Press Releases http://www.ecobuilding.org These are our press releases daily 1 2010-03-24T21:16:06Z Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Awarded Code Innovations Database Project http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/northwest-ecobuilding-guild-awarded-code-innovations-database-project Once an innovative approach has been approved by one local jurisdiction, the information and code interpretation used to justify the permit can be captured and published on this database, making it easier for builders to get that approach permitted in other localities. The idea for a code innovations database was hatched at the Green Development stakeholder process convened by Thurston County in 2009.  The process brought together a range of local architects, builders and construction industry advocates to give input on how building codes and permits could be improved to encourage green building.  They explored incentives, code changes, and ways to streamline the process.

There were many differing opinions and recommendations, but one idea that rose to the top was to create a database of green building techniques to help builders and code officials share information about innovative techniques.

Working with former Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison, the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s South Sound Chapter pursued this recommendation and convened a team of builders in January 2011 to begin design of such a database, and to encourage Thurston County to make it happen.  They organized a team of interns, conducted interviews with builders and code officials, and created an initial database design.

In response to this leadership, Thurston County has contracted with the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, to complete design and construction of the database.

  This database, which will eventually be housed on the Guild’s website, is a basic mechanism for local building officials, the building industry and other parties to share information about examples of successfully permitted green building, high-performance, and other innovative construction techniques, materials and technologies.  

The idea is that once an innovative approach has been approved by one local jurisdiction, the information and code interpretation used to justify the permit can be captured and published, making it easier for builders to get that approach permitted in other localities.  Since it takes so much effort and money to go through that process, why should each builder and official have to reinvent it independently?  This will streamline the process and provide a positive feedback loop to incentivize green building.

The goal is to publish the beta version of the 'Code Innovations Database' in early 2012.  To do that, the Guild will be working with students at Evergreen College who will be conducting interviews and writing case studies on approximately 30 relevant projects, which will be used to populate the database.

Once the database is published, the Guild will work closely with building officials to start using the database, and provide training designed to reduce the time necessary to approve green building projects.  In the long-run, the hope is to expand the source of data beyond local jurisdictions, to begin capturing and cataloging successfully permitted approaches from around Washington State and the rest of the world. 

For more information, please contact Chris Van Daalen, NWEBG Green Codes Database Coordinator, at (360) 789-9669 or GreenCodes@ecobuilding.org.

About the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
Founded in 1993, the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is a 501(c)(3) community of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest, and currently has seven active Chapters in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Please visit www.ecobuilding.org.

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2012-04-25T23:42:22Z Press Release NW EcoBuilding Guild Thanks Richard Kuhnel & Christopher Gronbeck http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/nw-ecobuilding-guild-thanks-richard-kuhnel-christopher-gronbeck The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, and its past and current Board members, would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Richard Kuhnel and Christopher Gronbeck for their hard work and dedication in developing, enhancing and maintaining the Guild’s web presence over the past decade. The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, and its past and current Board members, would like to give a heartfelt thanks to members Richard Kuhnel and Christopher Gronbeck for their hard work and dedication in developing, enhancing and maintaining the Guild’s web presence over the past decade.

Richard Kuhnel’s work began when he stepped up and volunteered to re-work, enhance the functionality of, and maintain the Guild’s very first website. Richard ensured that Guild would not only be able to continue to grow, educate and promote itself professionally online, but set the stage for the development of the Guild’s second website.

Christopher Gronbeck joined the Guild’s web team in preparation for the development of our second website. Christopher worked beyond his contract to understand the needs of the Guild and the desires of the board and its chapters while developing the site. His consulting role continued, and he developed functionality that became key to the operation of the Guild, and worked closely with Richard until the present site was developed.

With the launch of the Guild’s latest website in the fall of 2010, we bid farewell to both Richard Kuhnel and Christopher Gronbeck as the organization’s web consultants, but will miss their tireless dedication and ingenuity in this capacity. Without the long hours and quality work of these two individuals, the Guild would quite simply not be as successful as it is today.

Richard Kuhnel is the founder of Gentle Harvest in Sandpoint, Idaho, and combines working with nature, people and neighborhoods to establish human systems that are a harmonious part of the bioregional ecology.  He is also actively involved in the Sandpoint Transition Initiative, which aims to create a sustainable, resilient, and vibrant community in the greater Sandpoint area.

