We're Doing Podcasts! Listen to our 2016 Recap

By Alexander Landa


You heard that right – we're kicking off 2017 with a new way to talk green building with podcasts. With so much news in the industry – within our organization and outside of it – we want to use as many channels as we can to share what's going on with you. When you're driving home, on public transport, relaxing in a cafe, or just need something to listen to at work, we will be bringing everything important to you in a digestible format.

This is something we've been planning for a while now, and we're super excited to finally start it. Starting in January, we will be releasing at least one podcast per month, featuring different speakers, themes, stories, and news. For now, we will be hosting the talks on our YouTube account, with a proper iTunes podcast to follow.

See our video below to listen to our first podcast, where Executive Director Grey Lee & Programs Manager Celis Brisbin recap 2016.

 

 

Healthy Materials Sponsor Profile: Brightworks Sustainability

By Alexander Landa


The Healthy Materials Summit on October 26th was an awesome event! We couldn't have put everything together without the help of a hosting committee, the volunteers, and especially our sponsors. An extra big thank you goes to the Brightworks Sustainability for really helping to make the Summit happen.

Very much so in line with our mission focused on sustainability, Brightworks works with their clients of architects and engineers to help them create more sustainable buildings through ecological, social, and economic lenses. Through planning and facilitation services, Brightworks can help their clients increase the value of their assets, reduce operating costs, manage risk, and enhance their brand – all while considering the design's impact on the environment.

A significant amount of their work and services provided revolve around LEED certified buildings, such as LEED for Homes, LEED Energy Modeling, and more, while also looking at corporate sustainability programs, and general green building consulting.

Thank you, Brightworks!

Joining Our Mentor Program? Attend Our Kickoff Party Feb 8!

By Alexander Landa


For those of you who are signed up to be a part of our 2017 Green Building Mentor Program – or are planning to – please attend our upcoming event that will celebrate all of the upcoming successes from this program.

Mentors and mentees will come together on this Wednesday evening for a fun night of food and drinks in Downtown Boston to your group for the upcoming 2017 cycle. You'll be able to meet established professionals who will be the mentors, as well as all upcoming Emerging Professionals.

The mentoring program is a year-long commitment pairing a group of college seniors, grad students, or young professionals with local industry leaders. Get the chance to hear first-hand from these professionals if you're interested in becoming a mentee, or share your guidance with those following in your footsteps if you want to become a mentor.

Register here!
Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
5:30pm-8:30pm
Elephant & Castle
161 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA, 02110

Go here to learn more about the 2017 Green Building Mentor Program

Healthy Materials Sponsor Profile: HDR

By Alexander Landa


The Healthy Materials Summit on October 26th was an awesome event! We couldn't have put everything together without the help of a hosting committee, the volunteers, and especially our sponsors. An extra big thank you goes to the HDR, Inc. for really helping to make the Summit happen.

HDR specializes in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services, such as high-performance buildings and smart architecture. Their work includes working with multiple disciplines, including scientists, economists, builders, analysts, and artists. Many within the organization are specialists and leaders in natural resources, climatology, renewable energy, LEED, commissioning, measurement, and verification and community planning.

Their devotion to sustainability is impressive, and balances client needs with economic, social, and environmental value. Their sustainability principles are effectively laid out and act as cornerstones of every action they take, such as reducing fossil fuel, water consumption, and waste generation. HDR continuously encourages their staff to have more expertise in sustainability, creating the potential for broader impact.

Thank you for being a huge part of the Healthy Materials Summit!

Presinar: Designing a LEED Campus in the Desert – Part 2: January 1st

By USGBC MA


The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix has created an innovative model for an interdisciplinary approach to health sciences education and research. The new iconic copper-clad Health Sciences Education Building, a $135 million dollar medical school in downtown Phoenix, will support the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, allied health, and biomedical informatics for the University of Arizona. The new LEED certified building will educate the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.

Register here!

The intended audience for this course includes architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and other design professionals. Course participants will examine the role of the contractor in LEED implementation during construction, including lessons learned, personnel training, and documentation tips discussed by the construction team. In addition, course participants will learn about positive outcomes by utilizing the Integrated Design Process. Finally, participants will be treated to an in-depth building tour that highlights the design elements of the LEED project.

Objectives

  1. Discuss how the integrated design approach affected the cost and design of the HSEB building
  2. Describe the role of the Contractor in LEED implementation during construction, including lessons learned, personnel training, and documentation tips discussed by the HSEB construction team
  3. Detail the MR and IEQ credits that the Contractor has a primary responsibility for during construction
  4. Explain the roles and responsibilities of various construction team members for the commissioning process as it relates to Enhanced Commissioning (EAc3)
  5. Articulate internal and external conditions of a project that can affect Increased Ventilation (IEQc2) Course outline: Not needed.

