News

Generation Green: What Are You Doing to Redefine Our Future?
GreenbuildExpo.org is looking for your videos

Let's face it. So far 2010 hasn't been exactly kind. Every day has seemed to bring a new natural (or unnatural) disaster, partisan discord across the country, and economic news that has kept the world in a state of nervousness and doubt. We started the year with a devastating earthquake in Haiti and wretched weather that plagued much of the country with school closings, travel interruptions and power outages. Most recently, our eyes have been glued to the terrifying images of an oil spill that threatens the Gulf, its wildlife and the livelihood of tens of thousands of people.

But there are bright spots, as well – many, many of them – and the green building community is at the heart of that optimism. Which is why, in the midst of this year that demands solutions, we want to know:

Generation Green, what are you doing?

Less than six months from Greenbuild 2010, which promises to be the biggest Greenbuild yet, we hope you're taking this year's theme to heart. "Generation Green: Redefining Our Future." Every day, in ways big and small, our community is taking important steps to redefine our future.

Send us your videos! Please visit www.greenbuildexpo.org/GenGreen today and let us know: What are you doing to redefine our future? Generation Green is not an age group. It's not about politics or personality, demographics or geography. It's all of us. You are Generation Green, and your ideas will inspire the world to act today. And they may be featured at Greenbuild 2010 in Chicago!

What are you doing to take advantage of this watershed moment, when we can push the reset button on the hope that ushered in last year and use it to reignite our energy for the changes we need to move us forward?

What are you doing to help the people in Haiti and along the Gulf Coast?

What are you doing to support clean energy development? To promote green jobs and a clean, green economy? To push forward retrofits for existing buildings and infrastructure? To get your child in a green school or make sure that there is one in your community?

No action is too small, no goal too idealistic, and no person too young or too old or too powerless to make a difference. We want to hear from everyone – you, your kids, your grandparents. Your colleagues and your classrooms; your mayors, governors and Congress members; your PTA board and your USGBC Students group.

We're not looking for expensive, well-produced videos. Your ideas can be simple or profound, general or specific. Just tell us, in 30 seconds or less, how you are building a future of economic, environmental and social prosperity.

Visit www.greenbuildexpo.org/GenGreen to learn how to submit your video and to see what the rest of Generation Green is doing.

Also, be sure to visit www.greenbuildexpo.org/outreach to get Greenbuild and Generation Green buttons, banners, graphics and Twitter widgets for your blog or website.

Together, we will redefine the future.

Thanks again to all of the new and renewing members who came out for our Summer Membership Social this week, as well as our newest chapter sustainer, Florida Business Interiors.  Below are a few interesting news items that we wanted to share with the wider USGBC community.

Yours,

USGBC, Heart of Florida chapter

*Carpool to the next USGBC event!

Beginning with our very next event, your USGBC Heart of FL chapter will be offering a rideshare option for all events. We'll be using the Zimride system, and each event will have its own link for anyone who's interested in carpooling to that event. Please let us know if you have any feedback on this new endeavor.

*City of Gainesville Town Hall Meetings

Gainesville's City Commission wants to hear from you! The Commission is holding two town hall meetings to encourage feedback on the city’s budget and to discuss the future of Gainesville. This is your chance to directly communicate with your elected city officials and share your ideas for Gainesville’s future! For dates and locations, please see the attached document.

*Congratulations UF!

Green building consultant, author and keynote speaker, Jerry Yudelson recently published a new white paper revealing that sustainable management, design and operations are rapidly growing practices at American universities, leading to 3000 LEED-registered projects. According to the paper, based on end-of-2009 data from the U.S. Green Building Council, the four leading campuses for LEED project registrations are, in order, the University of Florida, Harvard University, the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Washington. Go UF!!! To view the entire paper, click here.

*Green ICT & Energy Trade Mission to Mexico City

September 27-29, 2010

The mission of the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Section in Mexico is to facilitate U.S. exports and to help create and expand commercial ties between the U.S. and Mexico. We are excited to announce that our flagship event this year in Mexico City is the first ever Green ICT & Energy Efficiency Trade Mission and Seminar to Mexico City from September 27-29, 2010.  This executive-led Trade Mission is an incredible opportunity for U.S. companies looking to break into the ICT & Energy Efficiency market here in Mexico.

