Top News and Other Green Events

Green$ense: Capture Your Share of the Green Market

Green Building Alliance Funds Seven Product Innovation Projects and Opens New RFP Round

Pittsburgh Ranks 4th in Green Cities

North Hills Schools, Businesses Commit to Going Green

$48M Luxury Green Complex Planned

Training Offered for Contractors and Consultants in the PA Home Energy Program

Green Building Initiatives Among $11.2 Million in PA Grants

New LEED Committee Positions Open Soon –
Join Corresponding Committees to be Eligible

Changes for LEED AP Candidates and LEED APs

Tour: Magee-Womens Research Institute

Affordable Comfort, Inc. Home Performance Conference 2008

TOP NEWS AND OTHER GREEN EVENTS


Capture Your Share of the Green Market
The exploding market demand for green building crossed a new threshold in 2007. The number and types of green buildings in the United States proliferated, with every structure from hospitals to university campuses, K-12 schools, historic properties, and sporting venues going green. Amid growing concerns to achieve energy independence and control CO2 emissions, developers and architects find customers clamoring for green features and benefits. Learn how to be competitive in this rapidly expanding market and what it all means to you and your business at Green$ense 2008. For more details, visit www.gbapgh.org/green$ense2008.asp.
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Green Building Alliance Funds Seven Product Innovation Projects and Opens New RFP Round
The Green Building Alliance recently allocated seven grants totaling $448,000 for the development of new green building projects. Awarded through a competitive selection process, GBA's Product Innovation Grants will expedite the commercialization of green building products into a market that is estimated to be worth $30 to $40 billion annually by 2010 and has been targeted by GBA as a priority sector for growth.

A new funding round has opened and proposals for up to $100,000 are currently being accepted through March 10, 2008. These grants are financed in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority; The Heinz Endowments; and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. All Product Innovation Grant documents can be downloaded from http://www.pa-greenbuildingproducts.org/product_innovation_grants.aspx.
Read More
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Pittsburgh Ranks 4th in Green Cities
Between higher gas prices and an elevated level of environmental consciousness in the United States, going green is a hot topic these days—and it’s at the forefront of business, political and personal agendas. Due to increased concerns by companies on this topic, Business Facilities has included a Green Cities category in its third-annual published rankings of locations across the country and abroad that best reflect the needs of corporate site selectors. The report used LEED buildings as its criteria in this category, causing Pittsburgh to land in the #4 spot.
Read Full Report Here
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North Hills Schools, Businesses
Commit to Going Green
In the North Hills, green building is bursting onto the scene.
The Pine Township Community Center, which opens this spring, was designed with recycled materials, "no flush" urinals, and wall and roof panels made of energy-efficient steel and expanded polystyrene insulation, which will lower the township's annual heating and cooling costs.

Also in the North Hills, Wende Goncz is saving the Earth one pizza at a time. She plans to open several Pizza Fusion restaurants throughout the Pittsburgh region, which will recycle oven heat to eliminate the need for water- and air-heating units. They will also utilize low-flush toilets and faucets, Energy Star appliances, paints that are devoid of volatile organic compounds, and insulation made from recycled blue jeans.
[Read More]
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$48M Luxury Green Complex Planned
Construction will begin this spring on a $48 million luxury hotel, condo and retail complex at Pittsburgh's SouthSide Works, developers said recently. According to representatives, this hotel will not be a franchise, but rather an "independent, 5-star hotel with a unique, trendy name" to be announced next year. The developers plan to build the complex to Silver LEED certified green building standards, wiith construction to be completed by summer 2009.
[More Info]
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Training Offered for Contractors and Consultants in the PA Home Energy Program
HERS Rater training and also BPI (Building Performance Institute) training will be offered in two separate, upcoming events. Classes are for building professionals who want to participate in the PA Home Energy program.  Limited to 10 people per class, participants will have an opportunity to get on-the-job mentoring with (optional) sales training offered along with other related topics. Ongoing technical support will also be provided to participating contractors.  
[More Info]
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Green Building Initiatives Among
$11.2 Million in PA Grants
Geothermal, solar and wind installations are among the 24 projects in Pennsylvania that will receive a total of $11.2 million in state grants. Approved by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, the grants cover biofuel production, carbon sequestration, green building technologies, and energy efficiency projects.

Walnut Capital Acquisitions Inc. will receive $400,000 to install a 100 kW solar system, and Stable Flats LLC will receive $700,000 for a 235.4 kW solar photovoltaic system for the Stable Flats housing project, a LEED Gold certified structure.

Phipps Conservatory and Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens Inc. was awarded $250,000 to help with construction of a zero-net-energy education/research/administration center, which will utilize solar and on-site wind energy. It will also utilize anaerobic digesters, microorganisms that break down biodegradable materials, reducing the amount of waste and landfill gas emitted.
[More Info]
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New LEED Committee Positions Open Soon –
Join Corresponding Committees to be Eligible
In 2008, the LEED committees will be restructured to include three core committees. The Technical, Certification, and Market Sector committees will work on harmonizing and aligning credits, maintaining the technical rigor of LEED, ensuring an effective certification process, and monitoring the responsiveness of LEED to the different markets within the building industry.

In January, the U.S. Green Building Council will seek core members for each of these committees. Any interested USGBC member must first join the respective corresponding committee to be eligible for nomination. Join a Corresponding Committee Today.
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Changes for LEED AP Candidates and LEED APs
As the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) takes over all aspects of the LEED Accredited Professional program this month, two changes will affect LEED AP candidates: exam scheduling will be unavailable between January 1 and January 10, 2008; and exam fees will increase by $50.

In case you missed it, GBCI is now the place to learn about LEED Professional Accreditation, register for the LEED AP Exam, find LEED Accredited Professionals in your area, access your LEED AP exam records, and manage your LEED AP Directory listing. The U.S. Green Building Council will continue to manage the development of LEED and to provide related resources and educational offerings. Current LEED APs will not be affected by this change. If you have any questions, please contact exam@usgbc.org or visit GBCI for more information.
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Tour - Magee-Womens Research Institute
The Pittsburgh Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) invites you to join its hosts John Worth, Executive Director of UPMC Magee-Womens Research Institute, and Mike Chiappetta, Project Manager of UPMC, for this tour. Mr. Sean Sheffler, Project Architect with Astorino, will also be present to discuss the architectural aspects of this project. For more information, please visit here.
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Affordable Comfort, Inc. Home Performance Conference 2008
Attend North America's premier educational event for high performance homes, and explore practices and opportunities for energy efficiency in residential buildings. Learn from respected presenters, and gain access to the most dedicated professionals of the building science industry.

April 7 - 11, 2008
Hilton Pittsburgh
600 Commonwealth Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
www.affordablecomfort.org
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