News

CLICK HERE for a PDF version of the Summer 2013 issue.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the June 12, 2013 e-newsletter.

By Marisa Long

Center for Green Schools Public Relations Director

The Center for Green Schools team was up bright and early this morning for the Earth Day segment on the TODAY Show, where we worked with the Green Bronx Machine to build living walls on the plaza and teach the crowd about the importance of sustainability in schools. The segment was a huge success – the students build six living walls on the plaza, and were joined by TODAY Show hosts Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales, along with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, who used herbs from the wall to create healthy and delicious meals on-air.

 

If you missed the segment live, you can watch it on today.com. Also be sure to check out the Green Apple website, mygreenapple.org, to learn more about the Green Apple initiative and how you can get involved in this year’s Green Apple Day of Service! 

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Wrap up of the October 2012 meeting
  
• Upcoming workshop on ENERGY STAR v3
  
• Duct Testing is Coming
  
• Rebates for Going Green in NJ
  
• More Than a Quarter of U.S. Homes Use ENERGY STAR (from EDC online magazine)
  
• Future Cozy (from New Jersey Monthly) 
  

USGBC NJ Quarterly E-newsletter- November 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:

• 10th Anniversary Gala Recap

• Electricity When Planning Efficiency Upgrades in Older Buildings

• Middle School Students Go on Green Building Tour

• Green Tourism & Hospitality Save the Date

PLUS...

CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF VERSION.

Google's Green Grant

Presented to the U.S. Green Building Council during Greenbuild, Google's $3 million grant will fund healthier indoor environments.

By Kriston Capps

 

Google "sustainable building" or "green building" and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is among the top links that result. But perhaps Google itself belongs near the front. Today, the USGBC announced a $3 million grant from Google that will aim to transform the building materials industry and create healthier indoor environments. 

The Google grant will enable USGBC to pursue a number of initiatives. The grant supports three related efforts: research on building materials and their effect on health, development of new building transparency tools, and encouraging conversation between industry stakeholders.

"The idea for this project emerged from our own work at Google, where we're committed to creating the healthiest work environments possible that help employees perform at their best," says Anthony Ravitz, Google Green Team lead, in a release. "USGBC has a deep background in spearheading research, developing a rating system spanning the globe and engaging with the many stakeholders in the building industry, making them the perfect partner to help spur real change on the healthy materials front."

USGBC will pursue these new initiatives over the next 2 years. 

"Working with Google enables us to broaden our efforts in the materials industry as we prepare for the next version of the LEED green building program, LEED v4," says USGBC president Rick Fedrizzi said in a release.  

USGBC announced the grant today at its annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.

Click here for a PDF of this ECO-STRUCTURE article.

Pictured: Harry McLellan, USGBC NJ General Counsel

Announcing the 2012-2013 US DOE Green Ribbon Schools Award 

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan launched the annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) award in 2011 to recognize the highest performing green schools in the nation. The recognition award honors exemplary achievement in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving health and wellness; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education. The award also serves as a clearinghouse of resources that help to advance these complementary aims.

CLICK HERE to get the PDF version of this announcement.

New Jersey was one of 34 states that participated in the 2011-2012 pilot year of the Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) program. Last year’s pilot program was hugely successful, and resulted in the award of four NJ Green Ribbon Schools national winners. New Jersey, along with 40 other states, will be participating in the 2012-2013 GRS program, which is open to all public and private schools in NJ.

To apply to become a Green Ribbon School, download the application and support documents at: www.eirc.org/njssc

Timelines for submission of materials to the EIRC:

1. Letter of intent to participate must be submitted by November 15, 2012.

2. Completed application must be submitted by January 9, 2013.

3. For more information call Carol James at 732-331-9307

Winning schools will be recognized at a national ceremony in Washington D.C. The four nominated New Jersey schools will also be recognized at the New Jersey Sustainable Schools Conference on March 15, 2013, and will present a summary of their school’s achievement. 

The following New Jersey organizations are supporting this program: 

• Department of Education, Office of School Facilities
  
• Sustainable Jersey
  
• Department of Environmental Protection
  
• ANJEE
  
• Association of School Administrators 
  
• Audubon NJ
  
• School Boards Association
  
• DOT
  
• USGBC NJ 
  
• BPU
  
• PLT Green Schools
  

The Educational Information Resource Center (EIRC), in collaboration with the NJ DOE Office of School Facilities is responsible for the overall administration of the program. The combined efforts of the NJDEP, NJSBA, NJASA, along with many other affiliate groups, actively promote and support the GRS recognition program to all schools in the state.

US Green Building Council New Jersey Chapter Honors Award Winners 

at 10th Anniversary Gala & Awards Dinner

Click here for a PDF of this press release.

Morristown, NJ (September 19, 2012) The U.S. Green Building Council New Jersey Chapter (USGBC NJ) is pleased to congratulate the winners of this year’s Gala Awards to be honored at USGBC NJ’s 10th Anniversary Gala & Awards Dinner on October 11, 2012. Each year USGBC NJ recognizes and presents Gala Awards to companies and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in green building and sustainability. This year the location is the new Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and the keynote speaker is visionary environmental business leader and advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Cari Lloyd will be our special guest.  

“The Gala is our opportunity to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the individuals and organizations that have made special strides in green building and sustainability in our State,” said Florence Block, USGBC NJ executive director. “Each of these projects embodies the spirit in which USGBC NJ was founded- a spirit of innovation and excellence.”

The 2012 winners are: Community Award: Duke Farms LEED Improvements, Reuse and Renovation Project; Green Ground Breaking Award (tie): CitiLog Newark Urban Sawmill and RPM’s Grand Central Housing; Green Team Award: Center for Lifelong Learning; Municipal/ Public-Private Sector Award: NJ Sustainable Schools Consortium. 

These projects represent a wide range of topics, from urban green jobs and brownfield redevelopment (CitiLogs) to the first LEED Platinum® special needs school in the country (Center for Lifelong Learning). There’s a network of professionals dedicated to greening NJ schools (NJ Sustainable Schools Consortium) and a forward-thinking affordable housing development (RPM’s Grand Central Housing). Last but not least, a 2,740-acre estate utilizing adaptive reuse and providing public environmental education (Duke Farms Foundation). 

In addition, BASF Corporation and the Rockefeller Group will receive special recognition for their commitment to sustainability with their recently completed project in Florham Park, NJ- BASF’s North American headquarters which is expected to receive LEED® Double Platinum certification*. Only four reported projects in the US have earned multiple LEED Platinum certifications in one building. The BASF HQ in Florham Park is the first LEED Double Platinum- designated facility in New Jersey, and the largest LEED Platinum corporate project in the state. (*Platinum certification is the highest achievement attainable through the LEED green building certification program. BASF is seeking Platinum certification in two phases: one for Core & Shell and another for Commercial Interiors.)

The USGBC NJ’s Annual Gala is the event of the year for green building and sustainability professionals in the tri-state area. For 10 years USGBC NJ has served as the meeting ground, catalyst, and propeller for sustainability-minded individuals in building-related professions. This event celebrates the people, projects and organizations that are transforming NJ into a greener, more sustainable state.

                          

For more information, and to register for the USGBC NJ 10th Anniversary Gala & Awards Dinner, click here.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, including spots in the Ad Journal.  
                                          

The Gala also has its own Facebook page: www.facebook.com/usgbcnjgala2012