The mission will focus on assisting U.S. providers of “Green Information Technology” enter or increase their presence in various sectors of the Mexican market. These include among others: Data Centers, Smart Grids, and Green Buildings. Furthermore, this mission will take place during the same days as The Green Expo, the leading environmental and renewable energy tradeshow /event in Mexico. For more details, please click here. 

*2010 American Clay Makeover Contest

Thank you for your support of our chapter's Haiti relief efforts.  Our Barrels of Hope campaign has raised thousands of dollars to provide rain barrels filled with supplies to begin rebuilding permanent structures for earthquake victims in Haiti.  If you would like to donate to this campaign, please visit: http://www.barrelsofhope.org/.

We could also use some volunteer assistance to help us complete the first phase of this campaign.  If you have a few hours/week to help out, please email info@usgbcheartfl.org or call us at 352-328-3121.

You might also be interested in an event being organized by one of our partner organizations this weekend--details are below.

Thanks again,

USGBC, Heart of Florida Chapter

Greetings USGBC members and supporters,

Please take a few minutes to review the below communications from some of our partners.  Also, our chapter has recently acquired a small office space and is in need of some basic office furniture.  If you have a filing cabinet, an energy efficient computer monitor, and/or some shelves (approximate dimensions: 5' wide by 1' deep) that you'd be willing to donate to a local nonprofit, please contact us.

Thank you,

USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter

*************************************************************

I. CleanMed 2010

II. Green Building Training for Professionals

*************************************************************

Register Now for CleanMed 2010

CleanMed is the most important meeting of the year for those engaged in sustainable health care.

This year’s meeting will be in Baltimore, MD May 11-13.  Learn more at www.cleanmed.org

Many of the pre-convention sessions have limited seating, so act now to reserve your place.

Keynote Speaker

Annie Leonard, Author, Activist. Annie Leonard is the author and host of the online film "The Story of Stuff," a fast-paced, fact-filled expose on the hidden environmental and social costs of current systems of production and consumption, and author of the recently published book version of the film.

Please see below for details on an upcoming LEED training that is being offered in Gainesville.  For details on other LEED trainings being offered around the state, visit our chapter's calendar of events.

Please share this message widely with others who may be interested in learning more about LEED.

Dear Residential Professionals,

Take advantage of a promotional rate for May Green Rater Trainings!  Participants may now register for a reduced rate of $695 member/$835 non-member.

This is a savings of $130 and up from the original rate of $825 member/$995 non-member.

At this time, the rate applies only to May trainings.  Registrants have until May 7^th to register for the Florida workshop.

Those who already registered for this workshop will be contacted and refunded the discounted amount as well.

There are currently over 800 registered LEED for Homes projects in the state of Florida!  If you are interested in providing the third-party on-site verification services required on LEED for Homes projects, the LEED for Homes Green Rater Training is literally a must!  As of January 1, 2011, all newly registered LEED for Homes projects must have a LEED for Homes Green Rater certificate holder on the verification team.  The LEED for Homes Green Rater Workshop is coming to Gainesville, Florida: May 13^th and 14^th 2010.

For those individuals with limited or no experience verifying on LEED for Homes projects, the steps to become a certificate holder are:

1.      Meet Eligibility Qualifications (and submit required documentation)

2.      Complete the 2-part training:

a.      Part 1: Self-guided Online Modules

b.      Part 2: Instructor-led 2-day Workshop (Next Stop: Gainesville, Fl.!)

*Both parts are included in training registration.

3.      Apply, take and pass the LEED for Homes Green Rater Exam (offered by GBCI)

4.      Start rating on LEED for Homes projects while completing your required Mentorship

5.      Earn your LEED for Homes Green Rater Certificate

Read a complete description of the green rater program here: www.usgbc.org/greenrater

Join us for the instructor-led portion of the training in Gainesville, Fl. May 13^th and 14^th.  Do not wait to register as you will need to complete Part 1 of the training: the online portion (included in registration), before attending and submit required eligibility documents. Registration will close on May 7^th, 2010 at 3PM ET. On-site registration will not be available.   Seize the opportunity in Florida!

Please take a few minutes to review the below communications from USGBC National and some of our partners.

