LEED Moves with the Times: new changes to the CE Program

When designing LEED, the USGBC knew they were building a program that would have to move quickly with developing technologies. The newest change is a just-announced easier and more effective education experience for current LEED professionals.

(If you are seeking LEED credentials,the path is still the same.  Train up,take a test. In fact, you can do so right here: www.redvector.com)

If you already hold the LEED certification however, you know you need to take courses every one or two years to keep your credentials. And that audit period when you turn everything in can really stink. Sometimes you find you took courses that didn’t apply to you. Other times you find you are missing a couple hours and need to drop everything to take care of it by the deadline.

USGBC heard the critics. Often enough that they made to following modifications to the recertification process:

• Reporting will get easier: RedVector and other providers couldn’t report what courses you took to the USGBC on your behalf. That was your job. An annoying job full of paperwork that could sometimes resemble doing your taxes.
•  USGBC will be allowing RedVector and others to report directly for you, if you so choose. That could save you a lot of headaches in the future. We will alert you when they open that up. Right now it is still in the future.
•  Forms: You know those reporting forms? They should be getting better by having less for you to fill out.
•  Activity Types: this was where you were taking classes that you didn’t need. No more. They have reduced the activity types to four categories: education, LEED project participation, volunteering and authorship. Volunteering has a 50% hour limit and the other activities have no limit.
•  Website changes: their site is looking much better these days, check it out. https://new.usgbc.org/leed/credentials
• Free Stuff! Take a free 6-hour webinar and you get one free BD+C, ID+C or O+M specialty credential. If you already hold one of these, take the course and get another. No matter what designation you hold you’ll get 6 hours credit free (even Green Associates). Register here: https://new.usgbc.org/leed/credentials/leed-ap/upgrade
• Another piece of good news for Green Associates? There are no more eligibility requirements, anyone over 18 can take the courses and test.

So there you go. LEED continues to change with the times. And RedVector promises to stay on top of all changes and help to make the LEED credentialing process as painless as possible.

What? Haven’t’ taken all your CEcredits yet? You’re not alone, head over to RedVector.com for some refreshers.

Gardening: not just for the front yard anymore

I want to start a new garden. No, I am not talking about a new flower patch in the yard. I am talking about my roof.

Green roofs - roofs covered with vegetation instead of asphalt shingles - are everywhere these days another green trend that has taken hold in urban areas and could be featured in a suburban outpost near you. Granted, green roofs in the ‘burbs are a little far off. They make more sense in the concrete jungle, where roofs already often have a hotel pool or a sunbathing deck installed. Why not some flowers too?

Another reason they make sense in the city: Cities get steamier in the summer. A field of green not only looks more refreshing to the eye, but it cools off a surface that would usually absorb and radiate heat. The interior of the building often stays cooler too, by about 8 degrees.

Green roofs got a boost in the late 1990’s when a particularly sweltering Chicago summer claimed over 700 lives in the city. Mayor Daley declared “heat islands” in the cities caused the heat wave to be more severe than it had to be. One way the heat islands could be cooled off was with green roofs, he said. Soon after, Daley announced the city hall would be the site of a large green roof. Since then, they have grown in popularity.

How do the plants get up there?

In the U.S., green roofs are much more likely to be on a commercial building (think hi rise), however green roofs are available for a single family home. A little Internet research showed a variety of methods, most coming over from Europe, where residential green roofs are more common.

While in my head a green roof installation is a lot like laying sod on top of my asphalt shingles, it is more complex. First of all, my sod roof would slip right off in the first rain. One company has overcome that with a series of trays that lead down to a succession of moisture barriers that wick excess water away to gutters leaving plants watered but not inundated. They look a bit like nursery pots.  

Toyota has developed Roofing Squares that look like very high-tech sod. The squares feature plants on top, a moisture-wicking layer and even a little tread on the bottom. These squares are made to snap together. At $43 a pop they don’t come cheap but they are pretty cool.

But what about my roof?

Sadly, I finally realized that a green roof is a bit heavy for my 1980’s rancher to handle. But leaps forward in the creation of high-tech green roofs and with science backing up the cooling effects on your home and utility bill, I think it’s only a matter of time before my roof is blooming. Maybe if I am lucky, I can put goats up there too.

