Join the Volunteer Squad

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!

 

 

Supreme Court temporarily blocks Clean Power Plan

By Anthony Lucivero, Advocacy Fellow


The Supreme Court has decided to temporarily block the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.  The case was brought against the EPA by North Dakota and 28 other states, as well as energy companies.  They contend that that the EPA overstepped its boundaries by regulating both carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants and concurrently making states phase-out coal-fired energy from their energy portfolios.  The plaintiffs contend that this double-regulation would put a massive financial burden on consumers. There is an official court order by the Supreme Court for the Clean Power Plan to be stayed until the D.C. Circuit of Appeals hold oral arguments in June. Fortunately, states are free to move ahead with plans to reduce their carbon footprints that will (hopefully) align with the Clean Power Plan if it ever makes it through. 

This decision, while troubling on many fronts, is a reminder that one of the most effective solutions we have is to create energy efficient green buildings. Until we can fully transition to a clean energy infrastructure, our buildings should use the least amount of energy as possible. Green buildings would drastically cut the amount of emissions used in the short-term while we move away from fossil fuels, and would also be ready for the paradigm shift in clean energy generation. 

Here is additional press coverage about the suit against the EPA, with intriguing political commentary. 

Don't despair! We are still powering forward with our Chapter priorities and are lining up some amazing events to support them! You can read more about our Chapter priorities here, and advocacy efforts for clean energy and green building on our Advocacy Blog. We are focusing our support on PACE financing, net metering, net zero energy buildings policy, and energy efficiency education.  

If you would like to get involved with our advocacy efforts, please email Grey Lee, our Executive Director, at greylee@usgbcma.org, or Anthony Lucivero, Advocacy Fellow, at advocacy@usgbcma.org.

Tuesday: Net Zero Building Tour

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow


We have a tremendous opportunity this week for USGBC MA members– a LEED Platinum Zero Net Energy Building Tour.

This 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. 

Space is filling up, so Register here for the event quickly! 

Our Policy Podium on Net Metering is Right Around the Corner

By Ryan Duffy, Communications Fellow


We are very excited for our new “Policy Podium” series of events.  Our first Policy Podium, this Thursday, will be a meeting of minds about net metering in Massachusetts and how it can drive our communities towards sustainability. Items of discussion will include comparative solar project costs and financing, present and future cost impacts to ratepayers, grid modernization, and the costs of distributed generation solar. 

More about the event:

What do we need to know, to be effective advocates, about the energy system? How can we all work together to ensure our communities are moving toward sustainability? Of the many complexities of the electricity grid, what do green building advocates need to address as we push for change on behalf of our mission?

The obstacles to a resolution to net metering and energy procurment seem to center around the cost of solar in Massachusetts, yet there is currently no action on the Net Metering Task Force (NMTF) recommendation to study the monetary costs and benefits of distributed generation solar.

We will have four panelists leading the discussion:

  • David Colton, Easton Town Administrator
  • Charles Harak, National Consumer Law
  • Tim Roughan, National Grid
  • Matt Shortsleeve, Solect Energy

This event, this Thursday, 2/25, will be held at 50 Milk St, Boston, MA, in the Start-up Institute Area, from 8:30am – 10:00am

Click here to visit our event page for more details and registration! The event is filling up, so register sooner than later! 

The Building Tech Forum is Coming!

By Grey Lee


BUILDING TECH

Buildings are fundamentally about technology. Innovation in the building sector is driving improvements in performance and enhancements to the user experience.

We are hosting the 2016 Building Tech Forum at Greentown Labs in Somerville, MA (adjacent to Boston) on the evening of April 21st, from 5:30 – 8:30. 

Please register here. Vendor and sponsor/presenter packages are available here.

Please review our colorful brochure to distribute to your colleagues here.

Building tech is the intersection of the innovation economy and real estate. The green building industry is right here in the middle of it – creating new ways to increase the value of real estate and improve the sustainability of our building stock and our communities in general. Buildings are responsible for 30% of greenhouse gases globally, and approximately 40% in the US. Recently, at the COP21 negotiations, the UN convened a “Buildings Day” to explore the ways the real estate sector can support improved environmental performance through better buildings. USGBC is committed to the creation of 5 billion square feet of certified green buildings in the next five years: this will require deployment of technology on a massive scale. The results will be better buildings, healthier occupants, more vibrant communities and a thriving industry connecting technology to real estate. We at the Massachusetts Chapter are here to champion that effort in our Commonwealth and we need to bring all the parties together.  You can read more about the ambitions of global leaders and recent agreements here. It is an exciting time to be a part of the high performance segment of the building industry!

Join us for the Building Tech Forum to connect on the local level to these important trends for sustainability in real estate.

We want you to come to our networking event to bring together practitioners in the green building sector – owners, builders, designers and operators – with innovators on the cutting edge of technological innovation.

Let's bring together the users and the providers who are are delivering the next solutions to the challenges of building design and facility management.

Who better to partner with for this interactive experience than Greentown Labs, the world's largest tech incubator, right here in Massachusetts.

Agenda:

5:30 – Orienting Remarks
6:00 – First Program begins; Keynote & Industry Observations
6:20 – First Program ends; games ensue
7:20 – Second Program begins: Panel
7:40 – Second Program ends
8:15 – Final Remarks and Appreciations
8:30 – End

At the Building Tech Forum:

  • you will meet people who will help you on your next high performance building project
  • you will encounter inspiring new technologies and solution strategies
  • you will hear from industry leaders about where things are going
  • you will connect your business to the innovations going on in the building sector

We look forward to having you with us!

– High-quality colleagial interactions!

– Food and drinks throughout the evening!

– Special demonstrations and interactive challenges!

The Building Tech Forum will convene on Thursday evening, April 21st, at Greentown Labs in Somerville, from 5:30 – 8:30

See you there! – please click here to register as an individual.

Vendor & Sponsorship Packages

Read about our vendor and sponsorship packages here. We want to see your technology and share your passion for improving building performance.

Contact GreyLee@usgbcma.org if you are interested in sponsoring.

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:




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!