Call for Presentations 2011 Michigan Energy Fair

Call for Presentations

Proposals are due by 5:00P.M. March 7^th, 2011

Grading green: USGBC chapter evaluates LEED buildings

Published: Thursday, December 09, 2010, 9:00 AM

 Olivia Pulsinelli | Business Review West Michigan 

Renae Hesselink describes the Green Buildings of West Michigan project as a journey — one that is still continuing.

Follow the link to read more: http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/12/grading_green_usgbc_chapter_ev.html

Michigan Energy Conference Calls for Presentations

The deadline to submit a Presentation is December 20, 2010.  See below for more details!  Hurry!!  We're interested in hearing from you!

A Conference for Government, Business, Industry and Educators
Hosted by Ferris State University

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Proposals and case studies are requested for academic, governmental and professional presentations to be presented at the 2011 Michigan Energy Conference. This conference & exposition is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and has been attended by hundreds of industry leaders in the fields of energy, energy management, public policy/governance, construction and transportation. The 2011 conference will consist of two days of focused workshops and technical breakout sessions.  Sessions may be one or two hours in length, depending on the subject, depth and presentation requirements.  Educational institutions and government agencies are encouraged to submit proposals, as are designers, consultants, and representatives of business and industry.  

 
Presenters are encouraged to submit non-promotional proposals for the following areas. (Additional topics will be considered on the relevance to the conference theme.)

§        Building science fundamentals
§        Residential and commercial building performance, efficiency & loads
§        Residential and commercial mechanical system design & efficiency
§        Government/ Utility standard and incentive programs
§        Energy and community—planning for the future, negotiating the present
§        Building codes, zoning, regulatory issues
§        The Business of Energy
§        Energy and Sustainable Standards:  
o        LEED
o        ASHRAE
o        Energy Star
o        NAHB National Green Building Standard
o        Green Built Michigan
§        Energy in transportation
§        Energy distribution  and storage
§        Batteries
§        Feed-in Tariffs

To be considered please provide Intent to Submit by 5:00 p.m., December 20, 2010. Selected presenters will be required to submit a presentation outline by January 31, 2011. Register your intent at www.ferris.edu/mec. If you have questions, please contact Debbie Dawson or Brian Craig at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Sandy Kerridge, Secretary
2011 Michigan Energy Conference
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
915 Campus Drive SWN 405
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone:  231.591.2755
Fax:  231.591.2271
Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

One Billion Square Feet of LEED Certified Green Building Projects Worldwide

Contact: Erin Emery

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

202-552-1363

Achievement manifests building industry progress, market transformation

Washington, DC (November 11, 2010) – This month, the total footprint of commercial projects certified

under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System surpassed one

billion square feet. Another six billion square feet of projects are registered and currently working toward

LEED certification around the world.

“This traction demonstrates the transformation of the way we design, build and operate buildings,” said

Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “Not only does green building contribute to

saving energy, water and money, it also creates green jobs that will grow and energize our economy.”

The milestone is a testament to the global effort to meet USGBC’s vision that buildings and communities

will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within this generation. LEED is the preeminent

program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

“The impact of these one billion square feet can be seen in communities around the world,” said Peter

Templeton, President of the Green Building Certification Institute, the certifying body for LEED projects.

“The use of LEED represents a growing global commitment to improving our built environment for future

generations.”

Since it was first introduced to the marketplace in 2000, over 36,000 commercial projects and 38,000

single-family homes have participated in LEED. By consuming less energy, LEED-certified buildings

save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to

healthier environments for residents, workers and the community.

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U.S. Green Building Council

The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier

places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in. UGSBC is helping create

buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a

generation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council is the driving force of the green building

industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC

leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations,

elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students. The USGBC community comprises 80 local

chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 individuals who have

earned LEED Professional Credentials. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.

About GBCI

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) provides third-party confirmation that specific criteria

related to LEED building certification and LEED professional credentialing have been met. To underscore

this commitment, GBCI is undergoing the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation

process for personnel certification agencies complying with International Organization for Standardization

(ISO) Standard 17024. Early in 2009, GBCI assumed responsibility for administering the LEED building

certification program for the more than 36,000 commercial projects seeking third-party verification of

compliance with the industry's leading green building rating system. For more information, please visit

www.gbci.org.

