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Weekly Chapter Update - May 7, 2008
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Sustaining Partners | |||||||
Buy your Emerald Gala tickets before May 16th! The Chapter’s 2008 Emerald Gala will be held at the Field Museum on Saturday evening, June 14th. Chapter members can buy individual tickets for $250 and a table for $2,500 until May 16th. If you haven't received an invitation or would like additional information, please click on the link below. If you are interested in helping plan the event, click here to learn more about our Special Events Committee. |
Gold Support Level
Friend of the Chapter
HJKessler Associates, Inc. OWP/P Hill Mechanical IA - Interior Architects Do you have questions about sponsorship opportunities? Please visit the chapter web site or contact Doug Widener, Executive Director at 773-265-5911 |
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Donate to the Emerald Gala Silent Auction As in years past, a silent auction will be a part of this year's Emerald Gala festivities. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the Chapter's 100-plus programs, events, and initiatives throughout the year. The U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter is soliciting items for this year's silent auction. Do you have a product or service that you would like to donate? Do you have a lead that you'd like us to follow up on for a donation? A few examples from past Emerald Gala silent auctions include spa treatments, sustainable furniture pieces, sporting events tickets, books, wine, memberships, and much more. Please send information on silent auction donations to auction@usgbc-chicago.org. All items are due by Friday, May 23rd. Additional Silent Auction Information Silent Auction Donation Form |
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Nominate a Natural Leader - final deadline Friday, May 9th! The U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter will be presenting the 2008 Natural Leader Awards at the Emerald Gala on June 14th at the Field Museum. We are soliciting nominations for Natural Leaders in the following categories:
All USGBC - Chicago Chapter Members are invited to submit nominations. The nominees should be individuals and organizations currently living or working in Illinois and do not need to be Chicago Chapter members. Please send all nominations to awards@usgbc-chicago.org absolutely no later than noon on May 9th. Additional Natural Leader Award Information Natural Leader Award Nomination Form |
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Contact Us! Chapter Offices Moving This Summer The Chapter has out-grown its offices at the Chicago Center for Green Technology and will be moving into office space on the Merchandise Mart's 9th floor this summer. The Chapter will be seeking furniture and fixture donations once a final office plan is approved. Stay tuned to upcoming weekly updates to learn more. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Board Chair, Laureen Blissard. Chapter Welcomes New Staff Member, Re-Aligns Positions The Chapter would like to extend a warm USGBC welcome to Katie Kaluzny, the Chapter's new Manager of Education Program, Outreach, and Marketing. In this role, Katie will be responsible for the following areas:
Katie comes to the Chapter from the Chicago Center for Green Technology where she was Coordinator of Volunteer and Intern Programs. Prior to joining CCGT, Katie served as Manager of Volunteer Programs at the Notebaert Nature Museum. Katie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Public Service Administration/Non-Profit Administration from DePaul University. Karin Barden, formerly Administrative Coordinator with the Chapter, has been promoted to the position of Manager of Membership, Events, and Administration. Karin's new roles will include:
Please introduce yourself to Katie at the next Chapter function you attend and congratulate Karin on her new role, as well. The Chapter offices will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 26th. Doug Widener - Executive Director Karin Barden - Manager of Membership, Events, and Administration Katie Kaluzny - Manager of Education Programs, Outreach, and Marketing 773-265-5911 - phone 773-265-5994 - fax |
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ComEd invites you to learn about their energy efficiency programs ComEd and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are introducing a series of new energy efficiency and demand response programs that save you money. These new incentive-based programs will be debuting this year. ComEd and DCEO want you to understand these new programs and how you can benefit from them. The Trade Ally workshops were created to help your customers save money while having a powerful and profitable impact on your business. At these workshops, you'll learn how ComEd is moving Illinois into the forefront of energy efficiency, how you can grow your business by becoming a ComEd energy efficiency program partner, how you can leverage ComEd's new programs to help your customers save money on their electric bills, and how you can help your customers take advantage of their incentives. These workshops will be held between 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM on May 20th in Mundelein, May 22nd in Tinley Park, May 27th in Rockford, and May 29th in Chicago. The Green Ribbon workshops were created to help provide significant savings to businesses and local governments on their electric bills. At these workshops, you'll learn how ComEd is moving Illinois into the forefront of energy efficiency, how you can leverage ComEd's new programs and rebate incentives to reduce energy consumption, increase your energy efficiency, and save money, how to obtain your rebates, how easy and profitable savings energy can be, and how to obtain state-sponsored, low-interest loans available to organizations that undertake energy efficiency projects from representatives of the Illinois Office of the State Treasurer. These workshops will be held between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on June 10th in Chicago, June 12th in Downers Grove, June 19th in Mundelein, June 20th in Tinley Park, June 25th in St. Charles, and June 27th in Rockford. Trade Ally Workshop Information Green Ribbon Workshop Information |
