This Month
>JRGBC Monthly Meeting
>LEED Workshops
>Former President Clinton Launches Clinton Climate Initiative
>Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Requests Applications
>USGBC Seeking New LEED Faculty Members
>New IRS Guidance on Tax Breaks for Efficiancy in Commercial Buildings
>USGBC Updates
>Save-the-Date:  Second Annual JRGBC Green Building Leadership Awards
>AGC Environmental Agenda
>Proposed Standard 189
>2006 JRGBC Board

JRGBC Monthly Meetings
Thursday, August 17 , 2006
Building Tour of Marshall Hall:  The Greening of a Turn-of-the-Century International Order of Odd Fellows Hall
2503-2505 East Broad Street (next to St. John's Church)
6-6:30pm ~ Social
6:30-7:30pm ~ Program
7:30-8pm ~ Networking

Click HERE for more information.


LEED Workshops
LEED-NC
August 16, 2006
8:30am - 5:00pm
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
4301 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203

For more information, click HERE.

LEED-EB
August 17, 2006
8:30am - 5:00pm
Loyola College Graduate Center - Timonium Campus
2034 Greenspring Drive
Room 31/33
Timonium, Maryland 21093

For more information, click HERE.

LEED:  Understanding LEED Project Costs & Returns Module
September 286, 2006
8:30am - 12:30pm
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
4301 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203

For more information, click HERE.

To register for these or any LEED workshops on-line, visit www.usgbc.org/workshops/register.

Former President Clinton Launches Clinton Climate Initiative
President Clinton, Mayor Ken Livingstone Announce Partnership Between Clinton Climate Initiative and Large Cities Climate Leadership Group

Partnership Will Reduce Carbon Emissions and Increase Efficiency In Largest Cities Across the World

Los Angeles , CA – President Clinton today launched the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a Clinton Foundation initiative dedicated to making a difference in the fight against climate change in practical and measurable ways. 

President Clinton was joined by London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to announce the first project of CCI, a partnership between the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group. The Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, chaired by the Mayor of London, is an organization comprised of most of the largest cities in the world that have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Urban areas are responsible for over 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Therefore reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in cities is fundamental to any effort to slow the pace of global warming.

 “It no longer makes sense for us to debate whether or not the earth is warming at an alarming rate, and it doesn't make sense for us to sit back and wait for others to act,” said President Clinton. “The fate of the planet that our children and grandchildren will inherit is in our hands, and it is our responsibility to do something about this crisis. The partnership between my Foundation and the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group will take practical and, most importantly, measurable steps toward helping to slow down global warming, and by taking this approach I think we can make a big difference. I commend Mayor Livingstone and the Large Cities Group for their leadership on this issue.” 

Last October, London convened a meeting of large cities to discuss cooperation on addressing global warming. The Large Cities Climate Leadership Group recognized the need for action and cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pledged to work together towards that end.

Mayor of London , Ken Livingstone said: “There is no bigger task for humanity than to avert catastrophic climate change. The world's largest cities can have a major impact on this. Already they are at the centre of developing the technologies and innovative new practices that provide hope that we can radically reduce carbon emissions.

“Former President Clinton and his Foundation have proved that they can intervene decisively to make a real impact on one of the world's biggest problems, AIDS. On behalf of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, I am delighted to be able to enter into this new partnership to rapidly accelerate cities' response to global warming. Our aim is simple – to change the world.”

The Clinton Climate Initiative will assist the large cities in the group in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency by using the same business-oriented approach that has made other Clinton Foundation initiatives successful. The Clinton Foundation has made a major contribution to the global fight against HIV/AIDS over the past four years by building efficient and effective systems for procurement and distribution of medicine and tests, thus drastically reducing the cost of treatment. More recently, the Clinton Foundation used the same business-oriented approach to make strides against childhood obesity, working with major beverage manufactures to take high-sugar drinks out of the nation's schools.

To enable partner cities to reduce energy use and green house gas emissions CCI will:

1. Create a purchasing consortium that will pool the purchasing power of the cities to lower the prices of energy saving products and accelerate the development and deployment of new energy saving and greenhouse gas reducing technologies and products. This will be similar to the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative total quality management approach that has substantially lowered AIDS drug prices for members of its purchasing consortium.

