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This Month: Major Changes to the LEED Accredited Professional Program
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Feature Article
LEED Accredited Professional Program Gets An Overhaul
The LEED AP designation is quickly becoming a baseline standard for design professionals and numerous other professions associated with the building industry. Approximately 65,000 people have passed the exam since its inception and now things are about to change for each of them. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) took over the management of the LEED AP credentialing in 2008. At GreenBuild 2009 the GBCI announced wholesale changes to the way that LEED AP will be handled.
Starting this June, a new system will be established and differentiate LEED AP. In my opinion, the changes are more in-line with current professional registrations.
The main emphasis for this is to differentiate the development of standards through the USGBC from maintenance from the GBCI. In the future this will include both LEED AP's and the actual LEED rating system.
There will be four levels of accreditation.
- Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C)
- Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)
- Neighborhood Development (ND)
- Operations and Maintenance (O+M)
Image property of USGBC
The LEED Green Associate will be the first level and is obtained by passing a 2.5 hour core exam and documented involvement in green building. It will require 15 hours of continuing education every two years.
Once a candidate becomes a LEED Green Associate, they are eligible for a focus specific LEED AP+ for professionals engaged in LEED projects. This level is obtained by passing an additional 1.5 hour specialty exam and documenting experience on one or more recent LEED project. 30 continuing education credits will be required every two years.
The highest level is LEED AP Fellow. This will be selected by peers to acknowledge major contributions to green building. The full details for this level are not currently defined.
Anyone passing the LEED AP prior to May 2009 will be considered a LEED AP Legacy. They will be asked to opt into the new program. If agreed, individuals will have to submit their application and be granted the AP+ category that most closely aligns to their experience. Legacy LEED AP's will have two years to meet the newer standards and will not be asked to retake any exams. New fee structures apply to these change that include an application fee, exam fee and biannual maintenance fees.
The ability to bypass the second exam is the main reason for the recent dramatic increase in people taking the exam. If you are sitting on the fence, it is strongly encouraged for someone to take the exam prior to May. These changes will bring enhanced rigor and a higher standard to the acronym LEED AP.
For more information regarding this article, please contact Luke Leising at LLeising@structurepoint.com. Luke Leising is the sustainability director at American Structurepoint and has taught numerous LEED Exam preparation courses to professionals.
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Indiana Building Green Symposium, 2009
Final days to register for this important two-day event!
 Come and learn how new and existing buildings can Think Green at the third annual, Indiana Building Green Symposium, 2009.
Over 400 designers, owners, operators and developers will attend the
event held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on March 12th and March
13th.
Do not miss Indiana's biggest gren building event of the year!
Click here to register or visit www.indianabuildinggreen.com.
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From the Chair
Leith Sharp and the Rise of Green Campuses
On a parallel track with the green building movement, the green campus movement is growing exponentially. In Indiana, several institutions of higher learning have part-time or full-time positions for sustainability coordinators or directors. In fact, last week, I started my new job as Director of Sustainability at Indiana University.
One of the most compelling success stories in campus sustainability comes from the decade of success of the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, which was led by Leith Sharp. She started with a budget of $80,000 and a staff of one. At the end of ten years the effort had grown to a base budget of $2.2 million, a staff of 24 and annual savings of over $7 million. Leith Sharp will be one of the keynote speakers at this week's Indiana Building Green Symposium and I can tell you from personal experience her presentation will be a must-see if your work has anything to do with a college or university campus. After hearing her speak at AASHE and Greenbuild this year, I signed up for her on-line class through Harvard's Extension School and it has been a wealth of wise guidance. For example, she started a Campus Green Loan Fund that has provided $8.5 million since 2001 at no interest to finance the difference between typical approaches verses high-performance green approaches for more than 200 projects. Some of the savings from these projects goes to pay back the loan fund over time. Since its inception, this fund has experienced over 30% annual return on investment. How does that compare to your best investment portfolio?
Don't miss Leith Sharp. Don't miss the Indiana Building Green Symposium this week. Kudos to Luke Leising and all the other hard-working volunteers who have put together a truly remarkable learning experience. See you there!
Bill Brown, AIA, LEED AP
USGBC Indiana Chair
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USGBC-IN Chapter News
USGBC-IN Chapter Program: Wednesday, March 18th
This month's program will feature experts on the topic of vegetated roof systems. Please join us for this special event on Live Roofs / Green Roofs.
