USGBC-Missouri Gateway is committed to recognizing volunteers who have contributed significantly to the Chapter, devoting time and talents “above and beyond” on a particular project or program! This month, we are happy to recognize Jan Niehaus Communication by Design and USGBC-Missouri Gateway Marketing Committee Chair.

Jan Niehaus – a long time member of the Chapter and the Marketing Committee – took over the reigns of the Marketing Committee as chair at the beginning 2010 and hit the ground running. She immediately built the committee, nearly doubling it’s size and it’s outputs. Most recently Jan and her committee have been responsible for creating this very feature of the website (Above & Beyond); completing several LEED Project Profiles and working on many, many more; vetting new Chapter names; hatching the Chapter’s efforts to celebrate our 10-Year Anniversary and choosing the Anniversary’s theme from contest submissions (10 Green Years & Still Building).  It’s no surprise that the committee chose a theme submitted by Jan since the Chapter benefits from her communications savvy on a regular basis! In addition to her role as Marketing Committee Chair, Jan is serving on the 10-Year Anniversary Steering Committee, taking a strong lead in our efforts to document the impacts of green building over the past 10 years.

Thanks, Jan, for your steadfast commitment to communicating the importance of green building and the Chapter!

Previous Recognitions

August 2010
George Fujii, Tarlton Corporation

June 2010
Suzanne Mondello, Synergy Integrators

May 2010
Marjorie Melton, M3 Engineering Group, USGBC-STL Advocacy Committee and Scholarship Task Force

April 2010
Richard Schuessler, Huntleigh McGehee and USGBC-STL Government Advocacy Subcommittee
Cristina Spicer, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., USGBC-STL Growing Green Awards Task Force and Emerging Green Builders
Becky Finch, Missouri Lawyers Weekly and USGBC-STL Growing Green Awards Task Force

March 2010
Helene Mathis, USGBC-STL Program Committee & Growing Green Awards Task Force

February 2010
Vicki Woodside, CI Select, USGBC-STL Marketing Committee
Christy Cunningham-Saylor, Vertegy, USGBC-STL Program Committee & Education Task Force ]]> http://www.usgbc-stl.org/2010/09/above-beyond-usgbc-missouri-gateway-volunteer-recognition-september/feed/ 0 http://www.usgbc-stl.org/2010/09/usgbc-stl-is-now-usgbc-missouri-heartland-chapter/ http://www.usgbc-stl.org/2010/09/usgbc-stl-is-now-usgbc-missouri-heartland-chapter/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:52:51 +0000 admin http://www.usgbc-stl.org/?p=2789 We are very pleased to announce that USGBC-St. Louis Regional and USGBC-Missouri Heartland Chapters have merged to become USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter. The national USGBC board recently approved the merger and name change and we’re in the process of making everything official – dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s, filing amendments to our Articles of Incorporation, updating the website.

USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter staff and board will remain headquartered in St. Louis and the Chapter territory will cover the St. Louis metropolitan area, Southern Illinois (which has always been a part of the St. Louis Regional Chapter territory), eastern Missouri and southwestern Missouri. Cities in the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter territory include Springfield (MO), Carbondale, Columbia (MO), Rolla and Jefferson City. USGBC-Central Plains Chapter will focus their energy on serving Kansas and the western parts of Missouri such as Kansas City, Joplin, Carthage and Neosho.

The first USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter Branch will be the Ozarks Branch and will serve the Springfield (MO) metropolitan area and the 417 area code. Branches focus mainly on programming, outreach and membership. As we get used to our new territory, we hope to see members in other parts of Missouri and in Southern Illinois form branches as well.

Please bear with us as we roll out a new logo, welcome new members, update the website and communicate to partners and stakeholders about the merger and name change. And please feel free to be in touch with Chapter staff or board with any questions!

Pump up your tires, grab your helmet, and join the fun at the ECORIDE on Saturday, October 23!  Proceeds from the bike ride will help raise money for the Chapter’s brand new scholarship fund. The Chapter has given out scholarships to green building & sustainability trainings over the years to support our broader goal of transforming every building into a green building. By creating a permanent scholarship fund, we hope to increase our ability to provide education around green building practices and principles.

