Building Tech Forum Speaker Profile – Northeastern University's Jennie Stephens

By USGBC MA


The Building Tech Forum on February 16th is going to feature a panel of incredible speakers that will surely prove to provide an engaging, informative discussion surrounding a unique and innovative topic. One of the attending speakers is Jennie Stephens, the Dean's Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.

Her research, teaching, and community engagement focus on social and political aspects of the renewable energy transition and responses to climate change. Her research focuses on institutional and cultural innovation in the energy sector, including gender diversity and energy democracy, and technological optimism and the “usability” of climate science in climate mitigation and adaptation. 

Professor Stephens is a 2015-2016 Leopold Leadership fellow, and her book Smart Grid (R)Evolution: Electric Power Struggles (Cambridge University Press, 2015) explores social and cultural debates about energy system change (co-authored with Wilson & Peterson). Before Northeastern, Professor Stephens was on the faculty at the University of Vermont (2014-2016) and Clark University (2005-2014). She earned her PhD at Caltech in environmental science & engineering and her BA at Harvard in environmental science & public policy.

March 30th: LEED BD+C Exam Prep and LEED v4 Refresher

By USGBC MA


With this LEED AP Building Design and Construction training, you will learn the requirements and calculations required for the following LEED credits: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Completing this course will prepare you for the prestigious LEED AP professional credential, by allowing you to focus your study efforts, ease your tension, and help you pass the exam!

Your local USGBC Chapter has designed a series to guide professionals seeking a cost-effective and dynamic learning solution to study for their LEED BD+C Exam. The LEED AP BD+C training series targets credit categories and summarizes the key points you will need to know to be successful on your LEED exam.

What you’ll learn in the LEED AP Building Design and Construction Training Course:

  • Learn and practice the three exam areas – Recognition, Application, and Analysis
  • Identify the key components of the LEED BD+C Rating System
  • Prepare for the exam by focusing on key topics
  • Discuss the requirements and implementation strategies of each credit/prerequisite

LEED AP BD+C TRAINING OUTLINE

  • Introduction to the LEED AP Building Design + Construction Exam
  • Location and Transportation
  • Sustainable Sites
  • Water Efficiency
  • Energy and Atmosphere
  • Materials and Resources
  • Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Innovation and the Integrative Process

The class will be led by Chapter staff and guest lecturer who will be able to field both theoretical and experiential background to any question you may have.

 

Bringing LEED Platinum Projects to the Seaport

By USGBCMA Communications


Boston's Seaport District has experienced a burst of development in recent years, which has brought over 5,000 new jobs to the area and catalyzed over $1 billion in investment since 2010. One of the first major buildings to break ground and begin transforming the Seaport skyline was 101 Seaport, a $126 million, 440,000-square foot, 17-story glass office tower. On board for this massive construction project was RDK Engineers, a full-service engineering and design firm and USGBC MA Chapter Sponsor.

RDK provides a variety of engineering services in energy efficiency and sustainable design for almost every building type. The firm has helped shaped sustainable development in Boston's Seaport District by helping 101 Seaport achieve LEED Platinum, the highest LEED rating level possible. Over 20% of RDK staff members are LEED Accredited, and whether or not RDK's clients choose to pursue LEED Certification, the firm continually assesses projects to improve efficiency in project MEP/FP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing/fire protection) systems. 101 Seaport is the first completed office building in Seaport Square, a 23-acre master-planned area in the city’s fastest-growing neighborhood. 

101 Seaport Boulevard achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Owner Union Investment Real Estate GmbH oversaw a range of strategies and solutions put in place, from heat island reduction and stormwater quantity control to water-efficient landscaping and a green cleaning policy. One of the major differentiators of energy efficiency at 101 Seaport Boulevard is the mechanical system designed to cool the building through use of an active chilled beam, a cutting-edge system that is the first of its kind in Boston.