Location
The Sustainability Hub
912 Main Street, MA, 01610.
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610

Sun, January 1, 2017

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST

Healthy Materials Sponsor Profile: PCA

By Alexander Landa


The Healthy Materials Summit on October 26th was an awesome event! We couldn't have put everything together without the help of a hosting committee, the volunteers, and especially our sponsors. An extra big thank you goes to the Prellwitz Chilinski Associates for really helping to make the Summit happen.

PCA is an architectural firm that builds anything from residential buildings to educational facilities, and anything in between. With dozens of LEED-certified buildings, this group is able to perfectly balance innovation, a sustainable built design that has a low impact on the immediate environment, fulfilling their customers' desires, and acting as a leader in the local community.

This firm We assists owners, property managers and institutions such as Carpenter and Company, the Druker Company, Leslie College, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the World Trade Center Boston, and many other business and property owners throughout the city and region in identifying opportunities for amenities that enhance the life and value of their properties.

Thank you, and we hope to see you at another event!

Early Bird Registration for BuildingEnergy Boston is Open

By USGBC MA


Our friends over at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) are putting together a pretty cool event March 7-9. BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Tradeshow is the region's leading event for those in the field of sustainability, bringing over 2500 local leaders & emerging professionals together.

What makes this conference stand out is its place in the field – it's much more interdisciplinary in content and in audience than other similar tradeshows. Attendees and topics range from architecture, engineering, building design, consulting, policy, finance, auditing, installation, construction, education, and more.

Learn more about BuildingEnergy here.

Support Us and Win an ILFI Membership

By Alexander Landa


With less than two weeks to go in 2016, we can't thank you enough for all the times you've supported us during the year, and how you will support us in 2017.

The USGBC MA is built on the entire community, which means over 600 people working together to advocate for a more sustainable, net-positive Commonwealth. Whether you're an architect, a student, or just a green building enthusiast, we're all working together for the same, shared mission.

To keep doing what we do best – advocating for more green buildings and connecting industry leaders together to make it all happen – we need your help.

Right now, PayPal is adding an extra 1% to all donations received through the end of the year. You can make an end-of-the-year contribution by going here.

You can also support us during our Facebook campaign as well.

This isn't the end of the story, though. This fundraiser is also a silent auction for an ILFI membership. If you're interested in WELL and Living Buildings, then you have an extra incentive to help us out. 

Massachusetts Has Over 100,000 Employed in Clean Energy

By Alexander Landa


At this point, I'm sure anyone reading this knows that the state of Massachusetts is one of the greenest there is. With massive amounts of LEED certified buildings and ongoing sustainability endeavors, this state has made a positive impact on the built environment. What may be news is that the state has over 100,000 individuals employed in clean energy jobs.

Read the full report by MassCEC here.

The Commonwealth recently added 6300 jobs, bringing the total to over 100,000. Clean energy is now at $11.8 billion industry in Mass., making that 2.5% of all gross state product, and 2.9% of the state's overall workforce.

“The Commonwealth’s highly educated and well-trained workforce makes it an attractive place for innovative industries, including clean energy companies,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts’ recently passed comprehensive energy diversification legislation will continue to build on the recent success of the clean energy industry by increasing opportunities for growth and advancement.”

This is a massive achievement for our wonderful state. Part of Massachusett's initiative is to get to 100% renewable energy, which can work alongside our mission for a net-positive future. This report is proof that so many organizations and industries have the same mission in Mass. – a more sustainable, healthier future, through any means necessary.

Healthy Materials Sponsor Profile: Sustainable Performance Institute

By Alexander Landa


The Healthy Materials Summit on October 26th was an awesome event! We couldn't have put everything together without the help of a hosting committee, the volunteers, and especially our sponsors. An extra big thank you goes to the Sustainable Performance Institute for really helping to make the Summit happen.

SPI, lead by our friend Barbra Batshalom, aims to advocate for more green buildings by working with designers and consulting them on how they can construct more sustainable buildings. They fight for LEED, Net-Zero, Living Buildings, and more, to change the root of an organization to want more than just a building, but a sustainable design and a healthier company culture with it.

To do this, they provide design assessments for the building owner's team to see where they're currently at. From there, they educate the team on best practices and to understand the green building industry better. From there, they consult the team on the next steps to take, certify them on what they're learned and how they have changed, and then give a report card on how the group has progressed.

In January, we're hosting a morning educational session with SPI! Join us on the 19th for our Project Mapping Workshop talk. Register here.