A Green Breakfast That Truly Satisfied Our Appetite for Green News!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

July 31, 2015

The Green Breakfast Forum: What's Cooking With Current Advocacy Efforts?

Our Advocacy Committee hosted a successful Green Breakfast Forum yesterday to highlight the recent Advocacy efforts made in our Chapter. With six Advocacy Priorities and six enthusiastic presenters, our forum turned out to be an exciting touchstone in our Chapter's momentum supporting many hot bills at the State House, and for continuing awareness and education on these issues. Starting with a brief introduction and history of USGBC Massachusetts Chapter, Cherie Ching kicked off the forum and encouraged questions and open discussion throughout the event.


Net Metering Improvements– David Bliss continued the Green Breakfast with the complicated and pressing issue of net metering. Giving a brief background on the origins of energy regulation of Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) enacted in 1978, David explained how net metering has become such an essential element for energy generation and renewable energy nationwide! The recent Bills S.1770 and S.1973, with Senator Downing's amendment, to lift the limits to net metering known as solar caps, triggered interesting comments and dialogue throughout David's presentation. The feedback that we received truly confirmed the complexities of net metering and that continuing this conversation with those of various fields from supporting and opposing sides is the most important. We also look forward to working in collaboration with Acadia Center and allied organizations.

 

Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Codes– Kate Bubriski kept the advocacy energies flowing by diving into Net Zero Energy Building codes and how Massachusetts, although maintaining decent progress, still has a long way to go to reach NZEB goals. Bill S.1771 would act as a dragnet for residential and commercial buildings to achieve net zero energy performance by 2020 and 2030 respectively. This bill also designates the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) to establish definitions of zero net-energy for residential and commercial buildings. Kate emphasized the interconn
ectedness of supporting NZEB and the movement of the other Chapter Priorities, such as net metering and PACE. Although there are success stories already in the Commonwealth, such as with the Cambridge Net Zero Task Force, there was discussion about organizations in opposition to NZEB, such as NAIOP. We will continue to look towards NZEB as our priority by collaborating and learning from the steps taken by allied organizations. 

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing– With John DiModica, PACE Issue Captain on the conference line and unable to present, Kate also spearheaded the PACE financing priority by explaining the role of PACE for property owners and project developers. Bill S.1774 would expand the current PACE legislation by allowing 100% project funding as a voluntary property tax assessment, not a loan. The assessment remains part of the property regardless if the property is sold or there is a change of ownership. Giving MassDevelopment state-wide bonding authority, this bill would encourage more energy efficiency and resiliency projects and renovations to commence. The presentation led to interesting discussion on the role of municipalities, which properties and buildings would be included in the bill, and the difference (and complications) of Residential PACE (which is not part of S.1774 and a significantly different policy issue). The MA PACE Coalition continues to work on a more aggressive advocacy approach to pushing PACE to the top of the priority list in the legislature.

Home Energy Assessment– Craig Foley took center stage in addressing many issues on Home Energy Assessments with much enthusiasm as he played devil's advocate on the pros and cons of Bill S.1761, An Act relative to home energy efficiency.” His presentation triggered many questions and concerns about the energy rating systems and requirements, how realtors would be affected, the benefits homeowners would receive, and the inherent energy characteristics v. occupancy energy consumption. Although net metering is taking away much attention from this important priority, we can voice our support for this bill to the legislature to push action. 

Energy Efficiency Education– Celis Brisbin highlighted the importance of Energy Efficiency Education for our Chapter, as well as for our State, in order to create more awareness and regularity of the green building certification process. Celis pointed out the many educational programs our Chapter offers such as LEED Credential Maintenance; LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Workshops; GPRO for Operations & Management; Construction Management, and other modules; Green Building tours; and Outreach & Education to the general public to support our advocacy agenda. Through Bill H.2857, USGBC MA can create more of a presence in the standardizing of green education in MA with the educational programs we already provide to our members!


