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This Month: Credit Pilot Library to Foster Continued Improvement to LEED Rating System
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Feature Article
Pilot Credit Library Allows Teams to Guide
the Improvement of LEED
The strength of the LEED green building certification program lies in its ability to constantly grow, adapt and improve through a process driven by consensus, innovation and feedback from LEED users. This week, USGBC launched the LEED Pilot Credit Library, a new tool that will add to the flexibility of that continuous improvement process.
The ability to introduce proposed new credits and prerequisites to LEED through a credit-by-credit pilot process was a key component to LEED v3, the newest version of LEED that was released in April 2009. Credit piloting allows LEED to adhere to a predictable improvement cycle while remaining adaptable. Because innovation doesn't follow a schedule, the ability to introduce new ideas to LEED without waiting for the launch of an entirely new version of the rating systems is critical to the ability of LEED to continue to raise the bar and drive the marketplace toward greater sustainability. With the introduction this week of six proposed new LEED credits, the LEED Pilot Credit Library is now up and running - and ready for your help to ensure the highest level of integrity.
LEED project teams that find any of the proposed credits suitable to their projects are encouraged to participate in pilot testing those credits. All participating project teams will submit evaluation forms, providing input on the proposed credit's strengths and weaknesses. This feedback will be reviewed by a Pilot Working Group established by the LEED Steering Committee and will help inform improvements to the content of the credit or prerequisite or determine whether it is suited for introduction into LEED. Any new credit or prerequisite will go before the USGBC membership for balloting before it can be introduced into LEED.
Each project that participates in a credit's pilot and submits feedback will receive one Innovation & Design or Innovation in Operations credit, regardless of whether it would have achieved the actual credit being piloted. Because the credits are in pilot and are not yet part of LEED, points will not be awarded for achieving the pilot credit itself.
The credits currently being piloted are:
- Pilot Credit 1: Life Cycle Assessment of Building Assemblies and Materials.
- Pilot Credit 2: PBT Source Reduction: Dioxins and Halogenated Organic Compounds.
- Pilot Credit 3: Medical and Process Equipment Efficiency.
- Pilot Credit 4: Innovative Ventilation.
- Pilot Credit 5 & 6: Preliminary Integrative Project Planning & Design.
To read the proposed credit language, learn more about the credit piloting, or register your project to participate in a pilot, visit the
Pilot Credit Library »
For more information regarding the Credit Pilot Library, please refer to the U.S. Green Building Council at usgbc.org.
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From the Chair
Three generations of Indiana University students have a warm spot in their hearts for the Indiana Memorial Union, which resides at the center of IU's Bloomington campus. This majestic 500,000 square-foot limestone complex includes a hotel, restaurants, a bookstore, a bowling alley, a new information commons, Alumni Hall, and scores of offices for student groups. For many students, it is a "third place," a home away from home. On a typical day, 14,000 visitors pass through.
The Greening of the Indiana Memorial Union eco-charrette will take place on December 2nd and 3rd to look for ways to make this iconic structure more energy, water and resource effective while retaining its historic charm. Patterned after other famous eco-charrettes, such as the Greening of the White House, the Greening of the Pentagon and the more recent Greening of the City County Building in Indianapolis, this charrette will be facilitated by national and local experts in collaboration with IMU and IU administration and staff. Because of its location and purpose, this particular charrette will be heavy on student participation as well. The Greening of the IMU will be facilitated by Hellmuth +Bicknese LLC with the Leonardo Academy. Both firms helped write the LEED rating system. Hellmuth + Bicknese LLC has extensive experience with eco-charrettes and they recently completed the Tyson Living Learning Center at Washington University, which will likely win the Living Building Challenge. The Leonardo Academy is one of the nations most experienced LEED for Existing Buildings experts, with work such as the LEED EB Platinum Clinton Library, National Geographic Society Headquarters and JohnsonDiversey Headquarters, to name a few. Both firms are also pursuing large portfolio LEED EB certification projects that are of particular interest to Indiana University.
