president of 32BJ, in a statement. “It's the type of program we need to turn the Big Apple green and other cities, too. And that's why it should be expanded to more building workers—here in New York and in cities across the country.”

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Another Green School Campus Gets Recognition

This trend is catching on and at iGreenBuild.com we love to read about higher education practicing what they preach about sustainability and green building. Naropa University recycles, uses wind power, uses eco-friendly landscaping practices, offers green transportation for its students and has undergraduate and graduate tracks in environmental studies. The mix of green school facility management and environmentally conscious student life will no doubt produce the type of business leaders and citizens the planet needs for a healthy future. Great work Naropa staff and students!
Princeton Review Recognizes Naropa University's Sustainable Leadership
in 2011 Guide to 311 Green Colleges  
BOULDER, Colo. (May 18, 2011) – Naropa University has been recognized by Princeton Review in The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges as one of 308 institutions of higher education in the United States and three in Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. 
The 220-page guide is created in partnership with the United States Green Building Council, an outstanding national nonprofit organization best-known for developing the LEED green building certification program. This past fall, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, and operated.
Naropa University was recognized as an American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory school, which the university joined in 2007. ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.

ACUPCC's mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.
Naropa University's Environmental Sustainability
Naropa University has long been committed to an institution-wide commitment to sustainable environmental practices. Offsetting 100% of its electricity from wind power renewable energy credits, Naropa University is committed to green practices. Naropa University's Zero Waste goal supports the university in being a sustainable system where resources are fully used and waste is reduced to a minimum, with partnerships with Eco-Cycle, on-going educational and community events, composting and weekly trash audits conducted on all Naropa campuses to assess potential waste reduction. Naropa University's other sustainable initiatives include:

• Naropa University landscapers utilize environmentally sound practices, creating a campus that is a model of efficiency.
• Recognizing the positive ecological, physical and economic benefits of alternative transportation, Naropa University provides all students and staff with an RTD Eco Pass, which offers free access to local and regional RTD buses.
• Naropa University also gives Naropa community members and visitors access to Naropa's bike fleet. At present Naropa has 120 bicycles that students have access to for free. Bicycles can be checked out for a month at a time and are maintained by Naropa's Bike Shop.
• Naropa students, staff and faculty are encouraged to participate in Boulder Car Share and receive parking and permit discounts as incentives.

With one undergraduate and three graduate study tracks in environmental career paths, Naropa University's environmental stewardship extends beyond the day-to-day approaches, to training the next generation of sustainable leaders.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Local Leaders in Sustainability Report Released

ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA is proud to join The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in unveiling Local Leaders in Sustainability: A Special Report from Sundance, which outlines a five-point national action plan that local governments can utilize as a framework to develop and implement green schools initiatives. The report findings were unveiled today at the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans and USGBC’s Annual Government Summit in Washington, D.C. The findings stem from insightful discussions during the Greening of America’s Schools Summit, held at the Redford Center in Sundance, Utah. “The Greening of Americas Schools Summit marked an important first step in realizing that the environmental quality of our schools is essential to our future and long-term well-being,” said Martin J. Chávez, Executive Director, ICLEI USA and three-term mayor of Albuquerque, NM. “As a result, Mayors and Superintendents came together to chart a new course toward healthy, sustainable schools where our children can grow and excel. We must now put this blueprint into action so that every child in America can attend a green school.” The major steps outlined in the five-point plan include tangible action steps and are based on the conversations that took place at Sundance and successful green schools initiatives from across the United States and include: 1) Connect with the green schools movement; 2) Engage stakeholders and raise awareness; 3) Build community support and capacity; 4) Make it happen: benchmarking, policy and financing and; 5) Celebrate success. “Through the greening of America’s schools, we have the chance to improve the health and education of our children, inspire future leaders and create a stronger America,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “Sundance was just the beginning. This comprehensive blueprint provides local policy makers and community members ways in which they too can accelerate green schools in their areas.” The report also provides a comprehensive review of the benefits of green schools; a summary of local, state and federal policy solutions, leadership profiles of green school advocates, and case studies from both large cities and small communities. Together, these resources serve as a roadmap on the journey to green schools. “This report should serve as a guidepost for many communities throughout the country that are looking for ways to implement green initiatives but fear the expense involved,” said AIA President Clark Manus, FAIA. “In reality, the average school is 42 years old, and energy inefficiencies cost it approximately $100,000 a year, money that could be better spent on teachers, education materials, books or computers.” The Greening of America’s Schools Summit, held in November 2010 at the Redford Center in Sundance, Utah, brought together leading mayors from across the nation and their respective schools superintendents for an insightful discussion on the importance of a greener environment and educational performance. ICLEI USA partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Redford Center, founded by Robert Redford to convene this impressive gathering of local government leaders and educators. The report can be downloaded free-of-charge from centerforgreenschools.org/actionplan. About ICLEI USA - ICLEI USA is a non-profit membership association of local governments working to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and tangible improvements in local sustainability. ICLEI USA supports its more than 600 member local governments by providing networking opportunities, tools, resources, and programmatic support focused on climate protection and sustainable development. More information at www.icleiusa.org About the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council - The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is how USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From the kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing researching in a lab, the Center provides the resources and support to elevate dialogue, accelerate policy and institute innovation toward green schools and campuses. Thanks in part to generous support from founding sponsor United Technologies Corporation, the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play. More information at www.centerforgreenschools.org About The American Institute of Architects - For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org

