Oct 23rd, 2009 by megan |
The James River Green Building Council is proud to announce that K.C. McGurren, EarthCraft Virginia; and Kristin Anderson Meyers, Moseley Architects, will join its Board of Directors in January 2010.
Since 2006 Katherine Carroll (K.C.) McGurren has served first as Director of Operations and in 2008 was promoted to Director of EarthCraft Virginia. Her B.S. degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from Virginia Tech enabled her to evaluate the development process of sustainable housing, communities and workplaces. In her pursuit for a hands-on approach to residential construction she served a fellowship with Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, Georgia with the EarthCraft House Green Building Program. While there she became certified by RESNET as a Home Energy Rater to conduct ratings and certify houses within the program. She also became a LEED accredited professional through U.S. Green Building Council to better understand commercial green building practices.
Ms. McGurren joined EarthCraft Virginia as its first employee and helped pioneer the Commonwealth’s first state-wide green building program. EarthCraft House Virginia was created by a partnership with the Home Builders Association of Virginia and Southface Energy Institute. Under her leadership the program has grown to over 200 builder members and 60 low income multifamily projects underway.
Kristin Anderson Meyers is a Sustainability Coordinator, part of Moseley Architects’ Sustainability, Planning, and Design Team. She manages the LEED design, construction, and application process for projects registered under the LEED rating system. She is currently serving as the LEED Accredited Professional on 11 LEED® registered projects. In addition, she represents the Richmond office on Moseley Architects’ “Seeds of Green” team, which is working to continually improve Moseley Architects’ corporate sustainability.
Ms. Meyers received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at The College of William & Mary and earned her Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science & Policy at Columbia University. Prior to joining Moseley Architects, she worked as an Environmental Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, becoming the first person at the international company to become a LEED AP in Existing Buildings. Kristin is also a member of the US Green Building Council’s Government Committee.
Ms. McGurren and Ms. Meyers join thirteen other accomplished green building professionals on the JRGBC’s Board of Directors. They will each be formally recognized at the JRGBC’s 5th Annual Green Building Leadership Awards Luncheon on November 18th at the Virginia Historical Society.
Oct 7th, 2009 by megan |
Governor Timothy M. Kaine on October 6th announced the allocation of $40 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to implement the Virginia State Energy Plan (SEP), a blueprint for funding energy-related initiatives throughout Virginia. The funding will help create jobs, encourage energy conservation, and promote alternative energy generation through rebates to residential and commercial consumers, as well as grants to localities and individual projects.
“Today’s announcement is another positive step forward in improving the high quality of life that Virginia is known and continually recognized for,” Governor Kaine said.
The $40 million in ARRA funding will be allocated to the Virginia Efficiency Rebate Program, the Renewable Energy Rebate Program and for biomass and waste-to-energy projects.
Read more here.
Sep 28th, 2009 by megan |
Governor Timothy M. Kaine on September 25th announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor. The loans are expected to be repaid by agencies from energy savings generated by the projects. The first loan from the program will be $6.6 million to George Mason University for a series of upgrades at their Fairfax and Prince William campuses, including improvements to lighting, irrigation, metering, and heating and cooling of facilities.
“One of the goals of my Renew Virginia initiative is to make Virginia a leader in energy efficiency, and there’s no better place to set a good example than in our state agencies and universities,” said Governor Kaine. “These projects will not only save the state money and reduce impact on the environment, but will show businesses and citizens that energy efficiency is within our reach.”
Sep 9th, 2009 by megan |
JRGBC is now live on Twitter. We will be posting updates about LEED certification updates, exciting ecological events, and green happenings in Richmond and central Virginia. We are very excited about keeping you informed on these topics and more, and we very much look forward to hearing from you about your tips and ideas!
To follow us, please click here.
Sep 8th, 2009 by megan |
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 James River Green Building Council Board of Directors and the 2010 JRGBC-CV Branch Governing Council (BGC).
Nominees should be committed to the JRGBC Mission and able to attend bi-monthly Board or BGC meetings and JRGBC events, as well as be involved in at least one committee.
Nominees from USGBC Member Organizations are preferred. All applications will be reviewed by the JRGBC Nominating Committee and all nominees will be contacted. You may nominate someone whom you think meets the qualifications that the JRGBC is looking for, or you may nominate yourself. Nominees will be voted on by the JRGBC Membership.
Nominations are due by September 29, 2009.
JRGBC Board of Directors Nomination Form
JRGBC-CV Branch Governing Council Nomination Form
Aug 20th, 2009 by megan |
Governor Timothy M. Kaine on August 18th, 2009 accepted a check on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia for $80,203,300 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The check, presented by William C. Early, Acting Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, will be used to help create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment. The check was presented during a press conference at the Richmond Wastewater Treatment Facility.
This new infusion of money provided by the ARRA will help Virginia and its local governments fund many of the overdue improvements to wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment.
Read more here.
Jul 23rd, 2009 by megan |
On Monday, July 20, the National Association of Governors (NGA) announced it had adopted the promotion of carbon-neutral new and renovated buildings by 2030, as outlined by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Gov. Christine Gregoire from Washington proposed the change to NGA’s policy as she recently signed carbon neutral legislation in her home state (which was itself based on AIA recommendations).
“[The decision] opens the door for the AIA to promote the recently announced International Green Construction Code initiative to all 50 states and their governors as a partial solution to help reach our goal of carbon neutral buildings by 2030,” said AIA Executive Vice President and CEO, Christine McEntee.
This adoption by the nation’s governors follows the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimous adoption of AIA’s carbon neutral building policy in 2006, and the National Association of Counties announcing their support for the policy in 2007.
Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.
Jul 14th, 2009 by megan |
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), home of the LEED certification system, is accepting applications for the 2009 USGBC Young Leader Awards. The awards are open to teens and young adults between the ages of 13 and 25 that have led sustainable changes in their schools and communities.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM EDT on August 1, 2009. Five youth leaders will ultimately be chosen as the recipients of the 2009 USGBC Young Leaders Awards. The winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to Greenbuild 2009 in November as well as an all-expense paid trip to the Speak Green Festival in April 2010.
Jul 2nd, 2009 by megan |
Governor Timothy M. Kaine on June 23rd announced a groundbreaking initiative to survey air pollution from facilities throughout the Commonwealth that were initially grandfathered by the 1970 federal Clean Air Act. In the first program of its kind in the nation, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will determine whether older facilities previously not subject to direct reviews currently comply with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The survey is a major administrative action as part of Governor Kaine’s Renew Virginia initiative and will enable DEQ to work with individual facilities as appropriate to reduce pollution and ensure compliance with air quality standards.
Read more here.
May 21st, 2009 by megan |
Friday, June 24th will be your last chance to see the 2009 Green Spaces Competition entries in Richmond! Please plan on stopping by Project Space inside Plant Zero at Zero East 4th Street, Richmond, VA for Fourth Fridays to view all the entries and chat with the committee about the Competition!
Can’t make it this Friday? Visit the Charlottesville Community Design Center, 108 5th St NE, Charlottesville, VA from July 10-August 31st to view all the entries in this year’s Green Spaces Competition: (in) Play Space!
The exhibit opens on July 10th at 5:00 p.m for Charlottesville First Fridays. There will be a free wine and cheese reception, open to the public, from 5-7:30 p.m., so please stop by and chat with the committee members about the competition as well as see all this year’s entries!
Thanks to Charles Luck Stone Center for sponsoring this event!
