Last Advocates Update of 2014

Happy Holidays!

Advocacy team at USGBC is wishing you and your family a happy holidays. We look forward to working with you in 2015!

Bill Track 50

This is just a reminder to advocates that used to receive the KSE alerts and weekly digest of legislative activity. We have ended our contract with KSE and have moved to a new bill tracking service, Bill Track 50. If you have not reached out to me about a tutorial, please do so in the New Year. 

December Advocates Calls

In December, we hosted two advocates calls, one was about the impact of the 2014 election on green building advocacy in 2015 and 2016. The other call was about digital organizing - how to connect your chapters online presence to in-person advocacy. You can listen to the 2014 Election debrief here and the Digital Organizing call here.

Federal Updates

Open Letter from HUD Secretary to Utilities

The letter was mailed and emailed out to the majority of all electric, gas, and water utility companies across the nation. It is attached here and also referenced on the HUD website with a blog post here: http://blog.hud.gov/index.php/2014/11/21/knowing-our-energy-usage-helps-reduce-our-energy-consumption/

179D Tax Incentive Extended

The U.S. Senate passed H.R. 5771 by a vote of 76-16 (60 affirmative votes were required), extending the 179D tax deductions through the end of the year, checking off one of the items on my Christmas list (http://hpac.com/blog/hope-commercial-building-energy-efficiency-tax-deductions-lives)!  Any eligible projects done in 2014 can now be claimed. You can read the bill and check out the vote here.

Trainings, Trainings,and More Trainings

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and are working their way out of the post-turkey fog.

2014 Election Round-Up and 2015 Tea Leaves Webinar

This is the monthly advocates call. We will have guest speakers from BGR Group to talk about the impact of the 2014 election results at the federal, state legislative, and gubernatorial levels.

Please download the iCal for the webinar on Monday, December 8th at 4PM ET.

Bill Track 50

One of the biggest challenges the USGBC Advocacy team and chapter advocacy committees have is tracking bills related to green building and LEED.

We have a new bill tracking tool that we hope will make your lives and allow you to engage more people in advocacy and legislation education.

I will have 3 calls to demo and roll out the software for advocates. The same thing will be covered on each call, please PICK ONE session to attend. Chapters can have multiple attendees on different dates or for the same date. RSVP here even if you have already downloaded the iCal. 

RESCHEDULED: Digital Organizing Training

Please join us for this call to learn how to grow and harness your chapter's online presence into real world action in order to achieve achieve advocacy and organizational goals. We will have guest speakers sharing tips and their experiences. FRIDAY, December 12th at 3PM ET.  Please RSVP for the webinar HERE

The panelists are:

Rohan Grover, Analytics and Content Currator at UpWorthy.org and Co-Founder of Brain Trust
Sara Cederberg, former Digital Director for U.S. Senator Al Franken's re-election campaign
Olivia Chow, Digital Campaign Manager, The Center for Community Change, Co-Founder of Brain Trust

Rebuilding America Webinar -- How Can Smaller Cities Take Advantage of the Better Building Challenge?

Rebuilding America invites you to participate in a one-hour webinar at 3:00 PM ET on Tuesday, December 16 to discuss how smaller cities can take advantage of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge. The discussion will revolve around the importance of energy efficiency contractors to success in the Better Building Challenge; the successes of big cities like Atlanta through the Better Buildings Challenge and the lessons they can impart to smaller cities; and what smaller cities like Portland, Maine have achieved and what more engagement with the Better Building Challenge might be able to provide. The webinar is free of cost. Please click here to register.

The speakers will be:

·         Dennis Creech, Executive Director of Southface

·         Ian Houseal, Assistant to the City Manager of Portland, Maine

·         Maria Vargas, Director of the Better Building Challenge, U.S. Department of Energy

Happy Thanksgiving

Upcoming Advocates Webinars

The 2015 legislative sessions are just around the corner! I will be hosting a round of webinars to help advocates prepare for the new year. I recommend that at least two people from your chapter join us for these webinars.

2015 State and Federal Legislative Preview
This call will be the official December Advocates call. We will have guest speakers talking to us about what they think will be on deck for legislative session in 2015. The call will be on Monday, December 8th at 4PM ET. Please RSVP for the call.

Digital Organizing
Please join us for this call to learn how to grow and harness your chapter's online presence into real world action so you can achieve advocacy, as well as organizational goals. We will have guest speakers sharing tips and their experiences. Thursday, December 11th at 3PM ET. Please RSVP for the webinar.