 

New ASHRAE Standard to Reduce Heat Island Effect

Requirements to reduce heat and subsequent energy use on building sites are proposed for the green building standard developed by ASHRAE, IES and USGBC.

Five proposed addenda to Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, currently are open for public comment. To learn more or to comment, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.

Developed by ASHRAE in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the standard provides a long-needed green building foundation for those who strive to design, build and operate green buildings.

Addendum k updates portions of section 5 (Site Sustainability) to improve requirements related to tree-growth rate and adds a mandatory requirement restricting invasive plants. The change extends the tree growth period to 10 years from five years.

"Ten years accounts for a wider diversity of trees across geographic regions to achieve a canopy that provides effective shading," Dennis Stanke, committee chair, said. "The current requirement of five years favors fast-growing trees, which may be more likely to lack stability in storms and to die at a relatively young age."

In addition to addendum k, addendum n is open for public comment until June 20, 2011.

Addendum n improves the heat island reduction provisions in sections 5 (Site Sustainability) to include aged values for solar reflective index and to include a reference to the Cool Roof Rating Council ANSI Standard. It also modifies the solar reflectance and emittance values in Normative Appendix D (Performance Option for Energy Efficiency).

Three addenda are open for public comment until June 5, 2011.

Addendum lupdates portions of section 5 (Site Sustainability), treating porous pavers and open graded aggregate, all of which mitigate the heat island effect, separate from other paving materials. Studies have shown that porous and permeable pavement systems store less energy and therefore less heat when exposed to sun over an extended period of time. The heat is not absorbed and therefore not emitted back into the environment, which results in lower daytime and nighttime temperatures.

Addendum m clarifies condensate collection requirements in Section 6 (Water Use Efficiency), exempting dry climates where little if any condensate would be expected from air-conditioning units.

Addendumo addsa mandatory requirement to section 5.3 (Site Sustainability) to provide pedestrian friendly environments through the use of designated walkways. Vehicles negatively impact the environment through the generation of air pollution, traffic congestion and issues associated with oil extraction and petroleum refining. The use of alternative modes of transportation helps reduce the energy demand for transportation and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

"Requirements for pedestrian friendly environments help encourage transit use and support bicycle mobility, both of which increase physical exercise opportunities and associated health benefits," Stanke said.

Standard 189.1 also serves as jurisdictional compliance option to the International Green Construction Code authored by the International Code Council, ASTM International and the American Institute of Architects.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. 

Two Bozzuto Developments Achieve LEED® Certification

The Bozzuto Group today announced that it has earned LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for two residential developments in its portfolio.  The Fitzgerald, a mixed-use community in Baltimore's Mount Vernon district, has received LEED Silver Certification and Riverwalk at Millennium, an apartment community in suburban Philadelphia, has received LEED Certification.