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New Horizons Garden The Chapter is working with the Chicago Chapter of CoreNet Global, SHED Studio, the East Garfield Open Space Task Force, Advocate Bethany Hospital, two local congregations, Openlands, and the East Garfield Block Club to create a sustainable garden in East Garfield Park. We are currently looking for donations to help complete this project. For additional information, please click here or contact Doug Widener at 773-265-5911. |
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NeoCon World's Trade Fair - June 9th - 11th NeoCon, the largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors in North America, returns to the Merchandise Mart, marking its 40th year, the coming June. Encompassing 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space and 10 floors, NeoCon boasts more than 1,200 exhibitors showcasing thousands of cutting-edge product introductions. Over 130 CEU, LU, and CFM/MFP accredited seminars, keynotes, luncheon programs, and panel discussions will take place not to mention exciting networking events to celebrate the design industry. More than 50,000 industry professionals are expected to attend. We hope to see you there! Visit www.neocon.com to pre-register now and save time and money! Be sure to stop by and listen to Lois Vitt Sale speak about The Why, What & How Much of Green Building [AF15] on Monday, June 9th from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Five percent of all new construction today is green. If you are an interior designer or product manufacturer with only a vague idea about sustainable design, this presentation is for you. Gain a sense for the why, what, and how much of a green building and how it can and will impact you. |
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Greenbuild Early Registration for Emerging Green Builders! The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo takes place November 19th through 21st in Boston. The early registration rate is $225 with proof that you're a full-time student or young professional 25 or younger. This price includes: access to the Exhibit Hall, Educational Sessions, Continental Breakfast (Wed-Fri), Lunch (Wed-Thurs), Conference Bag, Credentials, and Show Program. Full-time students and young professionals age 25 and under have the opportunity to volunteer eight hours at Greenbuild in exchange for a complimentary registration. Volunteer eight hours at Greenbuild in exchange for a complimentary registration. Volunteer slots will be on a first come, first served basis. Volunteer registration has not yet launched, so stay tuned for more details. The EGB Forum will be held on Wednesday, November 19th. Speakers will be announced soon. |
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Chapter receives ShoreBank Green Neighbor Award On April 10th, ShoreBank honored the U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter's commitment to expanding sustainable business practices. with their annual GREEN NEIGHBOR AWARD. All are invited to view USGBC - Chicago Chapter's display at ShoreBank's Nonprofit Service Center at 333 South State Street in Chicago through the months of April and May. |
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Announcing the 2008 Chapter Partner Program - Sign up now for maximum exposure! The Chicago Chapter recently launched its 2008 Chapter Partner sponsorship program. The Chapter Partner program provides program and operating support for the Chapter's nearly 100 programs, events, and initiatives while providing start-up support for new initiatives. With the Chapter's membership doubling in a year's time (we have over 800 members as of December 2008) and with growing interest in green building in our region, the Chapter has added several new committees this year to its already active list of nine committees, including Residential Green Building, Special Events, and a Suburban Outreach Committee focused on expanding the Chapter's programs and resources to wider reaches of our Chicagoland service region. Chapter Partners make these programs and initiatives possible. Currently, Chapter Partners support nearly one quarter of the Chapter's budget. As you will see on the attached link below, the Chapter acknowledges Chapter Partners in print and electronic media as well as through complimentary memberships and tickets to Chapter events. In addition to the variety of other marketing exposure, Chapter Partners contributing $5,000 or more will be recognized as presenting sponsors for the Chapter's two large fundraising events slated for 2008, the Emerald Gala and the Natural Leaders Luncheon, which collectively will attract over 1,000 people. If you have questions about the program or are interested in supporting the Chapter, please contact Doug Widener, Executive Director, at 773-265-5911. |
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NAESCO Midwest Regional Meeting: Embracing Energy Efficiency as the Fastest Road to Green on June 11th Energy efficiency is the optimal integration of lighting, heating, and cooling technologies implemented within a building to maximize energy and dollar savings. Come hear about how the different efficiency and renewable technologies are most effectively used as the cornerstone in greening buildings and the ways in which technology choices and strategies affect green results. Some of the topics that will be discussed include:
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Chicago Botanic Garden Selected as North American Host for World Environment Day The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has selected the Chicago Botanic Garden as the sole North American host venue for World Environment Day 2008. Commemorated each year on June 5th, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. At the Chicago Botanic Garden and at the venues around the world, events will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation, and eco-friendly consumption. The choice of the Chicago area reflects international recognition of efforts to make the Chicago region the nation's greenest metropolitan area. Plans call for a day-long celebration at the Chicago Botanic Garden that will include a few major events:
