EPMA Sustainable Bike tour of the Emerald Necklace
By Ryan Montoni, The Green Engineer
Overall, the bike tour turned out to be a huge success!
Overall, the bike tour turned out to be a huge success!
Especially with the new announcement of integration across Standard 189.1 – linking ASHRAE, IES, the IgCC, and LEED. Read about it in a great post by Brendan Owens at USGBC.
We have our EPMA Sustainable Building Bike Tour tomorrow in Boston (starting in Cambridge).
We have a Green Schools Committee meeting on Tuesday 8/26 at 6pm in Boston. We'll be finalizing planning for the Green Apple Day of Service. So far we have about 25 projects in the works, throughout the state. This year we are offering “mini-grants” to help fund supplies for the service projects. Sponsors of the mini-grants include: National Grid, NStar, Capitol Waste Services, Re-Stream, and Triumph Modular.
What's been going on? I hope you've had a good time getting out into the countryside, or the oceanside for that matter. Though the city existence has good moments too.
Here's Jim Newman presenting on resilience earlier this week – based on his report “Building Resilience in Boston” and how it connects with the residential marketplace. Where are your mechanicals? Do you really want that beach-front property? How can we use the threat of severe weather events as an opportunity to improve our communities? Thanks Jim – that was a great presentation.
Other events this week were the “Switch Flipping Ceremony” for Boston Properties' 820kW array in Waltham and Eric Corey Freed's “The Net Zero Imperative” presentation.
Stay tuned to the USGBC MA Chapter as we bring you more of the best as we promote, facilitate and celebrate MORE GREEN BUILDINGS!
Looking at Mt. Passaconaway from Hedgehog Mountain |
We had attendees representing state and local governments such as the City's Environment Department, community developers, building scientists, architects, contractors, LEED consultants and biomimicry experts. It was a great crowd and engaging discussions ensued.
The “20 Steps to Net Zero” of organicARCHITECT are:
Eric's overarching message: just do it. Don't ask. If you have to, sneak it in!
It was a great presentation of over 600 slides. Whew! Thank you Eric!
See the previous blog for the details on the system.
Many of the project participants were in attendance along with local and state dignitaries to celebrate.
It was great to attend and see real leaders for the future of sustainability in real estate. Congratulations and thank you Boston Properties!
Here is the scene: on a hillside in western Waltham, the “outside” of Rt. 128 accessible from Winter Street is Bay Colony, a couple million sq. ft. of prime Class A corporate office space. On a parking structure, the Boston Properties team, led by Chapter Director Ben Myers, conceived, organized (& financed) and implemented an 840kW PV array. In the distance you can see other Boston Properties holdings in Back Bay, Boston on the horizon.
According to the team, this is the largest one of its kind in the Northeast. Participants included: Solaire, Healthy Planet Partners, and Boston Properties.
Also in attendance were members of the regional brokerage team – including Bruce Lee of Lee Partners of New England who used to work at Bay Colony (on left) and Boston Properties' SVP of Leasing David Provost (on right).
Boston Properties is clearly a leader on sustainability in the built environment. They have one of the largest portfolios of LEED certified space in the state, and I've heard they are going for a net-zero project in Boston in the near future…
Here we have Senior VP Bryan Koop, Construction Manager (and Chapter Director) Ben Myers (who coordinated the project) and Michael Richter of Healthy Planet Partners discussing how they'll present and manage to “flip the switch”.
Congratulations, Ben! Nice work on behalf of our movement!
The Boston Properties Team “Array!”
Boston Properties, Healthy Planet Partners and Solaire Generation Complete Northeast’s Largest Garage-Mounted Solar Canopy – 840 kW Solar Array at Boston Properties’ Bay Colony Office Park in Waltham, MA
Flipping the Switch: Undersecretary Mark Sylvia of the MA EEA, Michael Richter of Healthy Planet Partners, Laurence Mackler of Solaire, and Bryan Koop of Boston Properties |
August 11, 2014 – Boston Properties (NYSE: BXP), Healthy Planet Partners (“HPP”) and Solaire Generation today announced they were “Flipping the Switch” on the Northeastern United States’ largest garage mounted solar canopy at Boston Properties’ Bay Colony. The solar canopy covers 60,000 sq. ft. at the 950 Winter Street parking garage. The 840 kW installation is projected to produce more than one (1) million kWh of renewable power annually. The energy produced is equivalent to twenty percent of Bay Colony Building 950’s total consumption or enough energy to power 130 Massachusetts homes. Annually, renewable energy generated by the solar array will offset 340 metric tons of CO2.
“HPP is extremely proud of this partnership with Boston Properties, a leading commercial REIT in the U.S.,” said Michael Richter, Managing Partner of Healthy Planet Partners. “This significant solar project illustrates a strong commitment to efficient and sustainable operation of buildings and facilities. This effort should serve as a model for the utilization of parking garages across Massachusetts and beyond.”
“With the commissioning of this solar canopy, our properties now host 950 kW of solar installations,” stated Bryan Koop, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Boston Properties. “We are pleased to do our part in reaching the State’s aggressive goal of achieving 1,600 MW of installed solar power by 2020.”
Solaire Generation’s CEO Laurence Mackler added, “Solaire is thrilled to be a part of this exciting project. We applaud Boston Properties’ taking advantage of significant space available on their parking lots and thinking beyond traditional rooftop and ground-mount solar installations. ”
The project included the installation of 2,850 panels and nearly 300 tons of steel. In addition to generating clean energy at a discounted rate to the customers at Bay Colony, the canopies protect employees and visitors at 950 Winter Street from the elements.
