Thursday, December 22, 2011

Look What's New! LEED 2012 Webinar

RedVector is continually expanding our green building and LEED course library to meet the needs of our design and construction professionals. In January, RedVector is holding one of our hottest green-related webinars yet! See below for details.

01/31/2012: LIVE WEBINAR: LEED 2012 Changes Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, 1pm-4pm EST

The U.S. Green Building Council® LEED system is changing! This three-hour webinar focuses on the proposed LEED 2012 changes. LEED 2012 is a technical update to the LEED rating systems, including the Building Design + Construction, Interior Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Neighborhood Development, and LEED for Homes rating systems. This course is important for professionals associated with green building (LEED A.P., architect, landscape architect, engineer, or other green building professional) , in order to stay up-to-date with the LEED rating systems. This course will focus on the proposed 2012 changes including the addition of three new credit categories (Integrative Process, Location and Transportation, Performance), changes to technical content , and a revised point distribution. Finally, this course will look at the revision process and associated timeline for adoption.

Learn More / Sign Up Here

Friday, December 16, 2011

LEED 2012: Six Things You Should Know

By Vicki Zambito

The New Year is almost upon us and while most of us contemplate changes that we hope reduce our waistlines or increase our bank accounts, the USGBC has been hard at work developing the next evolution of LEED. The second public comment period for the draft version of LEED 2012 has closed. According to the USGBC, it is anticipated that LEED 2012 will be put forth for a member ballot vote in late summer 2012, after the public comment and response periods. Meanwhile, here are six quick things you should be aware of about the proposed LEED 2012 rating system:

1. The number of credit categories has jumped from seven to ten. The three new credit categories are Integrative Process, Location and Transportation, and Performance.

2. The number of prerequisites has climbed from nine to fifteen.

3. Point values of existing credits have changed.

4. The “LEED Accredited Professional” credit has changed. It now requires two additional individuals representing primary disciplines to be LEED AP (with any specialty) or Green Associates. The current language for compliance with this credit requires one LEED AP with applicable specialty.

5. It is anticipated that the LEED Professional Credential program administered through the Green Building Certification Institute will remain the same.

6. Project teams need not comply with the 2012 rating system proposed for public comment. Project teams should follow the rating system version for which they are currently registered.

For more information on LEED 2012, visit http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=9826

Friday, December 9, 2011

Net Zero Energy Building Certification: 5 Imperatives You Must Meet

By Vicki Zambito

The world of green building has another certification to add to its portfolio of sustainable stamps-of-approval. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is launching a Net Zero Energy Building Certification program based off its popular Living Building Challenge. The ILFI defines net zero energy as “One hundred percent of the building’s energy needs on a net annual basis must be supplied by on-site renewable energy.”

According to the ILFI’s website, to earn Net Zero Energy Building Certification, the requirements of the following five Living Building Challenge Imperatives must be met:

1. Limits to Growth (in part): Curbs the building’s contribution to the effects of sprawled development, which undermines the positive impact of achieving net zero energy building operation.

2. Net Zero Energy: Serves as the primary focus of Net Zero Energy Building Certification.

3. Rights to Nature: Ensures that the building does not preclude another building from achieving net zero energy operation as a result of excessive shading.

4 & 5. Beauty + Spirit and Inspiration + Education: Underscore the notion that renewable energy systems can be incorporated into a building in ways that are attractive and inspiring.

To learn more, visit: http://www.living-future.org/netzero/details.html