The local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council continues to advocate for better buildings throughout Massachusetts. Most recently, we participated in a vigorously contested effort in the city of Boston to enact a building energy reporting and disclosure ordinance. although some organizations initially felt the ordinance would be onerous and reporting is better done voluntarily, others could see that a public database of building energy use could enable operators of buildings to unlock more energy savings and operational effficiencies for improved asset performance. By rallying supproters of higher-performing buildings and building management, and dispelling a lot of misinformation about the ordinance, the USGBC Mass. Chapter helped a broad coalition to win over the various stakeholders. The city council voted to support mayor Menino's initiative on May 8 and the program will roll out over the next five years. Owners will gain better insight into their portfolios and tenants will understand the costs associated with buildings in a better way.
The chapter is also pushing forward to help schools across the state to embrace green building policies for improved capital asset planning. We have recently hired Stephen Muzzy, formerly of Second Nature and the American Colleges & Universities Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), to serve as the Green Schools program manager. Our vision is green schools for all! We will be convening a green schools coalition to engage professionals who are working to improve campus operations through green school buildings in higher education in Massachusetts. The chapter will also bring more LEED educational resources to campuses and help emerging professionals to find projet at schools that are seeking assistance. The Green Schools program manager will help increase the number of healthy and energy-saving green buildings for many communities in the state.
Stay tuned to the chapter website and calendar at www.usgbcma.org to see news about upcoming events and educational programming. We also have active discussions and share a great deal of tips and news at our LinkedIn group and on facebook. For those who tweet, we are @usgbcma every day! Be on the look out for our LEED Certifications Celebration in September (details forthcoming) to recognize the had work and successful efforts of green building project teams in the past year. See you there!
Grey Lee, MSc, LEED AP, is the executive director of the USGBC Mass. Chapter, Boston and is a monthly contributing author for the New England Real Estate Journal's Green Building section.