George Washington University's Green Buildings

George Washington University is committed to building green. The school was the first in D.C. to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, agreeing to reduce its total carbon footprint by 40 percent by 2025. The university also has four green roofs, eight LEED-certified buildings, with six more targeting certification.

As part of its 2007 Campus Plan, George Washington (GW) is committed to building to a minimum of LEED 'Silver' on all new projects. To date, GW has exceeded that commitment on all certified buildings and strives to meet and exceed sustainability standards on all future projects. GW is exceeding all of the LEED minimum requirements in energy and water efficiency.

LEED "Platinum" Certified Projects

Milken Institute School of Public Health

LEED 'Gold' Certified Projects

South Hall Residence
West Hall Residence and Campus Life Center
Charles E Smith Center
Lafayette Hall Residence
Ames Hall
Law Clinic Townhouses
Ross Hall (5th and 6th floor renovation) - Research Center for the Neglected Diseases of Poverty

Upcoming LEED Projects

Law Learning Center Garage - new construction
School of Public Health and Health Services - new construction
Science and Engineering Hall - new construction
GW Museum - new construction and renovation
VSTC Conservation Lab and Academic Incubation Facility - new construction
District House Residence Hall - new construction

Green Roof Projects

Ames Hall
Law Learning Center Garage
Upcoming Green Roof Projects
School of Public Health and Health Services
Science and Engineering Hall
District House Residence Hall

Water

Water efficient landscaping by selecting native and adaptive plant species
Low flow plumbing fixtures
Storm water reclamation
Energy and Atmosphere

Energy

Purchase of green power wind RECs
Enhanced building commissioning and refrigerant management
Materials and Resources

Recycling and Waste

Collection and storage of recyclables
Construction waste management
Recycled content and regional materials

Indoor Environmental Air Quality

Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and carpet Thermal comfort design and verification survey

Innovation in Design

Exemplary performance in access to public transit
Exemplary performance in purchase of green power RECs
Green housekeeping
Green education program

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources."
It contains links to over 200 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student's eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Building Project Carbon Calculator (Free Tool)

This free easy to use online calculator can assess the whole life embodied carbon of building projects. The tool is called "ShapedEarth" and it does not require particular GHG expertise and can be used by anybody wanting to create beautiful and meaningful “low-carbon” buildings. ShapedEarth is powered by the Low-Carbon Building Method 3.0 (www.lcbmethod.com), a simplified methodology built on PAS2050 and in line with GHG accounting best practices for carrying out lifecycle assessments. Here is the five step process:

STEP 1-LOGIN

1-Enter your your email address and password (top/right of the screen).

2-Click "login".

*Sign up if you do not already have an account.

STEP 2-CREATE A PROJECT

1-Click the "My project" tab.

2-Fill the form with the name, size, and expected service life of your building.

3-Click "create".

Click "Open existing project" at the bottom of the page if you want to work on an existing project (note that you can also do that from your account).

STEP 3-ADD MATERIALS

On ShapedEarth you can either import materials from the ShapedEarth database or add your own materials.

Import a material from the database:

1-Click the "My materials" tab.

2-Click "Import from database".

3-Chose the material in the database you want to add to your project.

4-Click "Add to project".

5-Complete the form (read Guidelines first).

6-Click "Add".

Add your own material:

1-Click the "My materials" tab.

2-Click "Add your own material".

3-Fill the form (read Guidelines first).

4-Click "Add".

STEP 4-ADD SITE ACTIVITIES

"Site activities" include:

- Fuels used on-site (in site vehicles for example).

- Land use changes (planting trees on-site for example).

To add a site activity:

1-Click the "My site" tab.

2-Click "Add fuel" or "Add land use change".

3-Fill the form.

4-Click "Add".

Note: When adding a new fuel, fill the form with data for the construction phase only. ShapedEarth will determine automatically the quantity of fuel used during renovation and deconstruction.

STEP 5-CHECK EMISSIONS

Click the "My emissions" tab to access the emissions of your project.

SHARE

Sharing project info is free and can be done at any stage of the project, even prior to any assessment (Pledge). Once online, the project info will appear in the projects database.

To share project info just do as follows:

1-Read Guidelines (important).

2-Indicate if the assessment is a pledge, pre-assessement, or detailed assessment (see note below).

3-Click "Share".

