The 2013 SC Clean Energy Summit, hosted by the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA), will take place July 11, 2013, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. This year’s theme: Fueling Innovation and Creating Jobs. The summit will bring together clean energy business leaders and representatives from across the Southeast to explore topics including solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy efficiency, clean energy project finance, clean transportation and recycling. Session panelists represent industry, academia, and government institutions, including the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, Santee Cooper, Sonoco, SPARC, South Carolina Research Authority, USGBC SC and others. Online registration and more details about the summit are available at http://bit.ly/ZSdujk. For more information about the SC Clean Energy Business Alliance, please visit www.scceba.biz.

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A home once owned by a South Carolina senator’s wife and acquired by the University of South Carolina 50 years ago has been renovated and is earning awards for green building and restoration.

The Spigner House, which forms the campus’ east boundary on Gregg Street, will be awarded the 2013 Preservation/Restoration Award Thursday, May 2, by the Historic Columbia Foundation. The renovations completed last summer earned LEED Gold, making Spigner House the fourth university building to achieve gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council. Other buildings include Patterson and Honors residence halls and the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library.

“LEED certification at the highest possible level is the goal of building and renovation today, and USC is certainly committed to becoming ever more sustainable,” said First Lady Patricia Moore-Pastides who helped guide the project. “In the Spigner House we were able to restore the craftsmanship and beauty of ages past while creating a space that will last well into the future with low environmental impact.”

Acquired by USC in 1963, the former private residence now features entertaining and meeting space on the first floor and houses Carolina Dining/Sodexo offices on the second floor. A number of sustainable features led to the LEED Gold rating including appliances and HVAC equipment that exceed energy performance standards, low-emitting finishes and materials and low flow water fixtures to reduce water use.

Originally built in 1915, it was bequeathed to Henrietta Geddes Baily Spigner, the wife of Sen. Adolphus Fletcher Spigner Jr., by her aunt Annie Gertrude Pressley. Sen. Spigner is a 1903 USC law graduate and served in the S.C. Senate from 1915- 1919, representing Richland County, before being named solicitor for the 5th Judicial Circuit.

USC is a leader in sustainability. The university was named to the 2013 Green Honor Roll, receiving the highest possible score on Princeton Review’s “Green Ratings.” It was the only university in South Carolina and was one of two universities in the Southeastern Conference to earn the top ranking.

All new construction on the university’s campus is built at LEED Silver or higher standards. It’s most ambitious green project is the new Darla Moore School of Business, which It is on track to become the largest LEED Platinum building in South Carolina, with the university pursuing a Net-Zero rating through a partnership between the Moore School and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Contact: Peggy Binette, News & USC Communications

803-777-7704; peggy@mailbox.sc.edu

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Celebrate Earth Day!

Two local events are being held Saturday April 20th, 2013 that you don’t want to miss!

See below for informational flyers for Earth Day at Indigo Park (on Kiawah Island)

and the Charleston County Earth Day Festival (at Riverfront Park in North Charleston).

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By Mark Godfrey, USGBC SC Chapter Board Chair

As a long-time volunteer, leader and participant in USGBC SC Chapter, it has been a constant source of conversation as to how to engage new members, how to reach new groups, and how to form new partnerships. At first, we tended to lean toward building practitioners, professional organizations, and related non-profits. However, as we grow as an organization, we are realizing that there are many people, groups and organizations out there that are seemingly unrelated, but who offer some surprising commonalities as well as a broader view of what we can be.

When I was asked to participate in a volunteer worker’s conference for members of the United Church of Jesus Christ in Columbia on February 22, I jumped at the chance. I have realized lately that there are many connections between the career I choose, the organization for which I volunteer, and the faith I profess. I was there at the conference to represent all three aspects of my life. Kimberly Lewis, Senior Vice President of Community Advancement, Conference & Events at USGBC voiced the same motivation. “I wanted to bring these two communities together that I care so much about,” Kimberly told the group of church workers. She was the organizer of the session on Green Churches and one of the planners of the conference. Her father is a pastor in one of the denomination’s churches in Baltimore. Joining Kimberly and I was Ryan Snow, one of USGBC’s Community Developers and one of the organizers of the new Faith-based / Community Service & Development Action Team.

