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U.S. Green Building Council
West Michigan Chapter News
March 2010 | |
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NEWLY CERTIFIED PROJECTS
Meijer Store 248 · Cedar Springs, Michigan
LEED-NC 2.2 · Certified · February 2010
Delta Township Library · Lansing, Michigan
LEED-NC 2.2 · Silver · September 2009
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 Not too long ago one of our members asked my opinion on what the future looks like for new construction and green buildings in West Michigan. I meet and talk with many people around the state of Michigan from all market segments and I get a sense that the storm has at least calmed for some market segments. I am not able to say however, that new construction will gain momentum any time soon and I don't believe that any of our members involved in the construction process are sitting on their laurels waiting for that to happen.
There has been a shift of focus to existing buildings. Several of our member companies have formalized their efforts to promote LEED for Existing Buildings O+M. (LEED-EBOM). Recently, USGBC rolled out the "Green Existing Schools Toolkit" ( http://www.usgbc.org/
DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=
2114) that contains an Implementation Workbook and Implementation Guide for K-12 schools. For every new school construction project there are approximately 27 existing school buildings; based on this ratio, existing buildings is where we can make a huge impact in the reduction of energy and water consumption.
A key component of LEED-EBOM is energy efficiency and uses the EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager as the benchmarking platform to validate a building's energy performance. A minimum Energy Star rating of 69 is required for LEED-EBOM. The Energy Star Portfolio Manager is a free online tool and rates the current level of a building's energy performance, based on 12 months of utility and water data. Buildings with a score of 69 or better may require little or no capital investment. This is a good first step in the evaluation process.
For two years, our Chapter has had a LEED for Existing Buildings Interest Circle. That group meets monthly on the last Thursday of the month and explores topics related to existing buildings:. http://www.usgbcwm.org/get-
involved/leed-for-existing-
buildings. Join this group and join in our mission of greening all of our buildings in West Michigan!
Sincerely,
Renae Hesselink, Chair
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Welcome, New Members!
Brenda Longman
Scott Ferguson
Steven Hadersbeck
Mary Olivier
Christopher Predko
Angela Brown
Thomas Simmons
Pablo Gonzalez
Shawn Merkel
Jody Poole |
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Opportunities to Learn and Network!
Click on an Interest Circle or Branch to view their page on the website and find information about their future meetings.(Homes, NC&CI, O&M, Schools,ND,South West Branch, Heart of West Michigan Branch).
March 9
Classes for Green Associate Study Group begin at MTec. See the article below for details or check our website for more info.
March 10
General Circle Operations Meeting & Board of Directors Meeting
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm Location: Grand Rapids Community College, M-TEC, 622 Godfrey Avenue, SW (map) All interested parties are invited.
March 15
LEED Legistlation presentation by Warner Norcross & Judd
March 17
New Construction/ Commercial Interiors Interest Circle Meeting (third Wenesday of each month) more info
March 24
LEED for Schools Interest Circle Meeting (forth Wednesday of each month)
March 25
Existing Building O&M Interest Circle Meeting (last Thurs. of each month)
March 25
Attend the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) annual Expo in West Michigan. more info
April 7 - 8
Michigan Annual Energy Conference will at Ferris State University - Big Rapids
May 6 - 7
Building Design & Construction Training. Two-day intensive program. See article below.
May 19 - 21
Greening the Heartland is coming to Minneapolis - a great learning opportunity.
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Getting Involved
- We are looking for a LEADER for the Neighborhood Development (ND) Interest Circle - please contact Renae if you are interested.
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M ake a tax deductable contribution to your Chapter. Go to our website for easy instructions on donating.
- Support the Chapter with your continuing membership, so that we can support you.
- send news articles to the editor.
- contact Trish Spaulding with articles for our monthly radio show on GVSU (see article below)
- Michael Merren is our webmaster, contact him with requests for postings.
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New LEED Project Certifications
The best way for us to know about new LEED Project Certifications is for anyone involved to send details to us at the link below.
Please send the following information:
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Project Location
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Names of West Michigan firms with a role in ownership or occupancy, design, construction, commissioning or LEED administration.
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Photographs (please limit to three, sized less than 100KB each).
- Outstanding or significant sustainability features
- LEED certification system, rating, and date of award.
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Registration is now OPEN for the 2010 USGBC Natural Talent Design Competition. Registration fees are only $25 per student team and $50 per professional team. These fees double after March 1st! Project submissions are due May 31, 2010.
USGBC's 2010 Natural Design Competition, in partnership with Salvation Army's EnviRenew Initiative, will focus its sights on the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. Competitors will be divided into students and young professionals groups and will design a LEED for Homes project that is priced affordably and is functional for elderly occupants. Up to four designs will be selected from the local competition finalists to be showcased at Greenbuild 2010 and, for the first time, the designers will see their projects built in New Orleans' Broadmoor neighborhood. Once the homes are built, they will enter a measurement and verification phase in which they will be graded on energy efficiency, water reuse, and indoor air quality, among other categories. The design team whose home performs best during measurement and verification will be awarded the final grand prize. Professionals within the West Michigan Chapter of the USGBC will assist with a mid-design critique to help with design issues, efficiencies and LEED credits.