Bill Track 50

One of the biggest challenges the USGBC Advocacy team and chapter advocacy committees have is tracking bills related to green building and LEED, due to the sheer volume of legislative that is introduced nationwide and in each state. We have a new bill tracking tool that we hope will make your lives and allow you to engage more people in advocacy and legislation education.

I will have 3 calls to demo and roll out the software for advocates. The same thing will be covered on each call, please PICK ONE session to attend. Chapters can have multiple attendees on different dates or for the same date. PLEASE RSVP by saving the iCal invite, for the appropriate date, to your calendar. You can access it, by clicking on the links below:

• Tuesday, December 9th at 4PM ET
• Wednesday, December 10th at 10AM ET
• Friday, December 12th at 1PM ET

Value for High Performing Homes 

Elevate Energy has some new resources for high performing homes on their website. It includes the National Association of Realtors' 2014 Home Buyers and Sellers Profile. You can view it here.

FY2014 HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants

The FY2014 NOFA for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants has been posted to the Grants.gov website.

Applications are due on Monday, February 9, 2015.  The NOFA makes available approximately $76 million for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants.  At its discretion and subject to appropriations, HUD will use FY2015 Choice Neighborhoods funding to make Implementation awards under this NOFA.  Individual grant awards may be for up to a maximum of $30,000,000.

Remember to Vote!

Tuesday, November 4th is Election Day. Remember to vote! 

If you are unsure where to vote or where you are registered to vote, the League of Women Voters Education Fund has an easy tool for you to look all the info up you need to cast a ballot next Tuesday, November 4th. 

Pass it along to friends and family, as well. No matter who you plan on voting for, please vote!

2014 Advocates Call

IMPORTANT: Monthly Advocates Call update!!!!! (WARNING: lots of caps and exclamation points so you will read it).CANCELED November 17th and December 15th calls. 

RESCHEDULED - DECEMBER 8th at 4PM ET. We will look at impact of 2014 election results and 2015 campaigns and opportunities.

Please note the change in the Webex for the Monthly Advocates Call. I recommend downloading the iCal invite to your calendar, so you will automatically receive updates on the dates and times. 

We will resume our monthly calls on Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Call is moved due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Bill Track 50

One of the biggest challenges the USGBC Advocacy team and the chapter advocacy committees have is tracking bills related to green building and LEED, due to the sheer volume of legislative that is introduced nationwide and in each state. We have a new bill tracking tool that we hope will make your lives and allow you to engage more people in advocacy and legislation education.

I will have 3 calls to demo and roll out the software for advocates. The same thing will be covered on each call, please PICK ONE session to attend. Chapters can have multiple attendees on different dates or for the same date. PLEASE RSVP by saving the iCal invite, for the appropriate date, to your calendar. You can access it, by clicking on the links below:

• Tuesday, December 9th at 4PM ET
• Wednesday, December 10th at 10AM ET
• Friday, December 12th at 1PM ET

I will cancel times that I do not receive RSVPs for.

Grants to Improve Energy Efficiency of U.S. Commercial Buildings

The Building Technologies Office (BTO) Commercial Buildings Integration Program has announced the availability of nearly $9 million for Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001168, “Advancing Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Commercial Buildings.” The FOA encourages investments in energy-saving upgrades that can be widely adopted in offices, shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and other commercial buildings.

This funding opportunity seeks to support 5-10 projects that will increase energy savings in commercial buildings by accelerating in the marketplace the use of tools, solutions, and resources the Department has developed to help commercial building owners, managers, and professionals overcome barriers to efficiency. 

Countdown to Greenbuild - NOLA

October Advocates Call: Building Energy Transparency

Date: Monday, October 20thTime: 4:00PM ET

We have a new webex and call-in info for the monthly advocates calls.Please update your calendars! The calls are still the same day and time, 3rd Monday of the month at 4:00PM ET. 

Meeting Number:            756 481 233

Meeting Password:          Adv0cacy

To start or join the online meeting Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc-pt/j.php?MTID=m8cf7c8181d6f9cf83f70dd738c92b19a

Audio conference informationCall-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300

*** Due to the dates of the November and December Advocates call, I am looking at canceling the call in November and then having a call at the beginning of December to cover post-election/2015 legislative session previews and new tools for advocates. Date TBA.*** 

Advocacy Highlights for Greenbuild

We looked at the schedule and highlighted some session that would be of interest to advocates and chapter members headed to NOLA for Greenbuild. Especially the ones highlighted in green, because members of the USGBC Advocacy Team will be there.