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ASHRAE presents Design of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems for Commercial and Institutional Buildings on May 16th Dr. Steve Kavanaugh, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama, will present at the 2008 Region VI Spring CRC hosted by the Illinois Chapter of ASHRA. He has been involved with ground source (or geothermal) heat pump research and development for 20 years, authored two books on the subject, published several articles in the ASHRAE Transactions and Journal, is the former chair of ASHRAE Technical Committee 6.8 on Geothermal Energy, is a noted consultant, and conducted numerous design seminars for professional engineers. All attendees will receive copies of the presentation slides and the ASHRAE Ground Source Heat Pump design manual. Lunch and snacks are also included in the seminar fee. The seminar is followed by an optional nine-hole golf event and dinner. |
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USGBC and ASID launches the first nationwide green remodeling guidelines - check it out! The American Society of Interior Designers' Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects. This program will increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers, and service providers to build both demand and industry capacity. Click here to visit Regreen! |
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Attention new Chapter members - New Member Orientation on May 22nd! Are you a new U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter member that's wondering how to become more involved? You're not alone! Over the past few months, the Chapter has experienced a large growth in membership. Due to this, we've decided to create a "new member orientation". This orientation will discuss ways to participate in the Chapter - including Chapter programs, committees, general information, etc. The next orientation will be held immediately prior to the next Chapter Business Meeting on May 22nd. You're welcome to attend this orientation even if you can't attend the Chapter Business Meeting. If you find that you'll be unable to attend the new member orientation, but would like to find out how to become more involved, please contact Karin Barden at 773-265-5911. |
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Speaker's Bureau trainings - May 14th and May 20th If you've submitted your application to be a part of our speaker's bureau, please mark your calendars! We will be holding speaker bureau trainings on May 14th and May 20th. In order to participate in the speaker's bureau program, you will need to attend one of these trainings. Additional information will be available soon. Ever considered becoming an active advocate for the Chicago Chapter of USGBC or LEED? The Chicago Chapter regularly receives requests from a variety of groups - from public libraries to local colleges to local municipalities to private organizations - all across the Chicagoland region - from Northwest Indiana to McHenry County to Fox River Valley to North Shore - to speak about the basics of LEED and the U.S. Green Building Council. We are currently soliciting applications from Chapter Members to speak on behalf of the Chapter to these groups. If you're interested in assisting the Chapter with these speaking engagements, have any questions about the process or requirements, or want to make sure we've received your application, please contact Karin Barden at 773-265-5911. |
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Greening the Heartland - June 22nd - 24th in St. Louis 2008 USGBC Heartland Region Awards - Deadline: Friday, May 2nd Every year, the USGBC Heartland Region recognizes outstanding Chapter achievements within the region through its Chapter awards program. By recognizing excellence among our Chapters, we not only celebrate our great accomplishments, but also share best practices throughout USGBC's entire Chapter network. Winning groups will receive recognition at GTH08. Please click here for additional 2008 USGBC Heartland Region Awards information. This regional USGBC conference will promote sustainable design and construction strategies for the built environment by encouraging joint leadership by the private and public sectors. The conference will highlight the latest in green building techniques that achieve energy and operational efficiencies, apply responsible construction and demolition practices, and aim for carbon neutrality. It will also demonstrate how green building promotes the "triple bottom line" of profitability, people, and the environment - without compromising resources for future generations. Please click here for additional Greening the Heartland information. |
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Chicago Center for Green Technology CCGT is a LEED Platinum rehabilitated municipal building that serves as a green design educational resource for the general public. They host various types of educational programming and offer guided tours of the building. The recently opened Green Tech Resource Center is a wonderful tool for anyone interested in green building products and technologies. Please click here for additional information. Green Tech U
Current Exhibits
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Volunteers needed The Chicago Chapter has many committees that provide volunteer opportunities for members. Persons interested in volunteering should contact Karin Barden or the appropriate committee chair. For more committee information, please visit the chapter web site. |
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| LEED® Workshops | USGBC LINKS | |||||||