Green Tax Incentives– Jerome Garciano finished off the Green Breakfast with a brief description of his research on green tax incentives through his Green Tax Incentive Compendium of July 2015. While Jerome further explained about the benefits and availability of these Federal and State tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, he passed around an impressive 131-pg. booklet detailing the tax incentives by jurisdiction, statute, technology, and amount. The discussion was directed to what Massachusetts would have to do to address expiring or expired tax incentives and what LEED-specific tax benefits would be available for our State. Jerome went further to describe New Mexico and Connecticut as being success stories for green building tax credit. The Advocacy Committee looks forward to continuing the dialogue on green tax incentive opportunities for our State in order to incentivize more property owners to choose the green building path!

Our Green Breakfast Forum came to a close a little later than expected, but surely our participants were going leaving with full stomachs and satisfied minds! Our loyal green participants took advantage of this opportunity to stick around, make connections, ask questions, as well as plan for the beach party, SOAK UP THE SUN rally to the State House happening right up the street in the next hour. Thank you for your participation, contribution, and interest in our Green Breakfast- Advocacy Forum.  We look forward to continuing our advocay movement and hope to see you at the next Green Breakfast on Thursday, August 20 on Architecture + Human Subconscious Responses to the Built-Environment!


We are currently editing our recorded-audio version of the Green Breakfast and it will be up on the GBCI website soon!

Please check out our slideshow presentation.

 

Sponsor Spotlight: RDK Engineers

By Allison Maynard, Communications Associate

USGBC MA Sponsor RDK Engineers is a specialized mechanical and electrical engineering firm offering a spectrum of engineering services – total building systems solutions. A corporate member of USGBC, RDK Engineers is fiercely committed to sustainability. The Energy and Sustainability experts at RDK help run buildings more efficiently, reduce carbon footprints, save money and help meet overall sustainability goals.

RDK Engineers have attained a reputation for practical ingenuity, not mere innovation, and recently ranked on Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms list. Over 20% of the RDK team is LEED Accredited, and the firm has worked on over 70 LEED-certified buildings in the Massachusetts area and beyond.

RDK recently completed work on exciting projects including a renovation at the Massachusetts Statehouse to install an integrated photovoltaic system, as well as a Zero Net Energy Building for North Shore Community College. The building is LEED Gold certified, utilizes zero net energy consumption, emits zero carbon emissions, and is expected to achieve annual energy savings of $100,000 per year. It is the second largest building of its type in the country.

For more information, visit www.rdkengineers.com.

LEED Green Associate

By Celis Brisbin, Programs Manager

I am proud to announce myself as a recently accredited LEED Green Associate!

 

I started working at the Massachusetts Chapter three months ago and had the goal of being a LEED AP within a year. As any aspiring Accredited Professional knows, the first step to becoming and AP is achieving the Green Associate. The path to becoming a LEED AP can be daunting. Where does one start? How much studying is appropriate? Who should I talk to about the exam? Luckily, I was able to attend one of Chapter's Green Associate Exam Preparation courses, instructed by Chris Liston, and have all of these questions answered. The course changed my nervousness to confidence and knowledge. 

 

I found the course to be effective in highlighting energy efficiency standards, codes and concepts. Presenting ASHRAE codes which are on the exam and teaching the LEED specific content of the exam. I also liked the one-day accelerated program. It was much easier for the group and I, to make the single day session and cut down on commuting time related to a multi day session. 

 

I am delighted to share that the Chapter will be hosting Green Associate Exam Prep sessions in October and December. It is a great course for those in the industry as well as those just starting out. I also found it to be a great opportunity to network and connect with professionals in the industry. 

