Category Archives: tips

Should You Be a LEED Green Associate? (Tue Tip)

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LEED Green Associate

Those of you who follow my twitter stream know that I recently passed the exam to become accredited as a LEED Green Associate.  The LEED Green Associate is a new credential, and the first level of credentialing that also includes the LEED-Accredited Professional + Specialty.

Why did I do it?  I wanted to have a better understanding of the various LEED requirements and sustainability issues when working with my architect and engineering clients.  Many of my A/E clients are AP certified — most before the new burdensomedetailed requirements were issued (not that I’m bitter or anything!).   I, on the other hand, knew just enough about green design to be dangerous.

While I’m ready not exactly ready to go out and leap tall (green) buildings (no doubt complete with vegetated roof) in a single bound, I do have a much broader understanding of the intricacies of complying with not just Code issues but also LEED issues in mind.

So, to return to the title, should YOU get a LEED Green Associate accreditation?  Yes.  If you are reading here, then you probably would benefit.  (Unless you StumbleUpon’d your way here, in which case, not necessarily!)  If you work with architects and engineers, and certainly if you are an A/E and haven’t yet gotten green credentialing, get your Green Associate credential.   You will learn about a wide cross-section of green issues, including sustainable sites (SS), water efficiency (WE), energy & atmosphere (EA), materials & resources (MR), indoor environmental quality (EQ), innovation in design (ID), and regional priority issues.

Are you interested in becoming a Green Associate?  Let me know and I can share some study tips. 

Or, are you already accredited with the USGBC?  Under the old or new system?  What has it taught you?  Share in the comment section below.

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“LEED Green Associate” and the LEED Green Associate logo are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and are awarded to individuals under license by the Green Building Certification Institute.

Case Studies for Sustainable Landscapes (Tue Tip)

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stormwater treatment basin with aquatic plants

Interested in incorporating sustainable landscape solutions into your projects?  The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) has a database of case studies just for you!

LAF’s Landscape Performance Series is an online interactive set of resources to demonstrate the value of sustainable landscapes to agencies, owners, advocates, and others.

The Performance Series includes:

  • Case Study Briefs
  • Benefits Toolkit
  • Factoid Library
  • Scholarly Works

Check it out!

Do you have a favorite resource on the web for your design practice?  If so, drop me a line so I can share your find with your fellow architects, engineers, and construction professionals. 

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Photo: from LAF’s Performance Series Case Study Brief: Kroon Hall, Yale School of Forestry

Energy Inc. Conference: the Future of Energy (Tue Tip)

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alternative energy towersDid you know that North Carolina is one of the top nuclear power producers in the country, and also one of the top states in electricity consumption?  North Carolina also ranks among the top 10 states in wind power capacity (pdf).

If you are interested in the future of energy, come on out on for a breakfast seminar entitled “Energy Inc.””

Topics will include:

  1. How will alternative energies such as solar, wind, & water shape the future?
  2. What is the future landscape of collaboration between energy companies?
  3. How will energy laws change energy production/consumption in the future?
  4. How will the state’s energy change as a result of the  Duke Energy/Progress Energy merger ?

 

Panelists: 

Location: 

Cree LED Lighting,635 Davis Drive Ste. 100, Morrisville, NNC 27560

Date: 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Time: 

7:30 AM          Registration & continental breakfast

8:00-10:00 AM:         Program

Are you interested in energy issues?  What do you think of the Duke Energy and Progress Energy merger?  Alternative energy issues?  Drop me a comment and share your thoughts! 

Photo:  (c) Freefoto.com.

Sneak Peek on Contract Essentials Plus Web Forum Tip

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construction of a messy room

Sneak Peek:  Tomorrow I have the honor of guest writing on Chris Hill’s Construction Law Musings blog. I previously wrote a post on Chris’ blog back in August 2010.  I must not have have made too much of a mess over there, as he’s signed up for more.

My topic will be about contract essentials, so you won’t want to miss it.  I’ll post a link to the article here once it goes live.    Here’s the link.

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 Photo: from Moon, Stars & Paper via Creative Commons license.

Free Passive Solar House Plans (Tue Tip)

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NC Energy Alliance Logo

Are you familiar with the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA)?  The Alliance is a non-profit organization (funded by a federal grant through the NC State Energy Office) which “aims to educate all stakeholders in the home building industry about the benefits of ENERGY STAR homes.”

Among the resources on its website, the NCEEA offers a downloadable 59 page white paper entitled “Affordable Passive Solar Handbook for North Carolina“, which includes 12 different house plans that incorporate passive solar concepts.  Some of the plans are converted from a variety of sources including Habitat for Humanity; others are original designs.

Solar Features include:

  • 6-11% of floor area is south facing glazing
  • 2 foot overhangs
  • slab on grade construction with incorporated thermal mass
  • main living areas on south side of home

Affordable Features include:

  • even exterior dimensions, to eliminate construction waste
  • 900-1300 square feet footprints
  • simple roof lines than can be built with trusses

According to the white paper, full sets of working drawings are available for free online at www.energync.net  or www.ncenergystar.org.  However, if you can find the applicable link at either of those sites, you are better than I am.   I’m sure that if you contact the NCEEA they will point you in the right direction.  (And if you do, please drop me a line as to where they can be found).

Have you reviewed the white paper?  What do you think of their design concepts?  Share in the comments below.  And, if you are new here, be sure to sign up for regular email delivery of blog posts to your inbox so you never miss anything.

Photo:  NCEEA Logo