Sponsored by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, this charrette will explore cost-effective ways for the IMU to green its operations and maintenance processes using LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance as a framework. It may also go beyond the existing structure and look at opportunities for future expansion in keeping with the new Campus Master Plan.
As is the tradition with eco-charrettes, we are looking for a few good volunteers from the Indiana professional community who are willing to contribute two days of valuable time to improve one of Indiana's most revered buildings. In return, you will learn more about the eco-charrette process, LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance, the IMU and its future needs, while networking with your peers and key members of the IU facilities and operations staff. If you are interested and available both days, please send a one-page letter of interest outlining your interest and expertise to teamgimu@gmail.com.
For the convenience of our members attending Greening of the IMU charrette, the annual USGBC Indiana Chapter Gala will be held in Bloomington the evening of the second day of the charrette on December 3rd. Look for details of the Gala elsewhere in this issue. Regardless of whether you attend the charrette, we hope to see you at the Gala to celebrate a truly remarkable year.
Bill Brown, AIA, LEED AP
USGBC Indiana Chair
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USGBC Indiana Chapter News & Events
USGBC Indiana Chapter Monthly Program:
Indoor Air Quality
Thursday, November 19th
Registration and networking begins at 5:00pm, program begins at 5:30pm.
Space is limited. Please make reservations early. The speakers for this event will be Lisa Caldwell, Indoor Air Specialist, of the Marion County Health Department and Shane Labuzan of Trane.
Date: November 19, 2009
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EST)
Location: Indianapolis Fringe Theatre
719 East St. Clair St.
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.
Parking: Free
Parking available on the grass immediately behind and to
the east of
the building, in the paved lots on the south east (the
Scholar's Inn
lot) and the north east corners (the Art Bank) of
College and St.
Clair, and the paved lot just south of the
Scholar's Inn lot, off of
College.
South Central Branch Monthly Program:
Thermal Storage Systems Presentation
Thursday, November 19th
The
South Central Indiana Branch of the US Green Building Council would
like to invite you to their Monthly Meeting for November. Details are
as follows:
Date: Thursday, November 19th, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Dave Gulya's House
908 East 8th Street
Bloomington, IN
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Free
RSVP: Click here to RSVP for this event.
Advanced registration is strongly encouraged.
Brian Thorne is an
Integrated Building Systems Engineer with Trane/Ingersoll Rand (IR)
concentrating on the Bloomington Area and is committed to help building
owners achieve the highest performing building with the lowest life
cycle cost. Trane/Ingersoll Rand (IR). Trane/IR is the world's leading
supplier, manufacturer and service provider of integrated, high
efficiency building systems including heating, air conditioning,
refrigeration and building control systems. For additional information,
please contact him at (317) 255-877 or bthorne@trane.com.
Thermal
energy storage is the battery for renewable, "Green" power. Brian will
be discussing some of the applications of thermal energy storage as it
relates to the heating and cooling of buildings and how this concept
can lower emissions, make renewable energy more reliable and usable and
lower the total cost of ownership of any building.
*Please attend this month's program to find out more about USGBC membership.
For more information, send an email to Jacqui Bauer at jacqui.chan71@gmail.com
LEED for Existing Buildings Workshop
Wednesday, November 18th
Last Chance to Register for this USGBC Workshop
 LEED LogoThe Green Building Operations & Maintenance: The LEED Implementation Process workshop being held in Bloomington, IN on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 has been posted to the USGBC-IN website and registration is now open for up to 80 attendees.
This workshop is intended for building owners, operators and suppliers who are familiar with the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System, but new to implementing it on projects or looking to brush up on implementation best practices. It is also useful for design professionals, investors and others seeking to enhance their existing buildings with green operations. It is appropriate for new LEED APs, as well as those pursuing GBCI's LEED AP Building Operations + Maintenance credential.
