The Inevitable Architect:  An Introduction to Implementing Green Building in your Designs

Author of "Green Building for Dummies" Eric Corey Freed to Present in Bellingham

Eric Corey Freed

In this lecture you will hear about the emerging field of green building; see some of the most exciting technologies available; and get a glimpse of the inevitable future of our buildings.  Join us in an energetic and lively discussion on green architecture from one of the pioneers in the field.  Eric Corey Freed is an award winning green architect and principal of organicARCHITECT, a research and design firm based in San Francisco. Eric is a warm and engaging speaker and presents this inspirational and informative material in a logical way.

Discussion covers:
* what is environmentalism?
* what does this have to do with buildings?
* the 2 main misconceptions in green architecture
* what is the lifecycle and how does that effect the design of buildings?
* how to sell these ideas to your clients
* 5 case studies demonstrating these ideas
* an action plan to implement this in your office

Join Sustainable Connections for this guest lecture series. 
When: Thursday, March 20 from 5:30-6:30pm. Networking to follow.
Where: Fairhaven Public Library - suggested $5 donation.
AIA Credits Available

Sustainable Forestry Tour - Whatcom County
Sustainable Connections and NNRG are hosting a field tour of FSC forests, manufacturing facilities, and distributors to help Whatcom County design, construction, and policy professionals understand the positive difference that purchasing FSC certified products makes to forest ecosystems and rural communities. The tour will also address the complexities of sourcing products in the still emerging FSC market.

Tour sites will include River Farm: a streamside forest walk while learning how a local chain of custody privately managed forest provider works within FSC guidelines.  Smith & Vallee Woodworks: a small scale manufacturer that sustainably harvests trees from behind their shop and complete the entire milling process onsite - live saw demonstrations and showroom of the guys who brought you the Tree Project .  Haven Design Workshop: local architect Sean Hegstad opens his contemporary/Northwest style home that includes radiant floor hear, passive solar, natural materials and FSC/SFI certified wood flooring and windows.  Builders Alliance:  a local distributor of FSC products will discuss availability, market response and pricing. 

When: Wednesday, March 26
Cost: SC members: $35   non-members: $45
Includes snacks, lunch and transportation.
Event Sponsor:

AIA Credits Available: 7 Credits
To register for this event contact Nick or call 360-647-7093 x107

Whatcom County Courthouse LEED-EB Tour

Joe Van Belleghem is coming back to Bellingham! (transformed in DVD form anyway).  If you missed the Sustainable Connections September Land Use Conference, then you'll want to catch the Dockside Green presentation on DVD.

Take a tour of the new Pickford Dreamspace on track for LEED certification and hear how one contractor is managing recycling new materials and C&D.  Pizza from LaFiamma will be provided to those who RSVP.  The Jobsite Recycling Panel includes:

• ^{Residential Jobsite Recycling – An effective waste management plan, a working recycling agreement for sub-contractors and trouble-free documentation for LEED-H and BuiltGreen. Rose Lathrop, Aiki Homes} 
• ^{Commercial Jobsite Recycling and LEED – Learn how the newly certified WECU LEED Gold project diverted 96% of waste from the landfill.  Also, successful plans on two upcoming LEED projects. Bob Griffiths, Pearson Construction}

• ^{Local Waste Management – Cost effective solutions to jobsite recycling and a breakdown of commingled boxes.  Rodd Pemble, Sanitary Service Company}

• ^{Where does it go? – Follow the sorting process from jobsite to landfill and the lifecycle of those materials.   Larry McCarter, Recycling Disposal Services}
• ^{Emerging Materials – Waste materials like asphalt shingles and sheet rock are finding post consumer uses; learn how.  Troy Lautenbach, T&T Recycling}

When: Thursday, December 6     11:00-1:00pm
Where: Tour begins at the new Pickford Dreamspace (1314 Bay Street) 
Cost:  SC members FREE. Non-members pay $35.
To RSVP, please conact Nick, or call 647-7093 x107

Historic Area Design Standards Roundtable: calling the first FIVE architects who respond
^{Historic neighborhoods across the city are considering appropriate design standards for multifamily housing in those areas. Please join your fellow architects from around Bellingham for an informal round table discussion.  The discussion will be hosted by representatives from Sehome neighborhood and Sustainable Connections.  Refreshments will be served.}

^{When: Monday, November 19,   4:00-6:00pm
To join this design review group, please contact Nick.}

Matthei Place Presentation & Site Tour
Friday, September 14     3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Firehouse Performing Arts Center
1314 Harris Ave, Bellingham

  

<sub>Matthei Place is a 14-home development on one acre in the Happy Valley Neighborhood. The two- and three-bedroom homes are registered with the US Green Building Council, and will serve as a pilot project to help establish Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the residential market. These homes will also receive certification from the Built Green program of the Whatcom County Building Industry Association. Tour presenters will be environmental consultant Alistair Jackson and civil engineer Chris Webb.  This forum is geared to green-oriented builders and designers.