Date: March 18, 2009 (third Wednesday)
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: The Conference Center at Four Parkwood
500 East 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Free to USGBC members;
$15 for non-USGBC members (pay at the door)
Register: Click here to register
Advance reservations are strongly suggested.
Registration ends 24 hours prior to the event.
Indiana Chapter to Adopt Dynamic Governance
The Indiana Chapter leadership received on February 27 a one-day training session on Dynamic Governance, the organizational model used by USGBC National and endorsed for use in all chapters.
Dynamic Governance is "both a structure and technique for getting things done," according to USGBC, that is more democratic in that it draws on the entire group and has built into it "double-linking" that promotes the flow of information and intelligence both top-down and bottom-up.
Members of the Indiana Chapter board, new Executive Director Liz Ellis, and representatives of the South Central and Northeast Branches attended the session, which was facilitated by Tena O'Rear of Governance Alive, a firm specializing in the study, promotion and implementation of Dynamic Governance in any kind of organization.
The Chapter has already formed a Dynamic Governance Committee, chaired by Albert Schinazi, which will develop the DG implementation guidelines for use throughout the Chapter. The board itself will begin to incorporate DG practices into its meetings and will consider DG principals in its planning.
The all-day session was hosted by Business Furniture, LLC at their new Northeast Indy facility.
More information on Dynamic Governance can be found at USGBC's website ( www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/News1796.pdf ) and at Governance Alive's website, governancealive.com.
LEED Workshop:
Understanding LEED Project Costs & Returns
March 12, 2009
 This course is designed to help those working on a LEED project team learn how to handle cost issues to build more environmentally and economically sound projects. Information on construction and life-cycle costs are introduced using LEED certified project case studies and current research data. The course also provides tools to calculate and evaluate the costs and benefits of LEED certification and strategies to maximize resource selections.
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand importance of clearly expressed client goals on a green project.
- Calculate cost/benefit of building green.
- Communicate associated benefits to clients seeking a green building.
- Use tools to calculate and evaluate cost/benefit of LEED Certification.
Learning Level:
This is a 300-level course. Consider Green Building Basics and LEED or LEED for New Construction Technical Review as prerequisites.
For more information, please click here to access the event flyer.
Click here to register for this event. Registration is required.
For all workshop inquiries, email workshop@usgbc.org or call 800-795-1747.
Certification of a new USGBC Green Rater for Indiana
Albert Schinazi has been certified as a Green Rater for USGBC LEED for Homes projects in the State Of Indiana. Green Raters provide the required third party verification and optional consultation on USGBC LEED for Homes projects.
Green Raters are knowledgeable in energy modeling and the performance of energy and environmental audits. Green Raters serve as educators and consultants for Project Design Teams, Architects, Builders, Designers, Developers, Material Vendors and City Officials, providing support in the development and implementation of LEED for Homes projects.
LEED for Homes Standards include projects that are single family, multifamily, low rise and midrise projects. Projects can be mixed use as long as 50% or more of the total square footage of the project is designated residential.
Albert will be coordinating with Alliance For Environmental Sustainability (AES) the area provider for the Mid Atlantic Region.
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Become a Sponsor!
The Indiana Chapter of USGBC invites you to support the activities of the chapter by becoming a sponsor. As interest in green building gains momentum in Indiana, there has never been a better time to become involved with and support the Chapter.
Through communications, educational programs, networking events, and advocacy work, we hope to educate and create awareness of green and sustainable building strategies. Please consider becoming an annual or program sponsor and joining our effort for a better built environment.
There are several levels of sponsorships that are available. To receive a Sponsorship Registration Form, please contact Elizabeth C. Ellis, Executive Director.
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USGBC-IN Branch News
South Central Branch News & Updates
Author: Amanda Shaw
Date Written: 02/21/2009
A
12-person steering committee in Bloomington has been hard at work since a
call-out meeting
in May 2008 laying the foundation for a new South Central US Green Building
Council chapter branch. Early on in the
process, the group agreed that our purpose would be public education-to use the
resources of the USGBC to bring professional training, speakers, news and
information about all aspects of green buildings and sustainable neighborhoods
to our area. We also agreed that we wanted to be as broad-based and inclusive
as possible, joining with other area groups to advocate for sustainable
solutions in our communities.