Monday:

1)       Excellent tours of green building and sustainability projects in and around the Crescent City.

2)       LEED professional workshops (LEED for Homes Green Rater training)

Tuesday:

3)       9am – 5:30pm: Affordable Homes & Sustainable Communities Summit and, also…

i.       Materials & Human Health Summit

ii.      Vision 2020 Sustainability Summit

4)       Full- and half-day LEED professional workshops

5)       5:30-11pm: USGBC Community Celebration (Howlin’ Wolf - 907 South Peters St.)

Wednesday:

6)       All day: Education sessions (filter “Market Sector” on the left for “Policy”, “Government”, “Government & Policy” or other interests)

7)       8-9am: The Future of Sustainable Cities (Master Series)

8)       9am-5:30pm: Greenbuild Expo Hall, including a first-in-the-world Net Zero Zone, 700+ exhibitors and more

9)       9:15-10am: Leaders in Local Government: Engage, Go Green, Repeat! (Expo Stage East)

i.       Follow-up discussion with local government leaders in adjacent coffee lounge

10)    11am-1:30pm: Chapter Evolution (Room 340)

11)    1:30-2:30pm: Partnerships for State and Local Green Building Advocacy (Expo Stage East)

12)    4-5:30pm: American Sustainable Business Council reception for USGBC community (room 269)

13)    6-11pm: Opening plenary and celebration with MD Gov. Martin O’Malley, Paul Hawken and Tom Steyer; followed by performances by the Alabama Shakes and Trombone Shorty (Superdome – also live-streaming at USGBC.org)

Thursday:

14)    All day: Education sessions (filter “Market Sector” on the left for “Policy”, “Government”, “Government & Policy” or other interests)

15)    7-9am: Women in Green Power Breakfast

16)    9:30-10:30am: At the Center: Leveraging Technical Resources and Mobilizing Grassroots Volunteers to Advance the Green Schools Movement (Expo Hall Stage West)

17)    11am-11:45am: Turning Green Apple Day of Service into Long-Term Engagement (Room 340)

18)    11:45-12:30pm: Leveraging Partners to Make Energy Benchmarking a Reality (Room 340)

19)    12:30-1:15pm: Leveraging USGBC’s New Program-in-a-Box Resources (Room 340)

20)    12:30-1:30pm: Public Policy, High-Performance Homes & YOU (Expo Stage West)

21)    3-5pm: Happy Hour in the Expo Hall (including advocacy “troublemaker” meet-up)

22)    6pm-?: Too many social gatherings to count!

Friday:

23)    Morning: Education sessions (filter “Market Sector” on the left for “Policy”, “Government”, “Government & Policy” or other interests)

24)    11-12:30pm: Closing Plenary with NYT columnist, author, NPR analyst David Brooks

Saturday:

25)    Excellent tours of green building and sustainability projects in and around the Crescent City.

26)    Excellent tours of green building and sustainability projects in and around the Crescent City.

Greenbuild Advocacy Opportunity

We mentioned this in our previous update, but wanted to put a call out for more participants. The advocacy team has new tools to better coordinate and to better promote grassroots advocacy. We would love to get your chapter's participation. Please email Christina if your chapter is intrigued interested in piloting a new tool.

New-Old Faces at the Helm

Roger Platt has been named President of USGBC, and Scot Horst has been named to a new role at USGBC, Chief Product Officer (CPO).  Mahesh will continue as COO and President, GBCI, and Rick Fedrizzi will continue as CEO of both USGBC and GBCI.

October Advocacy Call

Topic: Building Benchmarking and Access to Energy Data

Date: Monday, October 20th

Time: 4:00PM ET

We have a new webex and call-in info for the monthly advocates calls.Please update your calendars! The calls are still the same day and time, 3rd Monday of the month at 4:00PM ET. 

Meeting Number:             755 323 730

Meeting Password:          Adv0cacy

To start or join the online meeting

Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Audio conference information

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239

Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300

Green Apple Day of Service Recap

The third annual Green Apple Day of Service, brought together hundreds of thousands of volunteers  participating in 3,760 service projects in all 50 states and in 42 countries throughout the world. Catch Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, talk about GADOS and the project he volunteered at. http://youtu.be/AJ1rDUcYoW0 

LEED Fellows Announced

This year’s 48 Fellows are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the green building community as well as for their significant achievements among LEED Professionals.

