Green Building Alliance

Congratulations to City of Meadville Mayor Jaime Kinder, Meadville City Council, Autumn Vogel, and Meadville Environmental Advisory Council on this important milestone. We look forward to partnering with you to help you achieve your environmental goals and to helping property owners reduce energy demand. #ResilientCommunities #GreenBuilding https://lnkd.in/eC_yrBfp

Thank you David Hess for helping us share the news on GBA's expanding work in New Kensington. Businesses and commercial property owners - join us for a launch party and energy info session December 4, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Digital Foundry at New Kensington. Our team will share information on the free technical assistance and support available to reduce energy use, emissions, and utility costs, and make New Kensington's buildings more resilient to the impacts of severe weather. Register at www.gba.org/events or reach out to us at info@gbapgh.org. https://lnkd.in/ezKT6jDH

Shout out to all who attended our Lunch and Learn for Meadville-area businesses, hosted at Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, and special thanks to Adam Snow and Erie News Now for covering the event. During this session, community leaders and business owners shared priorities and challenges related to energy efficiency, reducing energy demand and utility costs, and improving the resilience of their buildings and the community to the impacts of severe weather events. Their insight will shape our work in Meadville, and we look forward to sharing exciting developments on this new initiative. https://lnkd.in/eBx8Kweh

Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Philadelphia was a week full of informative insights and impactful connections old and new. Chief Operating Officer Chris Cieslak, Senior Director of Workforce Development and Green & Healthy Schools Karma Lisa Edwards, and Communications Coordinator Ariel Levin-Antila had an amazing time learning about the new LEED v5 standard, the market for sustainable building products, strategies to increase building energy efficiency, and more. They also spent some time with other colleagues from the Pittsburgh sustainability industry. EPIC Metals Ecoworks Studio Michael Brothers Companies Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) - a TÜV SÜD America Company (Not pictured: evolveEA 3R Sustainability Bridgeway Capital and more!) Don't miss GBA's Greenbuild Summary Session and Happy Hour on November 21st: https://buff.ly/4exMtZM Chris, Karma, and Ariel, along with guest speakers, will be sharing their takeaways from this year's conference. Food and drink will be provided, and the event is FREE for GBA members. Register here: https://buff.ly/4exMtZM

Join Emu Passive House, Green Building Alliance, and Passive House PA for Passive Design/Build™️Boot Camp: Feb 24-28, 2025 @ Pittsburgh. The course includes classroom and workshop experiences, as well as a three-hour online CPHT accreditation exam. Boot Camp will cover: - Building Science Basics, Insulation, Thermal Bridging, Windows + Doors  - Retrofits, Air & Moisture, ERVs/HRVs, Heat Pumps, Quality Control  - Passive Pod Workshop: Air Sealing, Window Install, Insulation  - Passive Pod Games: Smoke test, Infrared, Resiliency Test  - Open-book Accreditation Exam: Become a Passive House Certified Pro Sign up before January 1st for a discounted rate! https://lnkd.in/eqD-xaak This training is developed and hosted by Emu, with local support in Pittsburgh by Green Building Alliance and Passive House PA. All registrations go directly through the Emu Website.

GBA members and sponsors: don't miss the chance to feature your Q4 accomplishments in GBA's Member-Only Newsletter! Fill out the form here to submit a shoutout by November 14: https://buff.ly/476BRiy

Join us for a Greenbuild Summary Session and Happy Hour to hear from GBA staff and partners who attended Greenbuild 2024. Over food and drink, speakers will share their key takeaways from this year's conference, and we will conclude the presentations with a panel discussion on what’s next for sustainability in the build/design sector. GBA staff Chris Cieslak, Karma Edwards, and Ariel Levin-Antila, along with guest presenters, will provide perspectives and insight into the key issues our industry is facing including facilities operations and maintenance, preparing a sustainability workforce, sustainable products, materials and embodied carbon, and behavior change and climate communications, as well as community impact and legislation. Register here: https://buff.ly/4exMtZM

Join Green Building Alliance, speakers Lilly Freedman, PMP and Nazin B. Nejad from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and Julia Wattick from BranchPattern for Health in the Built Environment: Addressing Health in Adaptive Reuse, November 19, 9-10:30 a.m.   This virtual event is eligible for self-reporting CEUs.   Our expert presenters will share perspectives on the environmental and financial benefits of rehabilitating existing structures as well as best practices in addressing potential health challenges that adaptive reuse projects may present, including  asbestos, mold, chemical contamination, and more.   Learning Objectives:   - Gain insight into the health and sustainability trade-offs that exist within adaptive reuse projects  - Understand the role of embodied carbon and other environmental impacts, as well as other unique opportunities that exist for Pittsburgh as a post-industrial city   - Learn about the Structure Analysis process when considering adaptive reuse and the factors that determine whether a project is feasible from health/safety, environmental, and financial perspectives    Julia Wattick leads BranchPattern's Materials Team and helps clients understand the impact that building materials have on climate, ecosystem, social, and human health. The Materials Team uses Life Cycle Assessment methodology to measure and analyze carbon and other environmental impact categories. Julia is a Registered Architect with expertise in sustainable design. She is passionate about improving a project's environmental footprint along with improving the health and experience of building occupants. Julia seeks synthesis between the built and natural environment, with an aim to integrate the community's unique story and needs into creative sustainable solutions.     Nazin Nejad, Assistant Director of Architecture and Engineering, URA, is a registered architect with over 23 years of experience in architectural design, construction management, and sustainable development. With a master’s in architecture and environmental design, an MBA, and certifications in LEED and NGICP, she bridges technical expertise with a strategic business approach. Nazin is dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability through innovative solutions that reduce the ecological impact of construction, while advocating social equity and enhancing the well-being of marginalized communities.     Lilly Freedman, Manager of Development Projects, URA, has over 10 years experience in economic development, sustainable construction, and community engagement. She holds a Masters Degree from Chatham University in Sustainability with a concentration in Urban and Energy Systems and PMP, LEED, and NGICP certifications. In leading projects from ideation through implementation, Lilly redefines the nature of cities with an approach that holistically integrates environmental and economic sustainability with social responsibility.    Register Here: https://lnkd.in/efAGU9TB

Don't miss these upcoming GBA events focusing on adaptive reuse, Greenbuild insights, and more. 🔁 November 19 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. - Addressing Health in Adaptive Reuse featuring Julia Wattick of BranchPattern and Lilly Freedman & Nazin Nejad of Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (VIRTUAL): https://buff.ly/4hJVRMC ✳️ November 21 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. - Greenbuild Summary Session and Happy Hour (IN-PERSON): https://buff.ly/4exMtZM 🏙️ December 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Course (IN-PERSON): https://buff.ly/4dJ66O5

ENERGY STAR, a voluntary labeling program administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets energy efficiency specifications for products, new and existing homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants. Those that meet specifications can inform consumers and businesses by choosing to display the ENERGY STAR logo.  In response to the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, the U.S. EPA is proposing new national versions of the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Program Requirements: Single-Family New Homes (SFNH) Version 3.3 and Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) Version 1.3. According to the EPA, these new versions “are intended to ensure that ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments will continue to offer meaningful savings relative to those that are not certified."   Stakeholder feedback is being accepted through November 21. You can find more information, including how to submit feedback at https://lnkd.in/eD9arnVi.   Looking to learn more about sustainability in construction? Reach out to GBA at info@gbapgh.org. #thefutureisgreen #greenbuilding #energyefficient #cleanenergy