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (EST)
Location: Indiana University
Indiana Memorial Union
Frangipani Room
900 East 7th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
See location in Google Maps
Details: Click here for the event flyer.
Click here for instructions on how to register to this workshop.
Please visit the USGBC Workshops List for more information.
USGBC Indiana 2009 Membership Gala
Thursday, December 3rd
 All USGBC Indiana members are invited to attend the annual year-end membership gala.
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (EST)
Location: Upland Brewing Company
350 West 11th Street
Bloomington, IN 47404
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Free to USGBC members
RSVP: Please register for this event at:
http://usgbc200912b.eventbrite.com/
Northeast Branch 2009 Holiday Gala
Wednesday, December 9th
Program information is as follows:
Date: Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Columbia Street West
135 West Columbia Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
See location in Google Maps
Flyer: Click here to access the event flyer.
Cost: Individual Chapter Members - Free;
Non-Members - $10 Cash at the Door.
RSVP: Click here to RSVP for this event.
Advanced registration is strongly encouraged.
Northeast Branch 2010 Committee Nominations
2010 is quickly approaching and plans are in the works for future
enhancements to Steering Committee roles.
On Wednesday, December 2nd ALL Northeast Indiana members are invited to attend the role discussion, followed by the appointment to the positions listed below. (Meeting to be held starting at 11:30am, at Trane, 6602 Innovation Blvd.)
If you are interested in assuming one of the four listed positions, please contact Denise Slack at 260-489-8804 or e-mail at dlslack@trane.com.
Click here for additional information regarding each of the positions.
USGBC Indiana State Chapter Board of Directors Nominations
Elections for 2010 Board of Directors
The Indiana Chapter of the U.S. Green Building
Council holds elections every year to fill open
board seats. Currently, the Chapter is seeking
nominees to fill 5 board seats for next year.
Board members serve two year terms and to be eligible, must be a current member of the Chapter and have served on a committee of USGBC Indiana or one of the five branches.
Nominations are being solicited until November 20th. Elections will then take place from December 1st until December 15th.
Nomination Process
Candidates can be nominated by submitting the nomination to any member of the Election committee:
Alex Forman at Alexander.Forman@icemiller.com or
Liz Ellis at lellis@usgbc-in.org
Nominees will then be requested to fill out an application and confirm their interest.
Please click here for more information.
Questions about the nomination and election process may be directed to: Alex Forman at 317-236-5826.
USGBC Indiana Chapter on LinkedIn
 USGBC-IN has established a group on LinkedIn.
Click here to join.
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Join USGBC-IN Today!
Join the Indiana Chapter of USGBC today to enjoy the many benefits of membership that help your organization stay competitive, grow your business, and make the best contacts in the green building industry.
Indiana Chapter members receive the following benefits:
- Member-only discounts and networking events - local event fees are discounted for chapter members. Monthly meetings are free!
- Get a fantastic array of green building tools and educational resources.
- Be noticed - membership sets your organization apart.
- Build relationships in the local construction industry.
- Meet, learn and network with other building professionals who share the same passion for green building.
- Benefit from company and individual names being listed in one of the largest directories of green building practitioners and supporters via the USGBC National website and our local chapter homepage.
- Get involved - help build much-needed awareness for green building in Indiana.
- Be recognized as a leader in supporting a better built environment.
- Shape and proactively promote local green initiatives through chapter and committee involvement.
- Vote in local chapter business/issues.
Sign up today and receive a one-year membership for only $50 (less than 14 cents per day)!
For more information regarding USGBC Indiana, please visit our web site at usgbc-in.org.
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Indiana Green Building Events
A Monumental Affair Presents - the (re)thINk Indy Workshop: Where is GREEN going?
Wednesday, November 18th
 Featuring a keynote from William Brown, AIA, LEED AP, Director of Sustainability at Indiana University; an environmental policy panel discussion; and roundtables featuring best practices from local projects..
Cost: $50/person or Monumental Affair Sponsors' Rate: $30/person (up to
4 guests).