So we
decided that our first program should be a get-together of everyone working on,
or interested in working on, sustainability issues--a FUN get-together-to talk
about what everyone was up to. Thus was
born the idea of hosting a Green Drinks mixer, which the chapter board
enthusiastically supported and funded and board chair, Bill Brown, agreed to
address.
Under the leadership of Marcia Veldman
of Earthcare and the Green Sanctuaries Task Force, a committee including Ellen
Michel of Bloomingfoods, Cynthia Schultz of the city Commission on
Sustainability, and Ted Mendoza, Amanda Shaw, Adam Wason, Mike Steinhoff and
David Gulyas of the Bloomington USGBC steering committee pulled together
resources and spread the word. With the cooperation and amazing
generosity of Upland Brewery, their efforts brought together close to 200
people to launch both Green Drinks Bloomington and the new South Central
Indiana branch of USGBC.
As the
Herald Times reported, it was "A Ragin' Success!" Fortuitously, IU's Michael Hamburger was also
able to announce the appointment that day of Bill Brown as IU's first Director
of Sustainability! So the 200 or so Green Drinks attendees got to hear the
green building gospel from long-time sustainability proponent and green
architect Bill Brown-and meet the new leader of IU's sustainability initiative
at the same time. Brown's point: changing our built environment can turn the
tide of climate change, lead us to energy independence and help us live
healthier, more productive lives.
If you
want to climb on the green building bandwagon, from now on check out our
monthly USGBC meetings the third Thursdays of the month. There'll be great
speakers and plenty of socializing and networking besides.
And
follow that up with another draught of
sustainable networking at the monthly Green Drinks, 5:30-8pm, the fourth
Wednesdays of the month! Keep up with
both events via signing up for greendrinksbloomington@gmail.com
and for USGBC's newsletter and Constant Contact at www.usgbc-in.org/branches.
Because
of Spring Break, the March USGBC program, New LEED Buildings on Indiana
University's Campus, by IU Engineer Jeff Kaden, will be held Thursday March 26.
South Central Branch Program: Thursday, March 26th
Please join the South Central Branch on Thursday, March 26th, for a presentation by Jeff Kaden regarding Indiana University's LEED and high-performance projects.
Date: March 26, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: University Club of Indiana University
Indiana Memorial Union
900 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Free to USGBC members;
$10 for non-USGBC members (pay at the door)
Register: Click here to register
Advance reservations are strongly suggested.
Registration ends 24 hours prior to the event.
Northeast Branch Program: Wednesday, April 15th
Please join the Northeast Branch on Wednesday, April 15th, for a presentation by LiveRoof Green Roof Systems. According to the company, LiveRoof is the First and Only Invisible Modular Green Roof System. The system was developed by Career Horticulturists for long-term sustainability.
Date: April 15, 2009
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: To be announced soon. Please visit usgbc-in.org
for the latest details.
Cost: Free to USGBC members;
$15 for non-USGBC members (pay at the door)
Register: Click here to register
Advance reservations are strongly suggested.
Registration ends 24 hours prior to the event.
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Indiana Green Building Events
Indiana Building Green Symposium, 2009March 12-13, 2009
Think Green, because a green approach has clearly come to mainstream Indiana. Buildings in our state account for over 70% of all electricity. In an effort to reduce consumption, professionals and owners are thinking green in the design and operation of buildings.
Come and learn how new and existing buildings can Think Green at the third annual, Indiana Building Green Symposium, 2009. Over 400 designers, owners, operators and developers will attend the event held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on March 12th and March 13th.
This years exciting event will highlight how green thinking is quickly becoming the norm. Keynote speaker is Ed Mazria, the architect of both the AIA's position statement and the U.S. Conference of Mayor's resolution adopting the "2030 Challenge" as a means of dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A panel discussion will highlight the challenges and successes seen by Indiana cities and towns that are trying to go green. The sustainability director for Harvard will show excellent examples of greening a college campus. Sessions include a tour of local LEEDŽ facilities; the past chair of the national USGBC, LEEDŽ Workshops, Green incentive opportunities and case studies on some remarkable buildings. In addition the newest green products will be on display by over 40 exhibitors.
