Built Environment Plus

2023 BE+ Scavenger Hunt: Virtual Kickoff
2023-04-03 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
The BE+ Sustainability Scavenger Hunt is back and promises to deliver the most fun, the most sun, and the most puns yet. ???? Get your crew back together or start a new team and join us for some friendly competition! Explore sustainable practices in the built environment while engaging your colleagues and getting creative. ???? Complete as many missions as you can for the chance to win prizes and awards! ????
Last year, 26 teams completed over 1600 missions! The energy was contagious and the quality of submissions was outrageous.
Once again, the BE+ Scavenger Hunt will be hosted digitally by goosechase* and will allow teams of 4, or larger for families, to complete a series of photo, video, and text based missions to gain points over 20 days spanning three weekends. The game is self paced, with the exception of 7 missions that are aligned with days of the week.
BE+ will host a virtual Kickoff Event on the evening of April 3rd to go over rules, answer any questions, and help facilitate team formation. The hunt then goes live the morning of April 4th. Registration and team creation will be live throughout the duration of the 20 day runtime, so you can join in at any time. The game ends on April 23rd, and then we will come together the evening of April 27th for a celebration event, where we will announce the winners and give out some fantastic prizes.

Fundamentals of Pre-Construction and Project Management (7 Part Course)
2023-04-04 15:00 - 16:30, 2023-04-11 15:00 - 16:30, 2023-04-18 15:00 - 16:30, 2023-04-25 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
Seven 1-1/2 Hour Sessions from March 14th to April 25th
About the Class
This interactive virtual training is targeted at emerging project managers and estimators. Over the course of seven sessions, participants will learn the fundamentals of good pre-construction and project management practice. The sessions will be virtual and live, combining presentation with hands-on exercises and group discussion. Participants will be provided with assignments between sessions, tools, and templates.
Registration closes on March 3rd.
This course is taught by Tia Garcia and Greg Woleck (HELM Construction Solutions)

About HELM
HELM is a collaborative team with expertise in construction, management, leadership, and education. With main offices in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont and satellite offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Chicago we work with contractors, architects, homeowners, business owners, and institutions throughout the country to advance high performance building practices and triple bottom line business principles. HELM is a socially responsible business dedicated to empowering teams to work together in collaborative and creative ways for a common shared outcome.

Learning Objectives
Gain insight on best practices for pre-construction and project management
Practice reviewing architectural plans and developing a scope of work
Learn strategies for developing preliminary and detailed estimates
Build a Gantt chart construction schedule
Process a Change Order document
Understand fundamentals of client management and team facilitation

7 Sessions
Session #1 (3/14) – Introduction, Sales, Overview
Session #2 (3/21) – Pre-Con, Expectations, Schematic Design
Session #3 (3/28) – Estimating for Design Development & Construction Documents
Session #4 (4/4) – Contracts, Kickoff, Pre-Mortem
Session #5 (4/11) – Scheduling, and Change Orders
Session #6 (4/18) – Project Management
Session #7 (4/25) – Overview, Project Close Out, Discussion

Sessions will be offered via Zoom on seven consecutive Tuesdays from 3:00-4:30pm. We are limiting registration to 20 participants to keep the group small and allow for lots of discussion and small group breakouts. Attending all sessions in real-time is strongly encouraged, however, we will be recording the sessions.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by February 21st, 2023
Funding Grants Available: Submit by February 21st, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1135951

Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance
2023-04-05 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-06-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance hosted monthly roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to decarbonizing existing buildings.
Reach out to communications@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.
Existing buildings are major contributors to climate change. In 2015, existing residential and commercial buildings generated 1,913.3 MMtCO2e, or 29 percent of total U.S. emissions. To help address this sector, Built Environment Plus (BE+) with Rethinking Power Management LLC (RPM) are spearheading a coalition of organizations with expertise in GHG reduction and who are committed to supporting decarbonization in existing buildings.
This reoccurring monthly gathering is a roundtable which serves as a platform where practitioners and reporting entities can come together to discuss best practices, technologies, challenges, hear information related to the ordinance and its implementation, etc.
The Alliance’s objectives include:
– Increase awareness of energy disclosure ordinances including BERDO and BEUDO and enhance understanding of requirements.
– Provide information and resources to reporting organizations that answer “how do we comply” questions through general and building-sector specific webinars.
– Engage disadvantaged/underserved communities.
– Share best practices and lessons learned.
– Provide resources to building owners to help understand decarbonization pathways and create carbon reduction roadmaps.
– Work with non-profit partners to provide information about/introductions to established practitioners.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Living Future Roundtable
2023-04-06 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-06-01 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Living Future Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss topics and issues related to International Living Future Institute (ILFI) programs.
Reach out to livingfuture@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Communication Skills for Persuasion and Influence
2023-04-11 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Many people start talking before their first birthday, so how come communication can be so difficult when we have so much experience? How can you evaluate the effectiveness of your communication style? How can you convince someone to do something? Sometimes the issue is between you and your team, and other times it is with a client or vendor. This workshop will help you build core communication skills to overcome resistance, strengthen your ability to influence others, and manage your emotions so they don’t get in the way of communicating effectively.
This course is taught by Barbra Batshalom Sustainable Performance Institute (SPI).

