Member/Industry News

Member/Industry Green Building News

Oct
16

Environmental Design + Construction Magazine to Cease Publication

We were sorry to hear that Environmental Design + Construction Magazine will cease publication this December.  It just seems that in an industry predicted to keep growing like a runaway train to $200 billion and beyond, there should be sufficient demand for information to make this kind o...

Oct
16

The People's Climate March. Ok, so what's next?

It was so exciting to see 300,000+ people attend the People's Climate March in New York City on September 21st.  Even though I could not attend, I watched the news excitedly and committed to joining in all of the activities that were sure to follow.  At first, I worried that we a...

Jan
13

More Certification Negativity as Jerry Yudelson signs on as GBI President

Healthy competition is a good thing.  but I don't know what to make of the recent "advice" to new GBI (Green Globes) President Jerry Yudelson, delivered on the USGBC site by Roger Platt: http://www.usgbc.org/articles/bit-advice-gbi%E2%80%99s-new-ceo-how-improve-green-gl...

Nov
13

Cut the certification politics; let's focus on the built environment instead.

I am interested and open to supporting every standard, certification and conversation which can help us share more green building information and reduce the impact and footprints of our buildings.  Why is this important?  Because the climate is warming, the oceans are rising, and dar...

Sep
17

USGBC Offers Free LEED Education, Resources to Community Colleges

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced September 10 that the Community Green Program is offering one free year of USGBC membership to students at community colleges. In addition, students in some states will have access to financial assistance in preparing for and taking th...

Jun
11

Boston Skyscraper Earns LEED Platinum

Boston Properties’ Atlantic Wharf, Boston’s first green skyscraper, has been designated LEED Platinum for Core and Shell. This is a crowning achievement for a city that has been at the forefront of green building practice. As the mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, pointed out durin...

Jun
11

LEED V4 Postponed

Under pressure from the green building community, the USGBC decided to postpone the release of the new version of LEED. The new version of LEED, named LEED V4, will not be sent to ballot until June 2013. Pressure came from the many LEED users who lack the capabilities to advance to the nex...

Jun
01

New Building Energy Standards for California

Showing its environmental leadership, California approved Building Energy Standards on May 31st which are 25 and 30 percent more efficient than previous standards for residential and nonresidential construction, respectively. The California Energy Commission's decision, to take effect ...

Jun
01

Green Building Demand Exceeds Workforce Supply

According to a SmartMarket report released by McGraw-Hill, green jobs currently represent 35% of the construction workforce and 650,000 jobs. This figure is expected to grow to 48% by 2015. The report, titled, "Construction Industry Workforce Shortages: Role of Certification, Training...

Jun
01

Green Homebuilding Expected to Continue to Rise

Green homes will comprise to 29%-38% of the green building market at an estimated value of $87-$114 billion, according to McGraw-Hill's 5 year calculation, published in a SmartMarket report titled, "New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market." Released...

Jun
01

Need an Electric Charging Station? Biodisesel?

Need to charge your EV? Look no further. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/electricity_locations.html The US Department of Energy hosts an "Alternative Fueling Station Locator" on the web. No surprise: California leads overall. Alternate fuels include CNG, E85, propane/LPG, b...