To update online info just repeat the steps 1, 2, and 3 above. To "unpublish" your project, go to your account and click "Unpublish" below the project name.

Note: choose "Pledge" if you intend to assess and disclose the emissions of your project on ShapedEarth. This option can be chosen just after you have created you project and prior to any assessment.

To access the tool click here.

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Event - Green Building Benchmarking & the Role of Data in EE (Roundtable Discussion)

This Green Building Benchmarking event will take place on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014, from 9:30am to 11:30am EDT. The Streamed Panel Discussion will take place from 10:00am to 11:30am EDT. The Meeting in New York, will take place at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York.

In 2009 Mayor Bloomberg enacted the most comprehensive energy efficiency (EE) policy through the Greener, Greater Building Plan (GGBP). As part of this policy Local Law 84 requires buildings 50,000 sq ft or larger to publicly disclose their energy and water use. This data is being used to create a comparative online platform called the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

It has already come to light that NYC buildings as a whole are more efficient than their counterparts around the country. The ENERGY STAR score has increased already from 64 to 67. As more years are cataloged and compared New York City will pin point what projects must take precedence over others and what strategies are successful.

The roundtable discussion will explore the role of benchmarking and how it is driving greater profitability of buildings, reducing greenhouse gas admissions and, in turn, creating jobs throughout the real estate and construction industry. It will also answer the following questions:

• What are the initial findings of the process? 
• How do building owners capitalize on the data collected? 
• How can building owners reduce energy use? 
• How will the government incentivize utilities to automatically upload energy use data?

Click here for the Event Brochure.

For more information or to request to join the panel, please contact: rebecca.osullivan@agrion.org

To register click here.

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Green Planet Architects: Find a Green Architect or Submit Your Profile

Green Planet Architects, highlights the profiles of architects and designers associated with sustainable building. This is an ideal site for developers and clients looking for designers with expertise in green building.

These listings contain the most outstanding practitioners of sustainable architecture in the world.

Members share trends and knowledge. They also collaborate, discuss new developments and products, find investors and connect with clients from all around the world.

Benefits include:

• Exclusive architectural competitions
• Exposure by publishing your articles
• Give an international dimension to your architecture firm
• Reinforce your sustainable image by using their badge on your website and publications
• Get special discounts from their partners
• Publish your projects while looking for funds or partners in their Investments section

To find a green architect or to add your profile click here.

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Event - Ecobuild 2014 Conference (London)

Ecobuild 2014, will take place on March 4 - 6, at ExCel in London, UK. This event is the world’s leading event for sustainable design, construction, energy and the built environment.

Why Attend

•SEE the entire spectrum of sustainable construction products for new build and refurbishment of residential, commercial and industrial projects
•NETWORK with industry professionals, clients and suppliers from around the world
•GET INVOLVED in a more sustainable built environment with the leading industry voices in our thought provoking conference
•LEARN from over 600 of the most innovative and influential practitioners with our seminar programme •MEET the people you want to meet before, during and after Ecobuild's via our online communities on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook
•BE SEEN and raise your profile, meet and network with the world's leading industry press

Conference Programme

4th March 2014

Localised energy or the Green Deal?
Making smart cities happen
Maximising building performance - could product manufacturers do more?
Micro homes for an expanding population - the only sustainable solution?
Unfolding success – the story of Brompton Bicycle
Private wealth, public realm: have we got the balance right? A talk by Joseph Rykwert, RIBA Gold Medallist 2014
Climate Week launch
The Ecobuild 10th anniversary talks – five perspectives on the sustainability journey
The Ecobuild Debate - can democracy deliver sustainability?
The performance gap - is there a solution?

5th March 2014

Designing for deconstruction - the next big thing?
Greening the docks – a competition with Ecobuild and the Landscape Institute
The Ecobuild Debate: Should minimum EPC standards for rented properties from 2018 be extended to all buildings?
What is the value of good design?
What really counts - green design ratings or measured building performance?
Better homes for less ­- can custom build, crowd funding and mutual home ownership solve the housing crisis?
Fracking, nuclear, renewables or fusion - what is our energy future?
Is back to basics the office of the future?
The SWOT test - what has Britain got to offer China?
The CBI Debate - Is green the right strategy for growth?
Energy efficiency: Delivering for consumers, for growth and for climate change

6th March 2014

Has the Green Deal sent the retrofit revolution into reverse?
Shigeru Ban: Works and humanitarian activities
The Ecobuild Debate; do we have a blueprint for the resilient city of the future?
Zero carbon by 2016 - can it be done with traditional build methods?
A global approach to climate change - do we have the collective ability to act?
Is carbon and energy efficiency policy helping or hindering the commercial property sector?

