Maryland Green Building Network June 1, 1999 - Meeting Minutes
Location: offices of AIA BaltimoreAttendance:
Chuck Kines, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Mark Bundy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Cathy Rappe, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Julie Gabrielli, AIA
Jeff Sties, AIA
Drew George, Bovis Construction
Peter Van Buren
Darragh Brady, AIA
Janet Harrison, AIA
Nils Eddy, AIA
Jack Anderson, Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Minutes
Chuck Kines opened the meeting by briefly describing the Maryland GB Program and how it relates to the Smart Growth Initiative. He then described his vision for the Maryland GB Network. He envisions the MdGBN to function as an informal forum for green building/green development advocates and professionals to begin to share ideas, coordinate their efforts, highlight successful projects and case studies. He then opened it up for discussion asking people to share their “vision” for the MdGBN.
While the discussion touched upon many important issues (see bottom), several themes seemed to emerge:
So as not to re-invent the wheel and/or overlap the work of other groups, MdGBN needs to inventory existing green building/sustainability activities and projects throughout the state. IOW, What’s going on now? The group agreed that this involves identifying the various groups who are sponsoring related activities and projects, inviting these groups to participate in the MdGBN, and finding ways to partner with them. Several groups and/or activities were identified: U.S. Green Building Council, 1000 Friends of Maryland, EarthHome, Alliance for Sustainable Communities, Maryland Environmental Business Association, Sustainable Baltimore Discussion Series, Network for Sustainability (Baltimore), Center for Watershed Protection. Other non-Maryland based groups that could either serve as a model for MdGBN or assist us with our efforts likewise were identified: VaHEN, Development Center for Appropriate Technology, Green Building Alliance (Pittsburgh, PA), President’s Council for Sustainable America. Drew George suggested that a Maryland GB/GD matrix/register be developed portraying the various public and private groups and organizations that are involved in sustainability and green building throughout the state. The matrix would be designed so that the different “focus areas” of green building/green development could be identified. These focus areas then would correlate with the activities sponsored/endorsed by the MdGBN - The need to get the word out, finding ways to generally promote GB projects and activities in Maryland. Someone suggested developing a Maryland GB resource guide, similar to one produced by Sandy Mendler of HOK. It was suggested that a resource map be included in the guide depicting locations of green building projects, green businesses and product manufacturers, etc. It was suggested and generally agreed upon that the Maryland GB Program webpage be used to track green building and sustainability activities/workshops/lectures/conferences in Maryland in a calendar format.
- The need to reach out to all sectors of the building/construction/land development industry, including regulators and developers. Drew George indicated that while the U.S. Green Building Council has had significant success in reaching out to architects, manufacturers, and construction corporations in the DC metro region, they have had limited success reaching the development community.
- The need to centralize green building/green development information in a central location. Someone suggested that perhaps the Md DNR, in partnership with a non-profit organization, should consider submitting a grant proposal to fund the purchase and of a variety of “high quality” green building/green development resources (books, CD-ROMs, video tapes, etc.). These resources would then be stored and publicly available as a “Green Building” special collection at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Alternatively, these resources could be stored at the Information Resource Center at the MD DNR offices in Annapolis. Chuck Kines and Julie Gabrielli will investigate foundations and identify relevant potential non-profit partner organizations.
Along the same lines, someone identified the need to develop a Maryland GB/Green Development database of projects and activities. The matrix suggested by Drew George may include a listing of projects.
Other discussion items included:
- Defining "green" as it pertains to MdGBN.
- How to market "green" to developers, consumers?
- Whether GB should be regulated or use market-based incentives
- Having the MdGBN integrate sustainability issues, or having a group working on sustainability integrate MdGBN.
- Conducting a survey of Maryland residents to determine their attitudes towards GB/green development. Mark Bundy suggested that this survey easily and inexpensively could be conducted at the Maryland State Fair in August as part of the Maryland GB Program exhibit. DNR staff will draft a survey and distribute at the next MdGBN meeting in July.
- The possibility of having an intern manage the Maryland GB Program website, to track Maryland GB activities
- Ensuring that other groups are invited to participate in the MdGBN, particularly home builders, developers, and electric utility companies, as well as other state agencies.
Environmental Design Home
DNR Home