Weekly Bulletin to 5/16/14
By Grey Lee
Upcoming Chapter Events:
- 5/20/14 at 12:00pm in Amherst, LEED v4 Water Efficiency & Energy & Atmosphere
- 5/21/14 at 4:30pm in Boston, “LEED v4 Materials & Resources
- 5/22/14 at 6:00pm in Worcester, “LEED v4 Materials & Resources
LEED Gold Plaque Ceremony in Hadley Mass., with the USGBC MA Chapter's West Branch
By Jeff Dalzell, UMass Amherst
By Jeff Dalzell, UMass Amherst
On Wednesday, May 14th 2014, the US Fish & Wildlife Regional Headquarters in Hadley, MA unveiled a LEED Gold Plaque for earning certification after a renovation project on their 20-yr old building.
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Mark Dunn provided congratulatory remarks on behalf of the USGBC |
USGBC MA Chapter West Branch Chair Mark Dunn joined with representatives of the building’s Owner/Developer, Pearson Companies, Inc., the tenant Green Team, and the Director of US Fish & Wildlife to celebrate this certification achievement.
• Replacing HVAC units with more energy efficient models
• Replacing all light fixtures inside the building as well as outdoor lighting
• Replacing old plumbing with more efficient water saving fixtures
• Adding Energy Recovery Ventilation units on the roof
• Installing a roof-mounted 108 kW solar PV system
• Redesigned walkways and landscaping for more environmentally friendly upkeep.
Since the start of the project, the amount of energy savings is more than 375,000 KWh, which is a reduction of nearly 575,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. This amount of energy savings is the equivalent of taking 56 cars off the road. The amount of water use was reduced by nearly 60,000 gallons per year and the amount a gas use had been reduced nearly 3,500 CCF per year, the equivalent of eliminating 44,000 miles driven per year.
Congratulations to the project team and especially the leadership at GSA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Office.
US Fish & Wildlife Northeast Headquarters will be Hadley’s first LEED building. Exceptional future energy savings for the building will be driven an extensive new solar PV array on the building’s roof and the use of LED lighting throughout. For a long time, families with children have been coming to this building’s pond to learn how to fish. Now the site has even more to teach a rising generation.





An Intense Passive Discussion at Green Breakfast Club
By Grey Lee
Yanel de Angel and Jordan Zimmerman of Perkins+Will described the intricacies of a 500-bed dormitory being designed to achieve net zero energy requirements. You can read more about the project at Perkins+Will's research journal.
“Residence Halls provide a unique educational opportunity for students, since they can learn about and experience a lifestyle that embodies sustainable practices and engages them as active participants in reducing energy use for the building. The Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA) and Bridgewater State University (BSU) took advantage of a Zero Net Energy Building (ZNEB) pilot study to research design strategies and building systems that will advance the planning and design of future residence halls. Perkins+Will led a collaborative design and construction team, which included Rist Frost Shumway Engineering and Bond Brothers Construction. Working closely with MSCBA and BSU, the team developed a detailed case study that ultimately led to successful identification and implementation of low energy strategies for the Weygand Residence Hall at BSU.”
Thank you to Cyrus Dahmubed for organizing this month's Green Breakfast Club! We had a great turnout with many familar faces and some great new attendees, esp. notable was Catherine & Brian from Stone Source – who invited us to present at their showroom nearby sometime. Thanks!
- How seasonal use patterns affect zero net modeling and potential.
- How a new building's “cool factor” can lead to increased use (over modeled) and overwhelm the zero net intention, but that this actually offsets less efficient use elsewhere on a campus.
- Will students really tolerate a lack of micro-fridges?? So far, yes and living at Weygand is viewed as a privilege.
- How to engage occupants through outreach & education. During the freshman orientation, one of the students asked “well, isn't this how it's supposed to be done everywhere?”
BERDO Boost – Advocacy for More Green Buildings
By Grey Lee
I just wanted to quickly thank you all for your efforts on this. City Council unanimously approved Mayor Walsh's amendment to BERDO, and we are now back to work on implementation. This unanimous vote would not have been possible without your outreach and support.
…thank you to our volunteers and peer organization partners for supporting building energy reporting.]
Boston City Council held a hearing to continue to tweak the Building Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance today [5/12/14]. You can read a number of pieces regarding the background of the ordinance at our Advocacy Resources page.
On April 30th, the Council voted to delay implementation of the ordinance, which was enacted in May 2013, for one year. A few entities were concerned that the reporting deadline, of 5/15/14, was coming up quickly and their constituents wouldn't be prepared. Greater Boston Real Estate Board suggested the delay and the council felt that it was prudent.
However, doing so would dramatically change the information gathering process for building energy use, and the major utilities had recently come on board with being able to provide building-by-building data for ordinance compliance. With a one-year delay, the City would lose out on information trendlines regarding greenhouse gas emissions that are needed for the triennial Climate Action Plan Update due later this year.
