Minutes from the Joint meeting of the
Maryland Green Building Network (MdGBN) and
the AIA Baltimore COTE
September 5, 2000
Location: AIA Baltimore Offices
Attendees
*presenter
1) September CES program, "A Primer on Green Technology and Sustainable Building Issues," w/ two guest speakers, John Boecker and Marcus Sheffer, from PA. Tuesday, September 12th at 5:30 at AIA Baltimore, 11-1/2 West Chase St. For more information, contact Julie Gabrielli (410.542.0747)
2) Also co-planning (with Mare Cromwell) a one-day Natural Step (TNS) workshop on March 15, 2001 at Tall Oaks in Howard County. The presenters are a business consultant and an architect from Portland, OR, who have worked to dovetail TNS principles with the LEED Green Building Rating System. Details forthcoming. For more information, contact Mare Cromwell (410.448.3679)
1) Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has approved funding for DNR to develop a template for green urban redevelopment/rehabilitation for a CDC rowhome project in East Baltimore. DNR will be sending out a RFPs for an architectural firm to create this template (For more information, contact Mark Bundy, 410-260-8710, mbundy@dnr.state.md.us)
2) Program staff are working closely with the Maryland Tributary Strategies Program, Maryland Energy Administration and the Maryland Department of General Services to develop a Green Power/Green Building Executive Order for all new and existing State agency construction and major renovations. The EO language has been drafted and is currently under review by State agencies. (For more information, contact Chuck Kines, or Sean McGuire with Maryland's Tributary Strategies Program, 410-260-8727)
3) Program staff are developing a database of green building/sustainable design projects in Maryland. The purpose is to simply track green building projects (sustainable buildings, development and communities; existing, new and proposed; residential, commercial, industrial and governmental) in Maryland, and to help the MGBP determine which counties, municipalities, firms, businesses, organizations, and institutions are (have been) involved in actual on-the-ground green building/sustainable design projects. (For more information, contact Chuck Kines)
4) Program staff are helping the Maryland Tributary Strategies Program to organize its annual meeting in January. The meeting's theme likely will be "From Rooftops to Watersheds" and will be focusing on the benefits of green building and sustainable development to Maryland's tributaries and the Bay. For more information about the meeting, contact Danielle Lucid, Program Director, (410.260.8726). To learn more about the Tributary Strategies Program, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/tribstrat/index.html
Mare Cromwell, a Baltimore area-based sustainability consultant, introduced The Natural Step framework and provided a preview a workshop on the same topic scheduled for March 15, 2001 at Tall Oaks in Howard County. Below is a summary of Mare's talk:
"Sustainability with a Compass - The Natural Step"
Those of us who think seriously about the state of our environment and its future often struggle to maintain optimism about society's ability to correct its path and avoid ecological disaster. But there is reason for optimism. An international effort started in Sweden by a cancer specialist offers hope for true sustainability based on a pragmatic understanding of the earth's fundamental ecological processes. Called The Natural Step, this process is helping corporations and municipalities around the world steer themselves towards greater environmental sustainability.
The Natural Step is a profoundly clear, science-based process guiding us on how to take the little actions that lead to far greater actions with positive results for the earth and humankind. It is not a religion, it doesn't try to sell you anything; it is a tool for guiding everyday decisions about business, consumption, and lifestyle. Think of it as a compass helping us find the path to ecological sustainability.
"The Natural Step should stand as a beacon to us to understand what is really going on in the world and to begin to take steps to correct it. There is no human effort going on now which is in closer touch with reality, which is more necessary for us, or which affords better hope for our common future." -- Dr. Peter Raven, Director, Missouri Botanical Garden
Building/Livable Community Resource Directory
Michelle Scurfield, RA Scurfield Architects, LLC and AIA DC COTE are developing a web site that will list regional sustainable products. Architectural Resource Collaborative (ARC-DC) is essentially an online directory service targeting the DC regional development, building, and design industry. Products listed in ARC-DC comply with the USGBC LEED criteria (500 mile radius of D.C.) and will assist designers in identifying regional sustainable products and services.
On a parallel track, the Virginia Housing and the Environment Network, Sustainable Washington Alliance, and CONCERN, Inc. are collaborating to assemble information on Green Building businesses, services, and organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. They will be developing a website-based Sustainable Building/Livable Communities Resource Directory (RD), which will include a full spectrum of contacts for commercial and residential construction, including architects, interior designers, and landscape architects, engineers, technical consultants, building systems and product sources, construction companies, and financial incentive programs. The RD will also include contact information on federal, state, and local government programs, and regional organizations that provide education, training, and resources, listing relevant publications and organizations and to other electronic sources. While the RD will also be available in a booklet format, the electronic structure will allow for periodic updates of the information. The goals of the Directory are to: 1) promote the implementation of Green Building concepts in the commercial and residential sectors in the Mid-Atlantic region, 2) identify regional businesses and services that provide environmentally sound and energy efficient technologies and services, 3) identify federal, state, and local government programs and community organizations that support and promote the implementation of Green Building practices, and 4) provide incentives for economic development in related areas, e.g. construction and demolition materials recycling businesses.
In time, organizers of both the RD and the ARC-DC envision that their databases will be combined to create a comprehensive online resource on sustainable building design and construction as well as sustainable/livable community design. This comprehensive database will benefit not only the area's building industry professionals but also local and state governments in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. For more information about the ARC-DC, contact Michelle Scurfield, (202.669.8506). For more information about the RD, contact Annette Osso with the Virginia Housing and Environment Network (703-486-2966)
1) 2nd Annual Smart Design Forum (SDF 2000) is set for October 13th @ The Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. "The Growing Demand for Smart "Green" Buildings and How Your Organization Can Benefit." Organized by the AIA DC Committee on the Environment and the Sustainable Washington Alliance. Last year's inaugural event was a big hit, and this year's promises to be even better. SDF 2000 will provide a great opportunity to network with design professionals, builders, developers, citizen organizations as well as local, state and federal agencies who are all working to design and construct more sustainable buildings and landscapes in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. For more information about SDF 2000, contact CJ Hunter (cjhunter@swampnet.org) or Kim Schaefer (ecoarch@erols.com).
2) The Potomac Region Tour of Solar Homes is scheduled for Saturday, October 14th, 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Potomac Region Solar Energy Association (PRSEA). Homes are located in northern Virginia, D.C., and Montgomery, Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland. Featured Solar Homes include -- passive solar design; sun-spaces (green houses); photovoltaic electric generation or "PV" -- such as some completely off the electric power grid; homes with net-metering (Maryland); domestic solar-heated water; and homes with PV-assist for lighting requirements. Many of the homes also include other energy efficient or "green" features such as low-flow faucets/toilets, compact fluorescent lamps, tubular skylights, rainwater reuse, recycling, low-maintenance yards, composting and much more. This year a couple of stops on the Tour will be "sustainable living" mini-Expos with information on a broad array of energy efficient, solar and green living innovations. Tickets are $10 per person ($15 for two) and must be ordered in advance, which includes a map and directions. A list of addresses and a map costs only $5.00. Visit http://www.prsea.org for more information.
October 3rd, 6:30 - 8:00 pm @ Chesapeake Bay Program's "Fish Shack" in Annapolis. Directions forthcoming.
Bill Reed with Natural Logic, Inc. will provide updates on 1) sustainable community development project in St. Mary's County; 2) sustainable new urbanist/restorative planning project in Worcester County; and 3) USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System for residential design and construction.