The purpose of the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter scholarship program is to provide green building & sustainability education and training for those who normally would not have access or could not afford it. The scholarships will help people from our area attend national and regional sustainability conferences such as Greening the Heartland and Greenbuild, local professional development and continuing education and LEED exam preparation courses offered by the Chapter.

WHEN
Saturday, October 23, 2010
9 am – noon (rain or shine)

WHERE
The bike ride will be on the Riverfront Trail and will begin at the William A Kerr Foundation at 21 O’Fallon Street, St. Louis, MO 63102. There will be a 10 and a 25 mile route.

The William A. Kerr Foundation is located 4 blocks east of N. Broadway, and 7 blocks north of the Eads Bridge in Downtown St. Louis. The building is on the corner of O’Fallon St. and Lewis St. (Please note that N. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. becomes Lewis St. as it crosses Biddle St.)

Riverfront Trail Details
Map of the William A. Kerr Foundation

COST
ADVANCE TICKETS: $20 per person or $50 per family
DAY OF THE EVENT: $25 per person or $60 per family
Registration fee includes an event water bottle and lunch afterwards!

REGISTRATION
Click here to visit our Event Registration page.  Then scroll down and click on the “Register” button under the ECORIDE event listing.

October 14, 2010 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Harris-Stowe State University
Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center
10 N. Compton Ave.,  St. Louis, MO 63103

Why Should a School Go Green ?
· Reduce energy and resource use and save money
· Build innovative curricula for students and the community
· Demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of students, teachers, and staff

Workshop Attendees Will:
· Learn about energy improvement and financing options
· Gather resources for your campus-wide improvement plan
· See why indoor environmental quality is a critical component to going green
· Discover ways to integrate green practices into your classroom
· Learn about ENERGY STAR and other important resources
· See what other St. Louis area schools are doing to go green

Check back for more details!

Topics covered include Green Financing & Appraisals, Low Impact Development, Residential Indoor Air Quality, Stormwater & Erosion Control, Affordable Green Construction and MORE!

WHEN: October 19 – 20, 2010

WHERE: Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, MO

COST: $125 (before September 10) and $150 (after September 10)

For more information or to register, visit the Greening Midwest Communities Conference website.

September 28, 2010
Series Kick-Off
Commerce Bank Education Center Missouri Botanical Garden
4651 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110

October 19, 2010 
Sustainable Stormwater Practices
Chesterfield City Hall
690 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO 63017

November 30, 2010
Sustainable Transportation and Land Use
N.O. Nelson Campus, LCCC
1225 W. High Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025

February 15, 2011
Sustainable Materials and Service Procurement
Carondelet Community Center
930 Holly Hills Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111

March 15, 2011
Sustainable Energy Practices
City of Creve Coeur –City Hall
300 N. New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141

April 19, 2011
Sustainable Waste Management
National Great Rivers Research and Education Center at Lewis and Clark Community College

COST
$10 for each session or $50 for the six session series.
The $50 fee is valid for an organization –send anyone you wish.

REGISTER online at http://sustainablecommunity.eventbrite.com

For more information, contact John Wagner at (314) 622-1250, ext. 105 or email johnw@focus-stl.org.

The Living Building Challenge is a rigorous performance standard that defines the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions. The standard is comprised of sixteen prerequisites including net-zero energy and water, habitat exchange, nontoxic materials and beauty and inspiration.

On September 14, the Living Learning Center is opening its doors to USGBC-Missouri Gateway members and guests for a tour of the building!  However, due to space constraints, registration is limited to 60 individuals. Check out the features of this amazing building and the registration details below and be sure to register before space fills up.

Features of the Living Learning Center include:

Sustainably Harvested or Salvaged Wood – Almost 100% of the finished wood in the building was sustainably harvested or salvaged from within 2 miles of the building site.

Photovoltaic Panels – The center is designed to create all of the electricity it needs to operate.

Local Landscaping Products – Native plantings adapted to Missouri’s climate and local stone surround the facility.

Rain Garden – Reduces runoff, erosion, and water pollution and reduces water treatment energy use.

Pervious Concrete – Reduces the facility’s storm water footprint by letting rain soak right through into the ground.

Rainwater Use – All of the water in the Living Learning Center comes from the sky.  Rainwater is collected from the roof, after which it is filtered and purified.  Wastewater from the sinks is metered out through a graywater treatment system which irrigates some of the landscaping.