State and Local Code Officials Deliver Historic Improvement in Building Energy Efficiency

Contacts: Harry Misuriello, 703-477-4781

Jennifer Amann, 202-507-4015

Media Contact: Glee Murray, 202-507-4010

Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2010): More than 500 state and local code officials voted on changes to the nation's model energy code to achieve energy savings of 30% relative to the 2006 model code. The new 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) meets the 30% savings goal sought by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of State Energy Officials, governors, lawmakers, and the broad-based Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC). The model energy code governs home and commercial building construction, additions, and renovations in 47 states and the District of Columbia where local building codes are based on these national model standards.

"In the last four years, the International Code Council has accomplished more in efficiency improvements than all updates combined since 1975," said Harry Misuriello, ACEEE Fellow and EECC organizer. "Local governments clearly realize that they and their citizens have an important stake in reducing building energy use, and that's why they sent their delegates to Charlotte to vote for greater energy efficiency."

The proposals adopted into the new code address all aspects of residential and commercial building construction, laying a strong foundation for residential efficiency gains and leading commercial building efficiency improvements. In the residential sector, improvements will:

•         Ensure that new homes are better sealed to reduce heating and cooling losses,
•         Improve the efficiency of windows and skylights,
•         Increase insulation in ceilings, walls, and foundations,
•         Reduce wasted energy from leaky heating and cooling ducts,
•         Improve hot-water distribution systems to reduce wasted energy and water in piping, and
•       Boost lighting efficiency. 

The package of improvements for commercial buildings should match those for homes in terms of energy savings. In addition to many of the features cited above, the commercial buildings package includes continuous air barriers, daylighting controls, use of economizers in additional climates, and a choice of three paths for designers and developers to increase efficiency: renewable energy systems, more efficient HVAC equipment, orimprovedlighting systems. The package also requires commissioning of new buildings to ensure that the actual energy performance of the building meets the design intent.

"It is notable that the votes that will have the most profound impact on national energy and environmental policy this year weren'theld in Washington or a state capital, but by governmental officials assembled by the International Code Council in Charlotte, North Carolina," said EECC Executive Director William Fay. While all Americans will share in the energy and environmental benefits of more efficient buildings, homeowners and commercial building owners and occupants top the list of beneficiaries. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that an average home that's 30% more energy efficient returns $511 a year in energy savings to homeowners after taking into account the small mortgage payment increase needed to pay for efficiency improvements. From the national economic perspective, efficient buildings will demonstrably reduce U.S. energy consumption, which will help stabilize energy costs to businesses and manufacturers, defer the need for new power plant construction, and, by reducing energy demand, improve national energy security.

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About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org. 

A New Kind of Roofing Adhesive

According to EPA documents, organic solvents used in commercial products release over 886,000,000,000 pounds of VOC’s in the atmosphere each year in the U.S.  This is second only to transportation pollution, which releases about a trillion pounds of VOC’s annually. These two sources of VOC’s exceed all others combined. In spite of all the “Green” rhetoric, the consumption of solvents continues to grow without abate at about the rate of the annual Gross Domestic Product.

Construction materials make up a large amount of annual VOC pollution tonnage. Because these materials are not a fixed source of pollution, they have been poorly regulated. Solvents used in coatings, adhesives and sealants have been a cheap, convenient and unrestricted method of applying construction materials for many years. Although viable, alternative materials do exist, the persistent use of cheap, solvent release compounds has been sustained by powerful political and industry forces. As a result, safe and efficient alternatives have been struggling to enter the market.

The industry is now on the cusp of profound change due to the development of a new solvent free, sealant and adhesive chemistry with superlative performance capabilities--and complete safety.  

A new adhesive is about to make its debut.  It will be introduced at Greenbuild in Chicago in November.  A totally solvent free, single ply roofing adhesive capable of withstanding hurricane force winds is imminently qualified to replace flammable, 80% solvent based, widely used roofing adhesives--and reduce VOC pollution by over twenty-five million pounds.  It will deliver significant time and cost savings as well. This high performance product will earn 1 LEED Point for Low Emitting Materials and 5 NAHB Global Impact Points.  It presents zero health hazards and contributes nothing to global warming.

The new roofing adhesive is made by Chem Link in Schoolcraft, Michigan. 

September Tour of Green Buildings to Showcase Region’s National Leadership in Sustainable, Energy-Efficient LEED Buildings

Grand Rapids, MI – August 11, 2010 – The U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan (USGBC-WM) Chapter today announced that it will host tours of 40 commercial and residential LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings located in and around the Grand Rapids area on Friday and Saturday, September 10th and 11th. The tours will coincide with Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities, a conference hosted by a5 Inc. and Seven Generations Ahead on Friday, September 10th at Grand Valley State University’s Eberhard Center on the downtown Grand Rapids campus.