The Indiana Building Green Symposium (IBGS) is developed by the US Green Building Council - Indiana Chapter and collaboratively with local chapters of AIA, CSI, IIDA, ASHRAE and BOMA and Ball State University's CAP|Indy Center.
Registration is LIVE! Visit www.indianabuildinggreen.com.
Greening Indiana Cities and Towns
March 12, 2009
Come
and see how Indiana cities and towns are starting to Think Green! This
event features Mayor James Brainard of Carmel, Indiana as the keynote
speaker followed by a panel discussion with representatives from five
cities and towns who are thinking green across Indiana.
Amy
Malick, Regional Director of ICLEI - Local Governments for
Sustainability, will moderate the discussion of current initiatives,
how to understand challenges, and how to create
successes in the effort to go green.
For more information, please click here to access the event flyer.
Click here to register for this event.
Registration is required for this event.
If you have any questions, please contact info@indianabuildinggreen.org.
OED's 2009 Renewable Energy Workshops
 The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) has announced their 2009 alternative energy workshops, to be held throughout the state ofIndiana. These workshops free workshops and are open to all Hoosiers. To register for the OED workshops contact:
317-690-7243
Please note that space is limited. Once you register, more detailed information will be sent to you. See scheduled times and locations below in the Calendar at a Glance section.
Introduction to Residential Wind
The Residential Wind workshop is designed for people who have an
interest in residential size wind systems for their home or business.
This course will teach what wind energy is, how it works and what it can
do for them. Topics will include: wind resources, basic system
components, system types, turbine types, applications and tower types.
Successfully Navigating LEED for Homes Projects Workshop
April 17, 2009
This seminar is designed for participants who have a basic understanding of green building principles. The seminar will focus on the successful completion of a LEED for Homes project from partnering with a Provider, coordinating with the local Green Rater, to final document submittal for certification. Each participant will receive A LEED for Homes Manual, handouts and worksheets. Refreshments and Lunch is included.
This workshop is scheduled for Friday, April 17th from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
Click here to access the workshop's informational flyer.
For more information, please contact Albert Schinazi, LEED for Homes Advocate, at LEEDforHomes@usgbc-in.org.
March 17, 2009
The AIA Indiana will be conducting its Green Day at the Statehouse on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17th to lobby for sustainable building issues. The event will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the 3rd Floor North of the Indiana State House.
For more information, please visit www.aiaindiana.org.
Green Expo 2009 Coming to South Bend
April 30, 2009
The
Green Expo will bring together the latest in Green technologies so that
both providers and consumers can learn form each other and explore new
dimensions in both business-to-business and business-to-customer
applications.
The Green Expo is an all-day event sponsored by
WNIT Public Television that will be held on Thursday, April 30th at The
Century Center in South Bend, IN. The keynote speaker for the event
will be Paul M. Murray, Director of Environmental Safety and
Sustainability at Herman Miller, Inc.
For more information on Green Expo 2009, please visit www.wnit.org/green.
Greening the Heartland Regional Conference
May 31 - June 2, 2009
One of the largest and most
successful conferences on green building practices and initiatives is
coming to Detroit. The USGBC Detroit Regional Chapter and The
Engineering Society of Detroit will present the Greening the Heartland
Regional Conference May 31-June 2, 2009, at the Detroit Marriott at the
Renaissance Center in partnership with COBO Center.
The
theme of the conference is "ABILITY," which illustrates that an
approach to projects and practices with sustainability as a goal leads
to multiple benefits. Attendees will receive the necessary tools to
achieve this goal through programs, outstanding education sessions,
keynote speakers, tours, and other activities.
For more information on the Greening the Heartland Regional Conference, please visit www.greeningtheheartland.org.
Greening of the Campus VIII: Embracing Change
September 20-23, 2009
If you enjoyed AASHE2008, you'll want to mark your calendar now for Greening of the Campus VIII. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) will be partnering with Ball State University to bring you this event. The conference has traditionally been held on Ball State's campus, but this year will be in the Indianapolis Convention Center in order to accommodate the growing campus sustainability community.