The City's Office of Environment & Energy worked with the Mayor to create a compromise to meet more stakeholders' needs. They introduced a 120-day delay amendment. USGBC MA is proud to support this amendment.
Today, the City Council held a hearing for testimony in support of the new amendment. I represented the Chapter along with Board Member David Straus, who was there on behalf of his constituents at A Better City. The Chapter's testimony can be read here. Tedd Saunders of the Saunders Hotel Group also testified very eloquently on the benefits of BERDO.
Councillor-at-Large Michael Flaherty chaired the meeting. Brian Swett and Carl Spector introduced the amendment and described how over 120 buildings have already reported as of this morning. Many are smaller owners and institutions like a catholic high school and a convent that have reported – not the ones you'd expect to have an elaborate energy reporting capacity. Swett described how the amendment includes a provision exempting owners from the original sanctions during their first year of reporting – so if for some reason the reporting is not achievable for a particular building, they will get a pass in the first year on any fines or energy audit requirements.
Chairman Flaherty noted that at the council meeting on 4/30 they were faced with an option of the impending deadline or a 1-year delay. He felt that at the time they had to vote for the delay, but was glad that they now have this 4-month compromise, which will make everyone happy. Councillor Tim McCarthy was also present. Both thanked the supporters of the amendment, the only side to testify, although GBREB was in attendance. I hope that means that their constituents can live with the change. As I testified, BERDO means energy reporting and the EPA has found that will lead to energy savings; who can't be happy with spending less on energy?
The USGBC MA will continue to follow the issue and work, as Darien Crimmin of Winn Development noted, to bring all parties together. Energy efficiency in buildings is good for owners, users, the city at large and of course, the environment. I look forward to working with the owners and operators of buildings in Boston (and beyond!) to create high-performance buildings so Boston can stay #1 in energy efficiency and be a leader on climate response & sustainability.
I will keep you posted!
USGBC Chapters Network Annual Report is now available
By Grey Lee
Take a look at this massive document outlining the differences, and the commonalities, of the many Chapters throughout our network.
- Massachusetts has the 4th most LEED certified space per capita
- We have the 4th most LEED Accredited Professionals in the country
- We are also #7 in terms of number of national member companies in the state
- The Chapter is 19th in revenue, having grown 26% from 2012 to 2013
- We went from #40 in number of members to ranking #17 (out of the 76 chapters)
Weekly Bulletin to 5/9/14
By Grey Lee
– BERDO Advocacy on Monday 5/12 at 9:30am at Boston City Hall. Let us know if you can come to testify in support of the building energy reporting & disclosure ordinance.
– Quarterly Combined Committees Gathering will be Tuesday 6/3/14 at our offices in Boston. This is for our active volunteers to coordinate upcoming events and campaigns across the different committees as well as working groups and task forces of the USGBC MA.
– Save the date: Building Technology & Science Fair to be held the evening of 7/24 at 50 Milk St in Boston.
Upcoming Events:
Monday, 5/12, 5:45 – 7:30pm: Residential Green Building Committee “Indoor Air Quality: Why it Matters!” – in Boston
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:30 – 9am: Green Breakfast Club “Passive Design for a Sustainable Future” – in Boston
Tuesday, 5/20, 8am – 12pm: Beyond Buildings “A Review of LEED for Neighborhood Development in Massachusetts” in Boston
Friday, 5/23, 9am – 6pm: Education Workshop “LEED Green Associate Exam Study Prep” in Boston
Thursday, 5/29, 5:30 – 7:30pm: Green Building Tour of Quinn Middle School in Hudson, MA
Tuesday, 6/3 6:30 – 8pm: Quarterly Combined Committees Gathering in Boston
Please spread the word about our LEED Green Associate Study Prep all-day workshop. This is a great way to get ready to take the LEED Exam! Read about our last all-day workshop here.
This just in: one of our members, Darien Crimmin of Winn Development, has been participating in the White House's “Climate Push,” and was quoted in the Wall Street Journal:
Obama to Lay Out Proposals on Cutting Carbon Pollution
By Colleen McCain Nelson
President Barack Obama will trumpet new executive actions and public- and private-sector commitments aimed at cutting carbon pollution and improving energy efficiency as he continues to make the pitch that the impacts of climate change must be addressed.
In a speech in California, the president will focus on clean-energy objectives he can accomplish without Congress's help, laying out a list of modest proposals, as well as pledges to expand the deployment of solar power.
The initiatives are wide-ranging but small-bore–from training workers for jobs in the solar industry to strengthening commercial energy building codes and from making federal buildings more energy efficient to setting new efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. But administration officials argue that cumulatively, the efforts could have a significant impact.
Dan Utech, special assistant to the president on energy and climate change, said the initiatives would help cut pollution, save businesses money on energy bills and support working training programs across the country.
