From USGBC's Founder: Why and How Profit and Sustainability Inextricably Linked

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow

The following is an excerpt taken from Green Think: How Profit Can Save the Worldwritten by USGBC's co-founder and CEO, Rick Fedrizzi:

But a new narrative is emerging — a new way of thinking, even — that is deeply rooted in reality, not distorted by history. While the old narrative claims that the environment is the enemy of growth, the new narrative holds that the environment and the economy are deeply, fundamentally connected.


They share common enemies: waste, inefficiency, pollution, climate change, resource scarcity and environmental degradation. They also share a common ally: sustainability. And instead of intractable, insulated groupthink, they share a common outlook: greenthink. Greenthink occurs when businesses, nonprofits, governments and individuals marry environmental and economic principles for the benefits they can receive from both.

Troughout the global economy, a select number of enlightened companies are already engaged in greenthink by leveraging the power of sustainability to drive profits. These businesses aren’t using less energy and fewer resources in the name of self-denial or out of the goodness of their hearts; they’re consuming less in order to earn more.

The economic incentives are changing, and so are the business models. The result is a measurable reduction in the damage that many companies inflict on the environment and people, an increase in the quality and desirability of their products and services, and a reward in the form that business understands best: cold, hard cash.

In fact, preeminent management consulting firm McKinsey & Company says that “the choice for companies today is not if, but how they should manage their sustainability activities.”

Conventional wisdom tells us that sustainability is prohibitively expensive; that industry is, by definition, destructive; and that environmentalism and capitalism are diametrically opposed. But it’s time to toss that old way of thinking out a triple-glazed, energy-efficient window. Because even though the private sector and the environmental movement have long thought of themselves as adversaries — or, at best, as folks who just walk a different path — the truth is, they will share the same fate.

The future of the planet is at stake, and so is the future of the global economy. Environmental degradation and climate change are beginning to take an enormous economic toll that will grow by orders of magnitude in the coming years. Meanwhile, environmentally friendly business practices are creating an economic windfall for those smart enough to embrace them.

This is the new reality — and our historic opportunity. Profit-driven strategies can bring us together and help us dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, eliminate harmful pollution and build a better, greener world. In other words, profit can save the planet. Perhaps that sounds too good to be true. After all, if sustainability is so profitable that it can save the planet, why hasn’t it?

Why do we still see rampant pollution and cynical greenwashing from the vast majority of the private sector? The answer is simple: most companies aren’t yet taking stock of the environment’s impact on their bottom line. But this will change. How can I be so certain? Because I’ve watched it happen to one of the world’s largest, dirtiest industries: real estate.

In just over a decade, through the revolutionary, voluntary LEED certification program, USGBC and the private sector have channeled ingenuity, shared innovations and transformed real estate and the building trades — two of the economy’s largest sectors.

To date, LEED has certified 14 billion square feet of sustainable real estate worldwide. Another 9 billion square feet are in the development pipeline. That’s a lot of square feet. But how does this translate into dollars and cents?

Well, USGBC commissioned Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) to find out. According to BAH’s 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study, the green building sector (which includes LEED, ENERGY STAR and other green-certified construction) contributed $167.4 billion to U.S. GDP from 2011 to 2014.

By 2018, BAH projects that figure will nearly double, to $303.5 billion.


The green building movement has certainly made a lot of people a lot of money — something my reporter friend was fixated on, and rightly so. But let’s be clear: we’re not just talking about developers, manufacturers and contractors. BAH found that, in 2015, the green building sector accounted for 2.3 million jobs, putting more than $134.3 billion in the pockets of American workers.

Of course, the environmental benefits of green building are just as significant as the economic ones. According to Paul Hawken, a legendary environmentalist, “USGBC may have had a greater impact than any other single organization in the world on materials saved, toxins eliminated, greenhouse gases avoided, and human health enhanced.” Not bad for a little environmental nonprofit organization.

The success of the green building movement has taught me two things. First, there is only one force powerful enough, and capable of working quickly enough, to reverse the trends eroding the environmental security of our planet and the future of humanity: capitalism.