Christopher Gronbeck is the founder of Sustainable By Design in Seattle, WA, and provides solar engineering, green building consulting, graphic design, and web site design and programming services, primarily within the sustainable energy and architecture fields.

We look forward to a continued relationship, and ongoing collaboration with, both of these amazing sustainability advocates.

THANK YOU!

President and Board of Directors
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2011-06-06T22:56:15Z Press Release Upcoming Roundtables to Address High Performance Home Appraisals http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/upcoming-roundtables-to-address-high-performance-home-appraisals Northwest Residential Energy Efficiency Groups to Host Roundtables to Address Concerns in the Appraisal of High Efficiency Homes and Energy Efficient Retrofits Portland, OR - Homeowners throughout the Pacific Northwest often get startling news when they have their home appraised, especially if they have undergone energy efficiency retrofits or chosen to purchase a new energy efficient home. Home appraisers and the appraisal process are often unable to take home energy efficiency measures or energy efficiency certifications into account, leaving homeowners, builders, developers, and real estate industry professionals frustrated and confused by the evaluation process.

The Northwest ENERGY STAR(r) Homes Program is sponsoring a series of roundtable forums to address some of the concerns in the appraisal of high efficiency homes in the region. S.E.E.C LLC, the organization responsible for creating the roundtable agenda and curriculum, is launching the first in a series of roundtable discussions designed to encourage broader discourse and innovative solutions around valuing energy efficiency for new homes and energy retrofits. Along with the roundtables, specific classes are being offered to appraisers in Northwest ENERGY STAR's key markets in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. These roundtables continue the work started under the Green Building Value Initiative that examined the hypothesis of a premium for green and energy efficient homes.

In addition to home appraisers, the roundtables will include industry experts ranging from energy efficiency professionals to state energy and code offices, green certification programs, municipalities, real estate agents, developers, and green builders. "The issues around the valuation of green and energy efficient features are far too interwoven to expect one industry sector to provide the solution," said Fiona Douglas-Hamilton of S.E.E.C. LLC. "The roundtables were conceived as a means to bring the different industry groups together at the local level for frank discussion and to come up with solutions that have broad industry consensus. Outside of the appraisal community there is little understanding of the valuation process, a process that is ultimately determined by homebuyers' choices. There is now evidence that peoples' priorities around what they are looking for in a home are changing - yet there is little agreement how this shift in values should be treated. These meetings are designed to bring all the players to the table and to recognize we all bear an equal responsibility to move energy efficiency forward."

Following up on each roundtable, a minimum of one free 7 clock hour continuing education class will be offered to local appraisers. Northwest ENERGY STAR(r) Homes and Built Green(r) Washington are co-sponsoring the live classes in Washington, and S.E.E.C. is currently developing an online course that will serve appraisers in Northwest ENERGY STAR's Idaho and Montana markets. The course Green Home Trends and Appraisal Methodologies was developed for the Washington market around hard statistical data, trends, and case studies and allows the appraiser to consider, within work study groups, the various approaches to valuation for the types of green and energy efficient homes they will likely encounter in their local practice.

"Since appraisals are highly localized professional services, we felt it important that appraisers be able to clearly identify the programs they will encounter in their local markets," says Sam Lai, co-author of the class. "In Washington that's chiefly Built Green(r) and ENERGY STAR(r); although all programs that an appraiser could encounter, such as Earth Advantage(r), energy performance scores, and LEED(r), are well covered."

The first roundtables will be held in Olympia, WA on March 25, and Seattle on March 31.

About S.E.E.C. LLC
S.E.E.C. LLC Is a group of residential green building professionals and appraisers based in the Pacific Northwest who are concerned with the accurate recording of value in areas that have clearly demonstrated a consumer preference for sustainable building. S.E.E.C. LLC serves appraisers, real estate agents, developers and builders. They collaborate with organizations pursuing market transformation of residential building practices in the Americas by:

  • bringing stakeholders together to develop and implement strategies to recognize value for green and energy efficient homes in their region
  • developing and instructing market-specific curriculum for residential agents and appraisers
  • developing peer reviewed case studies for the valuation community
  • disseminating market data and valuation opinions


About Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes
ENERGY STAR qualified homes are designed, built and third-party verified to be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the current state building codes. ENERGY STAR qualified homes in ID, OR, MT and WA are built by home builders participating in the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program, which is made possible by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).

