Earn GBCI Credits at Upcoming Webinars about LEED v4

By Derek Newberry, Advocacy Fellow

Start the new year off right by getting up-to-date with LEEDv4, while stocking up on GBCI credits. Sign up for one of these upcoming in-person webinars, offered at various locations in January.

Erosion Control, Part 1: An Introduction

January 18th, 6:00-6:30pm at the Sustainability Hub in Worcester, MA (don't forget to sign up for Part 2, immediately following Part 1)

This course covers the basics about erosion, sedimentation and their respective control measures, relating how LEED v4 acts as a tool to encourage the implementation of an erosion and sedimentation control plan before starting earthwork of a project. Causes of erosion and subsequent problems for humans and the environment are explained, highlighting the need for preliminary studies and analysis of active and passive forces of the site before designing solutions.

Examples of control measures and slope stabilization practices along with their technical drawings and materials are shown, describing their functions, objectives and maintenance procedures. Additionally, the LEED v4 categories, prerequisites and credits related to erosion and sediment controls are explained.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define causes and problems of erosion
2. Recognize the importance of erosion and sedimentation control (ESC)
3. Identify general ESC practices
4. Explain the benefits of ESC practices for LEED certification

Who should attend: LEED professionals, architects, engineers, designers, contractors, consultants, investors, developers.

Erosion Control, Part 2: The Tropics

January 18th, 6:30-7:00pm at the Sustainability Hub in Worcester, MA

This course aims to explain the fundamentals of erosion control in a tropical setting, and how LEED v4 can have an impact on its development. Erosion problems in the tropics are described, and the appropriate erosion and sedimentation control (ESC) practices related to LEED certification are explained in detail. Technical drawings and examples are shown to facilitate comprehension of the proper implementation of ESC best practices, along with their functions, required materials and maintenance procedures.

Two case studies of erosion and sediment control practices in Panama guide the technical implementation process of slope and soil stabilization.

Among engineers, architects and urban planners, this course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about the tropics and innovative soil bioengineering and ESC practices in Central America, in relation to LEED.

Participants should have a basic knowledge of ESC practices as requirements for the LEED v4 Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention, which is covered in the course “Erosion Control Part 1: An Introduction” in this series.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize the severity of erosion problems in the tropics
2. Identify best management practices (BMP’s) for construction in tropical areas
3. Explain the challenges and benefits of implementing erosion control practices for LEED certification in Central America
4. Acquaint the technical implementation process of slope and soil stabilization

Understanding and Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) — VOC eating drywall

January 20th, 4:30-6:00pm at 50 Milk St., Boston MA

Sustainable buildings now address indoor air quality (IAQ) to enhance the comfort of building occupants. The course focuses on airborne pollutants and chemicals associated with adverse health effects. Participants who complete this course will be able to identify common contaminants and design appropriate remediation strategies, as well as identify emerging product capture technologies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and indoor air quality (IAQ)
2. Identify common indoor air contaminants and describe their adverse effects
3. Describe how to improve IAQ using different remediation strategies
4. Describe how to improve IAQ using different remediation strategies

 Certified Wood & Green Building

(available either to watch remotely, or in-person with the opportunity for group discussion)

January 26th, 12:00-1:00pm at 50 Milk St., Boston MA

As part of our global policy efforts, the Institute has partnered with Greenwash Action to develop a suite of advocacy trainings for our network of members, practitioners and volunteers. This series of webinars will explore hot topics in the green building industry and lay the foundation for local policy and advocacy efforts.

Certified wood and forest certification have long been lightning rods in the green building advocacy arena. In this webinar, we will examine the big picture of forestry and timber production and provide an overview of forest certification, examining the history of and the key differences between the main competitors in forest certification, FSC and SFI. We will explore how each of these certifications is considered within various certification programs, including the Living Building Challenge, LEED and Green Globes. This webinar will also discuss the potential impact of burgeoning interest in cross-laminated timber production with a particular emphasis on the Cascadia bioregion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Outline the history of political debate that surrounds sustainable forestry and emerging trends of timber specification within the green building industry.
2. Explain how various green building certifications are driving sustainable timber practices with a particular focus on LEED® and the Living Building Challenge.
3. Identify techniques that practitioners can use to incorporate sustainably sourced timber into Living Building Challenge and other sustainable building projects.
4. Discuss how participants can play a role in promoting market uptake of certified wood through specification and other advocacy tools.

You Are What You Breathe: Taking Action on Chemicals of Concern

(available either to watch remotely, or in-person with the opportunity for group discussion)

January 28th, 12:00-1:00pm at 50 Milk St., Boston MA

One of the most important trends in green building in recent years has been growing market demand for transparency and avoidance of toxic chemicals in building materials. This webinar will provide a primer on chemicals of concern in the built environment, an overview of the tools that are driving the development of healthier building materials and will contrast the approaches of Living Building Challenge, LEED and Green Globes to this important issue. We will also explore how webinar participants can play a role in inspiring increased uptake of healthy materials through specification, contracts and other advocacy tools.

Learning Objectives:

1. Outline the history of political debate that surrounds ingredient disclosure of building materials and emerging trends of toxic chemical avoidance within the green building industry.
2. Explain how various green building certifications are driving healthy material specification with a particular focus on LEED® and the Living Building Challenge, including its related Declare label.
3. Identify techniques that practitioners can use to incorporate healthy materials into Living Building Challenge and other sustainable building projects.
4. Discuss how participants can play a role in promoting market uptake of ingredient transparency through specification and other advocacy tools.