Cost is $15 for Sustainable Connections, KulshanCLT and BuiltGreen members, $25 for non-members.
Includes one beverage at the post event networking session.

To register for this event, click here!</sub>

Thursday, September 6  -  8:30-5:00pm
Bellingham Cruise Terminal

Presenting:

 _{Jason F. McLennan, LEED AP, CEO Cascadia GBC, Seattle WA} 

Jason is a nationally recognized leader in the sustainable building industry. He is trained as an architect and has been a principal at BNIM, an architecture firm in Kansas City and an innovative force in green building for the last decade. He recognizes that the Cascadia chapter is in a unique leadership position nationally as USGBC and Canada Green Building Council's most mature chapter.  www.cascadiagbc.org

 _{Joe Van Belleghem, LEED AP, Windmill Development in Victoria, BC.} 

Joe Van Belleghem is a partner in Windmill Developments, a triple bottom line development company , that focuses solely on Green Building Developments. Windmill currently has several LEED development projects underway. The most significant is Dockside Green in Victoria which is a 1.3 million sq. ft. mixed use brownfield sustainable community redevelopment with LEED platinum commitments.  www.docksidegreen.ca

Agenda

_{8:30 – Registration opens
9:00 – Welcome and introductions - Derek & Michelle Long
9:05 – Keynote address by Jason F. McLennan -  Jason, the Cascadia Chapter   of   the   US  Green  Building  Council's  CEO,    returns to Bellingham  following  a  terrific  response to  his  presentation last December.  Get an update on Cascadia's exciting new initiatives the 'Living Building Challenge' and 'Pharos',  as well as the new partnership with  Sustainable Connections. Jason will also share land use lessons  learned  from  Kansas  City,  where  he  was  architect and partner at BNIM.
10:00 - Urban/Brownfield Development Focus, best practices   
• Joe Van Belleghem - Developer, Dockside Green in Victoria, BC – 15 acre urban, waterfront, mixed use Brownfield redevelopment – www.docksidegreen.ca}

_{11:00 – Break with Ciao Thyme Catering}

_{11:15 – Local Master Planned Project Updates & Work Sessions}

_{• New Whatcom –   Waterfront Planning   –   Port  and  City  of
     Bellingham officials give an update on plan development, LEED-ND
     Pilot  application status,  and ask a few key  technical questions for
     specific   feedback    from    this   unique    gathering   of   industry
     professionals and  community leaders.    Presented by Mike Hogan
     and Sylvia Goodwin, Port of Bellingham - Room A
  • Old Town – Urban Village Planning – City of Bellingham officials
     along   with  private  developers  present  current  state  of   master
     planning efforts and get feedback.  Presented by  Tara Sundin, City
     of Bellingham - Room B}

  <sub>• Samish Way –   Urban Village Planning   –   City of Bellingham
     officials,  along  with  Sehome  Neighborhood Association, present
     current   state   of   master   planning   efforts  and  get   feedback. 
     Facilitated by Allen Matsumoto, Sehome Neighborhood
 
12:30 – Lunch – Ciao Thyme Catering

1:45  – Master Planned Community Demonstration Projects - Old and New
   • Northwest  Landing,  and other award winning master planned
     communities   for    walkability  &   transportation   alternatives,  
     affordable housing and low impact development.  Presented by
     Lisa Folkins & Stephen Antupit - Mithun Architects & Planners - Room A</sub>

_{2:45 - Ice Cream Social - featuring Mallard Ice Cream}

_{3:15 – Local Master Planned Project Updates & Work Sessions 
  • Birch Bay -  This highly involved  and growing community has
   been engaged  in  serious  planning efforts.    A recent watershed
   management  plan,  including  characterization  of environmental
   resources,  provides  insight into the most valuable environmental
   assets  in   the    area.    Town   center   and    design      guideline 
   recommendations     have   been    provided    by   “A   Northwest
   Collaborative”. Get updates and give  input on how this important  
   designated Urban Growth  Area plans it's future.   Panel discussion 
   by  Hillary Culverwell,  Kathy Berg,  Stephen Stanley,  and  Davidya Kasperzyk
  • Columbia Valley/Kendall -  This community in the foothills
   is in the  middle of  creating a  subarea plan to  guide it's   growth. 
   Give design input on building community, providing transportation
   alternatives,  affordability and key  elements of a town center to an
   area developer.    Presented by Rob Staveland, Aiki Homes - Room B}