Second, greenthink is, simply put, the biggest and most incredible business opportunity of the 21st century. That’s why there are two messages at the heart of this book.

If you’re an environmentalist, it’s time to face up to the limitations of the environmental movement, its strategies and its methods — and it’s time to start using private-sector forces to drive change instead.

If you’re a business leader, it’s time to sustainably transform your enterprise before environmental factors transform your marketplace.

If you're interested in reading more, you can find the book here on Amazon for $12.99— as you will find out if you read the book, each book is made only after it is ordered to reduce waste and inefficiency!

From National: Huge Green Building Growth Projected for Hospitality Industry

By Leticia McCadden, USGBC


Washington, D.C. — On February 18th, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its LEED in Motion: Hospitality report, which showcases tremendous industry growth in green building and defines the scale up opportunities for the hospitality sector. More than 109 million square feet of hotel space is currently LEED certified, and the report highlights some of the most impressive LEED-certified hotels throughout the world.

“Across industries we are seeing an increase in consumer demand toward sustainability practices, and no industry is better poised to meet these demands than hospitality. This growing sector is rapidly adopting green buildings because owners and developers want to enhance their triple bottom line – people, planet and profit,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “LEED is a transformative tool that positively impacts the quality of our built space by creating a healthier, more sustainable environment that saves money and resources.”

Hotels consume natural resources at an extraordinarily high rate as they are occupied 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With more than five billion square feet of space in the U.S. alone, there is an enormous opportunity for the industry to transform the impact of the built environment. A

LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), the world's most widely used green building rating program, has a growing presence in the hospitality industry – and the number of LEED-certified buildings is expected to continue at a strong pace. Currently, there are more than 1,400 hotels participating in LEED representing 638.7 million square feet. Of that, there are more than 300 LEED-certified hotels comprising nearly 109.2 million square feet of space.

According to a recent study by McGraw Hill Construction, green construction in the hospitality sector has increased by 50 percent from 2011-2013 and now represents 25 percent of all new construction in the sector today. USGBC’s recent Green Building Economic Impact Study also found that across industries, green construction is outpacing that of traditional construction and is poised to create more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs and $190.3 billion in labor earnings by 2018.

The LEED in Motion: Hospitality report highlights how LEED practices and strategies are flexible, easy to implement, generate impressive results and can be integrated into the hospitality industry throughout the building’s lifecycle, leading to high-performance in human and environmental health. Incorporating LEED includes sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

See the story on USGBC's website and check out LEED in Motion: Hospitality

Another successful Green Associate exam class

By Anthony Lucivero, Advocacy Fellow

Our LEED Exam Prep class was a success! We had a great turn out, with attendees from the real estate and construction management industries and a few architecture students mixed in for good measure. The class was led by Celis Brisbin (USGBCMA), Ryan Montoni and Matthew Smith from The Green Engineer. We covered a great deal of material in record time, and it was a helpful and informative experience for all involved. 

We are aiming to hold these Green Associate exam prep classes every few months, with the next class scheduled for April 13th. We are excited to continue to help transform the industry with these trainings, knowing that these professionals will go on to green the built environment. 

Some photos for your viewing pleasure:




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.5 Weeks From Now: NESEA: BuildingEnergy '16 Conference

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow


Join us at BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Trade Show, March 8-10 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston MA. It's going to be awesome!
 
We will be right there on the trade show floor – let us know if you'd like to volunteer to share the good news of the USGBC MA Chapter to conference attendees. 
 

Friends of USGBC MA can register with the case sensitive code FRIENDOFNESEA to receive $25 off!

Read more about the event below!

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Join NESEA for the BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Trade Show: March 8-10, 2016

Pre-Conference Workshops and Networking: March 8, 2016 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, MA

Conference + Trade Show: Wednesday and Thursday, March 9-10, 2016 at the Seaport

What is BuildingEnergy?