 

If you are interested in our upcoming courses, please click here. They will be taught by Steven Burke, a Sustainability Coordinator at Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA), an integrated multi-disciplinary design and engineering firm. In addition to helping his firm work on two LEED v4 projects, he is responsible for acting as a resource for all those in his firm that need LEED assistance; thereby guiding the LEED process for SMMA’s MEP/FP, Commissioning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interiors, and Specifications disciplines. Steven has worked on many different types and sizes of LEED projects, including but not limited to: k-12 schools, higher education facilities, mid-rise and high-rise residential, commercial interiors, retail interiors, and commercial office buildings. He has also delivered presentations covering the changes from LEED v3 to LEED v4 and conducted LEED v4 feasibility studies for his firm’s clients.

 

I hope you will sign up and let your colleagues know about this opportunity!

Toxics Do NOT Belong in Our Homes!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

Today, the Massachusetts Senate Bill S.1132– “An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants” was scheduled for a hearing at 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM in the Joint Committee on Public Health. This bill will initiate the phase out of flame retardants in children’s products and residential furniture, many common household items that the average person does not take into account as dangerous or toxic. For example, included in Bill S.1132 are Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), which are used widely as flame retardants in many consumer products, including mattresses, furniture foam, consumer electronics, wire insulation, draperies and upholstery. “Studies have shown that PBDEs accumulate in the environment and living organisms. These compounds have also been associated with liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and neurodevelopmental toxicity in humans.” (National Conference of State Legislatures in Feb 2015).

The purpose of flame retardants (compounds added to manufactured materials) is to inhibit, suppress, or delay the production of flames to prevent the spread of fire, and have been argued, instead to be useless during an actual fire. In fact, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts have asserted that the flame retardants actually create more danger than good to children and families during a fire because they are exposed to these chemicals, either being inhaled or absorbed through skin contact, which could lead to increased risk for cancer and other health problems.

Several state legislative activities, including those in Massachusetts have focused on three types of PBDEs: pentaBDE, octaBDE and decaBDE.

This year both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate have advanced Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform bills. The Senate Bill, S.697, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, was introduced by Senators Udall (NM) and Vitter (LA) in March, gained committee approval in April, and is expected to go for final vote at the end of this month. The House Bill, TSCA Modernization Act (TMA-DD / HR 2576), was introduced by Congressman Shimkus (IL) and passed the House at the end of July.

Find out more information on our Advocacy Page- Healthy Materials and Toxics and stay tuned for more bill updates!

Green Breakfast Forum THIS Thursday!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

The USGBC MA's Advocacy Committee will present the Chapter's priorities and recent activities moving our Commonwealth toward greener building policy! It's not too late to REGISTER! Please join us for a valuable educational session on the bills related to our Chapter priorities (net metering, net zero buildings, PACE, greening residential, & tax incentives) and bring your burning questions so that our experts can address your concerns! This is a crucial time to “be in the know” about the exciting green policies affecting our communities now and into the future of energy efficiency and renewable energy in Massachusetts!

 

The Green Breakfast Forum, “Cooking up the Recent Advocacy Topics”

Thursday, July 30, 2015

8am – 9:30am

50 Milk Street 15th Floor “Aristotle” Room, Boston

If you aren't able to be there in person, please tune into our Conference Line: 712-432-1496 x4037

SEE YOU THERE!

 

and following the forum:

 

Let's keep it going… Soak Up the Sun!
Renewable Energy Day of Action at the State House
 

Thursday, July 30, 2015
10:45 AM – 1 PM
Bulfinch Entrance, Massachusetts State House
(24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133)

Fun in the Sun Celebration!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow


What better way to celebrate renewable energy than to be out in the sun enjoying the beautiful summer weather? On Wednesday, July 22nd, the Emerging Professionals Committee, along with the Advocacy Committee came together to do just that! Enjoying the comfortable ambiance of the North Point Park in Cambridge, our Chapter members (long-time and recent) enjoyed the fabulous BBQ feast by Sweet Cheeks Q, while socializing and making valuable connections!


We also heard from our generous sponsor for this event, Zapotec Energy, who is working towards “discovering ways to harness indigenous energy sources that contribute to a sustainable way of life for our region and the livelihood of future generations.”  Paul E. Lyons, President of Zapotec presented updated information about the Next Generation Solar Policy Framework (NGSPF) for MA and how many organizations have signed onto this framework, including USGBC MA. Together, these organizations and Zapotec are aiming for equitable energy policies and rates for all customers, residential and commercial.

