What Exactly is WELL?

By USGBCMA Communications, More Green Buildings!

If you've been following us for a while, you might have come across some of our posts advertising WELL programs. To get back in the loop with your building standards, come to our Introduction to WELL! 

Register here or below.

Tuesday, June 28 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
50 Milk Street, “Dali” Room

The WELL Building Standard was recently created to help design buildings that are better for human health. We anticipate that this building standard will greatly impact the building process and the types of buildings that are constructed in the future.

To bring as many people up to speed with this new standard, we have organized an introductory session at our headquarters. This session will be beneficial for professionals from all sectors of the building industry: owners, engineers, builders and occupants interested in the new standard are encouraged to attend!

New Balance Headquarters Achieves LEED Platinum

By Molly Wilder


Massachusetts continues to excel in the green building industry!

Completed in September of last year, the new home of New Balance Headquarters (100 Guest St. in Allston-Brighton) recently achieved the honor of LEED Platinum.  Not only did New Balance obtain the necessary 80 points required for such status, but they also acquired all the additional regional priority and innovation points, as well as attained all possible credits within the Indoor Environmental Quality category, a feat met only by two other buildings in the world, in Italy and Thailand. See the full LEED scorecard here.

Our Sponsoring Partner, Elkus Manfredi Architects, led the design of the building. USGBCMA's Executive Director Grey Lee said, “We are proud of our sponsors as they continue to lead in the green building movement. Thank you for helping us to drive sustainable and regenerative design!”


NB Development Group
 is hoping to create a health and wellness neighborhood in the Boston Landing area, where they will continue these endeavors through constructing a new rink for the Bruins, a boutique hotel, retail and restaurant outlets, and a track and field complex, all following green building practices.  Jim Halliday, managing director of NB Development, drove this message home, in saying, “This designation is in keeping with not only the mission of New Balance, but also as the initial flagship project of Boston Landing, it highlights the spirit and energy we envision for this newly emerging district and ongoing commitment to our neighborhood.”

New Balance’s building secured LEED Platinum certification due to their excellence in the areas of energy efficient design, water use reduction, sustainable site selection and development, responsible materials selection and waste management, and enhanced indoor environmental quality.  Notable accomplishments of the headquarters are:

  • 26% annual energy cost savings when compared to a code-compliant building.
  • 35% reduction in water consumption of plumbing fixtures when compared to a code-compliant building.
  • 76% waste diversion during construction
  • 86% reduction in site runoff post-development when compared to pre-development.
  • 28% of material used in construction derived from recycled content.
  • 74% of material used in construction derived from a regional source.
  • 100% of wood used in construction was Forest Stewardship Council certified.
  • 30% higher ventilation rate when compared to a code-compliant building.


Upon receiving this prestige, the president and CEO Rob DeMartini said, “This certification exemplifies our strong commitment of responsible leadership to our company’s associates and consumers, our local community and the environment”.  With New Balance emerging as more than just a shoe company, becoming an emblem of cool, with famous athletes, musicians and other artists representing and wearing them, projects like their headquarters and the surrounding area will indelibly further LEED's and Green Buildings' importance and reality as a future for businesses, a new status quo.  The USGBC MA Chapter commends New Balance for their achievement. We look forward to seeing what they create next!

Images from BostInno

The Battle for the Stretch Code

By Grey Lee, Executive Director


Since the stretch energy code was initially made available by the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations & Standards (BBRS) for local adoption in 2009, it has been adopted by 175 municipalities in the Commonwealth, representing more than half the state population. The HERS rating approach of the stretch energy code has also been adopted by the International Energy Concervation Code (IECC) 2015 model code. However, as the stretch code has not been updated, the incoming IECC2015 energy code will be more energy efficient than the current stretch code for almost all buildings.

The current proposed stretch energy code update aligns the residential stretch code with the HERS rating option in the IECC2015 base code, updates the commercial requirement for large buildings, and reduces the scope to just cover new construction.

On May 10, in a surprise twist, the BBRS announced it will be amending the existing building code (8th edition) to include the new version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2015), a new stretch code and new requirements for solar rooftop readiness on residential and commercial properties, as well as new requirements for electric vehicles in development projects, among other changes. In other words, they will be taking up only the energy provisions proposed in the 9th edition and inserting them into the 8th edition.

USGBC MA has been following this issue closely and applauds the continued success and leadership that our stretch code has provided our industry. We advocate to continue strengthening the base code and the stretch code for the communities that have taken it up. We support the expanded scope of the proffered stretch code to engage solar siting feasibility and to anticipate future electic car siting at buildings. 


A public hearing was held on June 14, and a vote will be taken on July 19 on the proposal. The changes, if adopted, will trigger a concurrency period where either the existing language in the 8th or the revised language in the 8th could be used until January 1, 2017. These changes will then be considered and voted on once again when the 9th edition has a public hearing later this year. Apparently the 9th edition is delayed for a variety of reasons and the Baker Administration was eager to move the energy changes forward ASAP.