The BuildingEnergy Boston Conference + Trade Show is the Northeast's premier gathering for sustainable design, green building, and renewable energy professionals. Produced by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), the annual event attracts more than 3,500 practitioners working together to advance the adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment. Attendees span all sectors of the building industry, ensuring that the people you meet and the knowledge you gain will expand your network and strengthen your business. Conference sessions are rigorous, relevant, and rooted in whole-systems thinking. The trade show hosts companies with cutting edge products and services. Greenwashing is left at the door. Sound good? Join us!

Why Attend BuildingEnergy?

  • Network with industry leaders
  • Build your competitive advantage
  • Make business-to-business connections and grow your client base
  • Learn new techniques and new technologies at over 80 sessions and workshops
  • Earn your professional credits in highly engaging multi-disciplinary sessions
  • Visit exhibits of companies with cutting edge products and services

Why Exhibit at BuildingEnergy?

  • Introduce your products and services to new clientele
  • Debut new products and services to established clientele
  • Make business-to-business connections and grow your client base
  • See and be seen by industry leaders and emerging professionals
  • Avoid the discomfort of having to explain your absence

BuildingEnergy Attendee Breakdown

51% Building professionals (architects, engineers, builders, planners, contractors, facility managers, developers and designers)

23% Energy and environmental professionals

15% Educators, homeowners, students and non-profit organizations

Free Tickets Available for the 27th Annual GLOBALCON Expo!

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow


On March 9-10, the 27th annual GLOBALCON Expo will be held in Boston's Hynes Convention Center!  Along with this year's expo will be a conference, seminars, and workshops that allow attendees to discover new products, techniques, solutions and services, and network with industry professionals.

USGBC MA has obtained free tickets to the Expo for any of our Members that wish to attend, and we also have a handful of remaining discounted tickets to the full conference for a special rate of $595 (which is a $300 discount).  This package would include: admission to the multitrack conference sessions, a pass to attend the exposition, a copy of the Show Proceedings, as well as luncheons in the exhibit hall.  

Lastly, if you plan on attending the exposition, make sure to stop by our booth!  We are also looking for volunteers to man the booth if anybody is interested.  Here is more info about the event, taken from the website:


WHY GLOBALCON

Decision makers from business, industry and government must now seek integrated energy solutions — solutions which assure both a secure and affordable energy supply to meet today's and tomorrow's needs, and effective management of energy and overall operational costs. The GLOBALCON Expo will emphasize four critical areas of leading edge technology and related services:

✓ Energy Management, HVAC and Smart Building Systems
✓ Renewables, Alternative Energy and Onsite Generation
✓ Lighting Efficiency and Integrated Energy Solutions
✓ Plant and Facilities Management

Presented By…

GLOBALCON 2016, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those seeking to expand their knowledge of fast-moving developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies.

Hosted By…

National Grid, Platinum Sponsoring Partner to USGBC MA, is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to customers and communities across Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. They work closely across the energy industry, connecting tradespersons, contractors, regulators, and energy supply representatives to deliver quality services to their customers.

Zero Net Energy Building Tour- Next Week

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow


We have a tremendous opportunity next week for USGBC MA members. Wouldn't you love to tour a LEED Platinum Zero Net Energy Building? 

Well, you’re in luck! Next Tuesday, the 23rd, USGBC MA will present a seminar to learn design strategies and guidelines to aid you in creating your Net Zero Energy projects.

The facility at hand is designed and constructed to zero net energy by massive load reduction coupled with roof mounted solar photovoltaics, all of which will be detailed in the seminar.

AGENDA:

  • Welcome and introductions with USGBC MA Chapter member Conor McGuire
  • Net Zero Energy design and construction strategies and guidelines for ANY project.
  • Detailed specifics about the MA Fisheries & Wildlife project.
  • Interactive Q & A Session.  Your understanding is the paramount goal of the session! Come with questions!
  • Building tour including access to areas not available to the public (upper offices, mechanical rooms, etc.)
  • Regroup, final questions, wrap-up conclusions

DFW-ZNEB-HQ-770x290.png

The facility achieves zero net energy through solar photovoltaics and innovative mechanical systems as well as building envelope quality and reduction of all energy loads through building management.