Big shout out to Tommy Linstroth, Value Healthy and Efficient Affordable Green Homes campaign co-chair!

USGBC Advocate Update 9-18-2014

Conference Call About USGBC and ACC Collaboration

By popular demand, we will hold another call for those who could not join us for the calls on September 8th and 10th. Please feel free to share with your chapter network, but please keep it inside the chapter.

Date: Thursday, September 25th

Time: 2:00 PM ET

Call-In: 650-429-3300 code: 6747-6824#

Monthly Advocates Call October, 2014 - December, 2015

We a new webex and call-in info for the monthly advocates calls. Please update your calendars! The calls are still the same day and time, 3rd Monday of the month at 4:00PM ET.

Meeting Number:             755 323 730

Meeting Password:          Adv0cacy

-------------------------------------------------------

To start or join the online meeting

-------------------------------------------------------

Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

-------------------------------------------------------

Audio conference information

-------------------------------------------------------

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239

Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300

October's call will focus on Building Benchmarking and Data Acess. 

Date: Monday, October 20

Time: 4:00PM ET

New report released: Better Buildings, Better Policy

Better Buildings, Better Policy spotlights the most recent four years of green building policymaking that builds an even stronger foundation for tomorrow’s green building, healthy community, and clean energy economy. While typically used as a political campaign cry, “Four more years!” could be a shout heard from green building advocates today as we release this new library of green building policy in the states.

Nominate Advocacy Volunteers

Submit your nominations for the Malcolm Lewis IMPACT! Award. 

Advocacy at Greenbuild

Do you have an issue that your chapter is advocating for? We will be unveiling a few new tools at Greenbuild, but we need your help. Is there a bill, ordinance, or issue that your chapter is currently working on and would like a quick tech shot in the arm to take it to the next level of engagement with elected officials. Please contact Christina Kuo via email with the who, what, and where by September 30th. 

Last Month of Summer

July Advocates Call

Thank you to all who participated in the July Advocates call. Sharon Grant and Ross Spiegel gave a great overview of the Building Better Codes Campaign. Liz Beardsley went over EPA's Climate Protection Plan (111d carbon emission reduction proposed rules). The call was recorded and you can listen to it here. Also, the slides are posted on Yammer.

Sharon Grant just posted a blog about a scientific survey of Idaho homeowners' views on energy efficiency upgrades and residential building codes. There are some pertinent and interesting findings for advocating for better codes.

The August Advocates Call will focus on Green Schools and Green Apple Day of Service.
Date: Monday, August 18th at 4pm ET. 

Legislator Green Building Tours

Sheri Brezinka, USGBC Minnesota and Emily Scofield, USGBC North Carolina presented on their chapter's legislator green building tour program. We have also developed a toolkit and you can listen to the presentation here.

Greenbuild Scholarships and more

Scholarship Application for Greenbuild 2014 is open!

Greenbuild will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana October 22-24, and there are three types of scholarships available this year.

•      Full-ride Greenbuild Scholarship: Full conference registration, travel stipend, three hotel nights, and one year subscription to Education @USGBC
•      Greenbuild, Affordable Homes, Sustainable Communities Summit Scholarship: Summit registration, Greenbuild full conference registration, and one year subscription to Education @USGBC
•      Affordable Homes, Sustainable Communities Summit Scholarship: Summit registration and one year subscription to Education @USGBC

Please pass this info along to any likely applicants, or apply for a scholarships yourself. Learn more from this article. Applications are open till August 4, so act fast!

We hope you will join us in New Orleans and continue the momentum started in Philly by attending the Affordable Homes, Sustainable Communities Summit on Tuesday October 21. Check out the great lineup.

Hat-Tip

H/T to USGBC Massachusetts for passing benchmarking ordinance in Cambridge, MA. 

Super Moon Weekend

Upcoming Events

July Advocates Call: Building Better Codes

Monday, July 21, 2014, 4PM ET

We will have guest speakers to talk to us about building codes. 

webex link: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Green Building Tours for Legislators: A Primer

Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 3PM ET

Join us for an overview of how some of the chapters have developed their own green building tours for legislators.

webex: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?MTID=m151702e9df6ebfdc163c09ffce02aa14

EPA Proposed Clean Power Plan Rules, aka EPA 111(d), aka President Obama's Climate Change Proposal

Wondering what the new EPA proposal – sometimes referred to as 111(d) – has to do with green building and LEED? USGBC has prepared a FAQ explaining why green buildings can and should play a role in plans that states will be developing over the next few years.  

