REGENERATE Town Hall Meeting

2014 has already been a big year for the USGBC and LEED Rating Systems.  LEED v4 was released, which includes many new market sectors, the USGBC turned 20 years old, and world wide we have reached 3 billion square feet of LEED certified space.  As important as this year has been at national and international levels, it is also special to our Nebraska Flatwater Chapter.  2014 marks the 10 year anniversary of the USGBC NFC.  As we reflect on what we have done over the past 10 years, including 68 LEED certified spaces totaling over 6 million square feet, we are looking at where we are going in the future and we want you to be a part of it. The USGBC NFC will be hosting a Town Hall meeting for all our members on June 4th for you to voice your opinion and share your vision for the future of the group.

We hope you can participate in this live event. It's important that we bring a diversity of voices to this table. Contractors, Designers, Equipment Suppliers, Consultants, and other Stakeholders in the industry are all welcome.  
 
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OPS Fontenelle Elementary Recieves the Green Ribbon Award

Omaha Public Schools was one of nine districts nationally to receive the Green Ribbon District Sustainability Award.  Fontenelle Elementary School in Omaha was one of 48 U.S. schools recognized for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Mike Boots joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today to announce the 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees.

Duncan and Boots made the announcement at the U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, DC. Secretary Duncan also announced a new post-secondary nomination category will be added to the school and district awards for the coming year.

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green by encompassing facility, wellness and learning into their daily operations,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs, improve health, and engage students with hands-on learning that prepares them with the thinking skills necessary to be successful in college and careers."

“Schools all over the country can look to today’s honorees as models for creating a healthier learning environment while lowering energy bills and preparing students for success in the 21^st century economy,” said Acting Chair Mike Boots. “The schools and districts being honored today are taking smart, innovative steps to reduce environmental impacts and teach students the kinds of sustainable practices that they can carry with them into their homes and future careers.”

The schools were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 30 state education agencies. The list of selectees includes 39 public schools and nine private schools. The public schools include 10 early learning programs, three charter, one magnet and three career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 29 elementary, 16 middle and 18 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 28 states. Twenty-one of the 2014 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body. The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 57 honorees can be found here.

The Department is looking forward to a fourth year of award, with a post-secondary category, and will be posting updated competition criteria shortly to reflect this addition. State education agencies are encouraged to indicate intent to nominate schools in 2015 by August 1, 2014.

More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars in which the 2014 honorees are exemplary can be found here.

2014 AEI/ASHRAE Expo

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The 2014 AEI/ASHRAE will be taking place March 5, 2014 at the Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVista Conference Center from 8 am to 5pm.  The Expo will feature keynote speaker Richard Yoder, the first Chief Sustainability Officer for UNO's College of Business Administration.

Early Registration has been extended to February 14th, with options to register for the full day or half day, along with discounted registration for students.  To register for the expo please visit Expo Registration

USGBC NFC Winter Membership Appreciation Event - January 22, 2014

Chapter Member 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Winter Member Appreciation Event!

Date: January 22, 2014

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Location: Block 16, 1609 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102

• USGBC Members, it's time to meet the new Board of Directors, catch up with familiar faces, and partake in some networking, food & drinks. We'll recap 2013 and ramp up for 2014!
• Free food for Members and Sponsors. $5 donation for non-members. Become a member in your local U.S. Green Building Council Become a Member - USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter
• This event will also serve as the January meeting for Green Drinks Omaha 
• Please click on this link to RSVP:  Register For USGBC NFC 2014 Winter Membership Appreciation Event 

You can also pay with your credit card (via Paypal) using this link. You can also pay at the door with credit card, check or cash. 

If you can't make it, we will miss you. Please use this link to let us know: I can't make it.

LEED Exam and v4 Updates

If you're considering taking the LEED Green Associate or LEED AP exam, keep in mind the v3 exam is only available 6 more months!

In June of 2014, all LEED exams will be revised to include the new LEEDv4 information. As you might already know, v4 includes some pretty dramatic changes witin the rating system as well as new credits and a new credit category.

Prepare for the Green Associate or LEED AP exams as part of your New Year's resolution!

Congratulations and Welcome to Our New Board Members

We are very pleased to welcome five new board members to USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter's leadership team!

Aaron Wascher (Alvine Engineering)
Andrew McIntyre (Control Services, Inc.)
Lily Livingston (HDR Architecture, Inc.)
Mitchell Biggs (Hyatt Corporation)
Sarah Sawatzki (Olsson Associates)

These newly elected board members will join returning members Bryce Johnson (Davis Design) and Kim Riege (Army Corps of Engineering) to lead our Chapter into our 10th Anniversary Year and beyond.

We also want to extend thanks on behalf of the chapter and our members to the outgoing board members for your hard work over the past two years: 

Shervin Ansari (Kiewit Building Group) - Committee Liaison

Kay Carne (Verdis Group) - Treasurer

Tyler Mainquist (Thrivient Financial) - Nonprofit Coordinator

Tim Hemsath (University of Nebraska, Lincoln) - Regional Representative

Sarah Gudeman (Morrissey Engineering, Inc.) - Chair

Additional thanks to our committee chairs and members! All this happens because of you.

Lenora Isom (Leo A Daly) - Membership

Mike Kros (DLR) - Green Schools

Becky Webster (EQE) & Andrew Pullman (Control Services) - Communications

Lindsay Neeman (Metro Community College) - Programs & Education

Katie Johnston / Ramsbottom (DLR) - Emerging Professionals

Members, please save the date for our winter event on Wednesday 1/22, to thank our current and outgoing leaders and volunteers, welcome new ones, and recognize our chapter members and sponsors.  

LEEDv4: The future of green buildling is here

LEED v4 introduces a unified LEED experience for the entire world to share – one that offers flexibility for all green building projects, with new market sectors and global best practices built-in.    Impressive impacts. Increased thresholds in energy, water, waste and indoor environmental quality ensure that LEED v4 projects are driving the goals of green building farther than ever. The new Location and Transportation credit category tackles new territory, enabling LEED v4 buildings to advance sustainable communities and land use.    The future is health.  LEED v4 takes a serious, increased focus on human health that goes beyond any other building system on the planet. Every story about a green building is a story about people.    Materials matter. LEED v4 pushes forward a paradigm shift in how we think about materials. Life cycle assessment, environmental product declarations, and material ingredient reporting bring transparency to the manufacturing and decision-making process behind building materials. Using these mechanisms to make data-driven decisions is absolutely essential to building performance and human health.   Bringing it all together. The integrative design process is at the heart and soul of LEED v4, and guides project teams toward incorporating LEED v4’s new features into their projects from the very beginning. And, with an increased focus on building performance, LEED v4 takes a closer look at the very real impacts that LEED buildings are driving forward. You can only get that experience through LEED.     We’re listening. Your feedback has enabled us to create a more supportive, customer-centric experience for LEED users, including: Revamped LEED education to get you the knowledge you need, now Brand new reference guides available in both print and web based format with new videos and tutorials Updated LEED v4 exams that keep you current A completely revised, easy-to-use certification policy manual LEED Online with simplified LEED credit submittal requirements and process Greater access to project support and an enhanced user experience through customer account management, LEED Coach and Proven Provider programs …and more. Your valuable input will help us build out additional features to support your projects. All of these tools work with the LEED rating system to provide you a better customer experience. Period.   Get started with LEED v4 today »   Welcome to v4. LEED ON.