The building features a very efficient envelope with triple glazed curtainwall and metal windows as well as structural insulated panels.  It has been oriented to optimize production from the rooftop photovoltaic panels while minimizing heating and cooling energy use.

Project Features:

  • LEED Platinum certification
  • Modeled EUI: 26.3 kBtu/sqft/yr
  • All electric based primary systems
  • Heating & Cooling separated from Ventilation Air
  • Radiant heating and cooling
  • Mechanically assisted natural ventilation
  • Solar Heat Gain Control- window:wall ratio, placement, shading, type
  • Ground Source Heat Pumps
  • Photovoltaic panels all roof mounted
  • Mechanically assisted natural ventilation
  • Heat recovery
  • Native plant species serving as educational gateway to 1000 acre wildlife management lands

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters, East Elevation

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters, Rendering East Elevation
Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters, Rendering of North Elevation

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters, Rendering of North Elevation
Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters Rendering, view from Southwest

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters Rendering, view from Southwest

Work in Progress:

fish-wild-foundation

fish-wild-foundation

fish-wild-foundation

LEED GBCI Credential Maintence

The tour is eligible for LEED CEUs through the self-reporting function at the USGBC.ORG website. See page 2 for instructions. 

Register here for the event!

Tomorrow- Green Roofs Costs & Benefits Webinar

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow

Tomorrow, the 18th, join as at 6 PM in Worcester for a Green Roofs Costs and Benefits webinar!  This is a great opportunity to learn more about green roofs and their importance in green building.  Note that webinars are pre-recorded and must be attended in person to receive credit. 

About This Event:

A Green Roof installation is a strategy that can contribute up to 20% of the total credits needed to attain LEED certification. Furthermore, a Green Roof can be on a partial portion of the roof and need not fully cover the available roof area. This course will provide you with thermal properties information and quantify the potential energy savings so that a cost/benefit analysis can be made. Rainwater quality and quantity measurements are provided as well. Course participants will gain valuable knowledge on the component parts of green roofs, and savings potential gained from installing a green roof.

The information provided will be useful to many of our members: contractors, investors, property owners, developers, businesses, commercial organizations, and all other LEED professionals.

Webinar Goals:

  1. Learn about the thermal properties of green roofs and the best climates and conditions that provide information for best practices when installing and maintaining a green roof.
  2. Learn about two case studies that quantify the energy savings potential and rainwater management properties of green roofs
  3. Learn about the multiple credit categories and amount of points that an installation of a green roof can contribute towards for LEED certification
  4. Learn about the green roof market and a green roof benefits and costs

The webinar will take place at Sustainability Hub, located at 912 South Main Street in Worcester. Register for the event here, and print your PARKING PASS here!

 

Annual Sustainable Dinner Recap

By Stephanie MacNeil, Emerging Professionals Committee


This year’s annual sustainable dinner was a welcome chance for a hearty warm meal on a rare bitterly cold evening this winter.  Moods were warmed through the mingling of members of the USGBC and the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) who for the evening shared the common cause of learning how the lighting we place in our buildings affects more than just our ability to see where we walk—everything from interference with bird migratory patterns, disruption of our natural circadian rhythms, the loss of our ancestral connection to the starry night sky, and a poetic reminder that light is as much art as it is science.

Thank you to Jane Slade of RAB Lighting for presenting and sponsoring the evening.

Great conversation was had over a dinner of locally raised pork, vegetables and grains as we were informed by Chef Nookie who made a special appearance at the end of the evening.  And just when we thought the night couldn’t get any better – there was make your own brownie sundaes, it was a sweet ending to be sure!

A huge thank you to Commonwealth for hosting and feeding us, and to RAB Lighting for sponsoring and “enlightening” us (no pun intended).

