Happy Halloween everybody!
USGBC MA Chapter Newsletter
  
In This Issue
Green Breakfast
DisruptCRE
Conference and Party
LEED v4 Master Class
NEU Building Tour
Sustainable Dinner
Chapter Alignment
GreenbuildXBoston
ILC UMASS Tour
Green Giants
Greenbuild 2015
Advocacy Updates
Quick Links
Upcoming Webinars

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Monday 10/19/2015
6:00 - 7:00 PM - In Worcester
  
California Schools Connect the Drops

Tuesday 10/20/2015
12:00 - 1:00 PM - In Cambridge


BIMagination: From 3D to 5D

Wednesday 10/21/2015
 4:30 - 6:00 PM - In Boston

The Need for Energy Modeling Software for Data Centers

Tuesday 10/27/2015
12:00 - 1:00 PM - In Boston 


Committee Meetings

Emerging Professional Monthly Meeting

TONIGHT!

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October 2015

Greetings,
Woah! A change is in the air. It took an hour for my toes to thaw from the bike ride in. I hope you are enjoying the season and all the (chilly) delights it provides. I think some of our recent Green Apple Day of Service programs had some cold fingers working on those projects.

We have a lot of good stories curated on our twitter feed and Facebook. And have you seen our blog lately?

What's new? Pilgrim Nuclear plant is closing and that is changing the discussion around energy policy big time. Where do you find 680MW of base power supply? We know the cheapest solution is efficiency. How fast can we continue to scale? Where do car batteries fit in the scenario, and in how many years?

We are still cranking up our advocacy activities, so check our advocacy update below or go directly to our advocacy suite at our website.

Down in Metro DC, in Arlington VA, they've implemented density bonuses for LEED buildings, energy performance criteria and local-oriented credit preferences, a nice incentive package.

Speaking of density, I found this piece very interesting regarding cities, space, and pricing real estate.

Are you ready for Greenbuild? Join us on Wednesday evening at 5:00pm for a MA Chapter reception sponsored by EnerNOC.

Are you ready for GreenbuildXBoston? I know you're already thinking about Greenbuild 2017 in Boston, but pencil in 12/12/15, this December, for an educational summit we are producing: GreenbuildXBoston. 

Our Board recently reaffirmed our current relationship with USGBC National, choosing to move forward with the national network as an aligned Chapter. See below for more on that.

In the next few weeks, among other things, DisruptCRE is happening in Boston 10/29, we will have a breakfast program on green building tax incentives 10/22, there is a building tour in Amherst 10/28, and we are co-sponsoring an energy conference at Northeastern on 10/30. 
 
Not only are the seasons changing. We are changing the real estate world. We are transforming the built environment. It is awesome to be with you on this adventure. 

Thank you for your hard work which enacts our mission,
Grey

Green Breakfast Club: Green Tax Benefits


The presentation will cover tax incentives for promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.  Using a framework of the federal and 50-state compendium of green tax benefits developed by Jerome Garciano, an attorney at Robinson & Cole, the training will explain key features of tax credits and deductions, and what to look for when exploring various tax incentives for your green projects.  
  
Thursday, October 23rd
8:30-10:00am in Hercules conf. room
50 Milk Street, Boston, 17th floor
 
DisruptCRE
 
DisruptCRE is a conference like no other. They showcase the best and brightest ideas from the most innovative minds in technology and commercial real estate. The goal is to be a catalyst of change by merging the built environment with technological innovation. The presenters will explore how technology is facilitating the changes in the future of investing, developing, managing, leasing, buying, selling, & financing commercial properties.

USGBC MA Chapter is proud to sponsor this event - and help usher in the future of real estate!

Also, all USGBC MA Chapter members will receive a 20% discount on registration with the online code "USGBCMA".

Register here!

Thursday, October 29th
12:00 to 6:00PM
1 Federal Street, Boston 

 
Northeastern Energy Conference & Halloween Party! 


 

Join the Northeastern University Energy Systems Society (NU-ESS) for a conference that will address the current and future scenario in clean power, entrepreneurship, energy efficiency opportunities in our built environment, the grid of the future, and energy policies in an interdisciplinary manner. Registration includes keynote and panel discussions, showcase area, breakfast, lunch, and a late afternoon networking event.
 
Register here!

Friday, October 30th
8:00AM to 6:00PM
346 Huntington Ave, Boston 

Included in the fee for the conference is the fee for the Halloween Party. If you would like to attend the annual USGBC MA Chapter Halloween Party separately, you can purchase a ticket for just that event here!

Please come dressed in a costume; the optional theme is TRENDS IN GREEN DESIGN. 

Halloween Party Only:
                                      
Friday October 30th 
4:00 - 6:00PM 
346 Huntington Ave, Boston 
 
LEED v4 Master Class

In this half-day master session with instructor Blake Jackson of Tsoi/Kobus Associates, we'll take a deep dive into everything that's new about LEED. We'll cover all the improvements to the LEED BD&C and IDC ratings systems including new credits, reference standards, and adaptations. This session assumes some familiarity with LEED and green building concepts; LEED AP status or equivalent is recommended for attendees.

Tuesday, November 10th
8:00AM - 12:00PM
50 Milk St, 15th Floor
"Aristotle" Conf. Room, Boston

The East Village Building Tour at NEU  

 

Join the USGBC MA Chapter for a tour at a soon-to-be LEED silver certified building at Northeastern University! The East Village is the newest and second tallest building on campus. It was developed on a brownfield site, which was restored to allow construction on the property. Representatives from Northeastern and the architectural firm, DiMella Shaffer, will be available to answer all questions about the building's design, function and sustainable features.
 
