SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2007

In This Issue:

How Does Our Chapter Work?
Green Legislation
How to Get involved
Events Calendar
Officers and Committees

This is the first issue of the new USGBC Baltimore Regional Chapter (USGBC BRC) Newsletter. Obviously, we are going to need a better name for our publication. Suggestions are welcome. Submit your suggestions - you might have the honor of naming our Chapter newsletter. We plan to publish bi monthly.
This newsletter is not intended to replace the information on the website, and you will still continue to receive notices of special events by email. The newsletter will bring you information and news of the activities of the Chapter and Chapter members. This issue focuses on Advocacy activities. We invite you to send us your thoughts for items you would like to see addressed in future issues.

HOW DOES OUR CHAPTER WORK?

In answer to questions that have been asked about the Chapter, below is a general explanation of who we are and what we do.
 
 The Baltimore Regional Chapter is structured as a dues paying, voting membership organization, set up according to the guidelines of the national USGBC. We are a 501-3c organization, incorporated in the State of Maryland. The Board is elected by the membership, and the Board elects the officers. Most of the work of the Chapter gets done through the activity of the Board and Committees, all of whom are volunteers.  We employ a part-time administrative assistant. The Board and committees generally meet monthly.
Our Chapter goals include:

1. Being advocates for education & outreach of green building in our unique bioregional community.
2. Providing a learning forum of peers for those are new to green building, or "old " hands.
3. Delivering educational programs, LEED workshops, and seminars on the latest green building developments to keep local building communities informed.
4. Serving as a community resource for the media and for local policy makers by providing information on issues ranging from how green building can reduce a city's demand for energy, to how they create a more healthy and productive learning environment for children.
5. Representing our bioregional perspectives within the national organization by providing the Council with our group-driven ideas about how to transform build environments in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
   We offer programs, on a variety of topics throughout the year.  The programs are the general member meetings open to anyone and are good way to introduce people to the USGBC, our Chapter and are opportunities for great networking within the green building community.  We also hold special events, and organize local facilities to support LEED Workshops conducted by the national USGBC.

GREEN LEGISLATION

The Advocacy Committee has been actively following and participating in the exciting developments in Baltimore City and Howard County, Montgomery County & Baltimore County.
 

Baltimore City

Events really got rolling in the spring, with Chapter members who had been part of the Baltimore Green Building Task Force meeting Baltimore City Council Members to discuss green buildings and the legislation introduced by First District Councilman Jim Kraft.  The three bills were assigned to the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee.  The Committee conducted a public hearing as part of Baltimore Green Week.  It took a while for the amended bills to emerge from committee, but when they did they successfully passed through the rest of the process.  The Second Reader was on 7/16 and the Third and final Reader was on 8/13/07.   On August 14th, Mayor Dixon signed the bills into law.
 
To summarize the results -
(Bill 06-0506) 1.Office of Sustainability, under the Dept of Planning.
(Bill 07-058)   2.Commission on Resource Sustainability -to develop comprehensive City recycling plan; and generally relating to resource conservation, recycling, and sustainability.
(Bill 07-0602) 3.Green Building Requirements - generally to require LEED silver certification, or acceptable equivalent, for all newly constructed or extensively modified non-residential or multi-family buildings of at least 10,000 gross square feet floor area.  The City owned buildings have a variety of effective dates.  For all other buildings the effective date is permits applied for beginning 7-1-09.
 
If you live or do work in Baltimore City, you will want to read these bills for yourself.
These links will take you to the final official version of the bills.
http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com/detailreport/?key=3289
http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com/detailreport/?key=3257
http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com/detailreport/?key=3096

Howard County

The process in Howard County follows a more expedited schedule, with the intention being to follow a monthly cycle from introduction to final consideration.  The July 2007 cycle included green legislation.
 
Howard County Council considered, debated, and ultimately passed most of the provisions of Council Bills 47-2007; 48-2007; and 49-2007.  These bills deal with LEED standards for buildings, green neighborhoods; and property tax credits forcertain high performance buildings.  County Executive Ken Ulman promptly signed the legislation establishing environmental standards for commercial construction and incentives for those who go above and beyond established standards.  Discussion of green standards for residential construction continue.
Information about this legislation is available at http://www.co.ho.md.us/CountyCouncil
 
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman signing the legislation.

 
David Pratt, our Chapter President, who is a member of the Howard County Commission on The Environment & Sustainability, is part of the group standing (second from left) behind Mr. Ulman.
  
Upcoming Advocacy Activities
State of Maryland

The Advocacy Committee is gearing up for the 2008 legislative session.  Last session, Chapter President David Pratt lead the effort that laid groundwork with Senators and Delegates to support green building legislation.  We expect to work closely with these elected representatives during this session as we promote and support -
-        Mandating for LEED for all state funded projects.
-        Tax incentives for green buildings.
-        Funding for green school construction
         

Baltimore County

There are a number of very promising developments on the horizon in Baltimore County. 
   

What You Can Do To Help

Because the final word on legislation is the individual voter, all elected officials are open to hearing from their constituency. The Advocacy Committee is interested in developing a database of members by voting jurisdiction so that we can send bulletins of pending legislation about which members might want to contact their legislators to express their opinions.  If you would like to be included in this database, please send an email to the Chapter email address usgbc.baltimore@comcast.net.Include the jurisdiction(s) for which you want notification.
(You can also join the Advocacy Committee if you want to get even more involved)

UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

Baltimore Bioneers Event October 19, 20, 21 Maryland Institute College of Art Brown Center Click Here for more Information

AIA Program November 13, 2007 American Visionary Art Museum Jim Rouse Visionary Center 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click Here for more information

USGBC Awards Program December 5, 2007 American Visionary Art Museum 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For more information go to website
http://chapters.usgbc.org/baltimore
http://www.usgbcbalt.org/

An organization is only as strong as the commitment of its members

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

All Chapter members are welcome and encouraged to serve on committees.
Good ideas and willing volunteers are always needed.
Find your voice in the Chapter, join a committee.
Email addresses for committee chairpersons
are listed below and on our website.
http://chapters.usgbc.org/baltimore/

COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

MEMBERSHIP - open

PROGRAMS - Kim Ilardi
Kim.Ilardi@whiting-turner.com

COMMUNICATIONS/ MARKETING - Marc Hurwitz
mhurwitz@jposey.com

SPONSORSHIP - Amy Wortman
AmyWortman@comcast.net

EMERGING GREEN BUILDERS - Rex Wright
rex.a.wright@jci.com

ADVOCACY - Nestor Arabejo & SandyMcLelland
Narabejo_usgbcbalt@prodigy.net
sandymch@earthlink.net

WORKSHOPS  -  Neal Fiorelli
Neal.fiorelli@loraxllc.com

AWARDS        Kim Ilardi
Kim.Ilardi@whiting-turner.com

NEWSLETTER  - Sandy McLelland
sandymch@earthlink.net

OFFICERS

President - David Pratt
Vice President -  Kim Schaefer
Treasurer -  Earl Rosenow
Secretary - John Bergman

BOARD MEMBERS

Peter Doo
Amy Wortman
Earl Rosenow
John Bergman
David Pratt
Beverly Eisenberg
Kim Schaefer
Anthony Jones
Kim Ilardi
Marc Hurwitz
Jim Kraft
Andrew Marani
Dan Winters
Rex Wright

Officers and Board Member email addresses are on our website.