AEI and USGBC NFC Meeting in April

The Nebraska Flatwater Chapter will be hosting a meeting with the Nebraska Architectural Engineering Institute Chapter. This lunch meeting will take place at the UNO Thompson Alumni Center the week of April 18th, and members of the USGBC NFC will present on the changes in the new LEEDv3 rating system. Stay tuned for more details.

Job Opportunities at GBCI

GBCI is assembling a dynamic, integrated team of green building specialists to provide technical expertise for LEED certification and the advancement of the LEED rating systems. GBCI is looking for specialists in the following areas:

• Architecture (architecture, landscape architecture, interior design)
• Engineering (mechanical, civil, structural)
• Planning (urban/transportation/environmental planning, urban design)
• Building Operations (facility management, property management)
• Environmental Science (ecology, biology, environmental management)

Learn more

LEED and Certified Wood: Public Comment and Consensus Body Opt-In

USGBC has begun gathering the third round of public comments regarding proposed changes to the LEED Materials & Resources credits that recognize the use of certified wood products.

Additionally, employees of USGBC member organizations who want to vote on the proposed changes may now opt in to the consensus body. Members who plan to vote on the credit changes must first opt in to the consensus body.
Review the proposed changes and submit your comments by March 14 »Members, opt in to the consensus body by 5 p.m. EST March 24

USGBC NFC Green Schools Committee featured in National year end summary report

The following paragraph was included in a mailing to all Green Schools Committees around the country. Way to go!

The Colorado and Nebraska Flatwater Chapters teamed up in 2009 for the second annual Colorado Green Schools Summit: Graduate to Green, in order to educate school leaders in Nebraska about the benefits of building green. Brad Carne, USGBC Nebraska Flatwater
Chapter’s Green Schools Committee Chair, invited 15 school districts from across Nebraska to head west to Colorado, to experience firsthand the impact of green schools. Superintendents, directors of maintenance, principals, and board members travelled to learn about green schools and attend the Colorado Chapter’s second annual Green Schools Summit. One visitor, Dan Hoesing of the Alliance School District (NE) said he “came away with a much expanded view of the need to connect education and building design to create educational environments that promote responsibility and awareness.” This is just one example of how Green Schools Committees are working to introduce their local decision makers to the benefits of green schools and collaborating together as leaders in the national green schools movement.

Energy Star for Commercial Buildings and other new Green courses at MCC

To Register, Call Central Registration: 457-5231 or visit the website ( www.mccneb.edu/schedule/classselect.asp?sterm=09/SP ) and search for the course number. Register by March 8, 2010.

Energy Star for Commercial Buildings - INCT 2900 8A
Credit Hours: 3.5
Time and Day: Thursdays, 6:00-9:20 p.m.
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to thebenefits and barriers of commercial building energy efficiency throughan in-depth look into EPA's ENERGY STAR program. Topics will include,but are not limited to: current trends in commercial building energyefficiency, transforming the market with ENERGY STAR, ENERGY STARGuidelines for Energy Management, rating building energy efficiency withPortfolio Manager, best energy efficiency practices, engaging employeesin energy conservation, and tracking energy savings and greenhouseemissions reductions over time. This course will include hands-onlearning opportunities such as measuring the energy use of an actualbuilding and identifying energy efficiency opportunities.

Solar Energy Design and Installation - ELTR 2900 8A
Credit Hours: 4
Time and Day: Wednesdays, 6:00-9:35 p.m.
Course Description: This course is the hands-on design and installation course for solar energy. The course will provide definitions and concepts for active solar (air, water, and electric). Applications of solar principles, practices, and installation techniques will be discussed for space heating, domestic hot water, and electrical. Additional topics will include installation safety and best practices.

Introduction to Biofuels - AUTT 2900
Credit Hours: 3
Time and Day: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Course Description: This course will provide basic information about the history, production, use, and future potential for biofuels in the modern transportation system. The biofuels industry is rapidly expanding and advancing, so students will follow current news articles to gain an up-to-date understanding of the field. This course will also include a Home Brewing component teaching students the process of making biofuels.

Tour the 4940 Building, Nebraska's only Platinum LEED certification

Date: Thursday March 18th
Time: Tour begins promptly at 5:30pm, social hour to follow at 6:30pm.
Location: 4940 N 118th Street Omaha, NE 68164

This tour is open to all members of USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter.

The 4940 Building is the home office of Morrissey Engineering and earned Platinum certification under the LEED-NC v2.2 rating system. Building design features include a ground-source heat pump system, day-lighting controls, energy recovery ventilator, etc.

Complementary light refreshments will be served after the tour. View the event flier here.

Olympic Village greenest neighbourhood in the world

Mayor Gregor Robertson today announced the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Vancouver has now been certified as the greenest, most energy efficient and sustainable neighbourhood in the world. Today’s certification also confirms that the Olympic Village is the greenest in Olympic history.

“The LEED Platinum certification for the 2010 Olympic Village and Southeast False Creek is the highest ever for a neighbourhood this size,” said Mayor Robertson. “Southeast False Creek is only the second neighbourhood in the world to receive this level of certification. Read More...