Variable Capacity Heat Pumps – Provide the heating and cooling for the Living Learning Center.

Waterless Composting Toilets – Drastically reduce the building’s water needs, eliminate the exportation of waste and produce a useable fertilizer through a combination of aerobic bacterial decomposition and worm composting.

WHEN
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
5:30 – Registration & Networking
6:15 – 7:30- Brief Presentation & Tour

WHERE
Washington University’s Living Learning Center at Tyson Research Center
6750 Tyson Valley Road Eureka MO 63025
map

FEE
Free for USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter members and full-time students;
$20.00 for Non-Members

RSVP
Space is limited to 60 individuals and registration is required.
Click here to visit our Event Registration page, then click the “Register” button under the Living Learning Center Tour event.

QUESTIONS? Contact USGBC-Missouri Gateway staff by email or phone (314) 577-0225.

Thanks to our Program Sponsors!

hellmuth + bicknese architects

Williams Creek Consulting

Passing the Green Associate exam will allow you to market your knowledge of the preeminent standards in the green building industry, and is the first step in becoming a LEED Professional.

The LEED Green Associate credential is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice. This credential attests to basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations.

USGBC-Missouri Gateway’s two full-day (16 hours total) LEED Green Associate Exam Prep course is designed to prepare participants for the LEED Green Associate exam.  Skilled instructors will provide an introduction to LEED, discuss methods of sustainable project delivery and green building principals, and offer test taking tips.

Subject areas covered include:

• Introduction and Core Concepts
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Test Taking Tips
• Practice Exam

WHEN
Friday, December 10 and Monday, December 13, 2010
8:30am-5pm both days

WHERE
Masonry Institute of St. Louis
1429 S. Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63117
map

FEE
$200.00 for USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter Members
$250.00 for Non-members
*Textbooks costs are NOT included in course fee
*Course fee includes continental breakfast and lunch

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
1) Green Building and LEED Core Concepts, USGBC
2) USGBC LEED Green Associate Study Guide, USGBC
Both of which may be purchased on the USGBC Publications page of the USGBC website. The price is reduced if purchased as a set ($100 for employees of national USGBC member companies; $120 for non-members). Please plan for shipping time. A limited number of textbooks will be available for purchase from USGBC-Missouri Gateway at the registration desk on the first day of class for $100/set; to purchase these sets interested participants MUST reserve copies by contacting USGBC-Missouri Gateway staff and receive confirmation from USGBC-Missouri Gatewaystaff that the texts have been reserved for them.
3) LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook (free download) and references outlined on page 14 of the handbook.

PREREQUISITES
Students must read and understand the steps needed to enroll for and take the exam, including meeting exam eligibility requirements.  The instructors will only address this as a broad overview.  Students will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the course which may be submitted to meet eligibility requirements for the LEED Green Associate exam.

REGISTER
Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.
Click here to visit our Event Registration page, then click the “Register” button under the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Course.

INSTRUCTORS
Jaime Kelley, LEED AP is an environmental engineer with 15 years of experience in sustainable urban planning and project management. She is a strategic, innovative thinker who brings sustainable development and design expertise to the implementation and management of both small and large projects. Jaime offers experience in energy efficiency and renewable energy applications through her past leadership on several LEED-registered buildings.

Lois Sechrist, LEED AP ID+C is a sustainability consultant with 25 years of experience in interior architecture and project management.  Lois was the project manager for two LEED-certified projects, has served on the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Green Schools Subcommittee and is an active member of the University City Green Practices Committee.

PLEASE NOTE
This exam prep course does not guarantee students will pass the LEED Green Associate exam.  Additional time outside of class will be required for reading the required textbooks.  Registering and taking the LEED Green Associate exam, and any associated costs, are not included in this course.

This course prepares participants for the Green Associate credentialing exam as well as the first part of the LEED AP Specialty credential. The LEED AP Specialty exams are comprised of two parts: Green Associate & the Specialty portion.

QUESTIONS? Contact USGBC-Missouri Gateway staff by email or phone (314) 577-0225.

Thank You to our Event Sponsor!