For former Mayor Thomas Menino, 101 Seaport served as a significant step forward for the Seaport and for the City of Boston. At the groundbreaking, then-Mayor Menino celebrated the project announcing, “This project secures the neighborhood’s reputation as a hub for entrepreneurs and forward-thinking companies to expand, and for our residents to enjoy. 101 Seaport, and its anchor tenant in PwC, represents the leadership in innovation, sustainability, and business that have become synonymous with the City of Boston and our business community.”

Building Tech Forum Speaker Profile – the City of Boston's Jascha Franklin-Hodge

By USGBC MA


The Building Tech Forum on February 16th is going to feature a panel of incredible speakers that will surely prove to provide an engaging, informative discussion surrounding a unique and innovative topic. One of the attending speakers is Jascha Franklin-Hodge, the Chief Information Officer of the City of Boston.

Jascha was appointed to his position back in June 2014 by Mayor Marty Walsh, with some of his primary duties involving enhancing online service delivery, empowering City employees with effective digital tools, and improving access to technology and the Internet for all Boston neighborhoods.

Before his work with the City, Jascha was a co-founder of Blue State Digital in 2004, and he ran BSD's Boston technology office, where he oversaw the development of an online fundraising, email, and CRM platform that powered the online presence of Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

We're excited to have Jascha speak in a couple of weeks – thanks for coming!

What Progress Has Been Made for Smart Cities?

By Alexander Landa


In a recent report by Black and Veatch, they outlined the current progress of smart cities in their 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report, which details the progress made by communities around the world to make a more advanced future.

The report discusses how many groups around the world are embracing what data and analytics can do for their city, and how it can lead to a realistic roadmap to create a smart city. The reports that come from data can help plan and prioritize efforts, and decide what factors need financing and resources the most. This report is quite comprehensive in that they also discuss what obstacles may prevent further expansion on these ideas, such as planning, funding, data management, and technological affordances (or lack thereof). 

It's exciting to see what initiatives are already taking place to help major metropolitan areas become smart cities. Grid modernization is useful in that with many different sources of energy, it's difficult to manage it properly – but we're finally figuring out distribution automation to help streamline the process.

The full report is really comprehensive, interesting, and innovative. We strongly recommend that if you're interested in smart cities that you read through the rest of the content! Read the full report here.

To learn more about smart cities, the internet of things, grid modernization, and more, come out to Fraunhofer on February 16th and join us for our upcoming Building Tech Forum!

Make a Nomination for the Best of Green Schools 2017

By Anisa Baldwin Metzger


The Center for Green Schools at the USGBC is once again partnering with the Green Schools National Network to co-present the Best of Green Schools 2017. The Best of Green Schools is designed to acknowledge the people, schools, campuses, and organizations that are making a huge difference in creating more green schools for students.

Best of Green Schools celebrates the hard work being done to push the green schools movement forward. Last year’s honorees included schools with innovative and integrated curriculum that represents the best that 21st-century learning has to offer, policy makers who’ve made environmental sustainability core to their platforms and legacies and organizations that came together on the national level to advance healthy schools for all. 

If you or someone you know is making significant strides toward creating more sustainable schools, we want to hear from you! You may submit nominations for yourself and others.  The call for nominations closes on Feb. 14, 2017.

Award recipients will be announced at the 2017 Green Schools Conference and Expo, March 21–22 in Atlanta, Georgia. This annual gathering of innovators in the green schools movement is the perfect moment to celebrate the leadership embodied by the awardees. After you submit your nomination, register to attend the conference so you’ll be on hand in Atlanta for the awards.

Submit your nominations now!

Read the original story by the Center for Green Schools.

Building Tech Forum 2017 Partner Announcement – Union Point

By USGBC MA


We're proud to announce that Union Point has become a sponsoring partner of our upcoming Building Tech Forum on Thursday, 2/16! This highly-accomplished group has joined the ranks of Boston Properties and Siemens.

Led by LStar Communities, Elkus Manfredi Architects and Sasaki Associates, Union Point is a new smart city just outside of Boston providing a culturally rich, urban environment with direct access to the city’s transit system. Envisioned as a beautiful and sustainable city rooted in 21st-century urbanism, Union Point is built with innovation and environmental consciousness at its core. The master vision for Union Point combines attributes including easy access to public transportation, entertainment and sports venues, art and culture, and education – with natural open spaces, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly roadways, and tomorrow’s communications and smart-living technologies.  The result will be a community that combines active living with smart city design to offer the advantages of urban density in a supremely livable environment.

