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This workshop provides an introduction to the updated Energy Star for New Homes program. Anyone in the development industry needs to know this new version if you plan to get a new or substantially rehabilitated single-family or low-rise multifamily property certified under the Energy Star for New Homes, Enterprise Green Communities or LEED for Homes programs. This session is a fast-paced introduction to innovative building processes and technologies that achieve energy and cost savings for both owners and residents.

Participants will understand the structure of the Energy Star program, requirements under the newest version and the process for getting properties certified. In the Columbus training, participants will learn more about incentives available for Energy Star certified properties.

There is no cost to attend this training session, but space is limited.

Click here to RSVP.

· The Earth Advantage Institute's 10 green building predictions for 2012 are spot on.

· If the goal of a home air sealing and insulation project is to have a monthly loan payment lower than your heating bill, than doubling down on Dominion GoodCents and Cleveland Energy $aver—which takes another 20% off the retrofit work up to $3,750—may be a short term way to reach it. Energy $aver is the city using its Stimulus funded Energy Efficiency Block Grants. Some cities earmarked that fund for building efficiency, some leaned more toward transportation improvements (Cleveland spread it around to both—investing in the Bike Rack as well). Energy $aver may not transform or even kick start the home energy improvement market here (GoodCents’ $1,200 rebate arguably already did that). But, at least 100 homes without income restriction can take advantage of the good green subsidy while it lasts. If you are a homeowner in Cleveland and want to participate, call 216-672-3535 or log on here.

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This course will introduce you to the basic structure of LEED®, the different rating systems and most importantly the framework and terminology to make you confident in the market. We will cover the issues to know, the questions to ask and when to ask them. LEED® is truly an integrative process and each individual involved in the project has an influence on the final product. You will learn, what you have to consider for LEED® and when you need to do it. Leave with the confidence and eligibility to sit for the Green Associate exam, your first step to becoming a LEED AP®

Learn more and register http://bit.ly/wvOaz9 or www.designnext.info

Location

Our Chapter's first quarterly social networking session for 2012 is awaiting your registration. This time, we will be enjoying 5,000 square foot Battery Park Wine Bar in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. The venue is the site of the former Eveready Battery Powerhouse with its landmark smokestack. The property began with just the building shell yet with renovations completed in late 2010, it is has transformed with a new roof, windows, second floor deck, outdoor patio, handicapped accessibiltiy, and volleyball courts. Another great example of creative re-use!

We are including a "library" theme for the event. Everyone is encouraged to bring a book to swap for another book brought by an attendee. Preferably books will be on the topics of design, construction or operations of buildings - but any books (travel, cooking , biography, etc.) are welcome. We'll also be will sharing with you the case study template for our upcoming online "library". And you will have a chance to sign up for your own green building projects to become a case study in the online library. Share your books and share your green building story!

Great happy hour pricing available on food and drink. You need to cover your bar tab and bring plenty of business cards to connect with regional built environment professionals and green advocates. We're looking to get a maximum sustainability crowd at this event.

There is no cost to attend this event. Registration strongly encouraged (so we can adequately staff the bar and make you a nametag) at www.neogreenbuilding.org

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NEO Chapter of USGBC and AIA Cleveland Council on the Environment are partnering to present on Cleveland's new 2030 EcoDistrict initiative.

The Cleveland 2030 District is an interdisciplinary public-private collaborative working to create high-performance building districts in Cleveland. With the Architecture 2030 Challenge for Planners as the foundation for our effort, we seek to develop realistic, measurable, and innovative strategies to assist district property owners, managers, and tenants in meeting aggressive goals that reduce environmental impacts of facility construction and operations. These collective efforts will establish the Districtas an example of a financially-viable, sustainability-focused private-sector-driven effort
that maximizes profitability and prosperity for all involved. The Cleveland 2030 District seeks to prove the business case for sustainability.

Members of the Cleveland 2030 District team will present with members of the Seattle 2030 district via video conference. Officials from the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County will also participate in the presentation.

Light refreshments served. AIA and LEED continuing education credits provided.

Cost: $15 per person

Space is limited to 75 attendees. Advance registration required. RSVP to maryhelen@aiacleveland.com

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—This tour is over the limit / is sold out—Construction site tour of the region's second house applying for Passive House certification with the owner, architect, builder, and passive house consultant. Co-sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, Environmental Health Watch and the GreenCityBlueLake Institute. 

No charge, but registration is required at info@neogreenbuilding.org. 

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Special presentation on the new Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program
presented by Diane Alecusan, Urban Revitalization Specialist, Ohio Department of Development.

RSVP by Dec. 1 to Trish Lanahan Trish@theOEC.org or (614) 487-7506

Optional Dinner Available: $7 for OEC members, $10 for non-members

http://neowatershed.org

http://development.ohio.gov/Urban/ASILP.htm

“If you do all of the air sealing you can before insulating your house, maybe you can stop living in an igloo,” Sean, the helpful home energy rater from GoodCents said during our whole home audit last week.

Sean was walking through our house with an infrared camera as a giant fan in a canvas frame fitted around our front door sucked air out of our colonial built in 1920, an era when energy efficiency, insulation and high fuel prices were unheard of. This is a ‘blower door’ test which produces 50 Pascals of negative pressure. In tandem with a handheld infrared camera where orange and red show the warm spots and blue, the cold, the blower door test basically accelerates where cold air is seeping in and warm air is leaking out.

It was a real eye opener. Sean swept the infrared camera along our baseboards and explained the trail of blue was from a lack of air sealing – basically we need caulk, and lots of it to seal up gaps everywhere. It is amazing how many holes need to be plugged – from outlets to where the fireplace mantle meets the wall to the ‘rim joist’ (where the house sits on the foundation), even the laundry shoot was like a giant chimney (in fact, it was worse than our actual chimney which at least has a new damper to slow the jetty of air).

· A slim majority of voters in South Euclid opted on Tuesday to plow ahead with big box development on the former Oakwood Country Club golf course. Citizens for Oakwood led the campaign against, and reflects that Northeast Ohio failed a big test case for regional cooperation around land use.

Oakwood is on land situated at the meeting point of South Euclid, University Heights and Cleveland Heights. If ever there was a regional issue, this was it. Citizens asked repeatedly for a regional discussion.

The governments in those cities never held this discussion; it seems that regionalism only exists as an abstract notion in the minds of the officials in our part of the county. This simply means that as citizens, we will have to continue to educate our elected officials.

We look forward to working constructively with all area residents who support sustainable land use planning to create a vibrant, healthy, resilient region and a bright future for our community.

· On Tuesday, Cincinnati voters rejected a proposed City Charter amendment that would have prevented the city from participating for 10 years in any passenger rail improvements, including its planned streetcar. This was the second defeated ballot issue since 2009 that was intended to stop all passenger rail development in the city.

Location

Fluctuating energy prices can have a dramatic influence on monthly energy bills. While many business owners look to measures such as energy efficiency as an opportunity to mitigate the financial impact of increasing energy costs, they often encounter challenges in the form of limited information and capital, which prevent them from moving forward. Therefore, it is critical to provide businesses with the tools and resources they need to budget their energy costs and become more energy efficient.

Learn the basics of advanced technologies such as solar – how the economics work, including incentives and how to access them, where the systems can be placed and top-level concepts on design, and whether it’s right for you.

Join us for a panel discussion on:

• Energy legislation and its impact on business
• Cutting-edge technologies such as LED lighting, solar and wind applications
• Northeast Ohio Advanced Energy District and Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing for Commercial & Industrial Owners

COSE Member Price: $10
Non-Member Price: $20

Register Online at www.cose.org/events or call 216-592-2222