About Healthy Planet Partners, LLC
Headquartered in Greenwich, CT, Healthy Planet Partners, LLC (“HPP”) is a diversified asset manager focused on investments in energy and infrastructure. The firm provides capital, expertise, and a broad network of experts to help clients minimize environmental impact and maximize performance. HPP targets investments serving commercial, industrial, governmental and utility clients in energy and infrastructure. For further information about HPP, see www.healthyplanetpartners.com.
About Boston Properties
Boston Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that develops, redevelops, acquires, manages, operates and owns a diverse portfolio of Class A office space, one hotel, three residential properties and four retail properties. The Company is one of the largest owners and developers of Class A office properties in the United States, concentrated in four markets – Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. For more information about Boston Properties, see www.bostonproperties.com.
About Solaire Generation
Solaire Generation is the market leader for the design, fabrication, and installation of elegant solar solutions. With more than 40 MW of solar parking canopies installed to date, Solaire is expanding its offerings to include financing and development of carport, roof, and ground solar projects, as well as a la carte EPC services. Solaire is active across the United States and in select international markets. For further information about Solaire Generation, see www.solairegeneration.com.
Friday August 8th, approximately two dozen members of the USGBC MA West Branch (and friends & family) attended the second annual Summer Social BBQ at the home of former West Branch Chair Ludmilla Pavlova-Gilham in North Amherst.
We convened our monthly organizational meeting during the social event. Topics included:
Natick, MA (July 31, 2014) – RE/MAX of New England is pleased to announce that Boston-based RE/MAX Leading Edge has unveiled the Leading Edge Green Partnership Program (LEGPP). The program is designed to reward non-profits that support green building and sustainability in Massachusetts, as well as to promote market transformation towards healthier and more energy-efficient buildings in the Commonwealth.
Craig Foley (Green Partnership Program), Travis Estes (Next Step Living), and Grey Lee (USGBC MA) |
The pilot transaction featured an employee from Next Step Living, New England’s leading provider of home energy solutions, who purchased a home with the help of National Association of REALTORS® Green Designee Craig Foley of RE/MAX Leading Edge. The transaction closed at the end of May and resulted in a check for 5% of the gross commission to the Massachusetts Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC is a registered 501(c)(3) and a champion of green building.
“We really appreciate this kind of support for our mission to facilitate more green buildings and market transformation,” said Grey Lee, Executive Director of the MA Chapter of the USGBC. “The green partnership program that RE/MAX Leading Edge has created underlines their commitment to the green marketplace.
The program refers real estate buyers and sellers to Massachusetts real estate agents that have achieved the National Association of REALTORS® Green Designation. More information about the designation can be found via the Green Resource Council website.
“RE/MAX Leading Edge has emerged as a frontrunner in the green housing market,” said Dan Breault, Executive Vice President and Regional Director of RE/MAX of New England. “This partnership with Next Step Living is a great step toward creating a more sustainable building environment in Massachusetts.”
“We are excited to have developed our first substantial collaboration by partnering with Next Step Living. It’s the perfect match to initiate the program,” said Paul Mydelski, broker-owner of RE/MAX Leading Edge. “Being able to give back to the USGBC, a non-profit committed to green building and market transformation, is a perfect mix of players.”
“Next Step Living is pleased to have this outstanding new partnership with RE/MAX Leading Edge,” said Gabe Shapiro, vice president of outreach programs at Next Step Living. “We have a shared goal to help people live more sustainably and are proud to work with such a leader in promoting green homes.”
Mission-aligned companies and non-profits that would like to participate and support market transformation with NAR Green Designated agents throughout the state should contact Craig Foley, the Chief of Energy Solutions for RE/MAX Leading Edge, at leadingedgegreen@gmail.com for more information about the LEGPP. NAR Green-Designated agents are encouraged to contact Craig about the program; affiliation with RE/MAX is not required.
About RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX Integra
Since its inception in 1985, RE/MAX of New England has grown to over 200 offices and 2,700 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. RE/MAX provides franchised residential and commercial real estate services to its franchisees and their real estate professionals.
About Next Step Living
Next Step Living, No. 84 on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies in the country, is the leading provider of whole-home energy solutions in New England. Headquartered in Boston’s Innovation District, Next Step Living makes it easy and affordable for people to live in homes with a low environmental impact. For information about buying and selling energy-efficient homes, download a complimentary ebook.
About U.S. Green Building Council, MA Chapter
The mission of the Chapter is to promote the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings and communities in Massachusetts through education, collaboration, and advocacy; this enables an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
About the National Association of REALTORS® Green Designation
NAR's Green Designation is the only National Association of REALTORS® conferred real estate designation designed for agents engaged in issues of energy-efficiency and sustainability in the various facets of real estate.
We also went through our budget and talked about events, fundraising and membership.
Of course the big event is the Massachusetts LEED Project Showcase 2014 on September 30, 2014 at Genzyme.
All project parties are welcome to present a mounted poster of their LEED-Certified building(s) as a “Project Board Sponsor.” There are many categories of sponsorship resulting in advertising, video, and live presenting opportunities at the event. Look at the opportunities on our Showcase Sponsorship page.
Next week, we have a workshop on 8/14/14 in Boston: The NET ZERO Imperative with architect Eric Corey Freed.
Also next week on Monday, the Residential Green Building Committee will gather to discuss green residential financing programs.
The Membership Committee is meeting on Tuesday evening.
Both of these meetings take place in Boston.
One last thing to keep on the calendar is the EPMA Summer Bike Tour – on Saturday August 23rd. We'll be biking from Central Sq, Cambridge, over to the Fenway all the way to the Arboretum. See you there!