Date: November 18, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM (EST)
Location: Embassy Suites - Ambassador Room
110 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN
See location in Google Maps
Cost: $50/person or
Monumental Affair Sponsors' Rate:
$30/person (up to 4 guests).
More information attached and at http://www.kibi.org/ma_workshop
32nd Annual Awards for Excellence in Design,
Development, Construction, Engineering, Public Art
and Innovative Reuse in Indianapolis
Wednesday, November 18th
Featuring a keynote from Dr. Randall Howard, Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer at Ball State University and
When: November 18, 2009
Date: November 18, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m. Open cocktail reception
6:45 p.m. Opening Remarks and Dinner
7:30 p.m. Keynote Address, Dr. Randall Howard
8:00 p.m. Awards presentations
9:00 p.m. Evening concludes
All times EST.
Location: Indiana Roof Ballroom
140 West Washington St.
Indianapolis IN 46204
See location in Google Maps
Cost: Tables of 8 are available for $600.
Individual tickets are $80.
For
sponsorship opportunities, please contact Laura Fox at lfox@kibi.org or
317-264-7555 ext. 100.
More information: http://www.kibi.org/MA_event
CNT Working with USGBC to Assess
Transportation Energy Intensity
 CNT LogoThe Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) in Chicago is working
with the US Green Building Council
(USGBC) to develop a matrix that will
assess the transportation energy intensity
(TEI) of buildings. TEI is a measure of the
amount of energy associated with getting
people to and from a specific building.
CNT is looking for businesses and organizations that would be willing to participate in data collection for the project. Parties interested in participating would be asked to supply background information about the building in which they are located and send out an inquiry to building staff asking them to take a short survey that explores employee commuting patterns.
The building does not have to be LEED certified for inclusion in the project. Attached is a fact sheet with more information, please contact Sofia Becker at sbecker@cnt.org if you have any questions or would like to take part.
Habitat for Humanity LEED for Homes Spring Project
Call-Out to All Interested Trades
 Habitat for Humanity is going to build a LEED for Homes project for their spring Kick Off, and we need strong support from trades professionals. You can support building green and your community by learning the newest techniques Indiana has been using to build energy, water and resource efficient homes.
Come learn about Habitat for Humanity's new projects and the LEED for Homes rating system, and see what you can do to give back to your community and learn at the same time. This is a no obligation introductory meeting, so bring anyone who might be interested. This is a great networking opportunity to meet like minded professionals who are wanting to make a difference. Come meet new people, learn new ideas and help Indianapolis and Habitat for Humanity grow GREEN!
Drinks and light snacks will be provided.
Please click here for additional information and to register for this event.
Registration is free.
If you would like to sponsor or volunteer to help with the Trades Call Out please contact Christin Kappel with The Architecture Studio, Inc. at 317.842.8070 x-4 or email at ckappel@thearchitecturestudio.com
1st International High Performance Buildings
Conference at Purdue University
Abstracts Due December 17, 2009
 It has been a tradition for Purdue University to host the International Compressor Engineering and the International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conferences with hundreds of participants from the academia and industry. The 1st International High Performance Buildings Conference at Purdue is added to emphasize a new area where Purdue University feels that it can serve as a venue for cutting-edge research presentations.
The abstract submission deadline is Thursday, December 17th.
Conference topics include the following:
· Air Distribution Systems
· Building Acoustics
· Building Envelopes and Facades
· Building-Integrated Photovoltaics
· Building Performance Monitoring
· Building Simulation and Modeling
· Building System Diagnostics
· Building Thermal Systems & Controls
· Case Studies (Integrated Building Design)
· Heating & Cooling Plants
· Indoor Air Quality
· Innovative Building Materials
· Lighting and Daylighting Design
· Low-Energy Cooling
· Natural and Hybrid Ventilation
· Net-Zero Energy Building Design
· Shading Design and Control
· Solar Energy Utilization in Buildings
· Sustainable/Green Building Technologies
· Thermal and Visual Comfort
The conference will be held from July 12 - 15, 2010, on the campus of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. For information or questions about the International High Performance Buildings Conference, contact
Professor Thanos Tzempelikos, Architectural Engineering Group, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA. Ph: (765) 496-7586 Fax: (765) 494-0395.