This is a great opportunity to put your knowledge to the test and gain valuable experience with LEED for Homes as well as represent West Michigan on a national scale. Follow this linkhttp://www.usgbc.org for all the information or contact Scott Whisler:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Green Associate Study Group
Coming to Tassell M-TEC
The U.S. Green Building Council - West Michigan Chapter is offering a facilitated study group to prepare individuals for the challenging LEED Green Associate (GA) Examination.
These study groups differ from instructor-led courses and rely on the strength of the facilitator and the active participation of the learners. Study group sessions are a combination of facilitated, peer-to-peer discussion and personal study and will provide participants with the ability to explain green building concepts and strategies, apply test-taking strategies, navigate exam structure and prepare them to sit for the exam. Study group participants should have the prerequisite knowledge of the subject matter covered in the LEED GA Candidate Handbook. They will also need study the content of the Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide, First Edition. This guide must be purchased separately through the USGBC website.
This study group is not eligible towards GBCI's LEED Professional Credential Maintenance Program (CMP). After successful completion of the study group, candidates may provide their Certificate of Completion in lieu of a letter of attestation to sit for the LEED Green Associate Exam.
Classes will be held at the Tassell M-TEC located at 622 Godfrey Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
Facilitated classes will meet bi-weekly from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on the following dates:
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March 9, 2010
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March 23, 2010
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April 6, 2010
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April 20, 2010
Click here for more information and to register. |
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LEED Reference Guides
New Updated Addenda
The U.S. Green Building Council plans to post addenda to the 2009 editions of its reference guides to its website on a quarterly basis. Follow these links to the most recent addenda:
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BD+C Training
May 6 and 7, 2010
The U.S. Green Building Council West - Michigan Chapter is offering an intensive two-day workshop to prepare individuals for the challenging LEED Accredited Professional Examination (BD+C). The 16-hour course will serve the needs of any building industry stakeholder. The workshop format provides an interactive experience that follows the normal design and construction process.
Students will be provided hands-on experience in calculating LEED requirements based on case studies. The course explains how to administer LEED requirements on projects and covers the use of the USGBC's web-based submittal process: LEED-Online.
The session will be held at Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber (FTC&H), located at 1515 Arboretum Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546.
Sessions will start at 8:00 and close at 5:00. Lunch will be served both days. Tuition is $400; $350 for USGBC - WM members. Those completing the course will earn AIA Continuing Education Units.
Further information and registration will be available soon. |
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Getting Green . . . On the Air
WGVU FM airs a 20 minute interview show the fourth Monday of each month titledGetting Green - Hosted by Shelly Irwin. It's an opportunity to educate and communicate all things green. The Chapter has been instrumental in getting this show on the air, and we are looking for ideas, topics and potential guests.
Trisha Spaulding, Public Relations Manager at Integrated Architecture is now coordinating our efforts for the show and wants to know what you think is "green" hot. Send her your green ideas and who knows - you could be on the air. Trisha's contact is
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
; w: 616-574-0220; c: 616-901-7316.
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Green Buildings of West Michigan
Research Study and Showcase Tour
Save the dates of September 8, 9, 10 and 11th! You will want to experience the greatest green building event of the century! Seriously - we are finalizing details and coordinating with two other sustainability events that will happen that same week and will announce details soon!
Our Green Buildings Project of West Michigan is well underway. We have 38 commercial buildings and six homes included in this research project. We have organized ten tour packages; some are focused on market segments, and some are focused on location. Plans are underway for social activities and a major gathering with a keynote speaker. We have approximately 50 students from Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Kendall College of Design and University of Michigan working with the building owners.
Here is the scope of our project: We are working with building owners to write case studies measuring the results of their green building projects. The collected data will be entered into the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager, the Department of Energy EERE Case Studies and submitted to the GreenSource database. The diversity in the types of buildings that have been certified will provide a tour in the following market segments: office, small project, retail, health care, education, manufacturing and non-profit.
Find us here:
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Green Jobs · Green Jobs · Green Jobs
If you thought 2009 was a year that green took over, then think again. Over the next 10 years, the green industry is predicted to experience growth in the neighborhood of 1.5 trillion dollars. Green will continue to shape the foods we eat, the products we buy, and the way we get around -- and increasingly the jobs we have. MORE...
Finding a green job is getting easier every day. If the link above doesn't work for you, make sure to check out nearly 100 more at Green Careers Guide.
Also check out jobs posted by USGBC here.
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GBCI, VA HELP VETERANS AND FAMILIES PAY FOR LEED PROFESSIONAL EXAMS
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in accordance with with the G.I. Bill, has agreed to reimburse Veterans, eligible dependents and reservists for the cost of any of the LEED Professional Exams™ administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). More... |
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New Standard for Green Hand Sanitizers
Hospitals, restaurants and even dental offices now have a new way to green their operations and health and safety practices at the same time. EcoLogo, North America's most established multi-attribute environmental leadership standard and certification mark, is proud to announce the launch of its first standard for Hand Sanitizers, also known as instant hand antiseptic products. More... |
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