U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FLATWATER CHAPTER
EDITORIAL	June 01 2007
In an effort to keep you up to date with ongoing sustainable events and information, the Flatwater Chapter has changed to a newsletter format that will be sent out on a monthly basis.  This newsletter along with our website will keep you informed on events, meetings, tours, and news regarding the Flatwater Chapter and local sustainable topics. I hope you find this newsletter format useful and informative and encourage your input and involvement in the Flatwater Chapter.  The interest in sustainable issues within our community and chapter has increased significantly over the last 18 months and we encourage you to contact our chapter with any questions or ideas you may have regarding sustainability. Chris Houston 2007 USGBC Flatwater Chapter Chair
TODAY’S ARTICLE
Partnerships for a Greener Future We have before us a tremendous opportunity to promote sustainable design and practices in Nebraska. The Flatwater Chapter is involved with partnerships developing at several levels within the community. Two exciting developments are the beginning stages of the development of the Green Omaha Coalition and the Lincoln Green by Design. Green Omaha Coalition The Green Omaha Coalition (GOC) began as the formation of an alliance of organizations that were independently pursuing a common goal of a "Green Omaha". The purpose of aligning forces was the pooling of efforts to achieve greater influence within the community to accomplish this common objective. The GOC recognizes that the quality of the Omaha environment has a significant impact on the quality of life for our citizens. The plans laid now will influence the future economic development of Omaha by its ability to attract business and people to the area and keep them here. The Green Omaha Coalition was formed to provide a framework for developing new and expanding existing green initiatives throughout the Greater Omaha community. Greening the way we think as we plan development throughout our area will be an improvement on the conventional approach with an overall benefit to those that call this area home. The mission of the Green Omaha Coalition is promoting a healthy, sustainable community through partnerships, policy, and smart solutions. Primarily the GOC intends to accomplish its mission as a resource to city governments, businesses, the educational community, and citizens as a whole – fostering collaboration with key stakeholders in the community to accelerate the adoption of green practices, policies, and programs. Partnering with the city government, educational facilities, public agencies, industry professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, facility management and non-profit groups, the GOC will provide education, information, technical assistance and training all aimed at the attainment of a sustainable environment for Omaha and the surrounding area. In order to accomplish the mission of the GOC several goals were identified. 1) Education and Community Outreach 2) Advocacy: Advocate for policies that enhance sustainability efforts throughout the city. 3) Green Program and Policies Development 4) Healthy Communities Green Omaha Coalition partners include: Omaha Mayor’s Office Omaha Planning Department Omaha Public Works Department Sierra Club Omaha by Design US Green Building Council Flatwater Chapter Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities University of Nebraska-Omaha Kiewit Corporation AIA Omaha Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education Lincoln Green By Design Lincoln Green by Design is a city-wide focus on all aspects of sustainable development. LGBD has evaluated eighteen established green building programs across the U.S. and synthesized the fundamental programmatic elements. LGBD builds on the strengths of such partners as Lincoln Public Schools, which offers excellent models for communications and cost-benefit strategies in its extensive use of green design and materials in recent and upcoming projects, while the City of Lincoln offers models in its latest library projects. EcoStores Nebraska, DeConstruction Nebraska and WasteCap Nebraska are organizations that offer mechanisms for material reclamation and reuse. LGBD goals include the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels to address climate change and would be accomplished through the reduction of energy consumption by the promotion of green building practices as well as the encouragement of diversity in energy generation. This growing partnership includes: • Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities • Flatwater Chapter, USGBC • City of Lincoln • Lincoln Public Schools • Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department • Lincoln Electric System • Wastecap Nebraska • Nebraska Investment Finance Authority • University of Nebraska-Lincoln • B & J Partnership, WRK and other developers • Studio 951 Architects
NEWS AND EVENTS
July - Members Event August - EGB Movie Night September 22 - LEED Users Group October 17 - LEED-101 workshop at the Nebraska Student Union Native Nebraska Roof Planting Presentation Fall - LEED Commissioning workshop in Omaha at Metro Community College
Miscellaneous	LINKS
Conferences: September 12-14 - Greening the Heartland, Madison, www.greeningtheheartland.org October 17-18 - AIA Convention in Lincoln October 24-26 - International Facility Management Assn., New Orleans, www.ifma.org November 7-9 - Greenbuild, Chicago, www.usgbc.org November - Restore Omaha Others Events: 2010 Imperative: Glogal Emergency teach-in . The web-seminar is still available online.	flatwater USgbc egb Lincoln