   _{• New Whatcom Site Tour -  take a trip to the future water-
   front    development   site,  hosted  by  the   Port  of   Bellingham.
   Bus transport leaves out front of the Cruise Terminal}

_{4:30 - DAN for MAYOR! and Sustainable Connections' style networking  -  Refreshing  beverages and  quality conversation mark  the end of the day's  activities.   Please 
stick  around and enjoy time with  your peers.  As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization we can't endorse candidates, but we can help facilitate  opportunities for you to meet and talk with  them.  Both Bellingham Mayoral candidates will be in attendance, along 
with other local candidates.     Featuring Boundary Bay Brew -  Room A}

 

Registration Rates

Early Bird Rates (until August 30th):
Sustainable Connections Members $69, Non-members $89

Regular Rates (after August 30th):
Sustainable Connections Members $89, Non-members $109

An Additional fee of $10 will be added to any registrations after noon, September 5th

_{*Limited Scholarships are available for neighborhood representatives and non-profit groups. Please contact nick@sconnect.org  to learn more.}

 

     Conference Sponsors

    

       

---

 

Transform, LLC Modular Home Facility Tour
Date:  July 17, 2007

Time:  3:00-5:00pm (leave Bellingham at 2:30, return by 5:30)

Details:  Attend this exciting tour of the new Transform Modular Home Facility in Skagit County.  Transform blends state-of-the-art technologies and world-class manufacturing processes to produce homes, classrooms, offices, apartments, condos and other structures in a climate-controlled production environment.  This tour will showcase the complete process of the construction line, from framing a wall to a finished cottage ready for site placement.

Cost: $20 for Sustainable Connections Members, $35 for non members
(Transportation and food included)

RSVP is mandatory and spaces will fill up. for more information and to register for the tour, please contact nick@sconnect.org

Find out more information about Transform, LLC

Sustainable Connections presents the 5th annual
"Imagine This: Home & Landscape Tour"
Saturday and Sunday, June 30 & July 1, 2007 from 10 am to 5 pm.

SPECIAL sneak peek:  What to expect...preview site #7
click here to see "Urban Loft in the Woods"!

Last year’s event attracted over 500 patrons.  Features for this year’s tour include:

-      Energy efficient strategies

-      Natural, low maintenance, low cost landscapes

-      Creative and practical use of re-cycled building materials

-      Innovative landscaping practices that protect water quality

-      Green Roof garden

-      Renewable, solar energy

Attendees receive a 30 page Tour Guide that profiles all 12 tour stops, recommends dozens of quality books, magazines, websites and other helpful information sources, provides a map for your self guided tour and includes a business directory of experts in relevant industries.  The tour stops, staffed by knowledgeable volunteers, are open both Saturday and Sunday and tickets are valid both days.

Prices will be $15 for individuals and $35 for a carload.  Bicyclists will receive a $5 Downtown Dollars gift certificate to be used at over 40 retailers in Bellingham.  Tickets are on sale NOW at your favorite local retail stores including:

Village Books                                   Community Food Coop
Garden Spot Nursery                       Gardens at Padden Creek
Kent's Nursery                                 Kulshan Cycles
Re Store                                          Cloud Mountain Nursery
Skagit Valley Coop                            Pastazza
Downtown Renaissance Network      Sustainable Connections Office

This event is co sponsored by:     

LEED Platinum Film Showing/Networking
Tuesday, May 22 - 5:30-7:30pm

Join Sustainable Connections and your industry peers for a fun (and short) networking event.  We will provide refreshments and present a short film showcasing a LEED Platinum project.  The film demonstrates: 

Date:  Tuesday, May 22 - 5:30-7:30pm
Location:  WECU Education Center, 511 E. Holly St.

Suggested donation of $10 for SC members, $20 for non members and includes refreshments!

For more details and to RSVP contact Nick Hartrich, Green Building Program Manager, nick@sconnect.org

Low Impact Development Tour - April 13, 2007

• Porous Pavements (permeable surfaces)
• Bioretention (raingardens)
• Soil Amendments (compost amended soils)
• Rainwater Collection and Reuse

Tour space is limited to the first 40 registrations, so please RSVP.  Payments are $25 for SC members, $35 for non members and include lunch following the tour.  Payments and registration can be made by registering through PayPal below.

For more details, contact nick@sconnect.org or call 647.7093

Over 200 attendees participated in the 2006 Green Building Conference and Tradeshow.  Sustainable Connections and the Building Industry Association of
Whatcom County partnered to make this event a great success.  Major conference themes included local green building case studies, marketing, design and construction featuring local, regional and nationally recognized speakers.  Jason F. McLennan, a nationally recognized leader in the sustainable building industry, and newly selected CEO of the Cascadia Chapter of the US Green Building Council, presented a dynamic presentation on the future of sustainability.

With the success and momentum of the conference, more events for 2007 are being scheduled.  Check back for details as updates are posted. 

Building Green Basics (open FREE to the public)

• 1-2 pm Green Building Materials: What makes them green and how to fit them in your budget  Environmental Home Center and Re-Store
• 2-3 pm Water Conservation Tips for the Home and Landscape  Sullivan Plumbing and Common Ground Enviromental
  
  
• 3-4 pm Energy Conservation Tips for the Home and Landscape  Building Performance Center and Pinnacle Inspections
  
  
• 4-5 pm Solar Electric for your home or Business  Ecotech Energy Systems
  
  
• 5-6 pm ENERGY STAR and BuiltGreen certified homes introduction  Puget Sound Energy and Ecos Consulting
  
  

PAST EVENTS in 2006

Date: Jul 08 - 09 2006

Location: Greater Bellingham area homes and landscapes

Description:
Visit some of Whatcom County's most inspiring homes and gardens! Sustainable Connections 4th annual tour features beautiful, environmentally friendly and high quality examples of green and reused building materials, renewable energy, low impact landscaping and more. This tour is now the largest home and landscape tour north of Seattle.

The Imagine This! Home and Landscape Tour will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 8th and 9th from 10 am to 5 pm.  Visit 11 truly inspirational stops.  Tickets cost $15 per person; or gather friends, carpool, save gas and save money! Carloads get in for $35. Bicyclists pay full price but get a $5 Downtown Dollars Gift Certificate. Children under 15 are free.

Tickets include a 24-page Tour Guide describing the 11 locations and providing numerous other helpful resources for those interested in eco-friendly homes and landscapes.  Tickets can be purchased in advance beginning June 15th at the following locations: Village Books, Community Food Co-op, Skagit Valley Food Co-op & Deli, Garden Spot Nursery, The Gardens at Padden Creek, Kulshan Cycles, RE Store, Cloud Mountain Nursery, Kents Gardens & Pastazza.

Tour Organizers and Sponsors : The Imagine This! Home and Landscape Tour is coordinated by Sustainable Connections, a business network establishing and supporting a local living economy that sustains itself, our community and a healthy environment. You can learn more by visiting www.sustainableconnections.org or calling Derek Long at (360) 647-7093. The tour is made possible with support from Puget Sound Energy/Energy Star, City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Sanitary Services Corporation and the RE Store. Each has provided critical funding and guidance in development of this event.

For more Information Contact:
Derek Long
360.647.7093
derek@sconnect.org

____________________________________________________________________________________

Energy Conservation: Modeling Tools and Conservation Incentives

Tuesday, May 9, 3:00 to 5:00 pm 

The event will take place at the Squalicum Boathouse in Bellingham, WA located 2600 Harbor Loop.  Registration is $25 for Sustainable Connections members and $35 for non-members.  An additional $10 fee will be charged for late registration the day of the event.  Click Here To Register and Pay Securely Online   or call (360) 647-7093.  Refreshments provided at break.

Information presented will be primarily targeted at commercial and multi-family new construction and retrofits. 

Special guest Gurvinder Singh from Puget Sound Energy will also join us to discuss grants, rebates, technical assistance and other forms of incentives available for your projects.  http://www.pse.com/solutions/ForBusiness_EfficiencyPrograms.aspx

Special guest Scott Dorough of DRS Energy Management will give an introduction to Energy Modeling, which is proving to be one the more useful design tools that green building professionals can use to compare techniques and strategies that will improve the performance of buildings in our community. This introduction will provide attendees with a basic understanding of the Energy Modeling Process. The discussion will cover when Energy Modeling should take place, who should be involved and how it all happens.  It will cover resources that are available for fees and for free. 

Agenda

3:00 Welcome and Introductions - Derek Long

3:15 Gurvinder Singh - PSE - Incentives

3:45 Q&A and break

4:00 Scott Dorough - An introduction to Energy Modeling

5:00 Networking

5:30 Close

DRS ENERGY MANAGEMENT, a division of Dorough Resources, LLC, is a technical services company providing energy and project management support. Services include Energy Code Compliance, Building Commissioning, Energy Audits, Work Plan Development, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Energy Accounting.  The company's principal, R Scott Dorough, has over 19 years of experience in providing energy and project management services to clients who sponsor, design, construct and operate facilities. Our mission is to support the efficient management of energy and other utility commodities in the built environment -- the achievement of which represents a long-term, highly valuable resource to the end-user and to the community in which that usage occurs. http://www.openaccess.org/~dorough/

This presentation is being produced as part of Sustainable Connections’ Green Building & Sustainable Design Program which promotes healthy, durable, efficient, and environmentally responsible homes, neighborhoods and workplaces through education, technical assistance and advocacy. Learn more about this and other events, as well as access a wealth of resources on green building by visiting our website at www.Sconnect.org/greenbuilding.

Sustainable Connections is a Northwest WA network of locally owned businesses establishing and supporting a local living economy that sustains our community, a healthy environment, and long term economic viability. We are committed to: buying local first, collaboration, minimizing environmental impacts, and maximizing community benefits. Visit www.Sconnect.org for more information.

Fundamentals in Green Building and the LEED™ Rating System Series

This series of classes will provide a fundamental understanding of green building and how its principals and strategies apply to the United States Green Building Council’s LEED™ Rating system.  These classes will provide a base knowledge of how to prepare for the LEED NC V2.1 Accreditation exam and how to apply green building strategies to your projects.  This class is geared towards architects, engineers, owners, end users, developers, builders and interested individuals who are interested in learning more about green building.  Principles discussed will focus on commercial building, but will apply to the residential market.

Attendants will learn about green strategies in Site Development, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Green Building Materials and Indoor Environmental Quality.  We will discuss topics such as integrated design, life cycle analysis, green building rating systems and current hot topics debated in the industry. We will apply these strategies to sample projects and work as teams to experience how these green building strategies apply to real life project scenarios. Class attendees will also take a LEED AP practice exam.

Be Green Consulting™ (BGC)  (www.begreenconsulting.com)

BGC offers sustainable design services that provide a healthy and productive environment for occupants. BGC offers architectural lighting design services that integrate daylight to maximize energy savings and provide a high quality visual environment. BGC provides services in sustainable design, green building consulting, and LEED™ consulting. BGC helps building owners and occupants to enhance their local ecosystem while saving energy through conservation and efficiency.

 More information on the LEED Rating System can be found at www.usgbc.org

This series will be offered in 4 consecutive classes:

March 21st, Tuesday 2:00-6:00pm Class 1
March 23rd, Thursday 2:00-6:00pm Class 2
March 28th, Tuesday 4:00-6:00pm Class 3
March 30th, Thursday 4:00-6:00pm Class 4

Sustainable Connections’ Green Building and Sustainable Design Program proudly presents the Seattle Daylighting Lab and Lighting Design Lab in Bellingham on Wednesday, Jan 25, from 12:00pm – 2:30pm.  The presentation includes strategies for implementing daylighting into buildings while integrating the electric lighting. It will focus on how to maximize the benefits of bringing natural lighting into buildings such as saving energy and increasing health and productivity of occupants. Additional topicswill include information on the services that the Labs provide to the public, many of which are FREE, upcoming classes offered at the labs in Seattle and how these lighting strategies relate to LEED Rating System.

Speakers include Christopher Meek, Daylighting Specialist and Eric Strandberg, LC, Commercial Electric Lighting Specialist.

 Agenda
12:00pm – Welcome – Brennan Schumacher/Derek Long, Sustainable Connections
12:15pm – Chris Meek, Daylighting Lab
1:00pm – break
1:15pm – Eric Strandberg, LC, Lighting Design Lab
2:00-2:30pm – Questions and Answers Session
 
The Daylighting Lab (www.daylightinglab.com)

The Daylighting Lab provides daylighting information, education, and the tools for assessing design decisions for the implementation of architectural daylighting design strategies. The Daylighting Lab began as an element of the Lighting Design Lab located in Seattle with the support of Pacific Northwestern regional electric utilities, state agencies and public universities

 The Lighting Design Lab (www.lightingdesignlab.com)

The Lighting Design Lab works to transform the Northwest lighting market by promoting quality design and energy efficient technologies. The Lab has operated throughout the Pacific Northwest since 1989. The Lab accomplishes our mission through education & training, consultations, technical assistance, and demonstrations.