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May 20th, from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM - LEED for Existing Buildings - waitlist available June 17th, FROM 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Understanding LEED Project Cost and Returns - registration open!!! July 29th, from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM - LEED for New Construction A minimum attendance number is required for all workshops to occur. Please RSVP no later than one week before the workshop date. Show your support for green building by sponsoring a LEED workshop. As a sponsor or host, you will receive free or discounted workshop registrations and recognition on our promotional materials, web site, and on site signage. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, contact workshop@usgbc.org. |
National USGBC launches several new web sites USGBC has launched several new web sites. Please spend some time checking them out. Green Home Guide - www.greenhomeguide.org Build Green Schools - www.buildgreenschools.org Playbook for Green Buildings & Neighborhoods - www.greenplaybook.org Greenbuild 365 - www.greenbuild365.org Green Building Certification Institute - www.gbci.org Regreen - www.regreenprogram.org |
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| Committee Updates and Meeting Details |
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| Education/Research Committee |
Greenbuild 2008 keynote speaker announced Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be the opening keynote speaker for USGBC's annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Boston from November 19th through November 21st. For more information, click here. Newly Released Studies Confirm Energy Savings Significant in LEED, ENERGY STAR Buildings Two recently released studies, one by the New Buildings Institute (NBI) and one by CoStar Group, have validated what the green building community has known all along: third party certified buildings outperform their conventional counterparts across a wide variety of metrics, including energy savings, occupancy rates, sale price, and rental rates. For more information, click here. First city to commit to LEED Platinum certification Greenburg, Kansas, devastated by a tornado in May, has passed a resolution to certify all city-owned buildings larger than 4,000 square feet will be certified LEED Platinum and be required to reduce energy use by 42% over current building code requirements. For more information, click here. USGBC Doubles Local LEED for Homes Network - Growth Driven by Surging Interest in Green Homes Green homes, on average, save 30-50% on energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions by a similar amount. They also use less water, create less waste, and have dramatically better indoor environmental quality. The result is lower utility bills and a healthier, better place to live. For more information, click here. Promote your new LEED® certified Project... Are you a member of the Chicago Chapter and have a newly certified project in the Chicago region? Send an email with contact info and project details to list@usgbc-chicago.org and we'll make sure it's in the listserv. |
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Co-Chairs: Board Liaison: |
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| This committee plans and implements a variety of green building educational programs including LEED Extra Credit, the Regional Speaker's Bureau, Green Building Nuts & Bolts for Contractors, and regional green building case studies. This committee is always looking for new volunteers! | ||||||||
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| Emerging Green Builders Committee | ||||||||
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Co-Chairs: Board Liaison:
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Join the Emerging Green Builders Committee! The Chapter’s Emerging Green Builders Committee, which focuses on college students and young professionals, is looking for interested members to help us plan events and programs for this audience. We are also looking for students or young professionals interested in participating in such programs. If you fit either category, please contact Karin Barden, Administrative Coordinator, at 773-265-5911. This committee plans programs especially designed for college students and young design professionals including the annual Natural Talent Design Competition. This committee is always looking for new volunteers! |
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| Green Schools | ||||||||
Additional Information
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Interim Contacts: Interim Board Liaison: unnamed |
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Interested in helping to support local schools and school districts in going green? Join us at the inaugural meeting of the Chapter's new Green Schools Task Force to learn more about the Chapter's plans for increasing outreach and support for school districts in greening their schools. |
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| Membership Committee | ||||||||
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Co-Chairs: Interim Board Liaison: |
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This committee is always welcoming new committee members and especially could use anyone with experience or interest in helping kick off some exciting new benefits to USGBC - Chicago Chapter members. These projects include:
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| Programs Committee | ||||||||
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Co-Chairs: Board Liaison: |
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| This committee plans Chapter meetings, green building tours for members, and coordinates monthly LEED workshops. The committee also plans the Chapter's two major social events each year - a summer boat cruise and a holiday party. This committee is always looking for new volunteers! | ||||||||
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Public Relations Committee |
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Interim Contact: Board Liaison: |
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Are you a marketing professional interested in assisting the chapter with public relations or media design? This committee will coordinate public relations opportunities for the Chapter as well as assist in maintaining the design and implementation of the Chapter's current branding initiative. |