Funding Grants Available: Submit by March 21st, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1136165

Background photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.

Emerging Professionals Recycling Tour
2023-04-12 17:00 - 19:30 | 5 Lakeland Park Drive, Peabody, MA, 5 Lakeland Park Drive, Peabody, MA, 01960, United States
Join BE+ Emerging Professionals for a tour of Greenworks Recycling Facility!
The BE+ Emerging Professionals Community is collaborating with Republic Services to provide a tour of the Greenworks Recycling Facility in Peabody. The 90-minute tour will run from about 5:00pm to 6:30pm, and we will be hosting a debrief onsite (with pizza!) until 7:30pm. We will be meeting at 5 Lakeland Park Drive in Peabody, then there is a 2 minute walk over to the recycling facility. The $5 ticket fee for emerging professionals will help to cover the cost of dinner. Please see requirements and directions to be sure you are prepared.

Location Notes:
Greenworks Recycling Facility – 5 Lakeland Park Drive, Peabody, MA 01960
Attendees must wear closed-toes shoes and clothing that can be easily washed (it is very dusty). Folks are welcome to wear masks for Covid concerns or because they may be sensitive the dusty air. Attendees must sign and bring the visitors waiver.
Parking Notes:
At 5 Lakeland there is an outer and inner parking lot; feel free to park in the outer parking lot if there are too many cars next to the building. (We will be there to direct traffic.)
Ticket sales support the BE+ Emerging Professional Community.
This event was planned and is hosted, by the BE+ Emerging Professionals Community

Carbon and Energy Roundtable
2023-04-20 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Carbon and Energy Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to carbon and energy in buildings.
Reach out to carbonenergy@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Intro to Designing a Net Zero Building
2023-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Participants will learn the components of Net Zero. It may seem out of reach, but firms are turning these hurdles into opportunities. Join us as we examine case studies, detailing integrated systems and creative solutions that make Net Zero Energy (NZE) a reality.
This course is taught by Ari Greenberg and Michael Swenson, BR+A.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by April 4th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131177

Background photo above is of the John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building via BR+A taken by ©Edward Caruso

BE+ 2023 Scavenger Hunt Celebration!
2023-04-27 17:30 - 19:30 | Cisco Brewery, 85 Northern Ave, Boston, 02210, United States
Join us for a raucous celebration of all our wonderful Scavenger Hunt teams and participants as we make this Celebration Event an Earth Month tradition!
Our 3rd annual Sustainability Scavenger Hunt runs from April 4th to April 23rd. All players get into the celebration event for free! Players will receive a code for free registration once the Scavenger Hunt is live. Otherwise, you can just join into the fun by purchasing a Celebration Event ticket. Food and drink at the Cisco Brewers Seaport beer garden is included! Come socialize, play games, and celebrate the players and winning teams!
Cisco Brewers SeaportThanks to WS Development, we are thrilled to bring this year’s Celebration to Cisco Brewers Seaport Beer Garden. Located at 85 Northern Avenue, this outdoor beer garden is in its sixth season bringing a slice of Nantucket to Boston.