 


Our Advocacy Committee presented progress on the latest net metering reform legislation, which is working its way through the State House. David Bliss, Advocacy Committee issue captain, informed the crowd about the Chapter's Net Metering Priority, our Chapter's position on Net Metering Improvements, and how raising the cap is essential for our State's renewable energy goals. The Advocacy Committee also encouraged the crowd to join in on the upcoming Green Breakfast Advocacy Form on Thursday, July 30 @8am-9:30am at the Chapter Headquarters to continue the discussion on these issues and how to support these hot bills!

 

 

 

 

Greenbuild is Coming to Boston

By Grey Lee

That's right people! “Greenbuild Boston 2017!”


 

Let's celebrate: Greenbuild, the world's largest conference connecting real estate & sustainability, is coming to Boston 11/8/17 – 11/10/17.

 

 

The national events staff met with us in April and finally the official announcement can be made. We look forward to working with many wonderful people to make Boston's 2017 greenbuild the best Greenbuild ever!

 

There will be a Host Committee and hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Let's use this opportunity to show our peers in the industry how Massachusetts is leading the way to sustainability in our communities and society. Contact the USGBC MA Chapter at info@usgbcma.org if you are interested in helping out. 

 

Building for health: USGBC and Harvard prepare leaders for the next frontier of the green building movement

By Celis Brisbin, Programs Manager


Over the last two decades, the green building movement has shown how thoughtful design, construction, and operation can create buildings and even entire communities that benefit people and the environment. Today, the focus of the movement is shifting toward the opportunity to create buildings and communities that intentionally promote health and wellness. These trends raise important questions: 

  • Who will lead this generational change in the real estate industry? 
  • What kind of skills and expertise will be needed to navigate these far-reaching and fast-moving issues?

Given the tremendous opportunities for health-promoting real estate, USGBC and the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are working together to create practical training for industry leaders. One of the first steps is our new Building for Health executive education program, being held from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Last year, the then Acting Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Boris Lushniak, addressed the Greenbuild Conference & Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana. He asked the green building movement to join public health professionals and reverse a century of development that has left many Americans obese, isolated, and exposed to unnecessary health risks. Many of us were deeply inspired by his message, which reinforced our growing sense that health and wellness will drive the next era of green building market transformation

Yet, realizing Dr. Lushniak’s powerful vision will not be easy, and it requires new perspectives, skills, and expertise within the green building movement and the real estate industry. Our leaders will need to build awareness of the science connecting the built environment and public health, develop a new technical vocabulary, and prepare to guide interdisciplinary teams in applying new strategies and tools. Tomorrow’s leaders need to be able to envision management processes that can be used by projects and entire portfolios to create and differentiate health-promoting properties as a superior class of real estate. 

Join USGBC and Harvard to explore the intersection of health and the built environment and get prepared to guide your organization through this transformation.

Apply to attend Building for Health

We look forward to sharing the decision support tools emerging from USGBC’s on-going applied research. With support from the Robert Wood John Foundation and in collaboration with the University of Virginia School of Medicine, our team is developing and applying new integrative processes to help green building project teams and real estate portfolio managers systematically promote population health outcomes. We are adapting an ISO 14001-style framework to provide a clear, actionable roadmap to link plans and policies, property-specific interventions, relevant performance monitoring, and responsive management. We believe that these processes will allow managers to more effectively address specific health challenges, such as physical inactivity and asthma, which contribute to rising health care costs.

 

Learn more about how we can empower ourselves as leaders to position health as a primary driver of decision making in our movement.

Learn more about the program in our article “Building for health: Better decisions for a better future.”

 

Source: USGBC Articles, see original post here.