After the tour, join us for a few drinks at a networking gathering nearby at around 7:00pm. 

Register for the tour here!

Wednesday, November 4th
6:00 - 7:00PM
291 Saint Botolph Street, Boston 

6th Annual Sustainable Dinner  


 
Join the Chapter for our 6th Annual Sustainable Dinner! The theme this year is healthy living in buildings.
 
RAB Lighting will speak to the group about how proper lighting can affect your circadian rhythm and it will be hosted by the Commonwealth Restaurant, Cambridge with a fantastic menu created by Chef Nookie.

Register here!

Thursday, November 12th
6:00 - 8:00PM
11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge 

Chapter Alignment Announcement


Dear Colleagues,

The US Green Building Council Massachusetts Chapter Board is excited to announce its commitment to excellence and to partnership as an aligned Chapter of the USGBC.

Our Board, other chapter leaders, and staff have been planning for our future over the last 6 months, as part of a larger process to evolve the way in which chapters across the country work with USGBC at the national level. We, as a chapter have spent this time determining how the USGBC MA Chapter can best serve our amazing members, our generous sponsors and partners, and our growing constituency in the state. Our mission has remained steady since we started, 7 years ago - To promote the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings and communities in Massachusetts.

At our last Board meeting, the USGBC MA Board of Directors voted to become what is called an "aligned" chapter of the USGBC. This means that the USGBC MA Chapter will continue to operate as an independent organization, working in alignment with USGBC to promote LEED and similar tools, provide education, gather interested professionals, advocate for important legislation, and reach out to important constituencies in our communities to pursue our mission. 

We remain a dynamic, statewide chapter of the USGBC and are committed to growing stronger with more reach and more activities in the years to come. The USGBC MA Board of Directors will be developing a new strategic plan over the next few months and will be seeking your input. Please share your thoughts as we prepare for our next 5 years.

Thank you for being a part of this great organization and great movement. We look forward to growing the Massachusetts Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council with you.

Jim Newman, Chair, on behalf of the Board of Directors

 
GreenbuildXBoston
 
In light of the celebration and excitement of Greenbuild in Washington DC, the Massachusetts Chapter has created a local educational summit to allow local firms and green building practitioners the opportunity to be offered the same content, here in the Commonwealth. We are going to be hosting the GreenbuildXBoston Summit in the conference space at 50 Milk St, Boston on the 12th of December. We are excited to invite all of the local firms in our industry to connect with local green building practitioners!




Integrative Learning Center Building Tour at UMASS Amherst 

 
The Integrative Learning Center is a LEED Gold certified facility that opened last fall and transformed the campus core with its 21st century education classrooms, lecture halls and the sensitive landscape integration with the iconic Campus Pond.

A tour of the building, led by project manager Jeff Quakenbush, will explore the remarkable new facility and review sustainability features such as landscaping and rain water management, energy use reduction strategies, natural ventilation, and many other sustainable design features. 
 
Following the tour, please join us at the Green Room in Campus Planning for a reception.

Register here!

Wednesday, October 28th
5:00 to 7:00PM
650 East Pleasant Street, Amherst 
 
Green Giants

This is the second year of the West Branch Biannual Green Giants Awards program!
 
The program honors the work of trades people, educators, and owners/program directors who help build, teach about, envision and fund green buildings in Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire counties.  
 
This program is intentionally distinct from other building awards in that it honors a wide range of participants in the sustainable building industry of our region.
 
 
 
The West Branch Green Giants program will occur in December, 2015, in Hampshire County TBD.
 

GreenBuild 2015

 
Register for GREENBUILD today to join us and be sure to add-on a tour or one of the all-day education sessions such as "Successful Energy Modeling for LEED Projects" taught by our colleagues at The Green Engineer.
 
For more information, check out the Greenbuild 2015 website. It might take you 45 minutes to go through the options for tours, but only 5-10 mins to just register for the conference. You can sign up for workshops and sessions later, as well.
 
Do let us know you are going so we can put you on the "Massachusetts Party Patrol List" and alert you to any good receptions we can crash or otherwise experience. Please pencil in the MA Chapter reception for 5:00 on Wednesday, 11/19 - we'll send you the location when we finalize details. (This will be our Party Patrol List!)
 
Advocacy Updates
 
  • PACE: Energy policy is hot right now at the State House. We're going to ride that wave to get PACE Financing into the omnibus energy bill. If you'd like to join our industry-wide coalition to push for this innovative energy-efficiency-funding mechanism, please email: advocacy@usgbcma.org.
  • Net Metering: To ensure the sustainability of Massachusetts' solar industry, we're committed to advocating for the removal of net metering caps. Our Chapter, along with nearly 50 local and regional organizations, signed a letter to the TUE Committee to petition for more comprehensive solar policy. Read our recent blog post to learn more about our endorsement of the Acadia Center's Next Generation Solar Policy Framework.
  •  Net-Zero: We're building out our net-zero strategy in conjunction with the state's updated stretch code. Please email our Net-Zero issue captain Kate Bubriski to join our efforts!
  • Read more about these issues and our other advocacy priorities, like Energy Efficiency Education, Local LEED Ordinances, and Home Energy Efficiency Assessment, on our site.
How Many LEED Credits Can You Fit Into a Tiny House?

Know of any great sustainable buildings, Tiny Houses or otherwise, that you want to tell us about? Shoot us an email!
 
The USGBC 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: usgbcma.org