Critics of Mr. Obama's climate change push contend that new regulations are a pricey proposition, burdening businesses and ultimately costing jobs.
The White House also plans to a release a video touting the installation of solar panels on the first family's residence. The project, which is expected to pay for itself in energy savings over the next eight years, “helps demonstrate that historic buildings can incorporate solar energy and energy efficiency upgrades,” White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said.
Friday's announcements come on the heels of the release of the National Climate Assessment, an extensive document that details far-reaching consequences of climate change. Mr. Obama and other administration officials have launched an all-hands-on-deck public-relations push aimed at convincing Americans that climate change is an urgent problem, though polls show that they face a steep challenge in the realm of public opinion.
John Podesta, counselor to the president, said at an event in New York that the ultimate goal should be to eliminate carbon emissions from energy production. Right now, carbon-emitting fossil fuels make up about 62% of the nation's electricity mix.
The nation must “ultimately move toward an electric system that is going to have to be literally carbon free,” Mr. Podesta said.
The White House's focus on climate change has been met with a mix of Republican criticism and indifference, as GOP lawmakers have suggested that Mr. Obama should focus on more pressing priorities. The president isn't proposing any major legislative initiatives, and administration officials have acknowledged that the issue hasn't gotten traction in Congress.
Mr. Obama, who is wrapping up a fundraising swing through California, is expected to speak about the burgeoning solar industry, calling for expanded use of solar energy in homes, businesses and schools. Solar power has increased 418% during the last four years, but it still accounts for only 1.13% of total U.S. electricity, according to the Energy Information Administration.
The president will announce more than 300 commitments from private companies and public-sector organizations to advance solar deployment. Companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., IKEA and Apple Inc. have offered an assortment of pledges to increase solar generation at their facilities and in their supply chains.
Darien Crimmin, vice president of energy and sustainability for WinnCompanies, a company which manages affordable multifamily housing, praised the president's efforts to draw attention to these issues.
“If you're paying attention to climate change, it's good to see federal leadership trying to create new programs,” he said.
Why LEED Matters to Future Generations
By Steven Burke, Sustainability coordinator for Bergmeyer Associates
Weekly Bulletin to 5/2/14
By Grey Lee
Are you interested in IAQ? Passive design? LEED ND? Taking the Green Associate Exam before it changes? Well we have a program for you!
We've decided that I should put up a weekly bulletin on the blog to capture the latest news of the Chapter's activities.
Is it a “summer breeze” yet? |
What's been happening this week? Well, we've been working on a lot of things.
- The Building Innovation & Technology Science Fair will be in mid-July and I'm forming a committee to help me organize it. Email me if you're interested! We'll be seeking innovators, service providers, and product vendors who can show off really cool stuff. It will be fun!
- “Passive Design for a Sustainable Future” is our Green Breakfast Club on Tuesday 5/13 at 7:30am in Boston. Please come for an in-depth conversation with Perkins+Will's Yanel de Angel and Jordan Zimmerman.
- Our Green Schools Committee recently met and is moving forward with preparations for the Green Apple Day of Service in September. We are creating a “mini-grant” system to connect sponsors to worthy projects. Talk to Steve Muzzy for more info (smuzzy@usgbcma.org)
- Crazy news from Boston City Hall on Wednesday night: within minutes, the council drafted and voted to approve a delay in the implementation of the Building Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which otherwise would require reporting starting 5/15/14. We are following the situation closely. Let me know if you have any inside information to share!
- The Residential Green Building Committee is hosting a talk about indoor air quality on Monday 5/12
- Beyond Buildings – LEED ND symposium on 5/20
- We are holding a LEED Green Associate Exam Prep all-day workshop on 5/23
- Our Worcester Committee is holding a Green School Tour in Hudson on 5/29
Our Board just had our annual retreat to examine our strategic priorities. These are:
- Advocacy
- Education
- Collaboration
- Leadership
We spent time examining what constituencies we want to priorities. These are:
- Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC)
- Building Owners & Managers
- Planners and community developers
- Legislators, other electeds and government officials
- School building stakeholders
- Product & services of the green building industry
We want to be more than a trade association. After all, we have a massive and important social mission. Whereever these stakeholder populations overlap and where they intersect with our priorities, we will find the richest and most important programming opportunities. With high-value programming, we will build our membership and sponsorship base and grow our capacity to serve Massachusetts as a social benefit organization.
EPMA Earth Day Service Project
By Kristin Malyak, EMPA; Designer & Workplace Strategist at Gensler
Our work was part of an exercise in dividing and conquering – in the way that the Charles River Watershed Association organizes over a hundred different volunteer groups to help out at various sites along the Charles. It is truly a testament to the power of strength in numbers. By each making our own small contribution, we are all able to enjoy the rich, vibrant outdoor space the Charles provides us with so close to our urban centers.
Thank you to those that coordinated and attended the event this year and hopefully we can make it an annual chapter Earth Day tradition for years to come!