Green Roundtable Newsletter: Film Event of the Summer, MA Leads in Recycling Regs, Solar Financing Seminar, New National Grid Headquarters & More

Greetings!

This monthly newsletter brings you news, upcoming events, and opportunities for involvement from three Massachusetts entities affiliated with the US Green Building Council--The Green Roundtable (GRT), USGBC Massachusetts Membership Forum (The Forum) and Emerging Green Builders Committee (EGB).

Event Highlights

Solar Financing Next Week, Big Screening About Greening of South Boston

NEXUS is your go-to place for green building education. And we're now a USGBC Education Provider, too, meaning we are your go-to place for maintaining your LEED AP credential.

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Thanks to Brian Smith (Allied Consulting), Steve Sakakeeny (SAK Environmental) and DJ Quagliaroli (Dragin Geothermal) who delivered a great seminar on the ins-and-outs of geothermal heat pumps systems on June 11. View the presentation here.

Next Thursday, July 16, Wilson Rickerson (MS-Group) presents "Solar Financing: Shedding Light on Solar Incentives." An in-depth discussion of state and federal solar photovoltaic incentives and regulations--come learn how your projects can receive funding for solar PV installations! 1.5 AIA Sustainable Design CEU offered. Register here.

"The Greening of Southie" is coming home to Boston for the film event of the summer! July 20th, 7-9pm at the historic Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline. Join GRT and Wicked Delicate Films, along with partners Mass Energy Consumer's Alliance, YouthBuild Boston, Environmental Business Council, Green Thinks, and Community Labor United for a screening of a film about Boston's first residential green building and a Q&A with the filmmakers and GRT Executive Director Barbra Batshalom. Contact Aaron to become a partner or for media inquiries. 30% discount for groups 10+. Buy tickets here. View the Press Release.

Project Spotlight
Reservoir Woods: A New Office Building That Reflects Our Corporate Values

By Martine Dion, SMMA, and Fran Boucher, National Grid

When considering the design features of National Grid's new main office in New England, the primary concerns were providing a healthy, comfortable and productive work environment for employees, while minimizing our impact on the environment and supporting our commitment to addressing climate change.

Read the full article "Reservoir Woods: A New Office Building That Reflects Our Corporate Values."

Image: Steve M Rotol, Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Inc.

Advocacy Alert

HOMEConnecticut a Model for National Initiative

By Caroline Havey, Emerging Green Builders Committee

Two weeks ago the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing in Washington and announced a Partnership for Sustainable Communities - a plan that is guided by six principles and will coordinate budgets and grantmaking and encourage municipalities and regions to create mixed-income housing near rail lines and in town centers. The hearing was a way to publicize new public policy under the Obama administration that is focused on reducing the amount Americans drive, cutting foreign oil consumption and stopping suburban sprawl. To meet these goals America will need to coordinate land use regulations and local zoning codes as well as revamp federal housing and transportation policy.

Read the full article "HOMEConnecticut a Model for National Initiative."

Image: HOMEConnecticut

Member Spotlight

MA is Leading the Push Into Construction & Demolition Materials Recycling

By Patrick Manning, Gypsum Recycling America

Here in Massachusetts, many construction & demolition materials have been banned from disposal including asphalt, brick, concrete, metal and wood. New materials such as gypsum wallboard and asphalt shingles are being looked at now and wallboard is in the process of going through approvals to be added to the ban list. When a material like wallboard gets mixed in with damp soil conditions below grade and is mixed with other organic matter, a chemical reaction takes place due to lack of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide gas is created. Hydrogen sulfide gas is a very expensive problem to deal with and many landfills are closed due to these issues.

Read the full article "Massachusetts is Leading the Push Into Construction & Demolition Materials Recycling."

Image: Gypsum Recycling America

USGBC News
House Passage of Energy and Climate Legislation Creates New Opportunities for Green Building

USGBC, Washington, DC)- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) commends the House of Representatives for passing landmark energy and climate legislation Friday that includes several significant provisions to incentivize and accelerate the benefits of green building across the country.

Read the full press release "House Passage of Energy and Climate Legislation Creates New Opportunities for Green Building."

Image Credit: USGBC

What's New at GRT?
First Call for Building Envelope Exhibit, LinkedIn Resources & More

The Green Roundtable and its NEXUS Green Building Resource Center provide you with services and resources to green your projects, firms, homes, communities and lifestyles. "What's New at GRT" keeps you up to date about the innovative services and resources we offer.

DO YOU COMPOST YOUR VEGETABLE WASTE?
Each month in our new Integrated Exhibit: Recipe for a Green Kitchen, we will poll our visitors about what actions they take to create a more sustainable kitchen. In June, we asked our visitors if they compost their vegetable waste. See the results above. Visit NEXUS to answer our next question: Do you use only cloth/reusable bags when shopping?

FIRST CALL FOR EXCITING PRODUCT EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITY!!!!

NEW: NEXUS Building Envelope Exhibit accepting green products!

Showcase your product in a one-of-a-kind, full-scale building sections!
Interactive educational opportunity where designers and specifiers learn about building science and products in a fun context.

This is not your typical "trade show" setting. Space is limited and the benefits are great, including connection to consumers, networking opportunities, a huge unveiling party, and tons of PR. Don't delay!!! We are offering a 20% discount for a commitment by July 16th and 10% discount for a commitment by July 31st. Get involved by contacting Maryellen by email or at 617-374-3740 x135.

LINK WITH NEW NEXUS RESOURCES ON LINKEDIN

Many of you have asked that more NEXUS resources be available online--so this summer we're working to make this happen. We're undergoing a website transition to better provide you with the tools and resources that you need. And if you join the group "NEXUS Green Building Resource Center" on LinkedIn, you'll get access to past presentations, "Ask a Green Expert" Q&A, upcoming events and more.

RECYCLE YOUR CELL PHONES AT NEXUS

The Eco-Challenge is offering cell phone recycling in conjunction with Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program. Working and broken cell phones, batteries and accessories from all service providers will be accepted at NEXUS. HopeLine has collected more than 5.3 million phones, kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills and donated more than $5.6 million in cash grants to organizations that run domestic violence awareness and prevention programming.

Sponsored Events

Building Science Seminars

Join us this summer to explore
a variety of building science topics at our upcoming seminars. Learn more at buildingscience.com.

July 30: Designing Low Energy Buildings: Tools, Techniques, and Technologies
July 31: Joseph Lstriburek: Figuring Stuff Out
September 9-10: Building Science Fundamentals

Building Analyst Training

Attend Building Performance Institute's (BPI) training in Boston, MA. Tailor-made for the Engineering, HVAC, Home Inspection, General Contracting, Residential & Multifamily, and Building Performance Industries. Fee of $1495/four days with $50 discount code "Mkbpi50." Register here.

July 13: BPI Building Analyst Training

Visit NEXUS When You're in Boston

Visit NEXUS Green Building Resource Center in Downtown Boston at 38 Chauncy St, 7th Floor, Boston, MA.

Click here for directions to NEXUS. NEXUS is open during the following hours:

Monday-Wednesday: 12-3pm
Thursday: 12-7pm
Second Saturday of the month: Starting in September!

Sincerely,

Aaron Desatnik, The Green Roundtable
Jim Newman, USGBC MA Membership Forum
Carrie Havey, Emerging Green Builders Committee

Get involved with the Massachusetts Sustainable Building Community by joining the USGBC Massachusetts Membership Forum or donating to NEXUS Green Building Resource Center.