Some states have been very active in promoting energy efficiency in buildings; however, not all states are prepared to account for this sector’s energy savings. We at USGBC are working with other national organizations to propose solutions that states can use. In the meantime, chapters can engage with like-minded groups to show state air regulators why building efficiency must be part of the solution. And, local chapters and members should consider supporting building energy efficiency at one of the EPA hearings to be held in late July. Here is the link on Yammer to the FAQ on the proposed rules.

Department of Agriculture Grant

The Department of Agriculture issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for loans and grants related to farm and off-farm labor housing. Pre-applications for the grants and loans will be scored for selection based on a variety of factors, and projects that plan to achieve LEED for Homes certification will gain up to 45 points. Use of the LEED Operations and Maintenance program can gain projects an extra 5 points on their pre-application as well. To learn more about this funding opportunity, see the Federal Register notice.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-01/pdf/2014-15358.pdf

International Market Briefs

As USGBC looks overseas to foster further momentum in our mission to transform the built environment, we are excited to announce our latest real-time data platform: international market briefs.

To complement the U.S. state market briefs released in the spring, these new data visualizations give a snapshot of what LEED looks like in countries across the globe. You can now find a direct link to both the state and country market briefs on the right-side of the advocacy campaigns page.

Chapter Potpourri

Delaware Passes Landmark Energy Efficiency Bill

In the wee hours of the morning of July 1 as the 2014 session drew to a close, Delaware’s General Assembly surprised and delighted efficiency supporters, passing a bill to enable ratepayer-funded programs and allow utilities to deliver those programs to their customers. Read more about it.

World Cup Fever

"Indoor Air Quality in Green vs. Conventional Multi-family Low-income Housing"

A recent study published by the Harvard University School of Public Health looks at the health impact of in door air quality.

"Indoor air quality is an important predictor of health, especially in low-income populations. It is unclear how recent trends in “green” building affect the indoor exposure profile. In two successive years, we conducted environmental sampling, home inspections, and health questionnaires with families in green and conventional (control) apartments in two public housing developments. A subset of participants was followed as they moved from conventional to green or conventional to conventional housing."

Monthly Advocates Call

We had a very informative June Advocates call with special guests, Pamela Brookstein from Elevate Energy and National Campaign Co-Chair, Tony Richardson. They both spoke about their efforts to green the Multiple Listing Services around the country to include green fields for homes listed for sale. You can listen to the recording of the call, here. Also, Pamela shared with us some information regarding the resources available to green the MLS in your area.

July Advocates Call
The July Advocates Call will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 4pm ET. We will talk about Building Better Codes with our two national campaign co-chairs. Sharon Patterson Grant and Ross Spiegel.

Federal Update - Energy Week

As part of the so called energy week the House yesterday sent two efficiency bills to the Senate. The first, H.R. 4092, Rep. Matt Cartwright's Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act, boosts energy efficiency programs at schools. The other, Rep. Adam Kinzinger's H.R. 4081, directs DOE to report on using thermal insulation to save energy and water with water heating devices.

For more information about H.R. 4092 please click here and here.

Full Moon and Friday the 13th

Today is a very rare astronomical occurrance, Friday the 13th coinciding with a full moon. The last time this happened is October 13, 2000. The next time the two will happen again is August 13, 2049.

June Advocates Call

A quick reminder about the June Advocates call on Monday, June 16th at 4pm ET. We will have Pamela Brookstein on to talk about Greening the MLS. She has exciting research to share. Also, this article highlights the need for better advertising and highlighting of green homes.

To add the monthly advocates call to your calendar with the webinar information, just click through this link and download the iCal.

Federal Update

New advocates are joining the effort to advance federal leadership in school facility modernization. Congressman Sean Maloney (NY) introduced H.R.4826, 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. The bill utilizes the thinking of previous school modernization efforts advanced by former Congressman and Green Schools Caucus Chairman Ben Chandler (KY).  If passed, the bill would authorize $6.4 billion annually for FY 2015-2020 for school modernization, renovation, and repair. The funds are to be spent by local education agencies (LEAs) with increasing percentages on public school modernization, renovation, repairs, or construction that are certified, verified, or consistent with any applicable provisions of green building criteria, including LEED. USGBC provided feedback on the legislation prior to introduction and will be working with Congressman Maloney on the next steps to advance the legislation.

Update May 30, 2014

Detroit skyline with Canada across the river.

