The Summer 2012 Course Catalog has Arrived!

Come see what’s new! RedVector is continually adding new courses to help you keep pace with a rapidly changing design and construction industry, so be sure to check out the NEW Summer 2012 Course Catalog for exciting additions like:

Commercial HVAC Building Envelope: Simulation study spotlights improving airtightness in U.S. commercial buildings

Geothermal Technologies Program: Learn about this underutilized, clean and renewable heat and power source

ADA Guidelines 2010: Accessible Routes: Provides criteria for basic elements within the “Accessible Routes” established by the guidelines

The Value of Concentrating Solar Power and Thermal Energy Storage: Examines the value of concentrating solar power and thermal energy in the U.S.

And don’t forget—all new RedVector courses are now mobile-ready and accessible via iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and more for faster, easier online learning!

Download the Summer 2012 Course Catalog TODAY!

California’s High-speed Rail Plan Approved, but not Certain

California lawmakers have given the OK to the state’s largest-ever construction project—the nation’s first high-speed rail line. However, there are still many obstacles ahead.

Last Friday, state legislature narrowly approved the allocation of $4.5 billion in state funds for rail improvements and to begin construction of the first segment in Central Valley. The move allowed the state to collect $3.2 billion of the $10 billion in federal bonds which were approved for the project in 2008. So far, only about $13 billion of the total estimated $68 billion has been allocated for the project.

There are no guarantees regarding where the rest of the funding will come from. Congressional republicans have said they will block any further funding for the project and investors have not bought into the project as predicted. California voters are also becoming wary of the project; a field poll showed that if the 2008 rail bond was put to vote today, it would fail.

In addition to the funding issues, farmers and local land owners are intensifying their efforts to derail the project that will leave 1,500 acres of fertile farm land unusable and disrupt more than 500 agricultural businesses. But that is a small price to pay for the environmental benefits the project will bring, including:

·         Reduced air pollution/smog and improved air quality

·         Reduced dependence on foreign oil (saving 12.7 million barrels/year)

·         Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 12 billion lbs./year

Long-Term Transportation Bill: Deal Reached

After nearly 33 months of short-term funding extensions, House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement regarding the Surface Transportation Bill that will streamline the environmental project review process. A Final Conference Agreement report was submitted to the White House today and is currently awaiting President Obama’s approval.

The new legislation—which is a compromise between the $109 billion two-year bill the Senate approved in March and the three-month bill approved by the House in April—will authorize $79.4 billion for highways, $17.1 billion for transit, $1.4 billion for highway safety programs, as well as funding to last until September of this year.

The bill also includes provisions that will make important changes in surface transportation policy, including accelerating highway and transit project approval and reducing the number of federal surface-transportation programs and funding categories. In addition, a $1.75 billion funding boost will be given to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act over the next two years, up from just $122 million a year now.

Major cutbacks included:  

•  language that would have allowed quick approval for the Keystone pipeline;
•  a provision that would block the EPA from regulating coal ash as hazardous waste; and
•  $1.4 billion in aid for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica called the measure “the jobs bill for the 112^th Congress,” adding that it “provides necessary, real reform that focuses our limited resources on critical infrastructure needs.”

LEED 2012 to LEED v4: What You Need to Know

Responding to feedback from industry professionals, the USGBC has decided to delay the launch of LEED 2012 until at least June 1, 2013. Along with the date, the name has also been changed—to LEED v4. To compensate, LEED 2009 has been extended for a full three years, allowing time for incentive teams to initiate the shift between LEED versions. The setback was based on three main concerns:

1. The proposed changes in the rating system were too extensive, too quickly.
2. Some of the changes needed more refinement as newer approaches need to be applied.
3. Many of the resources required to achieve needed credits would not be available by the time LEED 2012 would have been launched.

The evolution from LEED 2009 to LEED v4 next year promises to bring a stronger user experience along with better performance management features that will increase efficiency and improve indoor environmental quality. Some of the most important changes we can expect are:

• New Market Sectors: Data Centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail, and LEED Homes Midrise will all be included in v4.
• A More Rigorous Rating System: Along with advances in technology and acceptance of LEED and green building practices, the rating system will become more stringent.
• Credit Weightings: In line with the rating system, the credit weightings will also have higher standards.

Stay tuned to RedVector and the GreenView blog for the latest LEED v4 updates!

5 New LEED CMP Packages + New HVAC Webinar in June!

Exciting things are happening at RedVector! For LEED APs with Specialty, we’ve released 5 new course packages with courses chosen exclusively by our LEED AP O+M in residence. In addition, we will be featuring a LIVE Interactive Webinar Tuesday, June 5 on HVAC Distribution Systems, so don’t miss out! And in case you haven’t heard, RedVector courses are now available on your iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ device and more.

NEW LEED CMP Packages for LEED APs with Specialty:

• LEED AP BD+C Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) Commercial 30-hour package #1
• LEED AP BD+C Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) Commercial 30-hour package #2
• LEED AP BD+C Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) Residential 30-hour package
• LEED AP ID+C Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) 30-hour package
• LEED AP O+M Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) 30-hour package  

Tip: To easily find these packages on RedVector.com, search by keyword: “LEED AP” and product type: “Packages”. Note: Professionals looking to upgrade their license through prescriptive credential maintenance must take a RedVector prescriptive package. The above packages are ONLY for current LEED APs with Specialty.

NEW LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR:

HVAC Distribution Systems, June 5, 2012 (Tuesday) 12pm – 1pm EST

Do you work with air systems? This 1-hour interactive webinar provides excellent technical background and explores distribution systems used in the field of HVAC air systems. Topics covered will apply to many types of facilities and environments, including medical, pharmaceutical, laboratory, and industrial manufacturing.

New ADA Guidelines Course & Webcast

You need it, RedVector has it! New ADA Guidelines went into effect in March of this year, and we have the essential CE you need to keep up with the latest changes. And remember, all new courses are mobile-ready (smartphone and tablet compatible) and feature full audio and Smart Notes!

 

 
New Course:

ADA Guidelines 2010: General Site and Building Elements
(1 hour)
The General Site and Building Elements section of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design focuses on ADA requirements for exterior spaces. This brand new course provides criteria for basic elements within the “General Site and Building Elements” of accessibility as established by the guidelines, including, General (501), Parking Spaces (502), Passenger Loading Zones (503), Stairways (504) and Handrails (505).

New Webcast:

Impacts of the 2010 ADA Guidelines (2 hours)
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design became a requirement as of March 15, 2012. Are you ready to implement them? Get up to speed with the most important changes and clarifications with this in-depth webcast—which includes key definitions and a history of the ADA, plus a discussion about the importance of compliance and the implications for non-compliance.

Three Things Happening Right Now with LEED 2012

By Vicki Zambito

1.     The LEED 2012 fourth public comment period has been pushed back to comprehensively address all stakeholder feedback. It was originally scheduled to open May 1, but will now open later that same month. Check with the USGBC for a specific date.

2.     The Opt-in Period to join the Consensus Body ends May 15. If you’d like to vote on LEED 2012, you must join the Consensus Body.

3.     LEED 2012 will be balloted from June 1-30, 2012.

For more information about LEED 2012, visit: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2360