NEEA is a private non-profit organization funded by Northwest utilities, the Energy Trust of Oregon, and the Bonneville Power Administration. NEEA
works in collaboration with its stakeholders and strategic market partners to accelerate the sustained market adoption of energy-efficient products, technologies and practices. NEEA's market transformation efforts address energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and industry. Its mission is to mobilize the Northwest to become increasingly energy efficient for a sustainable future. In 2010, NEEA was awarded the EPA's ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award in part due to the implementation of the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program. For more information regarding NEAA, visit www.nwalliance.org.

Consumers can learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified homes by visiting www.northwestENERGYSTAR.com or calling 1.800.539.9362.

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2011-03-22T22:35:00Z Press Release Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Chapters Join 
Forces to Host Local Green Tours http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/northwest-ecobuilding-guild-chapters-join-forces-to-host-local-green-tours The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Green Tours will celebrate the leadership and ingenuity of our local green builders, suppliers, and do-it-yourselfers, as well as demonstrate how they are making green an affordable solution for everyone. (Seattle, WA) Building on the success of the South Sound Green Tour held in Olympia last year, both the South Sound and Seattle Chapters of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild will be hosting Green Tours this spring.

“These Green Tours represent an incredible opportunity to continue to drive the Guild’s mission of not only supporting the progressive work of our members, but educating the public about the many ways to improve the relationship between our communities and our built environment.” Says Fiona Douglas-Hamilton, Guild President.

The tours will also celebrate the leadership and ingenuity of our local green builders, suppliers, and do-it-yourselfers, as well as demonstrate how they are making green an affordable solution for everyone.

“It is so exciting that the Guild is taking their tour around the sound, there are so many good green projects out there and it is inspiring for consumers in smaller cities to see them in their own backyard!” Says Patti Southard Program Manager for King County GreenTools.

Both the South Sound Green Tour (www.southsoundgreentour.org) and the Seattle Green Home Tour (www.seattlegreenhometour.org), which are free and open to the general public, will be held the weekend of April 16 & 17th, 10am to 4pm daily. They will highlight a variety of green building, remodeling and retrofitting techniques, as well as a host of greener lifestyle options, including:

•    The new Passive House standard, demonstrating the value of super energy-efficient construction
•    How homes and their occupants can approach ‘Net Zero Energy’ use
•    Built Green®, NW Energy Star Homes, and LEED for Homes certified projects.
•    How to incorporate energy and water efficiency, improved into air quality and increased comfort into small and large home remodel projects
•    How to choose, where to purchase, and how to install or use eco-friendly products available today

“The level of excitement around these Green Tours is building quickly, and we’ve had a number of people and businesses calling us to ask how they can get involved”, remarks Cate O’dahl, Seattle Green Home Tour Coordinator.

Those already actively involved in making these Green Tours possible include King County Green Tools, Built Green® of King and Snohomish Counties, Thurston County Solid Waste, Envision Homes, Lastingnest, Inc., Mighty House Construction, Second Use Building Materials, Connor Remodeling & Design, Puget Sound Solar, Greenhome Solutions, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, LLC, and PCC Natural Markets.  

Others interested in participating in these Green Tours, can visit SouthSoundGreenTour.org or SeattleGreenHomeTour.org to learn about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

Detailed information about the Tour Sites is already available online, which includes locations in and around Olympia, Seattle, and East King County. Closer to the date, website visitors will be able to download tour brochures with locations and maps, and learn more about alternative transportation options, including vanpools, rideshares and public transportation.

Media Contacts
Cate O’dahl, Seattle Green Tour Coordinator, greenhometour@ecobuilding.org, 425.670.1342
Chris Van Daalan, South Sound Green Tour Coordinator, cvan@theverdantgroup.com, 360.789.9669

About the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is a 501(c)(3) community of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest, and currently has seven active chapters in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. www.ecobuilding.org

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2011-02-26T21:15:00Z Press Release Community Solar Cooperative Launches in Edmonds http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/community-solar-cooperative-launches-in-edmonds Sustainable Edmonds, in partnership with Tangerine Power, recently announced the launch of the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative that will install a 75-kilowatt community solar energy system in downtown Edmonds. Membership in the Cooperative, the first community-owned solar cooperative in Washington state, is open to both residents and businesses with financial contributions to the project being returned to members by the year 2020. Sustainable Edmonds, in partnership with Tangerine Power, recently announced the launch of the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative that will install a 75-kilowatt community solar energy system in downtown Edmonds. Membership in the Cooperative, the first community-owned solar cooperative in Washington state, is open to both residents and businesses with financial contributions to the project being returned to members by the year 2020.

