Greetings with our quick news digest for October:

There is a lot going on in our industry and the USGBC itself is looking at ways to improve our effectiveness in achieving our mission of green buildings & communities for all within a generation.

As a Chapter we are looking at how we can harness the strengths of our local community of practitioners and be better at innovating, learning, and growing our ability to make a difference.

We have a lot of activities planned in the coming weeks - please take a look below.

Also, it's time to select the next crop of USGBC National Board Members. USGBC MA Chapter Members are in the running and we would like your national member firm to use its votes for :
  • Chris Schaffner of The Green Engineer 
  • Jennifer Dolin of OSRAM Sylvania

Upcoming events:





A lot of information is getting onto our blog now - events, programs, advocacy campaigns and more. Following our blog is another way to keep track of our opportunities.

Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list, and don't forget to check us out on LinkedIn, twitter and facebook!

Grey Lee
Executive Director


 DisruptCRE on Thursday 10/16 - Where the Innovation Economy Crashes the Real Estate Industry! 

Dozens of speakers and firms presenting their disruptive technology. Read more here.

 

The USGBC MA is hosting one of the panels: "The Science of Building Systems" with Barbra Batshalom, Kurt Roth and Suzanne Robinson. Join us - use "USGBCMA" for a 25% discount. 

 

            












 Do the LEED Credit Monster Mash on Thursday 10/30! 

The EPMA presents their "Credit Costume Halloween Party" for all green building advocates at our headquarters in Boston. Sign up here for this event.

 

That's right, we want everyone to show up in their best outfits of LEED credits. Please be sure to come with a broad diversity of credits - we aim to make this event a LEED Platinum Halloween Party!

 

Thank you to Guardian Industries who will be underwriting the refreshments and beverages.

 

We will hear a brief presentation from Shawn Hesse on "Resiliency in the face of a Zombie Apocalypse" - zombie LEED credits are welcome to join us (bike racks, anyone?)

 

 

            




 Come to our collaborative event with the Sustainable Design Leaders of New England!


Friday, November 14th, 2014


 

Speakers include:

Nadav Malin, BuildingGreen

Bill Walsh, Healthy Buildings Network

Denis Darragh, Forbo Flooring Systems

Tracy Powel, Assa Abloy

Heather Henriksen, Harvard University

Melissa McCullough, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

 

                                




Other Chapter Activities:

Committee Meetings:

Residential Green Building Committee: Topic is "Green Appraisals" - Monday, 10/6 from 5:45-8pm at 344 Boylston St, Boston. More information here.

Advocacy Committee: Topics are our "Voter's Guide," renewable incentives, "Legislative Day," & planning for 2015. Wednesday, 10/8 12:30-1:30 in Boston. Agenda here.

Membership Committee: Tuesday, 10/14 5:45-8pm in Boston. Strategize with us!

Green Schools Committee: Thursday, 10/23 6-8pm in Boston. Link here.

Credential Maintenance

Webinar on Geothermal Heating and Cooling: Wednesday 10/15 4:30-6pm in Boston

Webinar on Green Home Certifications and Labels 101: Tuesday, 10/28 12-1pm in Boston

 

LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Begins 10/16/14

 

We are offering our 6 week LEED Green Associate Exam Prep beginning October 16, 2014 at our new offices at 50 Milk St. This 6 week course introduces core concepts of the USGBC LEED Rating Systems including updates of task and knowledge domains under the new LEED v4 to assist students with study and preparation for the LEED Green Associate exam. It is sponsored by the USGBC MA Chapter, facilitated by green building design and construction professionals with LEED credentials, and has a track record of student success. Sign up early as this study group does fill up. 

 

 

    



2014 LEED Project Showcase a total success for the USGBC MA 

Almost 50 projects and over 150 people in Cambridge - Link here to see some serious celebrating about #moregreenbuildings. 

 

            



















Emerging Professionals Green Building Tour of 
Hostelling International - Boston

 
A great time had by all! See you at the Halloween LEED Credit Costume Party!

 

            













Green Apple Day of Service: The Biggest One Yet!

 

The Center for Green Schools reports that Green Apple Day of Service 2014 brought together hundreds of thousands of volunteers participating in 3,760 service projects in all 50 states and in 42 countries throughout the world. Thanks to everyone for making the 3rd Annual Green Apple Day of Service a success! 

 

Thank you to the sponsors of the mini-grants:  NStar, National Grid, ArrowstreetRe-Stream, Triumph Modular, Capitol Waste Services, and in-kind sponsor Excel Dryer

Read about a few of our Massachusetts projects:


 

- Overview

- Hull Public Schools

- Brooke Mattapan Charter School


 

 

Below: Boston Green Academy fresh from a service project!

 

   



Celebrating a LEED Platinum Home in Dorchester

 

USGBC MA presented on LEED for Homes

 

Thanks to Neil Angus, Chapter Vice Chair, USGBC MA was represented at this great Open House event on Sept. 6, 2014. The gathering highlighted the innovation and achievement that can be derived when people set high standards and work with a broad coalition of stakeholders toward an optimal result.

 

Cynthia Loesch and Ivan Liriano, the owners, put their all into the creation of this 3-unit home. You can read more about the project and the open house here.

 

    



Anatomy of a Sustainable Real Estate Project

Suffolk University Professional Development

 

Drawing upon Suffolk University's $62 million development project at 20 Somerset Street, students will learn why and how to incorporate sustainability into real estate projects and property management. This course will also encompass additional case studies such as Partner's HealthCare Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston Properties' Atlantic Wharf, Urban Edge's Jamaica Plain Apartments, and more. Topics include: high performing buildings (new construction and existing buildings), green leases, preparing for a changing climate, and developments in energy policy. 


 

Among the instructors are Chapter members Barbra Batshalom, Caitriona Cooke, John Bolduc, Jim Newman, Brian Swett and Grey Lee.  

 

Sign up now - the course still has a few seats left!

    


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The UChapter LogoSGBC Massachusetts Chapter is a non-profit organization serving the sustainable design community throughout the Commonwealth by providing a wide range of green building education, networking and advocacy services. 

For more information visit: www.usgbcma.org