Union Point comprises:

  • 1,500 acres
  • 4,000+ Residences
  • 8 million+ square feet of commercial development 
  • 1,000 acres of green space and 50 miles of hiking/biking trails

Thank you for partnering with us for the event, and we look forward to seeing you there!

February 27 – Building Tour at Northeastern University's ISEC

By USGBC MA


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.

Register here!

Monday, February 27th 2017
5:30pm – 7:00pm
ISEC Building
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA, 02115

February 2017 Newsletter – We're #1 for LEED and We're Stoked for the Building Tech Forum!

By USGBC MA


Read the full newsletter here!

Although “generally victorious” can be something of a punk attitude, I am actually feeling pretty good since the recent USGBC rankings were announced. Lots of great stories behind the numbers, throughout the country. 

Congratulations to our colleagues who have worked so hard over the course of the past year to attain certifications of their green building projects. I'm sure we'll see you and raise our glasses at our Green Building Showcase later this year.

We are #1 in the Top Ten States for LEED.

Our community of practitioners gathered last week fo our Annual General Meeting. What a fine crew! So many good people who are working to advance our mission every day. Lots of new faces as well – great to see. We must congratulate our Volunteers of the Year, and new Board members. There are many ways to be involved with our work. Have you played ENGAGE yet?  

I look forward to our next encounter: perhaps at the Building Tech Forum?

Read the full newsletter here!

Boston University’s Climate Action Community Forum Jan 31

By Derek Newberry


Last night, Boston University’s Climate Action Task Force held a public forum to discuss methods for climate adaptation and mitigation with members of the Boston community and BU student body. The workshop was aimed at developing the task force’s (and BU’s) climate change preparation and readiness with a specific focus on energy sustainability, transportation issues, curriculum enhancement, and improvements to supply chain management and waste reduction. This forum not only expanded the community’s understanding and interest in climate adaptation while expanding the university’s reach, but it advanced one of USGBC MA’s advocacy initiativesClimate Adaptation Management and Planning, and Net Zero Action Planning.

If interested in watching a recording of the forum, click here.

Anthony Janetos, director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center at BU and chair of the task force, started the night with a brief presentation on the history of climate change, current CO2 levels, and impacts of a warming climate. He highlighted successful actions taken, including the university’s 25% reduction in energy use since 2006 (beating their 2020 goal by 4 years!), and mentioned critical actors and methods of growth including LEED certification in BU buildings.

He continued with the task force’s objective to create a Five-Point Plan that focuses on university operations (in terms of mitigation and adaptation), research, education, finance, and community engagement. The task force hopes to complete the plan by late summer to give the community and BU’s Board of Trustees time to approve and develop the plan for implementation. Following Janetos’ introduction, three other task force members discussed their focus areas with the audience, including supply chain and waste management, energy, and transportation. Then they turned it over to us, the audience, to figure these issues out.

Sitting amongst a handful of students, faculty, and David Frank, BU dining’s Sustainability Manager, we slowly started off the introductions and then quickly leapt into our focus area: supply chains and waste. Our discussion provided a wonderful insight into the general understanding of such problems and allowed task force members to move throughout the tables to answer questions and mull over ideas. Our group came up with meatless Mondays, community gardens, and demonstrations of public awareness and advocacy to name a few. Finally, each table presented their ideas and then Janetos finished off the night.

BU’s climate action plan, along with those from other universities, the city of Boston, and communities throughout Massachusetts, will all contribute to the expansion of successful climate adaptation management, promote public involvement, and accelerate state-level legislation and action. It’s discussions like this and the ideas and interactions they facilitate down the road that help the USGBC MA expand its involvement and promote a sustainable future. There will be another community forum on February 14, at 4pm at 72 East Concord Street (L) – Hiebert Lounge. RSVP here if interested, () and check out future events and involvement here.