Maryland Green Building Network September 7, 1999 - Meeting Minutes
Location: offices of AIA BaltimoreAttendance:
Minutes from Joint meeting of the Maryland Green Building Network and Baltimore American Institute of Architects' Committee on the EnvironmentLocation:
Attendees: Mark Bundy, MD DNR
Julie Gabrielli, AIA
Jack Tawil, MD DNR
Chuck Kines, MD DNR
Janie Nall, Outreach Center for Sustainable Building
Richard Keller, Maryland Environmental Service
Polly Houck, Dupont Flooring Systems
Wendy Bratzel, Ecological Design Associates
John Spears, Sustainable Design Group
Nils Eddy, AIA
Charlie Schlauch, GHK Associates
Christine Lokey, GHK Associates
Maurice Morales
Linda Sepley
Maryland Green Building exhibit/Maryland State Fair
DNR thanked those organizations and businesses which provided materials for the Green Building exhibit as well as those who made a Green Development presentation. Many new features were added to the Green Building exhibit including a geothermal heat pump, solar attic fan, sun tunnel skylight, coccoon celulose insulation. Mid-day green product presentations did not work as well as expected, need to rethink it for next year. Presenting at the State Fair may not be the best venue for presentations. Maryland Home and Garden show in March likely reaches a more receptive audience to doing presentations; people are ready to begin spring home and garden projects and will rely on Green Building exhibit for information on products, costs, where to obtain the products. Challenge will be to create a "whole systems approach" for the exhibit, helping people understand the connection between products and green building concepts/the benefits of green products. Exhibit at the Home and Garden show may also include an "Ask the architect" feature in which people obtain answers to their questions related to green building design. Please send your comments/ideas for the exhibit to Chuck Kines (ckines@dnr.state.md.us) or Jack Tawil (jtawil@dnr.state.md.us). DNR welcomes new sponsors for the exhibit.Urban Redevelopment criteria/template
Mark Bundy, Julie Gabrielli and Kim Shaeffer have been working as a sub-group to create a template for green redevelopment. Included will be text describing the process and one or two pages of criteria. Template/criteria is good start, but a whole systems approach is needed; demonstrating the green redevelopment process B deconstruction buildings, storing and distributing materials, utlizing local free labor for deconstruction, using local labor/residents who will then have a vested interest in the project; and training contractors on how to do green rehab; etc.Generally, working closely with communities (i.e., CDC, citizen groups, residents) is critical to successful green redevelopment efforts. MdGBN needs to recognize that developers and CDCs are concerned about the "bottom line." Economical and successful green urban redevelopment has been done in Baltimore already by John Spears organization, Sustainable Design Group. Likewise, green residential rehab has been done by Greenhomes, an organization affiliated with DC Habitat for Humanity. Perhaps Greenhomes could provide technical assistance on starting a Baltimore Greenhomes redevelopment effort.
Future Direction of the MdGBN
There seemed to be a general interest in using the MdGBN as the "coordinating body" for green re/development information in Maryland. Use the MDNR webpage to list local/state "green" suppliers, contractors, architects, service companies, etc. The initial focus would be on residential construction and development, but in time would also include commercial.Other ideas for the MdGBN included:
Green product presentation
- using it as a discussion forum for identifying barriers to green building/green development. For example, MdGBN participants could serve in a "pro-bono" advisory capacity to help communities, counties, municipalities to understand the obstacles to green building and environmentally responsible land development.
- using it as a way to "institutionalize" green building facilitating the generation of a market for local green products and services. For example, identifying ways to make deconstructed materials more attractive to contractors and builders.
- Likewise, the network could work to infuse green building into local codes and ordinances. For example, using the Gov. Smart Codes Task Force as a springboard to highlight the importance of infusing greener codes in redevelopment.
Polly Houck introduced several flooring products by Dupont as well as their carpet reclamation and recycling program. For more information, contact: Polly Houck, 410/379-2400. Next month's topic: Bamboo and cork flooring products.Upcoming meetings and activities
Straw Bale/Solar house "open house/tour" in Davidsonville, MD, September 18th, 3 pm to 8 pm. House demonstrates many green building materials and techniques. Contact Sam Droege for more information, frog@usgs.govPotomac Region Solar Energy Association's "Solar Homes Tour", October 16th. Event will feature many homes in the region now using solar energy and green building techniques. For more information, see PRSEA's website: http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/prsea/
Energy Efficient Building Association conference, Nov. 4-7 at the Omni Hotel in Baltimore. For more information, contact John Spears, jspears501@aol.com or 301/428-1040
Maryland Environmental Services's "Buy Recycled" training program, Nov. 15. MES will train people on how to purchase recycled products, including building materials and is striving to host at least four training workshops throughout Maryland. Contact: Richard Keller, 410/974-7254.
For information on other activities, see Maryland Green Building calendar of events on the internet, http://www.dnr.state.md.us/programs/greenbuilding/calendar.html
Next MdGBN meeting
October 5th at the offices of DNR in Annapolis.Main topic(s): Construction and Demolition Issues, exploring how to create a market system for deconstructed materials; continued discussion on future direction of MdGBN.
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