Seattle-based Tangerine Power will manage the installation of the solar energy system on the roof of the Frances Anderson Center, a City of Edmonds-owned community center located at 700 Main St. The system will produce 75,000 kilowatt hours annually – a significant share of the center’s electrical use – and is estimated to save the City of Edmonds more than $30,000 over the next 20 years. Minimum $1,000 shares in the project – known as Sun Slices – went on sale today.

Sustainable Edmonds, a non-profit, volunteer-run citizens’ organization that was started in 2008, initiated the project and cooperative with support of the City of Edmonds. Sustainable Edmonds selected Tangerine Power as the developer and administrator of the project.

To jump start clean-energy projects, the State of Washington is now offering incentives for those who participate in community solar projects in which multiple owners or contributors provide the upfront capital funding, and then receive payments for the value of the electricity produced over time proportional to their stake in the overall project.

“This program allows everyone – home and condo owners, renters and business owners – an opportunity to participate in affordable solar,” said Chris Herman, a board member of the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative who also sits on the Sustainable Edmonds board.

The average cost for bringing solar power to a home is $25,000 to $30,000, and eligible homes must meet other criteria, such as having an appropriate roof with minimal obstructions that block the sun. “Joining a community solar cooperative is a more affordable way to participate in clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gases and generate clean energy,” Herman said. “You can purchase a solar panel or two, and then receive a share of the energy and incentives generated indirectly through a rebate to cooperative members.”

Tangerine Power CEO and founder Stanley Florek said his company created the “SunSlice” concept to describe the individual shares that cooperative members purchase. “Our mission is to generate clean solar energy across the nation, and make solar affordable by setting up and managing community cooperative solar gardens like the one in Edmonds,” Florek said.

Tangerine Power, founded in 2009, is a “for-benefit” company that develops community energy projects in partnership with local organizations like Sustainable Edmonds. Tangerine is bringing the successful European model for cooperative clean energy development home to the U.S.

Washington State currently offers a $1.08 per kWh incentive for solar electricity that is generated, if it is classified as a community solar project. On average, City of Edmonds customers pay between $.06 and $.08 cents a kWh, so the state rebates a majority of the payments to community members who joined the cooperative and purchased shares in the project.

SunSlices are available for those interested in being part of the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative. A minimum of 40 SunSlices must be sold by Dec. 24 to ensure the project is funded and can proceed. Visit www.tangerinepower.com/edmonds to learn more and join online.

 

About Chris Herman: Chris Herman is a long-time, and very active member of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild. He is also owner of Winter Sun Design, which specializes in residential passive solar, sustainable, building design and consulting. For more information, visit: www.wintersundesign.com.

About Tangerine Power: Tangerine Power, founded in 2009, is a “for-benefit” company that develops community energy projects in partnership with local organizations like Sustainable Edmonds. Tangerine is bringing the successful European model for cooperative clean energy development home to the U.S. For more information, visit: www.tangerinesolar.com.

About Sustainable Edmonds: Sustainable Edmonds is a 501(c)3 non-profit, Board run, independent local citizens’ organization, formed in 2008, open to all who are interested in the many facets of sustainability. The group’s mission is to help Edmonds to become ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable. For more information, visit www.sustainable-edmonds.org

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2010-12-19T02:25:00Z Press Release Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Announces Website Launch http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/northwest-ecobuilding-guild-announces-website-launch The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at www.ecobuilding.org. The website not only provides added value for members, but is a centralized and easy to navigate place for industry professionals and the public alike to quickly find the resources they need when undertaking sustainable building projects in the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at www.ecobuilding.org. The website not only provides added value for members, but is a centralized and easy to navigate place for industry professionals and the public alike to quickly find the resources they need when undertaking sustainable building projects in the Pacific Northwest.