Mid Year Meeting Round-Up

It was wonderful to see so many of you in Detroit last week. I hope that everyone who attended enjoyed a city that I learned to love before I moved to DC. I would like to give a BIG shout out to the Detroit Regional Chapter for hosting. 

And a special Advocacy hat tip to Debra Sypien, Brett Little, Ian Tran, Davor Grgic, Shannon Stage, Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Jeremy Cohen, Andy Garay, Brian Imus, and Grey Lee for leading on advocacy at Mid Year Meeting.

Federal Update

Last Wednesday, while community service projects were happening all around Detroit, the Advocacy staff, a few members of the Michigan chapters' advocacy committee, and a national board member visited the offices of some of the Members of Congress based in Detroit. It was an excellent opportunity for the chapters to get to know the district office staff of Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and Congressman Gary Peters. We talked about federal tax incentives for green homes and the future of the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency legislation. It looks like tax incentives related to energy efficiency for homes and broader energy efficiency legislation in Shaheen-Portman is stalled as we move into the Summer months and deeper into election season. We will update you if and when it becomes unstuck in the Washington political mud.  

Michigan chapter members and board member, Davor Grgic in Senator Carl Levin's office

On the Detroit People Mover

Meeting with Senator Debbie Stabenow's staff

May Advocates Call

Here is the recording for the May Advocates call as well as accompanying Power Point. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

June Advocates Call - Highlight Green Homes/Greening the MLS

Please join us on Monday, June 16th at 4pm EST for our monthly advocates call where we will talk about the green MLS and other efforts to highlight green homes. Here is the link to the webex; it will also add a reminder to your calendar.

Bi-Weekly Potpourri

Building Codes and Green Building

article on the role that building codes play in the green building market online from Builder and Developer Magazine.

Massachusetts School Building Authority and LEED v4

The MSBA Board of Directors approved an updated Sustainable Building Design Policy that was the result of recent revisions to the Massachusetts Energy Conservation Code, the US Green Building Council’s “LEED for Schools” Version 4, and the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (“CHPS”) National Core Criteria.

USGBC on Instagram

Check out our Instagram account. We took the Internet on a tour of our office this week.

USGBC Advocacy Update

May Advocates Call - From Defense to Offense: Tools to help manage tough advocacy situations

We will go over tools available to advocates to help them manage tough advocacy situations. This will be an abbreviated version of the presentation that will be given at Mid-Year Meeting during the Chapter Advancement Summit.

Date:  Monday, May 19th

Time: 4pm - 5pm EST

Link: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Preview of Future Monthly Advocates Call Topics
June:     Greening the MLS
July:      Building Codes
August:  Green Schools
September:  Benchmarking and Data Access
October: Affordable Housing
November:   Leadership with LEED/LEED v4 advocacy
December:  Election 2014 wrap/ 2015 preview - federal and state.

Mid-Year Meeting

Hope to see some of you in Detroit next week for Mid-Year Meeting. I will be facilitating a few sessions, as well as being available for questions.

Residential News

Two updates in the green residential world:

1.  A market report released by the National Association of Homebuilders showing that green home building will double by 2016.

2.  An updated version of the Green MLS Toolkit is now available.

USGBC Advocacy Update: April Showers, brings May flowers?

Federal Update

Shaheen-Portman

Last week the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a pair of efficiency bills to enhance existing federal policy on school facilities and federal performance contracting. USGBC expects these bills to be considered by the house later this summer. A full write up is available here.

Next week the Senate may consider the updated Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, commonly referred to as Shaheen-Portman. Previous efforts to pass the bill have been delayed by procedural issues. Issues related to consideration of the bill and amendments are still being worked out. USGBC will be monitoring the situation and will be updating advocates on possible action.

GSA Announces Its Award-Winning Green Building Projects

GSA announced 20 federal buildings that were recognized for demonstrating the agency’s commitment to leadership and innovation in sustainability.

Anti-LEED Articles

Many of you have read an piece that was recently in Forbes. The article is nothing new and does not bring up any new messages that the ACC and their folks are using against us. Marisa Long, USGBC Communications Director posted on Yammer earlier this year about the best response to these types of articles.

State Updates

Montgomery County Passes Building Benchmarking Ordinance

On April 22, Maryland's Montgomery County—a suburban county bordering Washington, D.C.—unanimously passed a package of nine energy bills that includes energy benchmarking legislation that will now require owners of large, nonresidential buildings to track and report their properties' energy use. The benchmarking legislation will be enacted in three phases. Read more.