Some components of the real estate industry remain opposed to the stretch energy code and the PV and EV requirements.

Below, we have summarized the shortcomings of the proposed stretch energy code update, in addition to suggested improvements to remedy these shortcomings. We are working with a coalition of partners to strengthen and improve the stretch code, which includes our colleagues at the Environmental League of Massachusetts, the Acadia Center, the Sierra Club and the Conservation Law Foundation, among others. 

If you are interested in reading the full letter we wrote to BBRS, it is linked below.

Shortcomings of the Stretch Code Update:

  1. Zero Requirements for All Existing Buildings. There are zero requirements beyond what is included in the base energy code for renovations, remodels, or any other kind of alterations to existing buildings, which comprise the vast majority of available energy savings opportunities.
  2. Zero Requirements for All New Small and Medium Commercial Buildings. Only buildings 100,000 square feet or larger have to comply with the requirement of modeled efficiency 10% beyond the level set by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013.
  3. Zero Requirements for Some New Residential Buildings. There are no additional requirements for homes which are already using the Section R406 pathway option (HERS, Energy Star v3.1, or Passive House) to comply with the base energy code.

Suggested Improvements to Remedy These Shortcomings:

  1. Set simple requirements for Existing Buildings.
  2. Set reduced size thresholds & efficiency targets for New Small and Medium Commercial Buildings.
  3. Set requirements for all New Residential Buildings.
  4. Recapture any Renewable Energy Provisions eliminated from Base Code.

Read the full letter here.

Greenbuild 2016 is in Less Than Four Months!

By USGBCMA Communications, More Green Buildings!

Greenbuild is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. It provides a forum for the green building community to unite, change lives, revolutionize business, and address our world’s most pressing problems. The three-day event, which will be held in Los Angeles Convention Center from Oct. 5-7, will feature high profile celebrities, activists and political figures working together to promote the ideals and interests of the green building movement.

Learn more about the event here.

Greenbuild offers several conference packages to help you maximize your time onsite at the show.

Tips and Pointers!

  • Register before the Early Bird deadline (August 1) to save money
  • USGBC Members get discounted tickets
  • USGBCMA will be renting a house in LA! Email greylee@usgbcma.org if you would like to join in!
  • USGBC is offering scholarship opportunities!

Register now!

Our Gathering at TROY Boston!

By Rachael Berry, Graphics Associate


USGBCMA
     USGBCMA Chapter members gathered on the rooftop penthouse of one of Boston’s newest eco-friendly apartment complexes Tuesday evening for the Chapter’s Quarterly Gathering. While the rooftop of TROY Boston provided picturesque views of the city and a much-appreciated open bar, attendees convened with the intention learning about the building's sustainability features and USGBCMA’s mission to change the built environment for the better.


     TROY Boston, located in the South End, was developed by Chapter Sponsoring Partner Gerding Edlen, a west coast based developer. Committee members and newcomers were invited to celebrate the green building and learn about its LEED Gold Certified amenities. The complex attained its LEED Gold certification earlier this year, which was partially attributed to its ability to use 28% less energy than typical multi-family buildings of the same caliber.

     Project Team members, such as Mark Pignetelli from ICFI discussed the building’s incentive programs from Mass Save and detailed how the project was able to earn over 100,000 dollars from Eversource.  He was just one of several project members in attendance who highlighted the building’s environmentally friendly features which ultimately allow it to be the vibrant, inspiring and sustainable space that it is.

    With individual introductions involving “What Green Building means to you”, members were able to connect a communal passion for sustainability and kick-start the night’s events. USGBCMA and its respective committees were successful in hosting a picture-perfect event promoting networking opportunities as well as educating current and prospective members on the efforts of TROY Boston in creating a more sustainable future. Check out our event page to get involved in the next meeting and find out more about the organization.

Photos of the event can be found here.


Thank You to Gerding Edlen and TROY Boston for sponsoring the event, and to those who attended.

To find out about USGBCMA’s future events or to see how you can get involved, visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.


USGBCMA

 

Meet our Members: Chris Meier

By USGBCMA Communications, More Green Buildings!


Chris is an active member of our Events Committee and takes on a variety of projects in her work! Read her profile below:

 

For quite a few years, Chris Meier has had an avid interest in sustainability and recently elected to shift her career path in that direction. After investigating different avenues to achieve this goal, she pursued activities to provide a related foundation. In 2014, Chris graduated from MIT with a M.S. in Engineering and Management, as well as a Certificate in Sustainability. She has also earned LEED AP BD+C accreditation and has been a volunteer for the USGBC MA chapter as an events committee member for close to a year. Although her most recent efforts have been focused on sustainability, her previous diverse background also provides added value.