Both properties were developed by Bozzuto Development Company, built by Bozzuto Construction Company, and are now managed by Bozzuto Management Company.

"As a developer, builder, manager and owner, our goal is to provide living environments that respect the world in which we live just as much as they respect the residents who live within them," said Tom Bozzuto, CEO, The Bozzuto Group. "We are proud to provide communities that include luxurious finishes and amenities while at the same time offering an environmentally friendly lifestyle."

The Fitzgerald is now the largest LEED-certified residential community in the Baltimore area and is home to the city's first public electric-vehicle charging stations.  LEED certification was achieved by implementing a number of environmentally-conscious design features, construction tactics, water efficiency technologies and air quality practices.  The development -- comprised of 275 luxury apartments, 24,000 square feet of street-level retail and a 1,245 space public parking garage -- sits on 4.6 acres of land owned by the University of Baltimore and is part of a massive redevelopment effort by the University and the surrounding community.

"I am delighted that our midtown Baltimore partners are receiving this recognition," said University of Baltimore President Bob Bogomolny. "Together, we can help create a new Baltimore that places great value in sustainability and the greening of our city. I want to personally congratulate the entire Bozzuto development team for achieving LEED Silver Certification."

Riverwalk at Millennium, a 375-unit apartment community, experienced significant fire damage in the fall of 2008, and as a result, one half of the development required a complete rebuild from the ground up.  The new residences meet LEED requirements through the use of sustainable features such as low-emitting paint and carpet and water-efficient landscaping, and through the use of local construction materials, among other energy and water-saving features. A brownfield redevelopment, Riverwalk at Millennium is the first LEED Certified apartment project in Conshohocken, and the largest in the Philadelphia area.

For more information, visit www.FitzgeraldBaltimore.com or www.RiverWalkApts.com.

About The Bozzuto Group

Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, The Bozzuto Group is a diversified residential real estate company consisting of six integrated companies -- Acquisitions, Construction, Development, Homebuilding, Land Development and Property Management -- that together provide a broad range of real estate services throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.  The company is committed to providing quality housing for individuals of all income levels, producing everything from luxury homes and apartments to affordable housing solutions.

Throughout The Bozzuto Group's more than 23-year history, the company has developed, acquired and built more than 35,000 homes and apartments, and the firm and its principals have been honored with numerous industry awards and accolades, including having been recognized by the NAHB as the nation's premier apartment development company, and twice as management company of the year.  For more information, please visit http://www.bozzuto.com.

NRMCA Releases Report on Sustainability

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has published the NRMCA 2011 Sustainability Report to communicate the ready mixed concrete industry’s progress toward meeting sustainability goals. In 2009, the U.S. ready mixed concrete industry established a vision, strategies and goals toward sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction (download the NRMCA Sustainability Initiatives atwww.nrmca.org/sustainability).

At the same time, the concrete industry was experiencing the worst economic downturn in its history and unprecedented regulatory changes. However, despite these challenges, the industry has re-dedicated itself to upholding the principles of sustainable development by establishing programs to help meet the aggressive goals it set for itself in 2009. The NRMCA 2011 Sustainability Report describes how the industry has invested millions of dollars in cutting edge research, new education and training programs, new personnel and plant certifications, and codes and standards advocacy to establish concrete as the sustainable material of choice for building and infrastructure projects and lower its environmental footprint.

“The ready mixed concrete industry understands the role it can play in reducing the environmental impact of construction through product and process improvements,” said NRMCA President Robert Garbini.

“It’s inspiring to see our members respond to the challenges of sustainability both in terms of how concrete is used in construction but also how the product is manufactured,” added Lionel Lemay, NRMCA’s senior vice president of sustainability. “The industry is truly concerned about the environment demonstrated by the investments it has made in research, education and measurement.”

Founded in 1930, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s mission is to represent the entire ready mixed concrete industry through leadership, promotion, advocacy, education and partnering. NRMCA represents over 1,500 manufacturers of concrete and 50+ state affiliate organizations. Approximately 85% of NRMCA’s members are classic American family-owned small businesses.