Greening of the Campus VIII will be held Sept 20 - 23, 2009 at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Labs21 2009 Annual Conference
September 22-24, 2009
Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) is designed to meet the needs of laboratory and high performance facility designers, engineers, owners, and facility managers. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Labs21 offers professionals worldwide an extraordinary opportunity for information exchange and education with regard to high-performance laboratories and related facilities.
As official co-sponsor of the Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) Annual Conference and workshops, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) will facilitate a network of technical capabilities to address global needs while incorporating the Labs21 Approach to sustainable, high performance, and low-energy laboratories.
Please visit I2SL's web site at www.i2sl.org for the most up-to-date conference and workshop information.
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Emerging Green Builders (EGB) News
 Join your local EGB Branch!
EGB Indiana Branches are still forming in these cities: Bloomington (including Indiana University),
Fort Wayne,
Indianapolis (including area colleges and universities),
Muncie (including Ball State University),
Northwest Indiana (including Chicagoland),
South Bend (including the University of Notre Dame),
Terre Haute (including Indiana State University),
West Lafayette (including Purdue University) Visit www.usgbc-in.org/egb to find out how to join for FREE in 2009!
EGB ExComm Traveling Events
The EGB Indiana Executive Committee continues to travel to Indiana high schools, colleges, and universities giving presentations about the organization and ways to get involved in local green building efforts. Last month, we participated in the Design Interaction Day at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, which proved to be a huge sucess. This month: Lawrence North High School, Ball State, IUPUI.
All Things EGBEGB Indiana's web page through USGBC-IN is now online. Please visit us at usgbc-in.org/egb for all the latest events, resources, and local branch information.
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Indiana Green Building News
Items are linked back to their sources and are the property of their owners. Click on heading for complete article.
Indiana University Bloomington Names First Sustainability Director
Source: Indiana University
Date Written: 02/18/2009
Indianapolis architect William M. "Bill" Brown, a leading Indiana figure in the design and construction of environmentally sustainable buildings, has been named the first director of sustainability for Indiana University Bloomington.
Brown has been an associate partner since 2006 with Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects. Responsible for library design and marketing for the 55-person Indianapolis firm, he has been Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consultant on 10 projects in the past two years, including two projects with zero net energy consumption.
Bill Brown
He is co-chair of the Indianapolis-Marion County Green Commission, chair of the Indiana Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and secretary of the Indiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. From 1993 to 2006, he was with Veazey Parrott Durkin & Shoulders architects in Evansville, where served as partner. He was founding president of Sustainable Evansville, a group created to promote sustainable development.
Read more..
Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Is County's 1st Green Building
Source: University of Evansville
Date Written: 02/09/2009
The University of Evansville, in conjunction with ARC Construction and Hafer Associates, is proud to announce that the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration building has officially been certified as the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDŽ) building in Vanderburgh County.
Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building
Photograph property of the University of Evansville
The building, located on the west side of the main UE oval, opened in August 2007. It was designed by Hafer Associates and built by ARC Construction, both of Evansville, as an environmentally-friendly, "green" building, and was registered with LEEDŽ before construction began in mid-2006. Architects from Mackey Mitchell Associates of St. Louis were also involved in the project.
LEEDŽ registration ensured that everyone involved in the project would strive to meet several rigorous environmental criteria in constructing the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration building.
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Read more..
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| Get Involved with USGBC-IN
Become a Volunteer Today!
USGBC-IN is looking for motivated
volunteers to assist with several upcoming projects. There has never been a better time to get involved with USGBC. For more details
on upcoming opportunities, please contact
USGBC-IN at info@usgbc-in.org.
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Author: Michael Wilmeth
Source: GreenSource / BuildingGreen
Date Written: 03/06/2009
A recent lawsuit appears to be the first-but probably not the last-involving failed LEED certification. Shaw Development sued contractor Southern Builders for $1.3 million after the $7.5 million Captain's Galley condominium building in Crisfield, Maryland, failed to achieve LEED Silver certification as required by the contract.
While the claims were settled out of court in 2008, legal observers have taken the Captain's Galley as a cautionary tale. The standard AIA contract that was used, A101 Owner/Contractor Agreement, did not specify which party would be liable for failure to obtain LEED certification or tax credits. In public comments on the case, several real estate attorneys have noted the inadequacy of form documents for projects that involve green certifications or incentives and have warned contractors to be wary of taking on responsibility for matters, such as third-party certification, that are not entirely within their control.