2. Mobilize the best experts in the world to provide technical assistance to cities to develop and implement plans that will result in greater energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Create and deploy common measurement tools and internet based communications systems that will allow cities to establish a baseline on their greenhouse gas emissions, measure the effectiveness of the program in reducing these emissions and to share what works and does not work with each other.

Many cities have worked individually to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions but most of these practices are not in widespread, systematic or coordinated use, thus greatly reducing their effectiveness. CCI will engage the largest cities in the world and allow them to be leaders for all cities by making the direct benefits from the purchasing consortium, technical assistance, and measurement and communication tools available to other cities throughout the world. 

There are a number of practical steps cities can take to increase efficiency and reduce emissions including:

- More energy efficient lighting for traffic and street lights.

- Building codes and practices that make use of more effective insulation, more energy efficient windows, more energy efficient heating and ventilation systems and more energy efficient lighting.

- More energy efficient municipal water and sanitation systems

- Localized, cleaner electric generation systems

- Use of bio-fuels or hybrid technologies for city buses, garbage trucks and other vehicles

- Schemes to reduce traffic congestion

- Reduction of emissions from city garbage dumps and the use of biomass to generate electricity

- More intelligent design of electric grids both across the city and within office and municipal buildings

The CCI—Large Cities partnership begins with 22 of the largest cities in the world participating – Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Caracas, Chicago, Delhi, Dhaka, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Toronto, Warsaw and the partnership anticipates that many more cities will join over the next four to six months.

Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Requests Applications
The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee has released their requesting for applications to the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (Chesapeake Bay License plates income fund).

Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2006.

There is approximately $356,000 available to fund projects that will conduct Bay-related education and restoration activities. Education projects should focus on increasing public awareness of the Chesapeake Bay. Restoration and conservation projects should focus on implementation and on-the-ground activities. There is no limit to the amount of funds that may be requested, though grants are typically awarded only for one-year projects.

Grant funds will be awarded in May-June 2007. Eligible applicants are private not-for-profit conservation organizations, schools and universities, and governmental agencies whose projects are located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

For additional information, application, guidelines and a list of previously funded projects, please visit the Division of Legislative Services website at:

http://dls.state.va.us/cbrfac.htm

OR contact:
Division of Legislative Services
General Assembly Bldg
910 Capitol Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-3591

USGBC Seeking
New LEED Faculty Members
Are you a LEED Accredited Professional who is passionate about green building?  Would you like to share that passion with others?

Apply to become a LEED faculty member, and help USGBC transform the market by educating people all across the United States about the benefits of green building and integrating LEED into their practice.

LEED APs who have been affiliated with a USGBC member company for at least two years and who have at least eight years of professional experience in the building industry are eligible to apply. Click HERE to find more information about what it means to be a LEED faculty member, qualifications, and how to apply.

New IRS Guidance on Tax Breaks for Efficiency in Commercial Buildings
Source: GreenBiz.com

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2006 - The Internal Revenue Service has posted new guidance on how commercial building owners or leaseholders can qualify for the tax deduction for making their building energy efficient. The notice establishes a process to certify the required energy savings in order to claim the deduction.

The commercial building deduction, which was enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of energy-efficient property installed in commercial buildings. The commercial building deduction provides a tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot of floor area for commercial buildings that use no more than half the energy of a building constructed according to current model building codes. A deduction of $0.60 per square foot is allowed for reducing lighting energy use; heating, cooling, and envelope energy use; or building envelope heating and cooling loads by amounts consistent with the overall 50% savings target. The IRS guidance clarifies procedures for demonstrating that the 50% savings target has been achieved, including procedures for obtaining required certifications from qualified experts.

The amount deductible may be as much as $1.80 per square foot of building floor area for buildings that achieve a 50% energy savings target. The notice provides that buildings below the 50% threshold may, nevertheless, qualify for a deduction of up to 60 cents per square foot of building floor area if they meet a 16% energy savings target.

Before claiming the deduction, the taxpayer must obtain a certification that the required energy savings will be achieved. The new guidance prescribes the content of that certification and the qualifications that must be met by the person providing the certification.

