It is hard to believe we are more than half way through our series of presentations but here we are in July and the excitement and attendance continues to grow for the CIBOR Affiliates Green Series of presentations. Even with the abundance of information being promoted by USGBC and other green organizations some people are unclear as to how they can go "Green" and where to begin with the process. In an effort to address the many questions of how going green may impact our professional lives, the NHCIBOR Affiliates Committee have developed a series of twelve seminars to be presented the second Thursday of each month in 2008. Each seminar is designed to focus on a specific topic that relates to the green building process, with the format providing for roundtable discussion after a presentation by a professional on the particular topic. The seminars will be hosted on a rotating basis at LEED certified building locations in New Hampshire, The McLane Audubon Center Concord, NH, the Portsmouth Public Library Portsmouth, NH and the PSNH building in the Manchester mill yard area. Seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will include a limited breakfast. Cost is $10 for CIBOR members and $15 for non-members.
The seventh seminar in the series is scheduled for August 14 at the McLane Audubon Center in Concord. The topic will be centered on the "Financial Benefits" of green construction and touch upon who benefits and how these benefits improve value and can increase the amount Financed.
The presentation will be made by two financial professionals, Andre Tremblay, vice president, commercial real estate, TD Banknorth and Jeff Latimer, CCIM, of Bedford Capital Consulting, vice president of business development for the New England region.
Andre will discuss the financial benefits of green construction, who benefits in this tightening capital market and how these benefits improve asset value and can increase the amount financed.
Jeff will focus on cost segregation of green buildings -"how to accelerate the depreciation of your green building with cost segregation". The presentation will introduce the concept of cost segregation, accelerated depreciation and the financial benefits. Jeff will also discuss IRS guidelines and rulings, and present examples using area buildings, green construction techniques and how the differing tax treatments affect the bottom line.
Subsequent seminars will follow in a sequence reflective of the planning and building process. Remaining seminars will include:
* September 11th - legal aspects of green building
* October 9th - green from the Realtors perspective
* November 13th - green from the owners perspective
* December 11th - green residential design
* January 2009 - panel discussion - all speakers
The series is open to anyone. To learn more contact NHCIBOR affiliate committee chair Heather Rowan, business development manager for Office Interiors LTD at [email protected]

Bill Jean, director of business development for Fulcrum Assoc.