Most notably, she directed corporate programs at different stages of maturity—an accessibility program at BMC Software and ergonomics program at Ameriprise where she applied her PhD in Human Factors Psychology. Chris created the program at BMC Software, with the crucial involvement of multifunctional internal and external stakeholders, to provide accessible technology to those with disabilities. By addressing related U.S. and global laws and standards, hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue were saved. On the other hand, Chris managed an already mature program at Ameriprise, affording public relations opportunities to proclaim its achievements. She collaborated with the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in their investigation of the ergonomics program, which was deemed successful based on financial and operational factors, culminating in a report to congressional requesters.

In terms of sustainability on a personal note, a key impact has been her move to Harvard Square, where she resides with her husband, Floyd, and dog named Smudge. Chris relishes the easy access to public transportation and amenities, as well as scenic outdoor space in the area to accommodate long walks.  

 

The First LEED-Certified Building in Santo Domingo is a Green Mall

By USGBCMA Communications, More Green Buildings!

This story was originally written by Amanda Sawit for USGBC National. Read the full article here.

Ágora Mall is the first LEED-certified building in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic.

Large retail spaces are notorious for being huge energy consumers, and this was not lost on the project team behind Ágora Mall, Santo Domingo’s first LEED-certified building. Minimizing its environmental impact through energy- and water-saving strategies was a key priority for this project. 

Ágora Mall was awarded LEED Silver under the Building Design and Construction (BD+C) rating system for Core and Shell. While the mall doesn't control the entire design of the tenants, the achievement highlights the complexity of systems that converge within the building. Its domed roof is a 2,000-square-meter structure made of steel and pneumatic ETFE pillows supported by a lightweight structure. The pillows are filled with low-pressure air for insulation and resistance to wind loads. This helps the building save energy by maximizing sunlight while maintaining thermal control over the space; it also creates a more natural indoor environment, which can directly increase employee productivity and boost visitor moods. 

“This certification has a direct impact that goes beyond complying with the requirements of efficient design and construction,” said Dariela Linares of the Landmark Realty Corporation, the owner of Ágora Mall. “Our commitment goes beyond the technical operation of the building.” The mall’s status as a green building also inspires change in people’s lifestyles to raise public awareness about the need to save energy and water and how individual behavior influences our ecological footprint, she added. 

The project team also implemented a recycling and waste management plan, which has become an environmental management program with key sustainability indicators that include the treatment, reuse and disposal of potable and wastewater; energy savings; and the correct handling and disposal of hazardous materials. 

Read the full article here.

Welcome Keith Construction, our New Sponsor!

By Ritchie Lafaille, Office Fellow

Thank you to our newest Chapter Sponsoring Partner: Keith Construction! They are our new Silver Sponsors. It is great to have another dedicated high-performance construction company as part of our sponsoring partner network. 

Keith Construction is a general contractor and construction manager specializing in multifamily residential construction for clients throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. For over three decades, they have steadily grown and expanded our geographic range and scope of services to become a leader in residential rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, historic renovations, and new construction. They have done this by:

– Bringing a sense of urgency and attention to detail to all facets of the project
– Professionally managing, estimating and purchasing to give our clients the best value
– Ensuring our clients are treated fairly and doing what we promised.

They understand your building program and management needs to guarantee construction is fully integrated with accomplishing your goals.
The proof of this commitment can be found in talking to their many satisfied clients. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Keith Construction incorporated in 1993. Keith Construction is registered to do business in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Keith’s satisfaction is derived from developing long-term relationships and consistent delivery of projects. They welcome the opportunity to further talk about how they could be of service to your company.

 

Read more about Keith Construction on its website.

Advocacy Update: PACE Amendment

By USGBCMA Communications, More Green Buildings!

Last week, a combined residential (R-) and commercial (C-) PACE amendment was filed as part of the House Energy Bill (H4377).  It was one of only 6 amendments (of approximately 70 in all) to pass and ultimately be included in the existing energy bill.  The bill was then passed in a vote of the full House.  The amendment would establish a PACE program for both residential and commercial properties (with different structures appropriate to each market sector).  Notably, renewable energy was eliminated from the bill’s language as requested by the Administration.  The bill will direct Mass Development toward the responsibility of developing an energy efficiency-focused PACE program to serve a broad cross section of the residential and commercial market statewide (pending adoption of the program by municipalities individually).

The bill will now go to the Senate for approval (and potential amendment).  If the Senate passes the energy bill, it will go to Conference Committee to iron-out any discrepancies between the bills before advancing to the Governor for signature into law.

The Advocacy Committee of the USGBC MA Chapter has closely monitored the development of this bill and the C-PACE Coalition which it has led stands ready to support the bill’s passage in the Senate and execution by the Governor.  While the Chapter and the Coalition would like to see the renewable energy language added back into the bill, the Chapter will be pleased to see the efficiency-focused PACE amendment stay in the energy bill and will support the development of a PACE program to meet the goals of such legislation.