Way More than a Bucket List

At Greenbuild this month, when walking in the entrance to Moscone North on Howard Street, you’ll see it. The slabs of chalkboard will be at the hall entrance. Show attendees will be waiting in line. It’s not another talk. Not another green display. Chalk in hand, some participants may be dashing off something carelessly, others will be more thoughtful. All will be completing the sentence “Before I die…” This is Public Art.

The project was begun by Candy Chang in New Orleans in Feb. 2011. After experiencing the loss of someone close to her, she got to thinking about what was truly important in life. What was really imperative to do before she died?

In this dark time, she began to wonder what was important to her friends and neighbors. Through a series of events she painted an abandoned home with blackboard paint. She stenciled “Before I die I want to ____” on the blackboard over and over again. She left pieces of chalk by the boards.

An amazing thing happened. People wrote. It was more than a bucket list. People shared hopes and dreams on it. Hearts opened. A writer wanted to be published. An ex-husband wanted his ex-wife back. A lover wanted to hold “her” one more time in his arms. Someone just wanted to “understand.” Each night the blackboard wall was washed off. And each day the boards filled up again.

The blackboards—now dubbed a global public art project—have appeared in Philadelphia, Orlando, Chile, Germany, the UAE and more. Now they will be visiting Greenbuild in San Francisco.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stop by and leave your mark.

Greenbuild: Will you be there? We will! Nov 14-16 San Francisco.

http://www.greenbuildexpo.org

See other walls and their participants’ thoughts here:

http://beforeidie.cc/site/blog/category/walls/

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Green Car Tour

Electric cars! I know, I know, you’re thinking about the old slow Prius in traffic this morning or the (shudder) Honda Insight of decades past. But that thinking might just change in the next couple of years.

Check out the Greenbuild 2012 Green Car Tour lineup. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to drive one of 14 new electric vehicles, from the new Volkswagen Bug to the much touted Nissan LEAF to more exotic fair like the Fisker Karma. (I mean, have you seen the Karma? Gorgeous.) 

Honda gets the award for having the most cars in attendance, with six models in play. One of their Civic designs has even moved away from the electric concept, riding instead on natural gas.

The wide selection of models seems to say that, while it has taken a bit, car builders have decided to give green a look. Whether it is a more environmental customer or the President’s new 54mpg standard for cars in the U.S. it is hard to tell. Nevertheless, car makers are giving electric cars a try, even if it is just a toe in the water, it could be your future faster than you think.

The current fuel economy rules for automakers selling cars in the U.S. stands at an average of 27.5mpg. That means all cars across an automaker’s lineup have to average 27.5. So for every truck introduced into the U.S. market that is running at 20mpg, an econo car running at 35mpg must also be introduced.

As the MPG laws creep up on automakers, hybrid vehicles will make a difference. At least if they still want to offer big trucks in their lineup. And while 2025 sounds like The Future, it is only 13 years away.

See the completely awesome Greenbuild lineup here.

Will we see you at the show? Nov. 14-16 in San Francisco!

Read more about the 54.5MPG decision here http://www.cnbc.com/id/48829545/Getting_to_54_MPG_Will_Change_What_We_Drive

Green Cleaning: Cheap and Effective

The Healthy Schools Campaign has released the fourth edition of their Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools. Anyone who has walked down a corridor that has been freshly wiped down with ammonia can appreciate the effort. Read more about it here: http://bit.ly/RKNtKB

But it got me thinking about what happens when the child comes home. How to keep up the green cleaning?

Below are some cheap and effective cleaning recipes that will minimize the collected spray bottles under your sink but still scrub your bathroom tub sparkling clean:

Surface Cleaner:
White Vinegar. Use it in a spray bottle and you have a powerful cleaning tool that kills bacteria and cuts grease but doesn't hurt you. A mix of 50% vinegar and 50% water will clean kitchen counters, floor tiles and anything else you can think of. Many are turned off by the smell, but it fades in 5 minutes and it absorbs odors while it is doing it. I have found this works great on hard water stains and makes my shower walls shine.

Scrub:
Mix 50% baking soda and 50% Borax. Add a little water until you get a consistency like frosting. Use as a scrub in bathroom or kitchen. Also works on toilets.

Scrub#2:
On less dirty surfaces, you can sprinkle baking soda and spray lightly with vinegar. The reaction forces air into all those nooks and crannies and shoves the grime out. Rinse away with water.