High-Performance Building for Carpenters (6 Part Course)
2023-05-04 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-11 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-18 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-25 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-01 13:00 - 17:00 | Studio for High-Performance Design & Construction, 151R Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Six 4-Hour Sessions from May 4th to June 8th.
About the Class
This course teaches carpenters how to apply fundamental building skills to high-performance construction projects. Topics focus on the four layers of a high-performance house: water, air, vapor, and thermal. Throughout the 6-week course, students will learn high-performance essentials through building science lessons and hands-on practice with mock-up assemblies. The multi-faceted learning approach provides carpenters with a holistic understanding of high-performance construction from building science to install. Through classroom concepts, hands-on training, and project management overview, this class is ideal for any carpenter who wants to excel in at high-performance construction.
Registration closes on April 20th.

About SHPDC
Housed in a state-of-the-art Passive House facility, StudioHPDC is a classroom and educational center for sustainable design & construction. We develop and host training courses for consumers, students, architects, and trades people in all experience levels ranging from introductory sessions and overviews to hands-on workshops and certification programs. In addition to training courses, we host regular networking and discussion group events and provide resources for all those interested in sustainable construction.
The Studio for High Performance Design & Construction is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Learning Objectives
1. Gain a fundamental understanding of high- performance building science
2. Understand key components and concepts of high-performance residential construction
3. Apply concepts to hands-on construction through use of mock-up assemblies
4. Review high-performance project management strategies
5. Finish the course prepared to leverage skills in a career in high-performance construction

6 Sessions
Session 1: Framing & Sheathing
Thursday, May 4 – 1:00-5:00pm
Session 2: Air Sealing
Thursday, May 11 – 1:00-5:00pm
Session 3: Insulation
Thursday, May 18 – 1:00-5:00pm
Session 4: Windows & Doors
Thursday, May 25 – 1:00-5:00pm
Session 5: Roofs & Junctions
Thursday, June 1 – 1:00-5:00pm
Session 6: Testing & Verification
Thursday, June 8 – 1:00-5:00pm

Funding Grants Available: Submit by April 13th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
$2,420 is eligible for grant funding. ($580 is for course materials and not available for grant funding).
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1137031

Lead Carpenter Training (4 Part Course)
2023-05-09 15:30 - 17:00, 2023-05-30 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Four 1-1/2 Hour Sessions on May 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th.
About the Class
Lead Carpenter Training is for current and aspiring leads who are looking to build their management and leadership skills. In four 1-1/2 Hour Sessions on May 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th, we will explore what it means to be a lead carpenter- the job description, how to set a project up for success, and how to lead a team. We’ll also provide a portfolio of sample documents to support your process. This training is geared towards current and aspiring lead carpenters, site leads, and site supervisors in the construction trades. Our focus is on residential custom construction, although the concepts apply to many types of construction.
Registration closes on April 25th.
This course is taught by Brad Richards and Tia Garcia, HELM Construction Solutions

About HELM
Our purpose is to revolutionize the construction industry, centering the triple bottom line principles of planet, people, and prosperity to become a catalyst for climate justice.
HELM is a collaborative team with expertise in construction, management, leadership, and education. With main offices in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont and satellite offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Chicago we work with contractors, Architects, homeowners, business owners, and institutions throughout the country to advance high performance building practices and triple bottom line business principles. HELM is a socially responsible business dedicated to empowering teams to work together in collaborative and creative ways for a common shared outcome.

Learning Objectives
1. Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Lead Carpenter
2. Review strategies for team leadership
3. Develop methods for successfully performing recurring tasks
4. Develop methods for managing schedules, resources, and communication

4 Sessions
Session #1 (5/9) – Project Set-Up (aka Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance)
Session #2 (5/16) – Project Execution (aka Eyes on the Prize(s))
Session #3 (5/23) – Project Closeout (aka It’s Not Over Until…)
Session #4 (5/30) – Open Discussion, Question, and Answer
Sessions will be offered via Zoom on four consecutive Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00pm. We are limiting registration to 10-15 participants to keep the group small and allow for lots of discussion and small group breakouts. Attending all sessions in real-time is strongly encouraged, however, we will be recording the sessions.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by April 18th, 2023
Funding Grants Available: Submit by April 18th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1135459

Passive House 101: An Introduction to Passive Buildings
2023-05-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
In this course, we will provide an overview of the Passive House building standard including certification metrics, common design elements, and net-zero potential, as well as the impacts Passive House has on carbon and health.
Examples of various building types will be presented and information on funding opportunities will be provided. Get your questions answered on what Passive House is and how to achieve it, and see how it is expanding throughout the state and region.
This course is taught by Aaron Gunderson. Aaron is the Executive Director of Passive House Massachusetts, overseeing member engagement, public outreach, educational programing, and organizational administration. He is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson and an accredited LEED professional with prior experience in community outreach & development for clean-tech companies and solar power installers. He holds a Master’s in Sustainability from Harvard University where he focused on sustainable building design, embodied carbon and energy analysis, greenhouse gas reporting, and community-level climate adaptation.