USGBC Indiana is a proud co-sponsor of this event.
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Emerging Green Builders News & Events
 Who We Are
Emerging Green Builders are students and young professionals dedicated to becoming and recruiting the future leaders of the green building movement. EGB Indiana, part of the Heartland Region, offers you the opportunity to get involved in green building locally, access USGBC resources, and particiate in local events.
All Things EGBPlease visit us at usgbc-in.org/egb for all the latest events, resources, and local branch information. |
Indiana Green Building News
Items are linked back to their sources and are the property of their owners. Click on heading for complete article.
Trane Launches New Program to Help Indiana Industrials Reduce Energy Costs
Source: Trane Indiana
Date Written: 10/20/2009
INDIANAPOLIS-In an economic climate where every penny counts, the Trane commercial business in Indiana is launching an innovative energy optimization and sustainability program to help industrial companies reduce energy costs by as much as 20 percent, positively impacting the environment and the bottom line.
"One constant that industrial companies face is that energy costs continue to rise," said Dave Sommer, business leader for Trane in Indiana. "Additionally, these companies are facing pressure from stakeholders demanding more awareness in regards to environmental issues. By optimizing energy use, a company creates sustainable financial savings while meeting social responsibility."
Working in partnership with The Plan Consulting Group, an Indianapolis firm that has launched similar programs for Kraft Foods, CB Richard Ellis and Lexmark, the Trane platform takes a holistic approach to generating energy savings. All building systems - from compressed air to lighting to HVAC - are analyzed to develop a strategic plan that outlines the expected savings and payback period, which is achieved much faster than most would expect.
"We reach the savings faster and at a lower cost," said Sommer. "Companies can realize year over year savings quicker through Trane's focused approach to energy optimization. While internal program may take six to eight years to implement, we can generate the savings in less than half of that time. And this is with savings up to 20 percent."
Trane has launched a new Web site, www.TraneIndustrialOptimization.com, to provide industrials with a primer on the industrial optimization and sustainability program.
"When companies begin to fully understand what optimization is, the available benefits and cost reductions become clear," said Rick Herold, director of optimization and sustainability for TPCG. "The opportunities for companies to create savings today and for years to come are tremendous."
Read more...
Purdue to Open Energy Lab
Source: Indiana Living Green
Date Written: 10/23/2009
Purdue University's College of Technology plans to develop an Advanced and Renewable Energy Lab to give students hands-on training in alternative, renewable and sustainable energy technology, reports Kokomoperspective.com. Purdue and a Reach Higher One Step Up grant from the City of Kokomo will fund the lab.
News Briefs - EnergyThe lab will provide crucial skills to students seeking jobs in advanced and renewable energy and green technology, said Christy Bozic, director of the Purdue College of Technology at Kokomo. It will also assist workers in transitioning to the emerging green economy. "A tremendous opportunity exists in transforming our already-skilled automotive workforce into an energy efficient, green workforce," Bozic said. "This lab will provide educational and research opportunities that are not available in other areas of the state or the Midwest."
Read more...
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Add Your LEED Projects to USGBC-IN.org
Submit Your LEED Certified Projects
USGBC Indiana is in the process of adding in-state LEED certified projects to the website's "Green Projects" showcase. If
you would like to submit your LEED certified
project, please complete the Green Project Profile
form and submit entries to info@usgbc-in.org.
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Author: Justin Moresco
Source: Earth2Tech
Date Written: 10/23/2009
The rising interest in green retrofits represents a "tremendous market opportunity for green builders, owners and building product manufacturers," according to the report, which considered projects that would be over $1 million in total costs. The study concludes that the greatest opportunity for green design and construction activity lies not in constructing new green buildings, but in engaging in the retrofit and renovation of existing ones.