Click here for more information including the list of speakers and registration information.

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Webinar - Smart Building Technology: The Key to Comprehensive Building Performance

This complimentary event will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 2:00 PM EST. Join Siemens, Navigant Research, and Energy Manager Today as we explore the most effective state-of-the-art technologies and services that enhance building performance through improvements to energy efficiency, energy supply, and operational sustainability. There will be ample time for Q&A.

Register below to join Siemens, Navigant Research, and Environmental Leader as they explore the most effective state-of-the-art technologies and services that enhance building performance through improvements to energy efficiency, energy supply, and operational sustainability.


Expert Panel:

David Hopping, Vice President of Building Performance & Sustainability at Siemens Industry, Inc., will describe the benefits of a multi-phased energy efficiency strategy that emphasizes thorough planning and evaluation in order to set the right targets. He will also detail the most effective ways to achieve those targets through a coordinated implementation effort with long-lasting benefits as a result of on-going service and extensive measurement.

Eric Bloom, Senior Research Analyst at Navigant Research, will discuss the broad markets for energy efficiency retrofits and technologies. He will cover the evolution of traditional energy efficiency services such as energy efficiency retrofits and energy performance contracting. He’ll also highlight the role of new technologies such as building energy management systems (BEMS), demand response, and others in the next generation of strategic energy management.

Craig Engelbrecht, Director of Remote Services at Siemens Industry, Inc., will discuss how to take full advantage of technological advancements leveraging new systems based on big data, smart building analytics, and automated demand response that can make buildings less expensive and easier to operate.

Click here to register.

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White Paper - Evaluating the Sustainability of Existing Building Portfolios

This white paper helps organizations make investments that provide the greatest impact. From seasoned sustainability veterans to new green venture investors, this paper can help you to evaluate and prioritize while remaining within the parameters of your business mission. Find out how to evaluate sustainability investment options and focus green dollars where they will have the greatest impact. Whether your organization has a sophisticated sustainability program or is newly engaged in this effort, this paper can ensure that you are getting the most out of your investments.

You will learn how to:

Establish a sustainability framework
Define and track key performance metrics
Identify green opportunities
Prioritize sustainability options and rank projects
Integrate sustainability into the capital planning process.

To download the White Paper click here.

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Course - NJ Builders Association Legislative & Regulatory Update

NJ Builders Association Legislative & Regulatory Update will take place on November 15, 2013 from 9 am to Noon at Woodard & Curran Auditorium, Building 100,East Windsor, NJ. This event will be moderated by Robert M. Washburn, Esq., Professor of Law at Rutgers-Camden School of Law, Of Counsel with Flaster/Greenberg PC and General Counsel to the NJBA.

Speakers & Topics

Thomas F. Carroll, III, Esq., Hill Wallack LLP and NJBA Land Use Counsel - NJ Supreme Court Invalidates COAH's Third Round Rules; Ted Zangari, Esq., Sills Cummis & Gross, P.C. and NJBA Mixed Use Affiliate General Counsel - Economic Opportunity Act of 2013. Environmental Regulatory Updates Ray Cantor, Esq., Chief Advisor to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin - Updates from DEP; Raymond S. Papperman, Esq., Deputy Advisor to the DEP Commissioner & Director, Office of Dispute Resolution - Overview of Dispute Resolution Programs; Michael Gross, Esq., Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C.and NJBA Environmental Counsel - Water Quality Management Plan Legislative Status Update; NJDEP Waiver Rule and Supreme Court's Denial of Petition for Certification; Invalidation of Nonstructural Strategies Point System; Tony DiLodovico, Omland Engineering Associates - Wastewater Management Plans Administrative Framework and Status; Preliminary FEMA Maps and Andrew Robins, Esq., Sills Cummis & Gross, P.C. - Site Remediation Updates.

Continuing Education Credits will be available for New Jersey and Pennsylvania attorneys and NJ engineers.

Cost: $50 for members/$65 for non-members.

For more information and registration click here. 

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