Course Objectives
Learn what the Passive House standard is and what the requirements are.
Learn about design & construction elements of success projects.
Learn about the energy, carbon, and health benefits of PH buildings.
Learn from examples of built projects in the region.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by April 20th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131153

Background photo above is of Finch Cambridge taken by Anthony Crisafulli for Icon Architecture

Emerging Professionals Roundtable
2023-05-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Arup, 60 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109, US
Emerging Professionals May Roundtable
Date: May 11th, 2023 | Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Location: Arup, 60 State Street, Boston Massachusetts 02109
Join the BE+ Emerging Professionals Community for our May Roundtable hosted by Arup at 60 State Street in Boston. They will present on some of their sustainability work, we’ll discuss upcoming Emerging Professionals events, and network over pizza and drinks. Registration is free for BE+ Members and Emerging Professionals.

Health and Wellness Roundtable
2023-05-12 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Health and Wellness Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to healthy buildings.
Reach out to wellness@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

May 2023 – Induction Stoves in Housing & Health Impacts of Gas in Buildings

Topic description and Subject Matter Experts TBA

Emerging Professionals Podcast Club
2023-05-18 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual Event
Emerging Professionals Media Club: Leveraging Climate Change Reporting

This event is for anyone interested in podcasts, good governance, and climate reporting!
The BE+ spin on a bookclub! The Emerging Professionals Media Club will host recurring, multimodal discussions around sustainability topics. This event invites participants to listen to 2 selected podcast episodes around how we can leverage climate change reporting, and then join us for a discussion.
Episodes are freely available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the podcast’s websites.
Podcast:

Pod 1: Should the Government Pay for Your Bad Climate Decisions?
Pod 2: Why the New IPCC Report is so Important

This event was planned, and is hosted, by the BE+ Emerging Professionals Committee.
Background photo by Dillon Shook on Unsplash

Women in Green Roundtable
2023-05-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The BE+ Women in Green Roundtable is a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to collaborate as Women in the industry.
Reach out to womeningreen@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

Empowered to Lead: AEC Commitments

Women are leading many of the national AEC commitments established in response to the Carbon 2019 Summit in Chicago. The commitments represent hundreds of architecture, design, engineering, and construction firms across the country, united in a common goal. At our roundtable, we will have guest experts from each sector to guide the discussion about advancing sustainability efforts nationally while balancing careers and projects in their own firms. We will talk about how women can be empowered to lead, how we can get involved in opportunities beyond our own companies, and about the challenges in doing so.
Subject Matter ExpertsAndrea Love, AIA, LEED Fellow | Principal, Director of Building Science | Payette

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Buildings and Carbon
2023-05-30 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
This course will focus on climate impacts associated with carbon emissions from the built environment. It will emphasize the importance of goal setting and taking actions to manage building-related carbon emissions throughout a building’s life cycle.
The course will begin with an exploration of the context of climate emissions in the built environment, covering topics such as the global carbon cycle, whole building life cycle analysis, operational carbon, embodied carbon and the impact of building materials and practices, carbon storage and buildings as carbon sinks, the “time value” of carbon, and a series of solutions from material selection to policy engagement for addressing the climate impact of the built environment.
Next, the course will explore applied strategies in the context of a design practice, covering topics such as goal setting and defined metrics, defining core questions framing carbon analysis, carbon accounting tools, and workflow in the design process.
Finally, the course will guide participants through a series of workshops and facilitated discussion in which key barriers to and opportunities for implementing carbon reduction strategies in participants’ practices are identified, discussed, prioritized, and formulated into an action list for participants to reference moving forward to actualize real carbon reduction in their work.

Learning Objectives
Understand the impact of embodied carbon and carbon storage in building materials.
Become familiar with real-world examples and case studies that stored carbon.
Identify tools, workflow strategies, and other resources for carbon accounting in the design process.
Take action on opportunities and strategies for integrating climate action and carbon reduction into their professional practice.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by May 9th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131156

Background photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash
