March 2017 Monthly Newsletter

By Grey Lee


See the full newsletter here!

Massachusetts keeps breaking records and climbing to the top in not just green building, but health, education, and economy. We recently reported that MA was #1 for LEED Green Building, and now in a report by US News, we're the #1 state overall.

We all benefit from a civic-minded and engaged population. Our traditions of local Town Meetings, widespread elected offices and community boards have ensured our local and state policies are responsive and useful. Things like energy policy, building codes and training programs are places where our organization overlaps with the broader public policy realm. I hope you'll join us as we continue to make headway on our advocacy agenda – our roundtable is next week (3/9/17).

The USGBC is making serious headlines. Read USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam's message that was featured in the New York Times.

A couple of weeks ago we held our annual Building Tech Forum – did you see our recap? Thanks again to Union Point, Boston Properties, Siemens, and Fraunhofer for sponsoring, to all of our speakers and presenters, and to all who attended! Read the recap and see pictures here.

We're going to be at NESEA's BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Tradeshow next week – hope to see you there. After that, we're sponsoring a bunch of sessions at MED|Ed early April. Green building never takes a break!

Save the date for March 30th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, at a location TBD in Boston for our next Greenbuild networking night. Find out how you and your organization can go all-in with us on our Road to Greenbuild in November. This will be a Chapter members only event, so become one now if you aren't already.

If you're looking for a good event tonight, we have a building tour of NEU's Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex, guided by Payette and sponsored by Suffolk Construction.

Hope to see you soon at one of our events!

See the full newsletter here!

USGBC MA Sponsored MED|Ed Session T24: In a v4 Materials Quandary? Solutions Through Collaboration

By USGBC MA


For the upcoming Fourth Annual MED|Ed Facilities Conference and Expo in Boston, the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter will be sponsoring a number of sessions during the event's two days. One session is T24: In a Materials Quandary? Solutions Through Collaboration, taught by Steven Burke of SMMA, Lisa Goodwin Robbins of Kalin Associates, Carrie Havey of The Green Engineer, and Conor McGuire of Columbia Construction.

More info:

A diverse panel of experts in sustainable design will share their adventures in navigating specification writing and meeting the contractor's documentation requirements for LEED v4 compliance with the Materials and Resources Building Product Disclosure and Optimization credits and the Low-Emitting materials credit categories.

Tuesday, April 4th, 10:00am

Learn more and register here.

Massachusetts is the #1 State – and Not Just in Green Building

By Grey Lee, Executive Director


Massachusetts continues to raise the bar for what it means to be not just #1 in LEED Green Building, but a state as a whole. In a report by U.S. News & World Report, Massachusetts has been ranked the #1 overall state, largely in part to the triumphs of education, health care, and economy. Coming in first place, Massachusetts continues to lead and succeed across sectors, delivering a higher quality of life to all our residents.

This is a testament to the ambition, drive, and leadership of countless individuals across the state who will settle for nothing less than being #1. It's thanks to everyone that we're excelling in so many facets of what it means to be a healthy and effective community, and we can keep the momentum moving forward.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Massachusetts is #1 for energy efficiency. We have been #1 for six years! Link: http://database.aceee.org/state/massachusetts.

Measures to increase energy efficiency have led to reduced costs to businesses and families, less money leaving our economy to bring energy to us, and improved environmental quality. USGBC MA has participated in this by championing building certifications, energy benchmarking, and accessible financing for building improvements.

And again: we are #1 for green building certifications. The USGBC recently recognized Massachusetts as the top achiever of LEED in 2016 – more space was certified, per capita, in the Commonwealth, than any other state in the union. This was a total of over 24M s.f. of certified space! Link: https://usgbcma.org/blog/were-number-one.

Our mission now is to see net-positive results in all of our communities through creating better buildings. We appreciate everything our community does, and we're excited to work even harder to ensure we're #1 for years to come.

 

Breakfast Session on LEEDv4 Integrative Process Tomorrow 3/1

By USGBC MA


Tomorrow morning, March 1st, we will be holding a morning education session on LEEDv4 Integrative Process, with guest speaker Peter Gorer.

Register here.

This session introduces integrative dynamics tools that green building stakeholders – owners, users, designers, builders – can use to strengthen collaborations and stimulate creativity.

Whether key stakeholders are focused on the design, delivery or operation of high performance green buildings, a common theme is that there is need to navigate peer-to-peer relationships effectively and address situations with few single right answers.

In promoting greater team collaboration, the LEEDv4 Integrative Process (IP) Credit focuses attention on important considerations such as the assembly of an integrated core project team, early systems modeling, the development of OPR statements, and design charrettes. However, these are only some of the necessary steps toward the transformation of traditional distributive practices into meaningful integrative relationships. There is also an urgent need to increase the strength and resilience of collaborative initiatives day-to-day.

Using commonly-encountered scenarios, participants will discover that discord doesn’t have to mean failure, but could be a signal for hidden opportunity. We will explore situations where small changes could lead to big gains; and attendees will discover tools that can help them prepare for negotiations more efficiently.

Wednesday, March 1st, 2017
50 Milk St, 18th Floor, Hemingway Room
Boston, MA, 02109

The Building Tour of NEU's Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex is this Wednesday

By USGBC MA


We're just two days away from our next tour – this time around it's Northeastern University's Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Building, with a tour given by Payette.

Register here.

The new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) on Northeastern University's campus has integration at the heart of its design. The building and the surrounding landscape promote a sense of fluidity and connectivity, from the iconic sun shading finned facade to the spiraling steel staircase in the center of the six-story atrium. The motivation behind the ISEC's design is “enabling the fortuitous collisions, conversations, and collaborations that break down disciplinary divides” and there is still more to come, with an arching bridge spanning over the MBTA tracks connecting the ISEC to the main campus.

Not only does it look good, but the 220,000 sf complex saves 50% of the energy a baseline building uses, 40% water reduction and 75% of the construction waste was diverted to the landfills.
There's something unique around every curve!

The tour will highlight mechanical and design systems which contribute to the high-performance building attributes.

Networking happens during the tour and after the tour as most groups converge for a quick bite or drink after the conclusion of the 90 min tour.

Wednesday, March 1st, 2017
6:00pm – 7:30pm
ISEC Building
360 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA, 02115

Microsoft and Yale to Lead Panel on Carbon Pricing 3/15

By Derek Newberry, Advocacy Fellow

On March 15th from 4:00-5:30pm, the Boston Green Ribbon Commission and Boston University are sponsoring a panel of climate change experts to discuss carbon pricing. The talk is open to the public and will be at Boston University’s Metcalf Trustee Center on the 9th floor of 1 Silber Way (go past the large tapestry on the right to find the elevators).

Titled “Reducing Emissions by Pricing Carbon: How Microsoft and Yale are leading the charge,” the panel will include TJ DiCaprio, the Senior Director of Environmental Sustainability at Microsoft, Casey Pickett, the Director of Carbon Change at Yale, Kenneth Pucker, former COO of Timberland and Lecturer at the Questrom School of Business, and be moderated by Andrew Revkin, Senior Reporter on Climate Change at ProPublica and former environmental reporter at The New York Times.

Some of the topics will include the results of Yale’s 2015/2016 pilot climate pricing program and the impacts of Microsoft’s carbon pricing program on the company's culture, emissions, investment in renewable energy, and millions of people around the world.

Check out more on carbon pricing here and RSVP for the panel here! Seats are limited. 

USGBC MA Sponsored MED|Ed Session T21: VDC and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Achieve Sustainability Goals

By USGBC MA


For the upcoming Fourth Annual MED|Ed Facilities Conference and Expo in Boston, the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter will be sponsoring a number of sessions during the event's two days. The second session is T21: VDC and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Achieve Sustainability Goals, taught by Donal Lyons and Jennifer Taranto of Structure Tone, and Julia Rogers of Vanderweil Engineers.

More info:

The industry has touted BIM and VDC efforts as a ‘cure-all’ for the construction and design industry. When used correctly through preordination efforts with collaborative input from the both the design and construction teams your project can not only be produced more efficiently, but also perform more efficiently. This presentation will walk you through real-life examples and strategies being used throughout projects in the healthcare industry.

Tuesday, April 4th, 10:00am

Learn more and register here

USGBC Massachusetts Chapter to Hold Educational Sessions at MED|Ed in April

By USGBC MA


The USGBC Massachusetts Chapter is an educational partner of the upcoming – and 4th Annual – MED|Ed Facilities Conference and Exhibit at the Seaport World Trade Center Boston.

Participate in the dynamic educational programs featuring real-world, solutions-based case studies and management discussions relating to the planning, designing, construction, and facility management of medical and educational building types. Over 70 medical & educational facility planners, building science experts and many more share their insight and experience.

We're thrilled to be an educational partner of this event, alongside other organizations such as CSI Boston, FGI< and the Institute for Human Centered Design. In this two-day event, everyone involved will be aiming to make better strides in developing better healthcare facilities, so that everyone can worry less about the facility's environment, and focus more on the health of the individuals. 

Use the code USGBC for 20% off any of our sessions!

USGBC MA Sponsored Sessions

Tuesday, 4/4

T18: Living Building Challenge on your Campus – Shawn Hesse of emersion DESIGN
T21: VDC and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Achieve Sustainability Goals – Donal Lyons and Jennifer Taranto of Structure Tone, Julia Rogers of Vanderweil Engineers
T24: In a v4 Materials Quandary? Solutions Through Collaboration – Steven Burke of SMMA, Lisa Goodwin Robbins of Kalin Associates, Carrie Havey of The Green Engineer, and Conor McGuire of Columbia Construction
T27: FitWel – Blake Jackson of Tsoi/Kobus & Associates
T32: Getting to Zero: User Engagement in Achieving Net Zero Energy – Katherine Bubriski of Arrowstreet and Shannon Kaplan of In Posse
T35: Under Construction: Local LEED v4 Case Studies – Gary Brock of HMFH Architects, Cynie Linton of SMMA, Sarah Michelman of The Green Engineer, and Richard Moore of Richard Moore Environmental Consulting
T40: For Health: How Buildings Impact the Way We Think and Feel: Memo Cedeno, Erika Eitland, Piers MacNaughton, and August Williams of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Wednesday, 4/5

W17: Tackling the Challenge: The New MA Energy Code – Francis Boucher of National Grid and Martine Dion of SMMA
W22: Rising to the Challenge on Campus: An Owner's Perspective – Deborah Frieze of Old Oak Dojo, DiAnn Mroszczak of PCA, and Carl Weber of Hampshire College
W28: From Research to Specifications to Healthier Environments – Robin Dodson of Silent Sprint Institute, Heather Henriksen of Harvard University, Greta Eckhardt of Payette Associates, and Lisa Goodwin Robbins of Kalin Associates.
W38: Building a Healthy Campus: The WELL Building Standard – Sarah Welton of the International WELL Building Institute
W41: Designing for Net Positive Water and Energy – Jason Forney and Jason Jewhurst of Bruner/Cott Architects

Price Incentives Power Solar Market

By Darien Crimmin


Solar power experienced tremendous growth during the past decade in the United States and globally. The vast majority of solar applications utilize photovoltaic (PV) panels and inverters to create electricity from sunlight that is then fed into buildings or directly wired into the electricity grid. Many consumers, including apartment owners and residents, have benefited from the growth of solar PV, while others have just started exploring the potential benefits of renewable energy. The recent explosion in solar has been driven by many factors, with the two key drivers being incentives and price.

A 2016 midmarket report by the International Energy Agency cites sharp reductions in generation costs with record-low long-term prices, a trend that is expected to drive the demand for solar for years to come. A large apartment community can now install solar on its roof for below $2 per watt, a dramatic reduction from years past. The price drop reflects decreased manufacturing and equipment costs, as well as lower soft costs and improved installation delivery — all indicators of a maturing market.

The major federal incentive for renewable energy remains the federal investment tax credit, currently at 30 percent but scheduled to decrease after 2019 until it reaches 10 percent in 2022. The tax credit was renewed in late 2015, as part of a rare bipartisan agreement, which expanded the tax credit for renewables while simultaneously unlocking exports for domestic oil and gas. Solar power is increasingly popular, with a recent Pew Research study showing 9 out of 10 Americans favor expanding the use of solar power. Because the renewable energy tax credit is already in place and scheduled to be phased out, dismantling it prematurely may prove both unpopular and ineffective.

State incentives and policies work in conjunction with the federal tax credit to further drive growth in the solar industry. State solar incentives are often driven by direct incentives from utilities or through Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) tied to state-mandated renewable energy portfolio standards, under which utilities must comply or pay a penalty. Solar incentives are available in multiple states and Washington, D.C., and have arguably driven as much growth in solar as the federal tax credits.

Apartment-Specific

Specifically related to apartment communities, certain state policies such as “Community Solar” or “Remote Net Metering” allow for offsite solar projects to produce electricity and then transfer monetary credits from those solar projects to a common area or resident paid electric accounts. Through this important mechanism, apartment communities and residents can directly benefit from community solar, even if the solar is not located on the apartment community itself.

For example, WinnCompanies estimates only 20 percent of its communities are good candidates for roof-mounted solar, due to building orientation, shading, roof age, structural concerns and space limitations from other equipment. Roof-mounted projects on apartment buildings also tend to be smaller and more expensive than larger ground mounted installations. Community solar projects provide apartment communities with the opportunity to overcome these challenges by siting solar in preferable locations and ensuring projects achieve economies of scale.

As the largest manager of affordable housing in the country, WinnCompanies is also a national leader bringing solar power to affordable housing. In the past few years, WinnCompanies developed several solar projects on building rooftops to reduce operating costs at its affordable housing communities. The management company formed a partnership with numerous third-party solar developers to utilize remote net metering from off-site solar fields to benefit affordable housing. Balancing the risk of long-term solar net metering contracts with clean energy benefits for communities and residents.

WinnCompanies’ ongoing work proves that the apartment industry can become active participants in the clean energy economy, in which property owners, management teams and apartment residents engage in policy discussions about solar power and affordable access to clean energy. The incoming administration’s efforts to promote renewable energy, and more broadly address climate change, are not 100 percent clear. Nevertheless, WinnCompanies and other apartment industry leaders in environmental sustainability are confident that the new administration will recognize that solar PV remains more accessible than ever and that the key ingredients for the rapid growth of solar PV have not changed.

Originally posted via NAAHG.

USGBC MA Sponsored MED|Ed Session T18: Living Building Challenge on your Campus

By USGBC MA


For the upcoming Fourth Annual MED|Ed Facilities Conference and Expo in Boston, the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter will be sponsoring a number of sessions during the event's two days. The first session is T18: Living Building Challenge on your Campus, as taught by Shawn Hesse, USGBC Chapter Board member and architect at emersion DESIGN.

More info:

The Living Building Challenge is the built environment's most rigorous performance standard. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the Living Building Challenge – a philosophy, advocacy tool and certification program that addresses development at all scales. To be certified, projects must meet a series of ambitious performance requirements, including Net Zero Energy, Waste and Water. Participants will learn to describe the key components of the program and discuss the rationale for restorative design principles.

Tuesday, April 4th, 8:00am

Learn more and register here.