Laundry Detergent:
I didn't think it would work, but it does. Doesn't really bubble, don't worry about that.

1/2 cups Borax (in the laundry detergent aisle)
1/2 cups Washing Soda (Arm N Hammer makes it, check the laundry detergent aisle)
1/3 of a bar Fels Naptha (laundry detergent aisle)
Water
Sturdy 5 Gallon Bucket

Boil 4c water in a large pot on medium at a light boil
Grate the 1/3 bar of soap. Stir into boiling water. Stir briskly until melted. A wisk is nice here.
(watch for boiling over. If it does, turn down heat, stir)
Once soap is melted, add borax and washing soda.
Stir. Stir. Stir. 3 minutes or until everything looks dissolved.
Remove from burner and allow to cool a moment.

Place bucket in sink
Add 6 cups cold water from the tap
Add boiled mixture
Add enough water to fill bucket.
Stir.
Allow mixture to cool overnight outside. Tomorrow it will be ready to use.
Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry. That bucket will last 4+ weeks and

Dish Soap
2 cups laundry detergent mixure above
1/4 cup vinegar (for grease)
Two shakes of essential oil for fragrance.
Combine all. Vinegar might cause a little bubbling, but will subside.

Enjoy!

Do the LEED 2012 Slide

LEED: the green building standard we have all come to know and love. We collect points during the design and build out of the project…the right insulation, the right windows. Then we add up all the values and apply to the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for your building’s certification.

Good system? Bad system? It’s up to you!

The USGBC opened a fifth (!) public comment period from Oct. 2 till Dec. 10 of this year. They want direction, opinions and ideas for the next LEED. During that time you and all your fellow citizens are free to make your voice heard. Chances are they will respond to you personally.

The authors of LEED have always known that it could get better. And with federal government buildings making up a full 7% of LEED certified buildings and 11% of pending approvals, the Feds know LEED pretty well. In fact, government knows LEED pretty well, with local, state and other government buildings making up another 27% of LEED certifications. The GSA likes LEED because it saves on energy costs. The USGBC calls this government leadership at all levels a win for green.

So the LEED 2012 update to the regulations will be super-green, right? Maybe.

While it is great that you have a voice, lobbyists and corporations can also throw their opinions out there. Interested parties currently include – and are not limited to – the American timber producers, PVC pipe makers, plastic insulation makers, vinyl window manufacturers and more. Oh and don’t think those lobbyists haven’t called their representatives in Congress and the House. The great debate has USGBC changing the name from LEED 2012 to LEEDv4, as the original November 2012 go live date has slid back. Perhaps way back.

Have you commented yet? Read up on the areas of change and submit your comments here: https://new.usgbc.org/leed/v4/#comment

Whose voice will be heard? Expect the debate to be loud and long at GreenBuild in San Fran this Fall!

Will you be at GreenBuild? Stop by RedVector’s booth #1733S and pick up your free LEED class! And of course, you know that when the LEED regs do change, RedVector will be the first on the scene with updated classes!

Looking for more details? Stop by the USGBC site or see this site for a great rundown of the LEED Slide.

And the prize goes to…

How is your state for energy efficiency? I’m not talking your state capitol or your area’s DMV. I’m talking about your state. As a whole.

Think about the last building you worked in with the leaky windows. Your spouse’s company with that wheezing HVAC cranked and blowing. What about all those shops you pass by on the way home? The ones with condensation-covered windows from AC turned up too high all summer? And all those residential homes in all those suburban areas with all those old and tired water heaters?

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) took into account all of it when they tallied their energy use and ranked all 50 states. And many states in the union have had their eye on the rankings. It’s a great measuring stick for states that have Green Bills and measures passed in the last few years, including Massachusetts (Green Communities Act of 2008), Oklahoma’s plan to achieve a 20% reduction in energy use, and the widespread adoption of the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard.

This isn’t just some hippie green movement making the rounds. The ACEEE is achieving real and measurable targets in reducing foreign oil dependence, while at the same time creating jobs and promoting economic growth. According to the ACEE, annual savings have topped 18 million megawatt-hours in 2010, a 40% increase from 2009.

So where does your state rank? You know you want to know. Click here:

http://aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard