This page is devoted to sharing information with you from our green building events. It is both intended as a follow-up for those that attended our events and as an educational resource for our green building community. Click on a link below to jump to a particular event.
2007
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
2007
December
December Roundtable: Energy Modeling and IES Energy Modeling
When: 12/12/2007 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: MIT, Building 2 (http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?selection=2&Buildings=go), Room 105, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Kevin Settlemyre of IES, a unique energy modeling software organization, will discuss energy modeling, how it is changing the design and construction process, when it can be used most effectively, how to use it to reduce your carbon footprint, and how to use IES' Virtual Environment software. The roundtable is a unique opportunity to learn about an innovative energy modeling software program from an expert with a number of years' experience in green building and energy modeling. Literature will also be provided discussing ways that energy modeling can be used and different energy modeling software programs that can be used in high performance building.
2008
January
January Roundtable: State of the State
When: January 15, 2008
Where: Boston Federal Reserve Bank, Boston, MA
The "State of the State" is The Green Roundtable's annual roundtable bringing together people from all facets of the green building community. The goal of the event is to focus on our green building priorities for 2008 and to see how we can succeed in implementing these priorities. Last year's roundtable revealed that education was the overwhelming priority for all attendees. We will evaluate this and look forward to see what our priorities are for the coming year.
Click here for a write-up of the 2008 State of the State (coming soon)
Basics of Green Building
When: January 24, 2008
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, Boston, MA
This workshop covers the fundamentals of residential green building. Topics include fundamentals of life-cycle analysis, energy conservation as the foundation of green building, energy & resource efficient design details, the fundamentals of building envelope design, more environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional building materials, water conservation and design for durability. The discussion will also cover the basics of project planning, green building economics, including rebate & incentive programs, and maintaining indoor air quality during the construction process. Time permitting, there will be a brief discussion of construction waste management and Universal Design. This program is intended for homeowners and professionals alike, and no prior construction experience is required.
LEED Implementation and Project Management: Integrated Design Process for LEED projects
When: January 31st, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This training addresses ways that you can use the Integrated Design Process to deal with challenges that you face when implementing LEED. It will introduce participants to the new ANSI standard that lays out a process for green design that supports green project strategies and aspirations.
This workshop addresses all aspects of The Integrated Design Process dynamics from educating the design team, making the case to the client, framing the initial design problem to developing practical strategies and finally, implementing an effective work plan and project management. Topics include: * Defining what makes a project 'green'. Green is project specific. Issues of sustainable design need to be part of a qualitative dialogue with the client to understand where he or she perceives value, what the project priorities are and where these questions stand in the context of the project's life cycle. * Issues and challenges of green design. There are new challenges to design practice all the time. Determining at what point is it clearly worth investing resources and how to know if you are responding effectively and improving your product are key to managing change with green design or any area. * Setting goals for the project and making design decisions. Green design challenges the traditional distribution of roles and responsibilities in design practice and requires a more lateral, interdisciplinary model of leadership and interdependence. * Models for The Integrated Design Process. Case studies will be presented to illustrate topics and strategies presented throughout the workshop.
February
Residential Energy and Water Conservation
When: 2/16/2008 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Join us for a discussion of products, methods and systems for conserving energy and water resources in the home. In addition to making you more earth-friendly and reducing your carbon footprint, employing these measures will improve your personal bottom line. We will begin with the low-hanging fruit--those steps that can be taken immediately at little or no cost--and progress to more sophisticated measures. The lecture will also include a discussion of cost-effectiveness/ payback time. You can make a difference for yourself and the planet!
Please note: Download is 5mb in size so it may take a while to download.
February Roundtable: Clean Energy Policy and Green Building
When: 2/20/2008 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Join author Bracken Hendricks from the Apollo Alliance and Tyler Leeds from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) for a discussion of clean energy policy and green building. Mr. Hendricks will discuss his clean energy policy efforts as it relates to green building, the challenges he's faced, and the lessons he's learned in this work. Tyler Leeds will discuss local energy policies and how clean energy is an integral part of local green building projects. Some of the questions discussed will include:
What will it take for the U.S. to make clean energy a viable source of energy in this country? How can clean energy policies both make clean energy more widely available and boost the economy? What clean energy policies are being developed and implemented locally? How are these policies creating new opportunities for local green building projects?
Mr. Hendricks is a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress and former executive director of the Apollo Alliance, an organization of environmental organizations, businesses, and labor organizations dedicated to building a new energy future for America. In his book, Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy, Mr. Hendricks argues that the kind of leadership that put men on the moon in 1969 is the kind of leadership we need today to free ourselves from our fossil fuel dependency.
This event is cosponsored by The Green Roundtable and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
Energy Conserving Design Details
When: 2/21/2008 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This two-hour lecture will cover residential design features and choices that may help to conserve energy. The discussion will include building siting and orientation issues, building envelope details, glazing, shading structures & devices, thermal mass and energy-conserving landscape elements. We will also briefly discuss how interior space lay-out can affect energy efficiency.
Click here to download the PDF version of Energy Conserving Design Details (Abridged)
(3.5 mb file may take a minute or two to download)
Communicating the affordability of going green (Making the Case for Green)
On February 29 at 8:30 am, the MetroWest Network gathers at Dan Gordon Associates (267 Washington Street, Suite 6, Wellesley) for a presentation on integrating green design elements into residential projects and demonstrating to clients the added value in "going green." Paul Marquis, the education coordinator for NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, discusses green-building economics, life-cycle costing and total cost of ownership, and rebate and incentive programs available to homeowners.
Click here to download the PDF version of Making the Case for Green (abridged, reduced-graphics version)
(Note: 8mb file may take a minute or two to download)
March
Building Green's top products of 2007
When: 3/4/2008 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Join BuildingGreen, publishers of the GreenSpec product directory and Environmental Building News, at the NEXUS SaWhat Makes This Material Green?
When: 3/13/2008 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This lecture will address the processes and tools used to determine the "greenness" of products and materials typically used in the construction process. We will begin with a brief discussion of Embodied Energy as a central factor in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), one of the primary methods for judging a material's sustainability. We will then present some simple tools and techniques that allow for the practical application of these concepts to the materials selection process. Primary criteria for judging the "best in class" in specific product categories will also be discussed, as well as sources of supply. This lecture is intended as a general introduction to the green materials selection process. (Level 1)
ples Library. A representative from Building Green will discuss some of GreenSpec's top 10 products of 2007. Emphasis will be placed on qualities to look for when specifying green products in these categories. Bring questions and a brown bag lunch.
What Makes This Material Green?
When: 3/13/2008 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This lecture will address the processes and tools used to determine the "greenness" of products and materials typically used in the construction process. We will begin with a brief discussion of Embodied Energy as a central factor in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), one of the primary methods for judging a material's sustainability. We will then present some simple tools and techniques that allow for the practical application of these concepts to the materials selection process. Primary criteria for judging the "best in class" in specific product categories will also be discussed, as well as sources of supply. This lecture is intended as a general introduction to the green materials selection process. (Level 1)
Click here to download the PDF version of "What Makes This Material Green?"
Click here to view the RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2008 book on Amazon.com
Warren Leon Book Talk - The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices
When: 3/18/2008 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Warren Leon PhD, and co-author of the popular book, The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, spoke about the research he and his colleages conducted at the Union of Concerned Scientists on individuals most important environmental choices. He addressed the common questions - Paper or plastic? Minivan or station wagon? Beef or chicken? Warren spoke about the fact that some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. Warren revealed the findings from his landmark book, The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, as well as addressed new information that has emerged since its publication in 1999. By identifying eleven priority actions individuals should take in their personal lives to reduce environmental damage, he explained how individuals can most effectively improve the evnironment and make a difference politically.
Click here to download the PDF version of Warren's presentation
Click here to view and order The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environematal Choices on Amazon.com
Basics of Green Building
When: March 20, 2008
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, Boston, MA
This workshop covers the fundamentals of residential green building. Topics include fundamentals of life-cycle analysis, energy conservation as the foundation of green building, energy & resource efficient design details, the fundamentals of building envelope design, more environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional building materials, water conservation and design for durability. The discussion will also cover the basics of project planning, green building economics, including rebate & incentive programs, and maintaining indoor air quality during the construction process. Time permitting, there will be a brief discussion of construction waste management and Universal Design. This program is intended for homeowners and professionals alike, and no prior construction experience is required.
April
BSA Residential Design & Construction trade show, 4/2/08 - 4/3/08
Workshop W45 Residential green construction
Raphael Herz, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Westborough MA
David Kelman GRI, RE/MAX Landmark Realtors, Dorchester MA
Paul Marquis, The Green Roundtable, Boston MA
Mark Price, Conservation Services Group
To date, most green construction has been geared to commercial structures or affordable housing. An overlooked niche is market-rate single-family homes. While buyers are beginning to ask for green homes or are remodeling existing homes with green features, this type of construction is often overlooked due to economic feasibility. We explore issues relating to making green housing affordable. Even if building a completely green house is not economically feasible, incorporating green elements (materials, site planning, energy rebates) into the project is almost always possible and can help the environment.
Energy Modeling presentation
4/10/2008 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This presentation will provide you with an understanding of how Energy Modeling can best be used in the design process. Several of the more popular energy modeling programs will be described, noting program capabilities and limitations. The eQUEST energy modeling problem will be presented to show the strengths and weaknesses of using "wizards" to create a building energy model.
Mike Andelman has thirty years experience in HVAC system design and energy modeling. His most recent experience prior to the formation of Andelman and Lelek Engineering was at a leading Boston MEP firm, where he was a Senior Staff Engineer for the Facilities Group. He holds a PE license in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Design for Durability presentation (Residential)
Thursday, April 24th, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
The goal of this presentation will be to demonstrate why design for durability is a key element of sustainable design and to provide practical ways to integrate it into residential building projects. The discussion will include major design details such as roofing systems and building envelope, flashing details, general moisture management and effective ventilation strategies. We will also discuss the selection of materials suitable to task.
Click here to download the PDF version of Design for Durability
(Please note that graphics-heavy, 8mb file make take a while to download)
April Roundtable: Perspectives on Sustainability
Date: 4/30/2008 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Location: Adaptive Environments, 180-200 Portland Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114. For directions, click http://adaptiveenvironments.org/index.php?option=Content&Itemid=394
Join The Green Roundtable and leaders from four local organizations for a panel discussion about how their organizations approach sustainability in their work. Through their lenses of community design, universal design, environmental justice, and green jobs and business development, the panelists will explore questions such as:
What does sustainability mean to your organization? Why did you decide to do sustainability work? How does your organization address what is called the triple bottom line of sustainability--integrating environmental, social, and economic sustainability? What are examples of some of your projects based on sustainability principles?
Following the panel discussion will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions of the panelists. The panelists for this event are: Brandy Brooks from Community Design Resource Center, Valerie Fletcher from Adaptive Environments, Marina Spitkovskaya from Alternatives for Community and Environment, and Galen Nelson from the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Kira Gould from William McDonough and Partners and the AIA Committee on the Environment will moderate the panel discussion.
May
Low-Impact Landscaping for Your Home
When: 5/29/2008 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: NEXUS Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
The objective of this seminar is to introduce concepts of resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly landscape design and maintenance practices. Conventional residential landscapes are often resource-intensive, and some of the maintenance products and practices typically employed have been associated with adverse long-term health consequences and environmental impact. Topics covered will include low-water landscaping or xeriscaping, rainwater collection and use, advantages of using native plants, more-effective storm water management, and organic turf and landscape management practices. The seminar will include a brief discussion of Low Impact Development, green roofs, and "hardscaping" options.
Click here to download the PDF version of "Low-Impact Landscaping"
(please note: 6mb file may take a few minutes to download)
June
Residential Green: LEED for Homes
Date: 6/24/2008 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: NEXUS Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Cost: Free and open to the public!
Program Level: 2
Who Should Come: Architects, Builders, Designers, Developers, Anyone planning to build a new home.
Should I work with a LEED AP? What constitutes a Design Charrette? Is a fireplace considered a combustion appliance? Will I need to use Radon-Resistant construction? Can LEED for Homes be applied to a 6-story building? 7 stories?
Since its roll-out in 2005 and launch in 2008, LEED for Homes has proven to be affordable, achievable, and representative of best practices in residential construction. In this session we will cover how to evaluate your project for certification, how to target and achieve certification levels and how to successfully complete a certified LEED Home.
Includes an update on the LEED for Homes Mid-Rise Pilot.
Resources:
Click here to access the USGBC's LEED for Homes website
Click here to download the abridged version of the USGBC's new LEED for Homes Reference Guide
Click here to download the USGBC's LEED for Homes Project Checklist
Boston LEED User Group (BLUG): Measurement & Verification
When: 6/24/2008 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center - 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Downtown Boston
Who Should Come: Anyone interested in learning more about the LEED M&V credit and what it means.
When you get to the Measurement and Verification (M&V) credit on your LEED scorecard (EAc5), do you just skip it? You're not alone!
The LEED rating systems for New Construction, Core & Shell, Commercial Interiors and Existing Buildings all have credits on M&V, though only about 30% of LEED-certified buildings have attained these points. Measurement and Verification - the capability to track the performance of a piece of equipment, a mechanical system, or an entire building -is important for making adjustments that reduce resource use and operating costs. However, some think that the LEED requirements are so onerous that no one is taking USGBC up on the M&V credit, while others are trying new approaches to the credit as they see the value of verifying energy systems over time. Come share your experiences with M&V and learn how others are successfully approaching this credit.
Click here for Harvard Blackstone Energy and Atmosphere c5 Resubmittal
Click here for Johnson Controls Model M&V Plan (Kansas City Convention Center Ballroom Expansion)
July
Boston LEED Users Group (BLUG): LEED and Historic Buildings
Date: 7/29/2008 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: NEXUS Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
July's topic will examine practical ways to follow sustainable guidelines while maintaining historic preservation.
We'll discuss challenges with energy performance and building envelope issues. Come share your views and ideas on how sustainable features like window replacement, window restoration, solar panels, and additions can be integrated without altering the distinctive historical character of a building.
Basics of Green Building
When: July 31, 2008
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, Boston, MA
This workshop covers the fundamentals of residential green building. Topics include fundamentals of life-cycle analysis, energy conservation as the foundation of green building, energy & resource efficient design details, the fundamentals of building envelope design, more environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional building materials, water conservation and design for durability. The discussion will also cover the basics of project planning, green building economics, including rebate & incentive programs, and maintaining indoor air quality during the construction process. Time permitting, there will be a brief discussion of construction waste management and Universal Design. This program is intended for homeowners and professionals alike, and no prior construction experience is required.
Click here to download the PDF version of Basics of Green Building presentation
(Note: 10mb file may take a couple of minutes to open)
August
August Roundtable: Ventilation and Envelope Design Best Practices
When: 8/13/2008 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Where: NEXUS Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
The August Roundtable will address the best practices for affordable, multi-family housing envelope and ventilation design. With the advent of Boston's Article 37 Green Building Guidelines-that reference LEED and ASHRAE standards-multi-family housing projects in Boston are unsure of the best ways to balance occupant health and comfort, energy efficiency, construction cost, maintenance and operations.
This roundtable discussion is an opportunity to learn from the experiences of engineers, architects, environmental health professionals, building science specialists, and others who have found innovative solutions to this challenge. After we hear from these building professionals, we will open up the conversation for you to discuss lessons you've learned from successful projects, resources that have proven useful, and strategies for building professionals to most effectively balance health, cost and efficiency in multi-family housing projects in Boston and beyond.
Walk Lightly Low Impact Living Presentation
When: Thursday August 14th 2008
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy Street, Boston
Did you know that it has been estimated that in order for the current population of the Earth to live the same quality of life as the industrialized nations, it would require the resources of four Earths? Well, if this shocks you and you're interested in learning more and understanding how you can be part of the green solution, the Green Living 101 workshop is the right place for you. This workshop will provide you with the fundamental concepts around "Green Living", provide you with tools to make a positive environmental impact in your daily life and become better connected with your community to continue making a difference. In this workshop you will learn about the impact your lifestyle has in terms of your home and home energy use, the food you eat and how your get around. There will be an active discussion about how individuals can "walk lighter" on the earth and resources will be provided to help individuals feel empowered to go home and make simple changes to reduce their environmental impact.
Click here for the Walk Lightly Presentation
Click here for the Walk Lightly Low to No Cost Fact Sheet
Click here for additional resources on alternative transportation and sustainable food
Boston LEED Users Group (BLUG): Modeling Central Plants and Cogeneration
When: 8/26/2008 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Harvard Green Campus Initiative, 46 Blackstone Street in Cambridge, MA
The USGBC has issued special instructions for design teams trying to energy model buildings using combined heat power and/or projects utilizing steam, hot water, or chilled water from a central plant. This months BLUG will explore the benefits / impacts these systems have on a buildings modeling, as well as some of the modeling nuances. We will discuss what information the building team will need from the central plant operators to maximize the design case energy efficiency. We will also discuss how a project team evaluates selecting traditional in-building heating and cooling sources vs. central plant heating and cooling when available. Finally, we will discuss central plant and in-building cogeneration (and tri-generation), its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and applications for this technology.
Energy Conserving Design Details (Residential)
When: 8/28/2008 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
This two-hour lecture will cover residential design features and choices that may help to conserve energy. The discussion will include building siting and orientation issues, building envelope details, glazing, shading structures & devices, thermal mass and energy-conserving landscape elements. We will also briefly discuss how interior space lay-out can affect energy efficiency.
Click here to download the PDF version of Energy Conserving Design Details (Abridged)
(3.5 mb file may take a minute or two to download)
September
NEXUS Second Saturdays: Remodeling Towards a Green and Healthy Home
When: Saturday, September 13
Where: NEXUS, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Educational seminar: Remodeling Towards a Green and Healthy Home, What is building you dream green home has to wait a while? In the meantime, there are plenty of things you can do to green up what youre already got. Green and sustainable renovations, whether large or small, can help save you energy and resources. Plus, taking some simple steps towards creating a healthy home can go a long way in reducing your body burden of toxic, synthetic chemicals found in many building materials and conventional cleaning supplies. An understanding of our personal home environmental can help us make informed decisions about environmentally friendly building materials and best practices in construction. An awareness of our human ecology can reduce our body burden of environmental toxins, while also reducing our impact on the earths natural resources.
This presentation and Q & A will cover the nuts and bolts of green renovations, from both a builders perspective, and also that of a healthy home consultant. Whether youre a ahomeowner or a renter, the green strategies that will be offered in this clinic will help you synthesize the wealth of information surrounding green residential renovations.
The presenters are Laura Catanzaro from Holistic Design and Space Planning and Dan Glickman from Sustainable Construction Services, Inc.
Innovative Wastewater Reuse and Water Treatment Options
When: September 25, 12:30-1:45pm
Where: NEXUS, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
The workshop will cover innovative water reuse and wastewater treatment options for commercial, institutional and medium-large residential development applications with an emphasis on environmental protection, cost effectiveness and simplicity of Operations & Maintenance. In addition to regulatory requirements, the key environmental drivers that are the basis for sustainability water management design will be described.
The presenter was Pio Lombardo, PE, President of Lombardo Associates, Inc. (LAI).
Learn more from Lombardo Associate's Cluster Wastewater Systems Planning Handbook, Publications Available for Download and Wastewater Management Reports, Publications and Presentations.
Boston LEED Users Groups (BLUG): Stormwater Design Under LEED
When: 9/30/2008 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: NEXUS, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Program Level: 2
Effectively managing the regions stormwater is critical to the Boston area. We are challenged to protect our investment in the Boston Harbor cleanup while operating within the limitations of a combined water and sewer system. The focus of this months BLUG is how to meet LEED requirements when they may differ from local stormwater standards. Come hear how local experts are addressing the LEED requirements by designing stormwater management plans that will achieve the Sustainable Sites credits 6.1 and 6.2 on stormwater quantity and quality control.
October
NEXUS Second Saturdays Green Home Series seminar: Home Heating on a Budget
When: 10/11/2008 11:00am
Where: NEXUS, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
George Whiting, of EcoHeat Solutions, LLC, will discuss how to create a home heating system that is highly efficient in addition to using low-cost fuels. Paul Marquis, Education Coordinator at The Green Roundtable, will discuss strategies for energy conservation by creating a right building envelope. The presentation will cover the following topics:
-The relative importance of energy use in the home: Energy for Heating vs. Energy for Electricity to run appliances, lights, etc.
-The relative importance of efficiency, conservation, and fuel costs
-The pluses and minuses of typical Heating Systems in the home, such as forced air, forced hot water, steam, gravity and stoves.
-And the pluses and minuses of typical fuels: oil, gas, propane, electricity, wood, wood pellets, geothermal and solar.
The presenter was George Whiting from Ecoheat Solutions.
Click here to download George Whiting's presentation "Home Heating on a Budget" (PDF)
The Green Roundtable and the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development Homeowner Services group present "Buttoning up your home for the winter- The Basics of Home Energy Conservation"
When: 10/21/2008 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: NEXUS, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Brace yourself against rising energy costs this winter by buttoning up your home with basic energy conservation measures. The Green Roundtable is teaming up with the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development for a timely presentation on energy conservation focused on the following topics:
-Building envelope basics- It all begins with building envelope
-Best bang for your buck- The low-hanging fruit in energy conservation
-Weatherstripping and insulating- The practical considerations
-Additional energy & resource conservation measures
-Saving green while keeping it green
-Getting it done- Financing, incentive and assistance programs
-Welcome to NEXUS- How to make maximum use of the Resource Center
View/ download the presentation file (PDF) for "Buttoning up your home"
View/ download the NEXUS-GRT "Buttoning Up Your Home" energy conservation fact sheet (PDF)
For more information on MassSave's low-interest HEAT loan, click here (Non-GRT external website)
Walk Lightly Low Impact Living Presentation
When: 10/23/08 6:00-8:00pm
Where: NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy Street, Boston
Did you know that it has been estimated that in order for the current population of the Earth to live the same quality of life as the industrialized nations, it would require the resources of four Earths? Well, if this shocks you and you're interested in learning more and understanding how you can be part of the green solution, the Green Living 101 workshop is the right place for you. This workshop will provide you with the fundamental concepts around "Green Living", provide you with tools to make a positive environmental impact in your daily life and become better connected with your community to continue making a difference. In this workshop you will learn about the impact your lifestyle has in terms of your home and home energy use, the food you eat and how your get around. There will be an active discussion about how individuals can "walk lighter" on the earth and resources will be provided to help individuals feel empowered to go home and make simple changes to reduce their environmental impact.
Click here for the Walk Lightly Presentation
Click here for the Walk Lightly Low to No Cost Fact Sheet
Click here for additional resources on alternative transportation and sustainable food
Green & LEED Materials Presentation
When: 10/30/2008, 12:30-1:45pm
Where: NEXUS
Need to get an understanding of what really makes a product green? What are the criteria? What is Life Cycle Assessment? How do you understand the environmental footprint of a product? What are the materials requirements for a LEED project? Come to this workshop to get the answers to these questions.
This workshop will address the fundamentals of green materials and provide you with the knowledge to evaluate and utilize green building products to reduce your organizations environmental impacts. Topics include criteria for evaluating how green a material is, LEEDs materials requirements, how to spec for green materials and LEED, and where to find information on green products. In addition to product characteristics, methods for going from selling green, to being green will be addressed. This program is intended for architects, contractors and product manufactures, and the general public.
The presenter was Siobhan Steyn, Project Associate at The Green Roundtable.
LEED AP Study Group
When: 10/30/2008, 5-7pm
Where: NEXUS
How do people learn the material in the LEED Reference Guides? What types of questions are asked on the exam? What resources are out there to help me study? By popular demand, NEXUS Green Building Resource Center offers a designated meeting place and time for a LEED AP exam group study session. A LEED AP from the community will share their strategies for success and answer any questions you have about studying for the exam.
Here are some resources to help you study for the LEED AP Exam:
-TRAINING: One way to help you prep is to take the training at The Green Roundtable. We have a handful of spots left for our LEED AP Test Prep Training and a discount price of $500 (down from $575) for the 7 sessions on Tuesday morning from 8:30-10:30am. The first session was an introduction and you can read that section from the study manual you'll receive from the training. Call or email me by Monday 5pm to register for the training.
-NEXUS GREEN BUILDING RESOURCE CENTER: NEXUS is a great resource and has more resources than can be provided via email. Our open hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-3pm, Thursday 12-7pm and the second Saturday of every month from 10am-2pm. Feel free to come in during any of those times and tell your colleagues to come in as well.
-NEXT MEETING: The next LEED AP Study Group will be meeting on December 4th from 5-7pm. Hope to see you then and ready to take the test!
-CHEAT SHEET: You can access the ‘So you want to be a LEED AP' document on our website. Again, feel free to share it with your colleagues.
-HELPFUL WEBSITES: United States Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institute.
This page last updated on 11/18/08
Please report broken links and other problems to nexus@greenroundtable.org.