Green Building Information Gateway

The Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) is a novel information technology that provides an unprecedented view of the green building landscape and reveals trends, patterns and processes in green building practice. GBIG allows for the investigation and analysis of data about LEED-certified projects and the larger green building universe as a whole, and enables users to view green building in the context of other spatial and temporal factors.

The GBIG Illinois Pilot represents the first phase of development and a subset of functionality under development for the full portal. This initial pilot allows users to explore and learn about green building projects in Illinois, see the growth of LEED Certified projects over time, and compare selected projects to state averages by credit achievement and Carbon Index values.

Companion mobile apps for the iPhone and iPad are available as free downloads in the Apple Store (search for GBIG). The information displayed in this portal does not represent all projects in the region and may contain errors at this point in time. GBIG is a product of the U.S. Green Building Council Research Program. The project is designed and managed by Dr. Chris Pyke, Anthony Guma, and Mira Panek. For more information, contact gbiginfo@usgbc.org. Visit the site at http://gbig.org/

“emissions, the environment and economic development – compatible or not?”

The Platte Institute for Economic Research recognizes the importance of sustaining the environment and searching for renewable energy resources, but also protecting the productivity and profitability of businesses. The 2010 Carbon Emissions Summit focuses on long-term ideas and solutions that protect our natural resources, but also protect the liberties of businesses so they can continue to thrive.

Please join us for the Platte Institute’s 2010 Emissions Conference
Featured Luncheon Speaker-- David Brown, President of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Date: December 1, 2010
Location: Scott Conference Center
6450 Pine Street
Omaha, NE 68106
Time: Registration begins at 8:00am.

Individual Admission: $30 per person; lunch provided. Discounted Group Packages are available. Quick and Easy Registration must be completed online by November 24, 2010. More information is available online at http://emissionsplatte.eventbrite.com/

Looking for a Summer Intern?

via Rick Yoder, Director, P2ric.org

The Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) Summer Intern Program is already gearing up for the summer of 2011. This summer we will be placing only 5 students in Nebraska businesses to assist with pollution prevention, source reduction, and other environmental projects. It is time to confirm the business assignments for next summer, so we can recruit the highest quality students with the skills to do the most good. Are you interested in a summer environmental intern this year?

Everything you need to register with us for a possible intern placement can be found on our Web site. (www.p3.unl.edu) You can send an email to shawkey2@unl.edu to let me know of your interest or submit a “Statement of Interest” form found on the website under the “for Businesses” tab.

After that the next step is to define the specific source reduction project(s) for the intern. Projects may vary, but should include an independent look by the intern at a product, a process, a piece of equipment, a specific area or location in your facility, an individual waste type, or a problem situation. We have found that students particularly shine when given the opportunity to study and recommend improvements in these kinds of situations. The forms for defining the project are also on the P3 Web site or just email your ideas to me.

A full time intern will work about 10 weeks at your facility, from May 31 through August 5, 2011. The contribution for the required matching fee is $4,000. If your project is smaller in scope, why not consider the part time no cost option. These projects take approximately 2-3 weeks.

By participating in P3 and having an engineering student work with you for the summer, you will receive valuable assistance to help you improve efficiencies, save money, reduce pollution and waste, and reduce your regulatory burden. Your organization is exactly what we are looking for to provide a valuable learning experience to the students.

LEED Projects Surpass One Billion Square Feet

WASHINGTON—This month, the total footprint of commercial projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED building certification program surpassed one billion ft2 (93 million m2). Another six billion ft2 (557 million m2) of projects around the world are registered and are seeking LEED certification. Since the LEED certification was introduced in 2000, more than 36,000 commercial projects and 38,000 single-family homes have participated in the program. Read more

Sustainable Buildings Are Smart Investments

CHICAGO—Sustainable buildings have greater investment potential than traditional buildings, according to a new survey by McGraw-Hill Construction. The Business Benefits of Green Buildings SmartMarket Report found that owners of sustainably managed buildings anticipate a 4% higher return on investment; 5% increases in building value and occupancy; 8% drops in operating costs; and 1% rise in rental income. Roughly 79% of owners surveyed believe that "green" features in their buildings help them attract and retain tenants. Read more

Next Update of LEED Open for Public Comment

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) opened the proposed update to the LEED green building rating system for its first public comment. The proposed update builds on LEED 2009. It includes the alignment and weighting of credits and further advances the "bookshelf" framework where credits are applied to specific building types. Also, the proposed update places increased emphasis on integrated process and building performance. The public comment period will close on Dec. 31.

Click here to learn more and to participate in the comment process.

Your Guide to the New Draft of LEED

This is an excerpt of a Feature from Environmental Building News, read more here.

While LEED 2009 has 49 credits and 9 prerequisites, the new LEED draft has 49 credits and 15 prerequisites. They are organized into 10 credit categories—up from 7 for LEED 2009. Structurally, the biggest changes are:

• The rating system begins with a new “Integrated Process” category
• a new Location and Transportation category collects location-related credits from LEED-NC with others from LEED for Neighborhood Developments; and
• at the end of the rating system, a new “Performance” category includes the commissioning credits (moved from Energy and Atmosphere) along with a handful of new measurement and reporting prerequisites and credits.

The new LT category consists mostly of credits from the old Sustainable Sites category that aren’t so much about the site itself as they are about where it’s located. It also includes a few new credits pulled from LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND).

Comment Period on LEED 2012 Opens Today

Today, Nov. 8, USGBC opens the first public comment period for the next update to the LEED rating system, which is expected to run through the end of 2010. The proposed update is a general update to the rating system, and the opportunity to comment is open to all interested USGBC stakeholders. The proposed updates will undergo at least two public comment periods and a member ballot vote, per LEED development requirements.

New hotel is eco-conscious

By Michaela Saunders, WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Staff members at Element Omaha literally have to lock the door to keep curious onlookers at bay.

Officially opening for guests on Thursday, Element is Midtown Crossing's newest addition, its only hotel and the first of its kind in the Midwest. It also is the nation's first hotel brand to require each of its properties to seek certification as environmentally sound.

The Omaha hotel is aiming for Silver level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, said manager Eric Rock.
Some eco-consicious efforts will be noticeable to guests, such as in-room recycling and the need to leave the room key in a wall-mounted slot in order to power overhead lighting. Take the key out when you leave, and the lights automatically turn off after one minute... Read more at Omaha.com.

USGBC National Board Elections - Nov 1st

University of Nebraska professor and USGBC NE Flatwater member Avery Schwer is a candidate for the 2011 National USGBC Board of Directors. The USGBC Board of Directors is responsible for articulating and upholding the vision, values, and mission of USGBC.

"Serving on the Board is a natural bridge to my passion for the future of our sustainable world," says Schwer. He has served on the USGBC NFC Board of Directors since 2007, and also participated in supporting sustainable design and green building at a local level through programs such as the ZNETH project, the Omaha Green Homes Tour, City of Omaha Green Building Auditing Program, Green Omaha Coalition, and Omaha Transition Community. Professor Schwer has developed and taught courses in sustainable construction and sustainable communities at the University of Nebraska. Prior to joining the university, he was an engineering manager in facility planning on General Electrics' corporate staff.

Voting opens Nov. 1, 2010: The USGBC Board of Directors election period will be open Nov. 1-Dec. 3, 2010. Voting is open to every person who has a site user account with USGBC under his/her organization's member number. Each vote cast under the same member number counts as a percentage of the single, aggregate vote allotted to each participating member organization.

Avery has been actively involved in our chapter as a member of the Board of Directors, USGBC Students local chapter liaison, and local proponent for sustainable design. He is up for election in the category of Green Building Educator. View his and other candidates profiles at usgbc.org.