Central California Green Builder

May 2008

Message from the VP
Bill Blayney, AIA, LEED AP

Until the oil embargo of 1973, Modern architecture, like most of society, was on an all out joy ride of consumption and exploitation of natural resources. Even after massive environmental reforms and pervasive behavioral changes that developed during the 1970's and 80's, Americans still consume five times their global share of energy and produce a commensurate  proportion  of greenhouse gases. Our average home sits on a bigger lot and has grown 40% larger over the last 25 years, even though our households have grown smaller. The average American house in 1900 did not have an indoor toilet, by 2000 the average new house had fewer occupants than bathrooms!
 
The architect's legal role in America to protect "public health, safety, and welfare" needs to be reexamined. Public health no longer means controlling infectious diseases so much as it means cleaning up brownfield sites and dirty air. Safety is more about safe streets, and building security than structural collapse or fire protection. Welfare is now more about conserving prime farmland and older neighborhoods, as well as providing calm, affordable new environments in an increasingly frenzied and expensive world.
 
The triple bottom line of sustainability - Environmental, Economic, and Equity - needs the fourth "E" of Esthetic, as Fritz Steiner and other landscape architects point out. Indeed, if a building, landscape or city is not beautiful, it will not be loved. If it is not loved, it won't be cared for and sustained. Joining esthetics with sustainability is the missing key to greening the culture of both architectural education and practice. Architecture can once again do much more with much less. Let's teach ourselves and the next generation to build better, but less, and with less. Recycle, reuse, design for sustainability; remembering that environmental justice is intergenerational as well as international.

 

Tulare/Kings Branch News:

On April 3rd, the Tulare-Kings County Branch of the US Green Building Council hosted CA State Secretary of Resources (and local Visalian), Mike Chrisman with over 100 people in attendance.   Secretary Chrisman shared his experience at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali at the end of 2007 in addition to his perspective on state and local policies that affect the environment of the Central Valley.    

Following this momentum, please join us at our next meeting on Thursday, May 1st, at Fugazzi’s in downtown Visalia.  Guest speaker Shawn Ogletree, Natural Resource Conservation Manager for the City of Visalia, will be discussing the green policies that have been implemented by the City in addition to the policies that are “in the works.”  This is a free event including appetizers and a no-host bar, Social hour 5:30-6:00 pm; Program with Guest Speaker, Shawn Ogletree, 6:00-7:00 pm.

Please contact the Tulare-Kings Branch at tkinfo@usgbccc.org if you have any questions, or would like more information.

 

The Metrics of Sustainability    
Assessing the sustainability of products and materials is trending toward a quantitative approach.
By Carol Derby

Here's what I remember about the first green products taking the stage 10 or 12 years ago: they came with stories. Whether in the form of carpet, flooring, or textiles, we often connected with narratives about invention-how an environmentally preferable product had come about, usually from some previously overlooked raw material.

Read on...

 

California Multifamily New Homes Program Offers Incentives

The DOE and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have collaborated on the development of a web-based tool to simplify the process for obtaining ENERGY STAR® product price information and, if desired, initiating purchases of ENERGY STAR® products. The ENERGY STAR® Bulk Purchasing Tool is a one-stop site for access of a broad menu of ENERGY STAR® products and equipment at competitive bulk purchase pricing. Visit www.bulkpurchase.net

ENERGY STAR® appliances are now a standard feature in most multifamily projects and affordable housing projects receiving Tax Credit Equity (LIHTC-TCAC) are required to install ENERGY STAR® appliances.  The California Multifamily New Homes Program (CMFNH) offers a variety of incentives for ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances.

 

AIA San Joaquin Learning Luncheon to Feature Water Conservation Fixtures - May 14

May 14, 2008 @ 12pm, Fresno - The seminar will provide an overview of water cost and conservation issues in today's society and how the use of water conservation fixture systems can save water and money for future use. Included is an outline of green building standards and how water and energy saving systems can contribute to LEED certification of a building.   RSVP by May 13

Download the Flier 

 

List Your Company in the USGBC-Central California Directory

For only $40 USGBC-CC Members can list their company in the Chapter Directory.  The directory is posted on the home page of the website and will be promoted regularly through email notices and enewsletters.  In an effort to conserve only a limited number will be printed for distribution at conferences and chapter meetings.

Click here to download a Company Directory Commitment Form

 

 

           Special thanks to our sponsors

GOLD...                    SILVER... 

sponsor logo

  UU Church of Fresno     

sponsor logo

sponsor logo

 

Bronze:

 

4747 N. First St, Ste 140   Fresno, CA 93726
T:800 788-9013 F:559 227-1463   WWW.USGBCCC.ORG

Please do not reply directly to this email.
For questions or comments please contact us here: info@usgbccc.org