Author: Anya Kaplan-Seem
Source: Architectural Record
Date Written: 03/04/2009
Over
the last decade, the green building industry has risen on the tide of a
culture-wide trend toward sustainability, and many in the architecture
profession believe it will continue to prosper even as the U.S. falls
deeper into a recession. "I think there's a very compelling argument
that the economic environment we're going into right now will only
enhance the value of doing green," says Guy Geier, FAIA, senior partner
of FXFOWLE.
A Turner Construction Company Survey conducted in
November seems to confirm his hunch: Seventy-five percent of more than
750 real estate executives surveyed said the credit crunch would not
make them any less likely to construct green buildings in the future.
Moreover, a 2009 report by McGraw-Hill Construction found that the
green-building market "seems to be somewhat insulated" from the
construction slump. Reasons cited for the market's stability include
increased awareness that green buildings are often cheaper to operate,
and governmental policies that promote or even mandate eco-friendly
features.
Is Green Building the Economy's Bright Spot?
Source:
RISMedia Date Written: 02/26/2009
In fact, as economic experts call for a recovery plan focused on green jobs and infrastructure, as consumers look to live in more economically sustainable homes, as businesses strive to cut operating costs, and as our national security needs depend on an end to reliance on foreign energy sources, green buildings' ability to deliver solutions to these pressing challenges promises to change the way we view the building industry.
"As research comes in from diverse sources examining the interest in green buildings among a wide range of Americans, the numbers keep painting the same picture: The future of our built environment clearly centers on energy efficiency, water reduction, systems that encourage cleaner indoor air, the use of recycled and more sustainably developed materials, and communities that coexist with their environments," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. |
Living Future 2009: The Unconference for Deep Green Professionals
Join Fellow Green Building Pioneers to Shift Global Consciousness
 The Cascadia Region Green Building Council will host Living Future 09 in Portland, OR May 6-8, 2009.
This
is the continent's most advanced green building conference, where the
movers and shakers convene to identify real solutions that will create
significant change.
With the theme "Cultivating Leadership,"
the interactive sessions are intended to foster the creativity, courage
and collaboration our leaders need to shift global consciousness and
transform the market.
Keynote speakers include Janine Benyus, internationally acclaimed author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature;
Rick Fedrizzi, President and CEO of USGBC; Thomas Crum, renowned
conflict resolution expert; and Jason F. McLennan, CEO of Cascadia and
author of the Living Building Challenge.
For more information and to register, please visit www.cascadiagbc.org/living-future/09.
Members of the Indiana Chapter are eligible for the discounted Cascadia member rate!
Date: May 6 - 8, 2009
Location: The Nines
525 SW Morrison St.
Portland, OR
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Please visit the event registration page.
Indiana Chapter members qualify for Cascadia member rate.
Register: Click here to register
Registration is required for this event.
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From the Editor
Built to Last 1,000 Years
Amidst the foothills of the largest peaks in New Mexico lies our country's oldest continuously inhabited community. The Taos Pueblo village is nestled within one of the state's premiere ski resort destinations at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.
My wife and I found ourselves in Taos during a formidable snowstorm last winter. But we weren't there for the slopes. In fact, we were staying well outside of the town in a secluded, 100% passive solar heated hut devoid of any mechanical systems. I had just put the last of my log in the fireplace at 11:00 PM and for the first time in my life I thought I might actually freeze to death in my sleep. But my experience and what I learned that night will have to wait for another day.
Obviously, I lived. The next day, however, we had a unique opportunity to visit the Taos Pueblos. I was fascinated with this Native American community because of its perseverance. The majority of the adobe structures have been intact since 1450 A.D. Some have actually stood for over 1,000 years. The materials used for the dwellings came from local sources. The orientation and design of the structures considered solar access and utilized passive solar heating and high mass cooling with night ventilation. For auxiliary heat, the pueblos featured wood burning fireplaces. The community is a marvelous case study for anyone interested in bioclimatic design - a cornerstone of truly green building.