 


 


Special thanks are also due to the organizing group of Kristin Malyak, Stephanie MacNeil and Jenna Dancewicz of the Emerging Professionals Committee. It was a great night out!

 


Coming Up: COP21 Paris Climate Talks Uncoference

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow

Next March, the USGBC MA chapter will be hosting a special COP21 Paris Climate Talks Unconference to revisit these important international conversations.

This is a unique opportunity to discuss the historic 2015 United Nations Congress of the Parties (COP21), held this past December in Paris, France.  The provisions and commitments reached in the agreement have global implications for sustainability, climate change, and green building, and certainly warrant a closer examination, extensive analysis, and more discussion.

For this reason, we have put together a half-day event featuring a community of experts from a variety of organzations and firms. Panelists who attended the Paris climate talks will be present, with break-out groups led by local issue experts.


More about the Event:

More than 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are buildings-related, and emissions could double
 by 2050 if we carry on business as 
usual. Inaction increases risks and vulnerability of countries, regions and local communities from climate change. Yet:

  • The buildings sector offers one of the most cost-effective and economically beneficial paths for reducing energy demand and associated emissions while at the same time supporting adaptation and resilience to climate change.
  • Many low-energy, renewable and deep- renovation solutions are available. Proven policy, finance and technology actions exist.
  • The economic, health, and social benefits of sustainable buildings are significant. Buildings provide shelter, places to live, work, learn and socialize, directly affecting our daily lives.
  • Buildings are long-term ventures. Today’s new buildings are tomorrow’s existing stock. Failure to act now will lock in growth in GHG emissions for decades.

Here is how the morning will pan out:

8:30 – 9 Registration and networking
9 – 9:15 Keynote and opening
9:15 – 10:30 Breakout (unconference)
10:30 – 10:40 Break + Networking
10:40 – 12:00 Paris Panel with questions from audience

Both the panel and breakout sessions will focus on the following topics and will provide perspectives from various professional backgrounds:

  • Value Chain Transformation: is the building sector capable of massive deployment of low emitting buildings and deep renovations? How will building sector stakeholders better work together to scale up solutions adapted to local circumstances?
  • Bridging the investment gap: how ready is the finance sector to increase investment in building efficiency?  How will we address the critical need to scale up the public and private financing of EE and sustainable buildings. We will explore how buildings and EE can contribute to realizing MA's carbon goals and how the financial sector can help support that.
  • Public Policies: what is the readiness to implement long term action plans to address the key role of local jurisdictions to organize and facilitate integrated policy packages and collaborative approaches that shift to a low carbon and resilient built environment. 
  • Building rating & reporting systems: how do they support the COP21 momentum?  

Please join us as a community of advocates and practitioners as we explore how to leverage the public awareness and policy momentum generated by COP21 to drive policy gains in Massachusetts.

Get Involved with USGBC MA and Volunteer!

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow

Are you passionate about sustainability, efficiency, and the environment?  Do you have familiarity with green building and understand how the built environment affects all of us and the world? 

If yes, then you should consider joining our volunteers!  We have a variety of open positions with different responsibilities, qualifications, and time commitments, and all positions receive some kind of benefit!

With any of the volunteer positions, you will be an integral component of our operations and gain a greater understanding of our organization, its mission and its goals, and how we organize our events, advocate, and conduct outreach.


Volunteer assignments include LEED Study Jam Group Instructor, Webinar Proctor, Green Building Analyst/Reporter, USGBC Ambassador, Green Building Tour Coordinator, Outreach Committee Co-Chair, and Committee Leadership

Each position has its own details and specifics, but with any of these opportunities you will get to know the ins-and-outs of our organization, green building, and more!

If you're interested, you can learn more from our volunteer page or fill out our volunteering questionaire form.  We are very flexible with time commitment, the window of time in which you would want to volunteer, and prior experiences and qualifications.  

Volunteering with the Chapter will qualify for credential maintenance hours for GBCI – up to half of your required hours can be earned through volunteering with us. Usually this is much more engaging than sitting through a webinar late at night!