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Solar Manufacturer Considering $3 Billion Investment

Despite an uncertain solar market in the United States, Hemlock Semiconductor is considering an expansion of its solar materials plant in Tennessee. According to a report on Forbes.com, Hemlock is negotiating with the state on a potential $3 billion investment in an expansion of its solar plant.

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Modular Construction Gains Credibility

It's about time that modular construction graduates and this report from McGraw-Hill helps validate this claim. For years modular office and prefabricated home manufacturers have been improving their processes, adding technology and utilizing many of the same building materials as conventional builders. Now with the help of the global green building and sustainable design movement modular builders are aligning with conventional builders on many design and construction levels. Link over to iModular.com and read the full article featured below.
Here's the link to the article:

Prefabrication and Modularization Increase Productivity McGraw-Hill Construction has released its latest SmartMarket Report, Prefabrication and Modularization: Increasing Productivity in the Construction Industry, which shows how prefabrication and modularization is yielding real business benefits for users. Commonly used prefabricated and modular building elements include mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, exterior walls, building superstructures, roofing, floors and interior room modules. Out of over 800 architecture, engineering and contracting (AEC) professionals surveyed, 66% report improved project schedules, 65% report decreased project costs, and 77% report reduced construction site waste— a key component in the rising adoption of green building. Click Here to read the article on iModular.com.

Green Building News and Ideas: AIA Asks for Carbon Neutral Action Plans

Green Building News and Ideas: AIA Asks for Carbon Neutral Action Plans

AIA Asks for Carbon Neutral Action Plans

This sounds like a smart program for AIA members, Energy Engineers, Facility Managers and Plant Managers to implement today! Thanks to AIA for reaching out to its membership. This type of action plan should reach a wide audience of commercial and residential building owners and managers. For businesses it may be a good first step to assign a team to the task. Empower this group to analyze current energy usage and then develop the multi-year action plans for owners, managers and employees to follow with the carbon neutral goal always in mind. Read below and start your action plan!
AIA Announces Results of First Year of Projected Energy Use Data from Firms Participating in 2030 Commitment Program
For immediate release:
New Orleans – May 12, 2011 –In 2009 the American Institute of Architects (AIA) introduced the 2030 Commitment Program, a voluntary initiative for AIA member firms and other entities in the built environment that asks these organizations to make a pledge, develop multi-year action plans, and implement steps that can advance AIA's goal of carbon neutral buildings by the year 2030.  At the end of the 2010 calendar year, firms were asked to submit an assessment of their 2010 design work using a toolreleased by the AIA last year.

"The findings are a good first step to see where we are as an industry in reaching the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality in buildings by 2030.  It is encouraging to see the number of participating firms in this program and the large amount of real estate that their projects account for," said AIA EVP/Chief Executive Officer, Robert Ivy, FAIA.  "That said it is also a wake-up call for the profession that we need to be more steadfast in the prediction of energy usage in design projects, as well as collecting actual post-occupancy performance data."

A new report, Measuring Industry Progress towards AIA 2030 Carbon Reduction Goal, includes data from 56 firms accounting for nearly 385 million gross square feet (GSF) nationwide.  The key findings include:

• Firms reported a combined average 35.1% predicted energy use intensity (PEUI) reduction from the national average EUI.
• The largest PEUI reduction reported by a firm is 70.6%
• The smallest PEUI reduction reported by a firm is 11.6%
• The combined firms design portfolio that is meeting the current goal of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions reduction from the national average is 12.1%
• The largest percentage of GSF of active projects meeting goal reported by one firm is 69.8%
• The smallest percentage of GSF of active projects meeting goal reported by one firm is 0% (reported by multiple firms)
• GSF of projects currently being energy modeled is 58%
• The percentage of projects that will collect actual data is 38%

The full report also contains participating firm demographics, energy reduction initiatives undertaken by firms and anecdotal accounts of the challenges and lessons learned through participating in the 2030 Commitment Program.
About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit http://www.aia.org/.

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