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| Residential Green Building Committee | ||||||||
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Interim Contact: Board Liaison:
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Are you a residential building practitioner (developer, builder, architect, supplier, residential building organization, broker, insurance agent, etc)? If so, this is the committee for you! This committee will develop programs and advocacy-related initiatives specifically for the residential building market with the intent of educating practitioners and homeowners. Committee meetings typically have an educational component as well as a working session. March's education session will focus on the NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines. Typical Committee agenda:
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| Special Events Committee | ||||||||
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Co-Chairs: Board Liaison:
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The Chapter recently created a new Special Events Committee which is responsible for planning the Chapter’s two annual fundraising and networking events: the Emerald Gala (the region's premiere green building black-tie event) and the Natural Leaders Luncheon (a formal business luncheon featuring a prominent national speaker in the field of sustainable design and green business). If you have experience or interest in event planning and want to help out please contact Melissa Ling or Wendi Wolmer. |
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State and Local Government Committee |
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Co-Chairs: Board Liaison: |
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This committee is well under way in planning events for 2008. On April 24th, they will be hosting a Chicago Green Buildings Trolley Tour for government officials and developers. The sites on the agenda include the City Hall green roof, Northwestern Prentice Women's Hospital, Center on Halsted, and Loyola University's Information Commons, as well as a quick stop at one of Chicago's Green Alleys. A total of four tours are scheduled for this year with two urban tours and two suburban tours. In the planning phase are two Government Roundtable / Panel discussions, as well as various Outreach Programs geared towards city and suburban officials. The committee is excited to start working with the new Suburban Committees, the Central Illinois Chapter, and other environmental and government groups in planning additional outreach events. Be sure to keep an eye out for the legislation and policy updates in Green Bytes and on the web site. The committee is working hard to keep this information up to date so the Chapter Membership have a reliable source of information on bills that may interest them. At the March Committee meeting, Kindy Kruller from the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Council joined us to talk about the Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative that was founded in September. A special thanks to Kindy for her presentation. This committee is always looking for new volunteers! |
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| Suburban Branch - Fox River Valley | ||||||||
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Interim Contact: Board Liaison: |
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The USGBC - Chicago Chapter’s membership is spread throughout the Chicagoland region. Accordingly, the Chapter is looking for ways to further develop and offer green building related programs in the suburbs and surrounding areas. This committee will coordinate Chapter events and programs in the Fox River Valley service region. |
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| Suburban Branch - North Cook / Lake | ||||||||
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Chair: Board Liaison: |
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The USGBC - Chicago Chapter’s membership is spread throughout the Chicagoland region. Accordingly, the Chapter is looking for ways to further develop and offer green building related programs in the suburbs and surrounding areas. This committee will coordinate Chapter events and programs in the north and northwest suburban service region. |
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| Suburban Branch - South | ||||||||
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Interim Contact: Board Liaison:
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The USGBC - Chicago Chapter’s membership is spread throughout the Chicagoland region. Accordingly, the Chapter is looking for ways to further develop and offer green building related programs in the suburbs and surrounding areas. This committee will coordinate Chapter events and programs in the south and southwest suburban service region. |
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| Suburban Branch - West Cook / DuPage | ||||||||
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Interim Contact: Board Liaison: unnamed
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The USGBC - Chicago Chapter’s membership is spread throughout the Chicagoland region. Accordingly, the Chapter is looking for ways to further develop and offer green building related programs in the suburbs and surrounding areas. This committee will coordinate Chapter events and programs in west Cook and DuPage counties. |
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| Events | Upcoming Conferences, etc. | |||||||
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LEED AP Study Session
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Conferences
Illinois LEED Certified
Illinois LEED Registered
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This session reviews the LEED-NC Version 2.2 Reference Guide for those who are preparing to take the LEED Accredited Professional exam. |
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May Chapter Business Meeting
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