“The Grand Rapids metropolitan area ranks first nationally in the number of LEED buildings per capita, and fifth overall,” explained USGBC-WM Chapter Chair Renae Hesselink, LEED AP. “We’ve earned the right to call ourselves a national center of green building, but more importantly we’re positioning our region as a trendsetter, a leader in innovation, and home to experts in the design and manufacture of energy-efficient, sustainable buildings and materials.”

The Green Buildings of West Michigan Tour will provide its participants with a close-up look at a diverse portfolio of LEED-certified building stock spanning a variety of market segments including office, manufacturing, small project, health care, education, residential, hospitality and non-profit. The buildings are also featured in Green Buildings of West Michigan, a book published by the USGBC West Michigan Chapter to commemorate the tour. Information regarding availability and pricing is available at www.usgbcwm.org/green-buildings-book.

Primary tour transportation will be based near the Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids, where tours begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th.  Registration is required.  In addition to the shuttle services provided, some tours will incorporate public transportation and walking. The tour includes visits to Aquinas College, the David D. Hunting YMCA, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Hyatt Place Grand Rapids South, in addition to LEED buildings owned by office furniture industry leaders Haworth, Herman Miller and Steelcase.

“Based on the initial response, we expect hundreds of industry professionals, students and those just curious about the green building movement to join us on the tours,” Hesselink said. “They’re coming from throughout the Midwest to ‘kick the tires’, ask questions, and consider how they might advance the art and science of green building in their own communities. We’re excited to see the growing interest and happy to share the lessons learned by the many green building pioneers that call West Michigan home.”

Tour registration and details are available at www.usgbcwm.org/green-buildings-of-west-michigan. An early bird registration discount is available through August 15th.

The corresponding Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities conference will feature keynote addresses from Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, Mayor Dave Bing of Detroit and Director Rebecca Humphries of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The full program, along with registration information, is available via the GreenTown web site at www.greentownconference.com

Four West Michigan Facilities Receive DNRE Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Award

Four west Michigan businesses have received awards today from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for their outstanding commitment to environmental community outreach. In a ceremony today at the Pilgrim Manor Retirement Community in Grand Rapids, DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries applauded the businesses’ commitment to environmental protection and conservation.

“I am here today to recognize four West Michigan businesses for their outstanding commitment to the environment and their community,” said Director Humphries.  “These businesses are finding ways to engage their community, their clients and their employees in environmental and natural resources projects that benefit their community and the state of Michigan.”

Receiving DNRE Neighborhood Environmental Partner (NEP) Awards were Pilgrim Manor, the City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant, Herman Miller and Mel Trotter Ministries.

Pilgrim Manor was honored for hosting an Emerging Green Building Competition at its facility. Each year, regional chapters of the US Green Buildings Council have the option of hosting a design competition for students and young professionals. Pilgrim Manor hosted the event and held the award ceremony on Earth Day to draw attention to the importance of environmentally efficient green building in the community. Pilgrim Manor also educated 15-20 community volunteers on developing rain gardens at its annual General Synod in Grand Rapids.

The City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant was recognized for its development and implementation of the Wyoming Medicinal Disposal System (WYMeDS). The plant partnered with local pharmacists to collect and sort liquid and solid medications from the public, which the plant stores. The medications are then destroyed by the Kent County incinerator. The program is a model for pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal.

Herman Miller, Inc. was honored for its work with Habitat for Humanity in helping to build a LEED Certified Gold home in Grand Haven. More than 120 Herman Miller volunteers also partnered with residents of the McLaughlin Neighborhood in Muskegon to build a playground and help in clean-up projects around the neighborhood. Herman Miller also participates in the West Michigan Sustainability Forum and the Adopt-a-Highway program.

Mel Trotter Ministries of Grand Rapids received an NEP Award for its innovative recycling and composting program in its community. The facility implemented a “zero waste” Thanksgiving dinner, with more than 2,000 people participating in the event and only generating 10 pounds of waste. Mel Trotter Ministries has also eliminated the use of disposable plates and silverware, further reducing solid waste and litter at its facility. The residents of its drug and alcohol recovery program participate in the 2x3R4Living Program, which teaches residents about the traditional three R’s – reduce, recycle and reuse – and the additional three R’s of recover, remanufacture and resell/repurchase.

The NEP Awards Program was developed by DNRE to recognize facilities and their community partners who have worked together on environmental and natural-resource projects to improve the environment locally in their communities.

Further information on the NEP Program is available on the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/deqnep, or by calling the DNRE Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. To learn more, go to www.michigan.gov/dnre.