Taos Pueblos
Photograph by Daniel Overbey
While it would be unrealistic and unproductive to advocate a reversion to such primitive design and construction practice, there are valuable lessons to extract from the Taos Pueblos. Among others attributes, the durability of the pueblos is a design characteristic our society has all but lost sight of. As Peter Yost, Residential Program Director at BuildingGreen, LLC, recently pointed out, if the useful life of a building is doubled, its environmental impact is halved-no matter how it is constructed. Today, our buildings last about 40 years. Mindful of the energy and resources that go into our designs, imagine how much smaller a project's environmental footprint would be it was used for 400 years.
Moreover, our country's most treasured neighborhoods and districts, the relics of our past that establish a true, indigenous sense of place are often historical perseveration districts.
But durability can only be achieved through a high level of conscientious design. Our buildings must be more than energy misers. Our structures also need to properly manage moisture through their envelopes and respond to the environmental influences of the site.
Long-term durability is not necessarily a design objective. Rather, it's often the natural outcome of smart, appropriate design.
Daniel Overbey, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
USGBC Indiana Communications Chair
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Calendar at a Glance
March
11: Indiana University's Kelly School of Business
Annual Business Conference
Location: Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN
12 - 13: Indiana Building Green Symposium, 2009
Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN
Register Today
12: Greening Indiana Cities and Towns
Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN
12: LEED Workshop:
Understanding LEED Project Costs & Returns
Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN
17: AIA Indiana Green Day at the Statehouse
Location: Indianapolis, IN
17: OED - Renewable Energy Workshop:
Introduction to Residential Wind
Location: Allen County Library
Fort Wayne, IN
18: USGBC-IN Monthly Program:
Live Roof / Green Roof Location: The Conference Center at Four Parkwood
Indianapolis, IN
18: OED - Renewable Energy Workshop:
Introduction to Residential Wind
Location: Ivy Tech
South Bend, IN
25 - 26: Notre Dame Architecture Career Fair
Location: Notre Dame University
South Bend, IN
Contact: Kara Kelly (574.631.5721)
26: USGBC-IN South Central Branch Program:
IU's LEED and High-Performance Projects
Location: University Club, Indiana Memorial Union
Bloomington, IN
27 - 29: AIAS Midwest Quad Conference
Location: Indianapolis, IN
31: OED - Renewable Energy Workshop:
Introduction to Residential Wind
Location: Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
April
01: OED - Renewable Energy Workshop:
Introduction to Residential Wind
Location: Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
11: Green House Tour
Details to be announced.
15: USGBC-IN Monthly Program: Water Efficiency Panel Discussion Location: The Conference Center at Four Parkwood
Indianapolis, IN
15: USGBC-IN Northeast Branch Program:
LiveRoof Green Roof System
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
16: USGBC-IN South Central Branch Program:
Evergreen Village / HAND's Presentation
Location: Bloomington, IN
17: Workshop: Successfully Navigating
LEED for Homes Projects
Location: Indianapolis
22: SustaIN: Indiana's Green Ideas and
Networking Event
Location: IUPUI
Indianapolis, IN
25: Indiana Earth Day Festival
For more information, visit: www.earthdayindiana.org
30: Green Expo 2009
Location: The Century Center
South Bend, IN
30 - 02: AIA National Convention 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
May
June
07 - 10 Indiana State NAHRO Conference Location: Radisson Hotel At
Star Plaza 800 East 81st Avenue, Merrillville, IN 17: USGBC-IN Monthly Program: Energy and Atmosphere Panel Discussion
Location: The Conference Center at Four Parkwood Indianapolis, IN
Please email your event notices to the Editor. Thank you!
All dates are subject to change. For a complete list of upcoming events, please log-in to usgbc-in.org.
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Platinum Sponsor
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Gold Sponsor
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Silver Sponsors
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In Kind Sponsors
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USGBC-IN is supported with a grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Defense Development.
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The Indiana Chapter of USGBC
invites you to support the activities of the chapter by becoming a
sponsor. As interest in green building gains momentum in Indiana,
there has never been a better time to become involved with and support
the Chapter.
Through communications, educational programs,
networking events, and advocacy work, we hope to educate and create
awareness of green and sustainable building strategies. Please
consider becoming an annual or program sponsor and joining our effort
for a better built environment.
There are several levels of sponsorships that are available. To receive a Sponsorship Registration Form, please contact Elizabeth C. Ellis, Executive Director..
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GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
Let us know how we can improve the USGBC-IN newsletter. Contact Daniel Overbey, Communications Committee Chair.
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