Thank you,

USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter (http://www.usgbcheartfl.org/)

1. Federal Summit 2010, May 18-19 in Washington, D.C.

2. GreenHomeGuide.com

3. Repower America

4. Green Magazine

***********************************************************************************

Federal Summit 2010: Leadership in Sustainability from Coast to Coast
May 18-19, 2010
Washington, D.C.

We in the green building industry must step up and make sustainable design, construction and retrofits central to our nation’s economic recovery. The government sector is a significant part of the job growth and economic promise of green building. You can be part of that growth!

• Much of the $787 billion in federal stimulus money supports green retrofits of publicly owned buildings at the local, state and federal levels.

• The federal government alone owns and operates some 500,000 buildings.

• The federal government has a 28 percent greenhouse gas reduction target for federal operations by 2020.

• 30 percent of all LEED projects are government-owned.

Register today for Federal Summit 2010 »

Join the U.S. Green Building Council, government officials, industry leaders and experts from the non-profit community for two days of:

• High-quality education qualifying for continuing education hours toward satisfying GBCI’s LEED Professional Credential maintenance requirements as well as AIA continuing education.

• Policy-oriented discussions and presentations to help you understand what public green building policy means for you.

• Networking with the decision-makers you need to know to be part of the public sector's green building boom.

• For government employees only, the additional half-day Government Forum will offer government-focused programming.

Learn more and register by May 4 for early-bird discounts »

***********************************************************************************

Introducing a vital new Web site designed to help you grow your business:
GreenHomeGuide.com

Connect with New Customers

• A searchable services directory helps green-minded consumers connect with local green building professionals

• Editorial content, written by green building pros like you, helps homeowners find answers to green home questions that are relevant to their location and project

Get your FREE Professional Services Directory listing

• Act NOW! Become part of our fully-searchable directory

• Promote your business to site readers in your area

• FREE: There are no costs or commitments

Learn more about what GreenHomeGuide.com has to offer

Tour the site

***********************************************************************************

Repower America, a campaign of the Alliance for Climate Protection and the Climate Protection Action Fund, is leading the global conversation about solving the climate crisis, freeing ourselves from our overreliance on fossil fuels, and creating millions of jobs through the transition to a clean energy economy. The Repower Wall represents the faces and voices of more than 55,000 people from all walks of life, and logos of corporations who are committed to doing their part in this worldwide effort. Will you join us?

Share with the Repower America community your vision, your passion and your hope for the role green building can play in a greener, cleaner energy future. It’s easy and free to add your video or photo along with your green building message to this virtual discussion. Visit today, listen to what other people are saying, make a difference with your voice or company logo, and be heard across America.

Visit The Wall now »

*******************************************************************************

Brock Media to Launch Virtual Green Magazine

Boulder, CO—Green Magazine is going virtual. A new virtual magazine will be added to the publication’s current e-newsletter and website just in time for Earth Day 2010.

Green Magazine has been published since spring 2007 by Brock Media in Boulder, Colorado. It serves green building industry professionals with articles focusing on alternative energy, green building, natural products, sustainable agriculture and innovators in the green industry. The monthly virtual magazine will allow space for expanded articles and interactive experiences.

The Colorado Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was Green Magazine’s initial primary sustaining partner. The magazine appeals to a large population base as a multistate, regional publication, and it provides a wide range of marketing opportunities for established and start-up green businesses that want to reach their industry peers.

For further information regarding subscriptions or advertising opportunities, call Tom Brock or Susan Tucker at Brock Media, 303-443-0600, email greenmag@brockpub.com, or visit online at www.greenmagonline.com.

The University of Florida's TREEO Center offers two excellent professional development courses which help people prepare to become LEED APs and LEED Green Associates.  For more details on these courses, please visit their website.

Through an arrangement with Florida Works, scholarships may be available to Alachua/Bradford county residents to cover costs for tuition, books, and supplies.  To find out if you qualify for these scholarships, please see this attachment.

Please share this message with any colleagues who might be interested in becoming LEED-certified.

Thanks,

Sunday's ninth annual Hustle for Humanity is going green this year.

The 5K will showcase environmentally friendly buildings at the University of Florida while raising money for UF's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. A special route will take runners, walkers and skaters around campus to highlight buildings that have been given the green stamp of approval. The event will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Professional Accreditation Program provides a voluntary rating system for green buildings, said Bahar Armaghani...

Read the full article...