Dynamic State Market Briefs

If you have not had a chance to see the dynamic state market briefs, you can take a peek here. These briefs will automatically populate with the most up-to-date green building data in your state. We are continually working on improvements.

#LEEDOn with Boeing

A promotional video from Boeing about their sustainability efforts in South Carolina. 

Dynamic State Market Briefs

Sneak Peak for Advocates!

As you may have noticed, we have been celebrating some big "next level" announcements lately, like 3 billion LEED-certified square feet and more than 50,000 LEED-certified residential units. For our next milestone, we are excited to give our chapter advocates a sneak peak: new and dynamic State Market Briefs. You will soon be able to access state-level green building data in real time. No more waiting for an annual update; the numbers are all yours, all the time.

Launching online April 23 (mark your promotional and social media calendars), the new State Market Briefs are data visualization dashboards that provide a quick look at LEED and USGBC data specific to your state. For those who are familiar with our state market brief and snapshot resources from last year, think about this upgrade as the 4.0 version (we jumped forward several generations at once). The new dynamic State Market Briefs are accessible on USGBC.org and the visualizations can also be exported as PDF files to share with neighbors, friends, colleagues, and elected officials.

**To learn more about this new tool and how your peers are planning to leverage it, join us for the Monthly Advocates Call on Monday, April 21st at 4pm ET. To get the most out of the sneak peak, you should join us via WebEx.
Also, consider this as your reminder for our Monthly Advocates call!

Happy Easter and Chag Sameach for all those celebrating Easter and Passover.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry blossoms hit "peak bloom" this week in Washington, DC

Chapter Corner

DC Green Code

DC Mayor Gray announced today that Friday DC will adopt and publish the DC Green Code among its other code updates. This will be a major step forward for states and localities that are excited about our Build Better Codes Campaign – setting a model for how to do it right.  Here is USGBC-NCR on a press release.

Tomkins County, NY

Tomkins County legislature enacted a new local law providing for up to a 10 year property tax abatement for construction achieving LEED certification.

USGBC Colorado rallies members at 10^th Annual Legislative Briefing

On Tuesday, March 5, U.S. Green Building Council Colorado was a proud partner at the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s 10th Annual Legislative Briefing. Each year, the event draws over 100 attendees and features an impressive lineup of state lawmakers who get no more than five minutes to highlight what they are doing to advance sustainability through policy.

Participants this year included State Senator John Kefalas who urged attendees to connect the dots between social and environmental sustainability through projects like walkable communities, which could also help address the state’s rising childhood obesity rates.

South Carolina Anti-LEED Bill (HB3592)
This week, Governor Nikki Haley signed HB 3592. The bill originally would have excluded LEED as a green building rating system for South Carolina's public projects in the future, by only allowing public projects to use LEED 2009. But through the lobbying and advocacy efforts of the chapter, their business partners, and their environmental NGO partners, the bill was amended to keep LEED for state projects.

April Advocates Call

April 21st at 4pm ET. 

To start or join the online meeting

-------------------------------------------------------

Go to https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239 Access code:755 323 730

Federal Update

The Senate Finance Committee is aiming for next week to begin its consideration of whether and how to extend a bevy of temporary tax breaks that lapsed at the beginning of this year. The key building efficiency incentives the 45(L) new and efficient homes credit and the 179(d) energy efficient commercial building tax deduction are included in this deliberation. While USGBC has yet to see the draft proposal, we encourage chapters and advocates to contact senators on the Finance Committee and urge the committee that 45(L) and 179D be extended through at least the end of 2015 with a new performance-based component that rewards retrofits that produce actual and verified energy savings. A component of these incentives include that retrofit incentives are scaled to increase with greater energy savings.   

For more information please contact Bryan Howard or Fleming Roberts.

State News

Arkansas

The State Legislative Joint Committee on Energy conducted a public hearing Tuesday, March 18, on the revised Arkansas Residential Energy Standard.  Written comment period remains open until April 9 and may be submitted via email to: JLowery@ArkansasEDC.com. 

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has again demonstrated its commitment to being at the forefront of sustainable building practices by adopting the 2013 D.C. Construction Codes. Mayor Vincent Gray announced the adoption this past Wednesday, which takes effect today. New among the District’s codes is the D.C. Green Construction Code. Developed with the input and support of local experts and stakeholders, including members of the U.S. Green Building Council, National Capital Region (USGBC-NCR) Chapter and the national office of the U.S. Green Building Council, these codes represent the mainstreaming of many core elements of green building practice and propel the community forward in the District’s race to be the greenest and most livable city in the nation. Read more about the the construction code adoption, here.