The Department of Energy has also announced it will create and maintain a public list of software that must be used to calculate energy savings for purposes of providing the certification. It also provides a process that software developers must use if they desire to have their software included on that list.

The IRS guidance is available for download online ( PDF ).

USGBC Updates
The Future of LEED
One of the most exciting initiatives currently underway at USGBC is the development of LEED Version 3.0, an advancement of the rating system that will include scientific and technical advancements like bioregionalism, weighting of credits, and life cycle analysis. Instead of treating LEED 3.0 as a separate "event," USGBC is taking advantage of this opportunity to create a comprehensive, continuous improvement plan for LEED. With Seattle-based Paladino & Company as the consultant, the aim is to develop a program of innovations that will improve the technical and scientific foundations of the rating system, decrease costs, and accelerate LEED's adoption by the marketplace.

To kick off this improvement process, we'll be holding a series of workshops throughout the summer and fall to engage leaders from throughout USGBC and the larger green building community. We're especially interested in the needs and ideas of our chapters, and will be reaching out to you as an important part of these workshops.

Tackling the Wood Issue
USGBC's Board of Directors announced on May 23 that it has directed the LEED Steering Committee to address two proposed changes to LEED's wood and bio-based materials credits recommended in a white paper prepared for and accepted by USGBC's Board. As with any change to the LEED rating system, the proposal will follow USGBC's consensus process including being posted for public comment and balloted by USGBC's full membership prior to implementation.  Click here for details.

New Paths to Accreditation
LEED Accredited Professionals now number more than  24,000—and 20 new people add the words "LEED AP" to their business  cards each day. First launched in 2001, the accreditation program distinguishes  professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully steward a  green building project from design to certification, and provides a recognizable,  marketable credential to the market.

Recognizing that different types of building projects  require different skill sets, in fall 2006 USGBC is introducing new exam tracks geared  towards professionals who focus on green building operations and maintenance  (LEED for Existing Buildings) and green interiors design and fit-out projects (LEED for Commercial Interiors). USGBC will also be releasing an updated exam for LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC) Version 2.2.  Each of the exams will lead to earning the LEED Accredited Professional  credential. Current LEED APs won't be required to retake the exam after the new version is launched.

For more information visit www.usgbc.org or email exam@usgbc.org .

Second Annual JRGBC Green Leadership Awards Luncheon
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
University of Richmond ~ Jepson Alumni Center
10am-Noon ~ Trade Show Exhibits
Noon-2pm ~ Lunch, Program & Awards
2-3pm ~ Trade Show Exhibits
More Information to Follow ~ Mark Your Calendar

AGC's Environmental Agenda Commits to Further Environmental Performance of Construction Industry
Washington, D.C. --The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) announced that it has completed a comprehensive agenda for further improving the environmental performance of the construction industry, which "recognizes that the construction process affects the environment," and commits AGC "to helping construction contractors minimize and mitigate the environmental impacts of their . . . challenging activities."
For more information, visit www.agc.org/hottopics.

Proposed Standard 189
The USGBC; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) have agreed to co-sponsor the development of a new ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA minimum standard for high performance green building - Proposed Standard 189, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. 

Click HERE for the press release (pdf) and HERE for Frequently Asked Questions (pdf).

2006 JRGBC Board
Bryna Dunn, Chair, Moseley Architects
Patrick Farley, Vice-Chair, Watershed
Andrew McBride, Treasurer, University of Richmond
Don Guthrie, Secretary, McKinney & Company

Matte Anderson, Director, Trane
Karl Bren, Director, GreenVisions Consulting
Matt Carr, Director, American Hydrotech
Chris Earley, Director, Timmons Group
Scott Kyle, Director, BCWH
Sandra Leibowitz Earley, Director, Sustainable Design Consulting
Scott Wheeler, Director, BCWH

Chapter Events are On-line
Have you checked out the Calendar? Feel free to use it to keep up to date on what s coming up in the region related to green building. If you know of an event related to green building and environmental education that you think our membership would benefit from, please tell us about it via email.

Have You Joined the Local Chapter?
If your company is not a member of the USGBC yet, please convince them to join. You can Join locally as an individual through the JRGBC Website. There is a discount for National Members and for students.