A project is considered "green" in this report if it employs multiple practices, products and processes covering a minimum of three out of five aspects of green building - energy, water or resource efficiency, improved indoor environmental quality and responsible site management. The sectors with the largest green retrofit opportunity are education and office, representing about 50 percent of all retrofit activity, with the biggest growth expected in retail.
Read more... USGBC President/CEO Awards Habitat for Humanity Project LEED PlatinumAuthor: Scott Blair
Source: Southwest Contractor
Date Written: 11/11/2009 A unique new home for a low-income family was honored with the highest LEED for Homes certification level yesterday by USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi prior to the kickoff for Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix. The first concrete Net-Zero Energy home in central Arizona was built by Habitat for Humanity in 12 weeks with the dedication of over 300 volunteers, says Habitat superintendent James Ball. The home is expected to produce more energy than it consumes. "This will be the nucleus of change that goes around this entire neighborhood," Fedrizzi says. Read more... |
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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From the Editor
LEED for Every Scale
Part of the success of the LEED Rating System has been its ability to adapt. With version 3, many fundamental improvements were made to the system including credit harmonization, credit weightings, regionalization, a regular update cycle, the establishment of credit piloting, and a revised set of minimum project requirements that mandate the submittal of actual building performance data. Similarly, as the marketplace demands variations of the rating system tailored for particular project scopes and typologies, USGBC has responded with an entire family of LEED systems to meet such demands.
However, it has recently dawned on me that when considering the various "scales" of our built environment, LEED has essentially skipped a scale.
To illustrate this, let us start at the most intimate of scales, an interior design project or commercial interior build-out. For such scopes, we have LEED for Commercial Interiors.
If we consider just the essential structure and service core of a building, there is LEED for Core & Shell.
Of course, if we consider a building in its entirety, we have a number of options: there is LEED for New Construction, LEED for Homes, or LEED for Schools, depending on the nature of the project. Soon we'll have LEED for Healthcare and LEED for Retail for appropriate projects. If we seek to renovate a piece of existing building stock, we may consider LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.
Even for projects at a neighborhood-scale that consider multiple structures on multiple sites, there is LEED for Neighborhood Development.
Did you notice the missing scale? It's the site. Yes, most of the LEED systems include a major section for sustainable sites, but consider this: all building projects have a site, but not all developed sites contain buildings. We need a LEED for Sites.
Enter the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI). Through a partnership between the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the United States Botanic Garden in conjunction with a diverse group of stakeholder organizations, SSI was developed to provide project teams with standards and guidelines for landscape sustainability. It's a point-based system similar to LEED and focuses on environmentally responsible best practices for landscape projects.
According to SSI, USGBC is participating in the Initiative and anticipates integrating the system into future iterations of LEED. Whether SSI will actually be inducted into the LEED family remains to be seen; however, USGBC's support for the Initiative is a great step toward filling in the "scales" gap in the current LEED catalog. There is no reason that every endeavor toward enhancing our built environment should not have an opportunity to become certifiably green.
Daniel Overbey, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
USGBC Indiana Communications Chair
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Calendar at a Glance
November
18: LEED for Existing Buildings Workshop
Location: Bloomington, IN
18: Monumental Affair 2009 Award Ceremony
Location: Indianapolis, IN
19: USGBC-IN Central Indiana Branch Monthly Program
Location: Indianapolis, IN
19: USGBC-IN South Central Branch Monthly Program
Location: Bloomington, IN
December
2: USGBC-IN South West Branch: Social Meeting
Location: Evansville, IN
3: USGBC Indiana Chapter Membership Gala
Location: Bloomington, IN
2 & 3: Greening of the Indiana Memorial Union
Location: Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
9: USGBC-IN Northeast Branch Holiday Gala
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
January
20: USGBC-IN Central Indiana Branch Monthly Program
Location: 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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