A greener workplace can provide substantial benefits to your organization’s triple bottom line – people, planet and profits.  By reducing the energy intensity of their buildings and materials demand and waste, green workplaces can save money and reduce their impact on the environment.  Come discover the keys to making green workplaces a success for you and your organization.  This online course is suitable for those new to green workplaces or already working in a green space and interested in enhancing their knowledge of what makes it a green space. Includes a green workplace toolkit.

WHEN
September 7 – October 1
During this time frame, you can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More details are below.

FEE
$195

REGISTER
Visit the USGBC-STL Event Registration page, and click “Register” under the Green Workplace listing.

COURSE AGENDA
Unit 1
Introduction to Green Workplaces
EPA estimates we spend 90% of our time indoors
The advantages of green workplace for businesses
The advantages of green workplace for workers
Why the green workspace trend is growing

Unit 2
Planning the Transition to a Green Workplace
Discussing green workplaces within your organization
Facility, equipment, and policy requirements
Identifying low-hanging fruit
Developing a plan for transitioning to a green workplace
Redesigning your workplace for green

Unit 3
Implementing Green Workplaces
Securing and sustaining the commitment of all stakeholders
Measuring success and returns on investment – reinvestment of those returns
Continuous and constant effort strategies
Providing for accountability and reward

Unit 4
Issues in Green Workplaces
Best practices tool kit
Learning curve soft costs
Top 5 low cost/high return strategies
Key advanced strategies

HOW THE COURSE WORKS
It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

PARTICIPATE WHEN YOU WANT
Participants can participate as little or as much as you want.

You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.

For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
For each Unit, you will:

• Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
• Have the option of accessing the online readings
• Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
• Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
• Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.

The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DISCUSSION
The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Pepper Smith is the Green Programs Manager for Davis Energy Group, a residential mechanical engineering and green consulting firm located in Davis, CA. Pepper is a USGBC LEED Faculty member and instructor for the University of California. Prior to consulting and teaching about residential green building, Pepper worked for D.R. Horton, Sacramento working on Energy Star, Environments for Living, and LEED for Homes projects.

Kelly Gearhart is a Principal with Triple Green Building Group, a green building consulting firm with locations in San Francisco, CA, Atlanta, GA, Savannah, GA and Sophia, Bulgaria. Gearhart is a USGBC LEED Faculty member, Instructor for the University of California, former Manager of Commercial Green Building Services at Southface Energy Institute, Inc. and has been involved with green building education, technical assistance, and leadership since 2005.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• To provide organizations and workers with background information on the growth, costs, benefits, productivity, and profitability of green workplaces, and the reasons why organizations and workers benefit from green workplaces
• To provide those interested in green workplaces with the knowledge necessary to transition from a conventional workplace situation to a green workplace including understanding typical building functions, measuring performance, and utilizing best-practice green strategies
• To address the most commonly asked questions about green workplaces, including costs, benefits, challenges, and low-hanging fruit
• To introduce advanced strategies used in green workplaces
• To have those currently working in green workplaces share their experiences with those interested in green workplaces

COURSE OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, you will:

• Upon successful completion of this course, you will:
• Possess the information necessary to discuss the advantages of green workplaces in your organization, including trend data on the costs and benefits, information on productivity and profitability, and the reasons why businesses benefit from green workplaces
• Get the knowledge necessary to champion the transition to a green workplace
• Know the most common issues related to green workplaces
• Possess a high-level understanding of a few key advanced green workplace concepts and strategies.

Course activities may include reading print and online readings, watching video and recorded presentations, listening to audio presentations, having the option to take a self quiz and engage in written online discussion with the instructor and other participants.

Two courses are being offered this Fall: Green Building and Preparing for the LEED Green Associate and Green Workplace.

The two-month online course titled Green Building and Preparing for the LEED Green Associate is offered on September 6 – October 29 for individuals interested in gaining essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all LEED Rating Systems and who would like to be eligible and prepared to sit for the LEED Green Associate exam.  Click here to learn more about this course.

Green Workplace, offered September 7 – Oct 1, explores the keys to making green workplaces a success for individuals and their organizations.  This course is suitable for those new to green workplaces or already working in a green space and interested in enhancing their knowledge of what makes it a green space. Includes a green workplace toolkit.  Click here for more details.