The official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council - Central California Chapter
Inside the December 2007 issue:
- Message from the President
- Environmental Impact of Buildings
- Green Cleaners
- CNN Video About LEED
- ASID and USGBC Launch Green Residential Platform
- Green Building Report
- Green Roofs: Stormwater Management From the Top Down
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There is one thing that can be said about Green Build 2007…..Phenomenal! I don't remember ever attending an event that had so much impact and truly left me feeling inspired. The one thing with the United States Green Building Council is that they never waver in the mission. They have established themselves as the leader in promoting sustainability within the built environment because they have provided a process for professionals to truly understand and measure what is needed to build Green.
The impact of what USGBC has accomplished is utterly amazing when you consider that it has transformed an entire multi billion dollar industry. At Green Build, there were 850 vendors showcasing their respective impact on the built environment. In talking with several of them they all said the same thing in one way or another, being involved with the USGBC has motivated them to become more educated in how what they do impacts the building process and to invest the resources into the development of cost effective products. That last statement I felt was extremely important. The fact that sustainability is a moral issue is one that can't be debated. The reality in the built environment is that it must make economic sense as well. Sustainability goes far beyond using green products to be cost effective; it's understanding the process and that the sooner sustainability is integrated into the design and engineering process the greater the opportunity for savings. Having a dedicated and knowledgeable team in place from the beginning is what takes the comparative economics out of play when making this decision. It is simply a matter of investing the time to become educated on green building and what your role is within the Integrated Design Team.
In Central California the question is how do we do it? Your Central California Chapter of the USGBC was established for those things and so much more. Education, outreach and idea sharing allow professionals to be a part and make a difference. On the first Tuesday of every month we have educational programs to showcase different aspects of sustainability within the built environment and it is also an opportunity to meet other professionals.
Please feel free to contact me, 559-276-0561, with any questions and I would be happy to share with you how you can be a part of our great organization.
Sincerely,
Jerrod M. Jensen
President, USGBC Central California Chapter
- 65.2% of total U.S. electricity consumption
- Less than 36% of total US primary energy use
- 30% of total US green house gas emissions from building construction and materials manufacture.
- 136 mln tons of construction and demolition waste in the U.S. ca. 2.8#/person/day
- 12% of potable water in the U.S.
- 40% (3bln tons annually) of raw materials used globally in buildings
The U.S.E.P.A. rates indoor air as up to 500% more toxic than outside air, and we spend about 90% of our time indoors. So doesn't make sense to try to eliminate any air borne toxics like those that emanate from harsh cleaning chemicals?
It is estimated that 33% of our cleaning products used by commercial cleaning companies contain chemicals that can irritate the skin, and can cause eye irritation, cancer and reproductive disorders. Almost 37mln or 9% of American suffer for chemical sensitivity. Companies who experience increased absenteeism should check to see if there cleaning company ahs switched cleaners. Many of these chemicals that evaporate ahrmful chemicals can be the root cause.
Responding to this idea are a new breed of cleaners and cleaning agent manufacturers. Eco-cleaners are competitively priced, easily available and administered by a new wave of eco-conscious janitorial advocates.
Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator- Estimates the eco-benefits of switching to greener janitorial supplies and services. www.ofee.ogv/janitor
Center for a new American Dream - Listings of green institutional cleaning supplies for big businesses. www.newdream.org/procure/products/approved.php
A-Maz - Central California-Based Green-Cleaning Products Maker. amaz.biz
A new study from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) finds that since 2003, the number of American cities with green building programs has increased more than 400%. The analysis is based on research conducted by AIA on American cities with a population greater than 50,000 (661 communities)...
Full story: http://www.fypower.org/news/?p=1953
http://www.usgbc.org/News/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?ID=3491