Ohio

We learned this week that SCR 25, a resolution to ban the use of LEED for state building projects, is on hold until the Fall. The bill currently sits in the House Manufacturing and Workforce Development committee. USGBC and the Ohio chapters are still keeping up the pressure through amplifying the support of the Ohio business community for LEED.

South Carolina

H. 3592 was unanimously pass byt the South Carolina Senate this week. USGBC of South Carolina and its allies worked to mitigate the bill and were able to amend the bill, although LEED v4 is still not treated as favorably. The bill is now back to the South Carolina House for consideration in its amended form.

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

KSE Focus State Legislation Tracker

This is the last call for chapter sign-ups for the KSE Focus state legislation tracker. Remember, each chapter gets ONE POC for the legislation tracker.

April Advocates Call

Date: Monday, April 21st 4pm - 5pm ET

RSVP: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Recording for March Advocates Call: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/lsr.php?RCID=94c7fa9a36624041969587440494f238

Daylight Savings

Day Light Savings:

In case you are wondering about how Daylight Savings Time came about, The National Geographic has put together a brief history. 

Federal Update

Last week the House passed a positive bill efficiency in buildings, H.R. 2116. Read more about the bill here.

Senator Johnson (SD) and Crapo (ID) have announced agreement of a reform of housing finance. Targeting changes for the Government Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. USGBC is in the process of reviewing the proposal, which is expected to be considered by the Senate Banking Committee in the coming weeks. A brief summary is available here.

March Advocacy Call

The March Advocacy Call is on Monday, March 17th from 4-5pm ET. Click here to add the webinar to your calendar and to join us on Monday.

Agenda:

1.  Welcome and Introductions

2.  Aaron Lande, Star Communities

3.  Federal Update - Bryan Howard

4.  Update on Anti-LEED action in the states

5.  Around the horn.

6.  Next Call Reminder/Sign-off

LEED Exposed Pushback

You have undoubtedly heard about the Environmental Policy Alliance and the LEED exposed site. We had a very large communication effort to push back against their false claims. To read about the efforts, check out this Yammer post from Marisa Long, Communication Director. 

Advocacy Update February 28, 2014

Spring Thaw?

The advocacy updates the last few months have been very weather focused, because it is no longer a topic for small talk. Just in case you were curious about the cities hardest hit by winter weather.

Congressional Ice Breaking

It seems members of Congress are in the mood to shed it's image as a do-nothing institution.

It has been a busy week on Capitol hill. After much anticipation and uncertainty Senators Shaheen and Portman reintroduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. The new bill incorporates a number of new elements of the bill intended to draw in additional support from the U.S. Senate to advance the measure. Many of the additions, including a move to incorporate energy efficiency into the underwriting and appraisal of mortgages, are positive. While others, such as changes to federal efficiency standards for buildings and federal review of green building systems, appear to be a mixed bag. USGBC is reviewing the updated bill and will update advocates with more information as the bill progresses towards floor consideration.

Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp released a draft proposal on tax simplification this week to little fanfare from Congress or business. Consideration of the proposal this Congress appears dim.

Next week the House is set to consider the Better Buildings Act. The updated bill is expected to include some additional provisions related to the federal data center efficiency and energy transparency of federal buildings.

LEED heats things up in Ohio

After three weeks - totaling 7 hours - of opposition testimony from USGBC, Ohio chapter members, national business members, school administrators, and students, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and subsequently passed SCR 25. The resolution calls into question the state's use of LEED and encourages Ohio agencies to discontinue using it for a green building rating system.

The resolution is now headed to the Ohio House. We will keep you updated on what you can do.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of the dedicated chapter members in Ohio that have put so much time and energy into defeating SCR 25. Even though we did not get the outcome we wanted in the Senate, this effort has brought the four chapters together and has built capacity for future advocacy efforts - hopefully on the pro-active side.

Housekeeping

KSE State Legislation Tracker

Please provide us for the point of contact for the person in your chapter that should receive and help you disseminate the state legislation tracker. Sign-up through this form.

State Advocacy Days

Please email me, Christina, dates for your advocacy day, if you have not already done so.

March Advocates Call
Date: March 17th
Time: 4-5pm ET
Link: https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=224635977&UID=507270947&PW=NODdlZjEzNDEy&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D