SOLAR SUCCESS: Senate Votes to Lift Net Metering Cap

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

July 24, 2015
 

On Thursday, 7/23/15, the Senate voted to lift the net metering cap in order to meet the state’s goal of developing 1,600 megawatts of solar power by 2018. This a big step forward for solar industries, the green building community, and our state to reinforce efforts for increased renewable energy in Massachusetts. Although the Net Metering and Solar Task Force emphasized a long term solution for all parties before any increase or removal of the cap, also supported by the Baker-Polito Administration, the net metering cap halt would threaten thousands of jobs and energy projects if gone unresolved.

Senator Benjamin Downing, the sponsor of another bill our Chapter supports (Bill S.1761- addressing home energy assessments), offered an amendment regarding the net metering cap to a climate preparedness bill, S.1973. Downing addressed the complexties in lifting the cap and said the Department of Public Utilities would be empowered under the new legislation to spread the cost of additional solar across providers and service territories. This element is crucial for the utility companies to distribute increased renewable power through the grid without having to shoulder the entire cost of grid maintenance. The Downing amendment would also direct the Baker administration to develop a strategy to further develop the solar industry in Massachusetts, past the current goal of 1600MW installed PV, into the future.

The current caps limit solar development to 4 percent of peak electricity load for private projects and 5 percent for public projects, with no limit on residential projects. It is good that the Senate has addressed this issue.
 

BUT WE WON’T STOP THERE!!
 

We want this to pass the House also!!

Let’s continue the Solar Momentum with MA Climate Action in their Soak Up the Sun Event!

 

Renewable Energy Day of Action at the State House

Thursday, July 30, 2015

10:45 AM – 1 PM

Bulfinch Entrance, Massachusetts State House

(24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133)

RSVP Now!

 

Information provided by MassSolar and Massachusetts Climate Action Network
 

 

Nitsch Engineering Designing Green Infrastructure Solutions to Serve as Model in D.C.

By Allison Maynard, Communications Associate

Congratulations to our sponsor Nitsch Engineering, for being selected to design green infrastructure improvements on Kennedy Street in Washington, D.C., as the winning streetscape entry in the DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge design competition! 

After being selected as one of the finalists in the planning and design phase of the competition, Nitsch Engineering’s team refined their design for Kennedy|Greened: A Neighborhood Green Street Project to include a variety of green infrastructure strategies for the 100 Block of Kennedy Street NW. A multi-agency evaluation panel selected the Nitsch Engineering team for demonstrating innovative, cost-effective, constructible, and replicable solutions to alleviate stormwater discharges to combined sewers, thus reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Rock Creek drainage area. Combined sewers, which carry both stormwater and sewage, can be found in most older cities in America.


The proposed streetscape improvements integrate a variety of landscape and stormwater strategies desgined to absorb stormwater before it enters the combined sewer system, including additional street trees, permeable pavers, landscape infiltration gaps, stormwater curb extensions, grated landscapes, and sub-surface storage/infiltration. Environmental art installations draw attention to these functional stormwater features, raising awareness of stormwater movement, treatment, and storage. The design further promotes “complete street” concepts by using curb bump-outs, sidewalk crossings, and boardwalks to create a streetscape that is safe and comfortable for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.

“We anticipate that our plan for Kennedy Street will eliminate significant amounts of stormwater from entering the combined sewer system annually, improve water quality, and minimize urban heat island effects,” said Nicole Holmes, Nitsch Engineering’s Green Infrastructure Project Manager. “Just as important, our design will benefit the community by raising awareness and advocacy of green infrastructure, and by creating a shared street that is safer and more pleasant for all roadway users.”

Scott Turner, Nitsch Engineering’s Director of Planning, added, “One of the most exciting things about this project is that the strategies we’re implementing will serve as a model for what can be done anywhere to address CSOs and stormwater in roadways. Our design solutions from this project can be replicated throughout urban corridors across D.C., which will further address the district’s need to alleviate stormwater discharges to combined sewers.”

Click here to view a video that summarizes the proposed design, and view the full article here.