Thanks to everyone who attended the Earth Day event - it was a great success.  Keep reading to hear about the winners of the Innovation in Green Design Awards.  Also in this issue: learn about LEED 2012 updates, read about "smart" irrigation, participate in Green Apple Day of Service, and more...

Stay tuned in August for our water-focused issue.

Green building innovations that take a giant step forward were the focus of the 5th annual Innovation in Green Design Award (IGDA), given each year by the Massachusetts Chapter of the US Green Building Council. Awards were announced at the Chapter's Annual Earth Day event.  

The IGDA has grown from 4 submissions in it's first year to 17 submissions this year, as the award continues to grow in importance as a showcase for the state of Massachusetts. Submissions ranged from a community foundation formed to green an existing building to an innovative lighting system for life science laboratories to an exemplary multi-tenant office building in the heart of downtown Boston. The winners in the three design categories were:

Building Project Related: Blackstone South Facility at Harvard University Submitted by Harvard Green Building Services

Product or Technology Related: Cambridge Public Library Double Wall Glass Facade Submitted by William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.

Click here to read the full article.

All submission boards are on display in the Gallery at Atlantic Wharf (first floor space off of Waterfront Square) until the end of June.

In response to concerns from the green building sector, USGBC announced on June 4th that it is postponing ballot on LEED 2012 until June 1, 2013. Because of this date change, LEED 2012 is being renamed LEED v4.

As a result, LEED 2009 will be available for the next three years.  USGBC will continue to ask the market to "test drive" LEED v4 in order to gain insight during the time when adjustments and improvements can be made.

The delay is in response to helping stakeholders fully understand and embrace the move to LEED v4. USGBC intends to make sure that the market is ready for LEED v4 because it represents progress on both carbon reduction and human health improvements.

Upcoming Dates:

Oct. 2 - Dec. 10: LEED v4 Fifth Public Comment Period Open
Nov. 14 - 16: Greenbuild Conference & Expo
June 1, 2013: LEED v4 Ballot Period Open

On April 19th, Mayor Menino announced "Greenovate Boston" as the exciting new sustainability brand for the city. It gathers the various parties who are working on the Mayor's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020. "In a city propelled by innovation and drive, Greenovate Boston will encourage continued sustainable growth and make this city the greenest on the planet." 

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to sign up to get news and participate in the coalition of interested parties which will help achieve the greening goals. 

Greenovate Boston links a number of agencies and projects together, including Environmental & Energy Services, Green Ribbon Commission, Mayor Menino's Green Awards, and Climate Action Plan.

Click here to read the full article and learn more about these agencies and projects.

As the weather heats up in New England, the Massachusetts

Failed Irrigation System

Water Resource Authority reports that customer water use increases 10-50% between June and September. Now is the perfect time to ask yourself, how "smart" is your irrigation plan? While the term "smart irrigation" refers to any number of industry best practices, the term is increasingly associated with the use of evapotranspiration (ET) controllers - automated irrigation controllers that modulate water use based on actual weather conditions. A typical ET controller has a temperature sensor, humidity sensor and rain gauge - if not a connection to a local weather service - and these three inputs feed an algorithm which calculates a daily water need. Unlike a rain sensor which simply overrides a time clock when the sensor is wet, an ET controller may eliminate irrigation use for days or even weeks following a heavy rainfall. 

Click here to read the full article.

Laurel Kruke laurel_kruke@gensler.com

Walking Tour of Downtown Salem, 6/14 from 3-5pm (Rain Date 6/21)

dParty - Friday, 6/15 6:30pm at Boston Society Of Architects, Boston, MA 

Greening Our Community Series, Tuesday, 6/19 7:00pm at Newton Free Library, Newton, MA 

Sudbury/Assabet/ Concord Rivers - Riverfest, Saturday to Monday 6/23-25

Walking Tour of Blueback Herring River Route, Tuesday 6/26 from 3 - 4:30pm