The website was built by Seattle-based Groundwire using Plone, an open source content management system, and was integrated with a customized Salesforce database. These systems together provide the Guild with the robust platform it needs to not only create an online community of shared sustainable building insights and solutions, but also grow over time to meet the increased interest in green building.

Since its inception in 1993, the Guild has experienced exceptional growth in membership, and now has seven active Chapters across the Pacific Northwest. "Our members, many of which are leading industry experts, are the beating heart of this organization. This website reflects our commitment to meeting their needs and supporting their work” says Guild President Fiona Douglas-Hamilton.

Guild members can now quickly and easily post their own events, workshops or classes on the Guild's Events Calendar, highlight the details of their work in the Green Building Project Spotlights collection, and submit industry-related articles they author for online publication. Site visitors will have access to a wealth of regularly updated, relevant information from builders, designers, subcontractors, real estate professionals, suppliers and others who are out in the field every day, and actively evolving this industry.

Stay tuned as the Guild gets ready to launch an exciting line up of new educational programs on its website in 2011, including the Guild Green Tours and a catalog of green building classes and workshops.



About the Guild
The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is a 501(c)(3) community of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest. For more information contact Danielle Johnson, Communication/Marketing Chair & Website Administrator, at webadmin@ecobuilding.org or 206.679.0185.

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2011-02-08T03:57:36Z Press Release EPA LEAD Paint Rule Now In Affect http://www.ecobuilding.org/pressroom/press-releases/epa-lead-paint-rule-now-in-affect IMPORTANT UPDATE ON LEAD-BASED PAINT RENOVATION. EPA provided a extended grace period to the Lead Based Paint Ruling. That grace period is over. The federal law requires contractors to be RRP certified and to use lead-safe work practices. To become RRP certified you must complete an 8-hour EPA approved (RRP) Certification training. All contractors must also submit a firm application. IMPORTANT UPDATE ON LEAD-BASED PAINT RENOVATION

EPA provided a extended grace period to the Lead Based Paint Ruling. That grace period is over. The federal law requires contractors to be RRP certified and to use lead-safe work practices. To become RRP certified you must complete an 8-hour EPA approved (RRP) Certification training. All contractors must also submit a firm application.

To become RRP Certified: http://www.tm4group.com

To certify your firm:

Application for firm certification (PDF) (9 pp, 642K)

Example application for a renovation firm (PDF) (2 pp, 299K)

Example combination application for a renovator and abatement firm (PDF) (2 pp, 211K)

The EPA Lead Paint renovation rule was enacted April 22, 2010 and requires that any contractor paid to renovate or repair a home in which you would be disturbing six (6) square feet or more in a home or facility where children are present, must test for lead paint.  If lead paint is present, specific containment is required or penalties and fines will be sanctioned against the firm. If you are unfamiliar with this new rule, DON’T BE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD, get informed NOW. The grace period has expired and you can be fined up to $37,500 per violation. For details on the rule and how it affects your business see http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.  

A few changes to the rule have recently gone into effect. One is that Lead Paint Firm Certifications, which now costs $300 through EPA, will be changed to $25 in January when the State of Washington Dept of Commerce takes over the EPA program.

Gretchen Stewart, of TM4Group (which includes Guild members Jon Alexander and Doug Kennedy) says, the “possible downside (of the new changes is that), the State will be taking over the program. They (the State) now have 12 inspectors trained for enforcement. Now that does not sound like a lot but when you consider the fact that the Department's budget is based on the income from enforcement penalties... that is critical information. Their revenue will come from enforcement.”

Don’t help the State generate revenue by citing you for breaking the rule – get certified NOW.

“Everyone needs to understand the changes now in place AND everyone needs to be certified!”

TM4Group, in meeting with representatives from the EPA and the State Department of Commerce, says “EPA already provided a reprieve from the original April 22nd date for those who had not gained their RRP Certification:

"All contractors and tradespersons must show proof of registration to take an RRP Certification Course by OCTOBER 1st and must complete the 8-hour training program by December 31st."

The EPA deadline has passed, and they are ready to issue enforcement penalties.

For training information contact TM4Group, a certified EPA RRP Trainer and Northwest EcoBuilding Guild member, at 425-644-5355, gretchenaj@usa.net, or visit their website at http://www.tm4group.com.

]]> No publisher Danielle Johnson 2010-10-05T22:55:00Z Press Release