The interactive presentation focused on practical ways to incorporate green building methods into church buildings and operations, but also provided an overview of the purpose and motivation of the USGBC. They invited me to put a local face to the organization, but also to show the good things we are doing here in our State-wide community. There was a lot of audience participation and some very good questions. Overall, the attendees showed a good working knowledge of sustainability even though none had direct ties to green building (Okay, there was one girl who was a doctoral student with a sustainability focus who suggested “geothermal” when asked about ways their church could be greener). I think it proves that, even though many people may not be familiar with the technical aspects of what we do as green building experts, they have a sense for what is the “right way” to do things – and a sense for the right reason to do things. Many of the participants either grew up on a farm, had frugal grandparents who didn’t waste anything, or recycled religiously (so to speak).

Many Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and other inter-faith groups already have a focus on sustainability. Kimberly and Ryan hope that this presentation would be a good spring-board to the Faith-based / Community Service & Development Action Team. The USGBC hopes the Team will reach out to many diverse faith-based groups and spread the message of green building.  I hope to continue to connect the dots. There are many reasons to form a common bond with these groups. Some of us probably already have many such bonds. Whether we are a community of designers, builders, organizers or believers, we are still all part of one community – earth. The decisions we make in one aspect of our lives can affect every other aspect. It really can come down to a simple concept (taken in religious or in secular context) – “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

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A bill opposing the use of LEED has been filed in the South Carolina House, co-sponsored by Representative William E. “Bill” Sandifer, III (District 2 – Oconee & Pickens  Counties) and Representative Dwight A. Loftis (District 19 – Greenville County).  Filed on February 21^st, H.3592 proposes to delete the use of LEED from the Energy Independence and Sustainable Construction Act of 2007, the current statute that requires certain state-funded building projects to achieve LEED Silver (or two Green Globes), unless “not economically feasible.”

The bill has been referred to the Public Utility Subcommittee of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.  At the Subcommittee’s first meeting on H.3592, held March 7^th, both the American Chemistry Council and the South Carolina Forestry Association spoke in support of the bill, claiming that LEED discriminates against South Carolina building materials.  Speaking in opposition were USGBC SC Chapter members John Brandon, Keith Sanders, Dennis Knight, and Executive Director Melissa Le Roy.  I submitted written comments for lack of time.

The Public Utility Subcommittee adjourned debate on H.3592 without a date certain, which means that it will taken up by the Subcommittee again at a future meeting.  Their staff tell us that this may be in mid-April.  Meanwhile, the Chapter is receiving advocacy advice from Jeremy Sigmon and Matt Pearce at USGBC headquarters, in the form of issue research, policy briefs, talking points, etc.  They also included verbal comments from Melissa Le Roy during their March 12^th National Advocacy Call.  The Conservation Voters of South Carolina have added H.3592 to their “Hotlist” of bills to oppose.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Contact one or more of the Representatives on the House Public Utility Subcommittee to exchange views on H.3592, especially if you are a constituent:

P. Michael “Mike” Forrester, Chairman – District 34 – Spartanburg County

William K. “Bill” Bowers – District 122 – Beaufort, Hampton & Jasper Counties

Grady A. Brown – District 50 – Kershaw, Lee & Sumter Counties

Phillip D. Lowe – District 60 – Darlington & Florence Counties

Dennis C. Moss – District 29 – Cherokee, Chester & York Counties

William E. “Bill” Sandifer, III – District 2 – Oconee & Pickens  Counties

You can use the “Find Your Legislators” search, online at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php, to identify and link to your own federal and state elected officials.  H.3592 is online at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3592.htm.

As a LEED project team member, e-mail me your project submittal templates for Regional Materials credit that list South Carolina sources for LEED certified projects.

E-mail me your voter registration address (Address, City, and Zip Code) to add to the Chapter membership database, for identifying elected officials with constituents in our Chapter.

Michael P. Criss, AICP, LEED AP

Advocacy Chair

mcriss@sc.rr.com

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Just released are two great reports that represent the Green Building Industry in South Carolina.  They are the South Carolina Snapshot and 2013 South Carolina Green Building Market Activity Report.

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Outdoor Airflow Control Improves Buildings

Approved for GBCI & AIA Credit

REGISTER HERE

Presenter: Ebtron    www.ebtron.com

Presentation Summary:

Outdoor air (i.e. ventilation) is critical to ensuring a productive and healthy indoor environment and is required by building codes and industry standards. Unmanaged outdoor air is wasteful and expensive to condition in many regions of the world. This course demonstrates the advantages of measuring and controlling outdoor air intakes versus the traditional approach of relying upon a fixed outdoor air damper position, provides guidelines for the design and resulting control of the airflow monitors, provides a selection criteria for outdoor airflow monitors, and identifies how to achieve LEED 2009, NC, IEQ Credit 1 – Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring.

The goal of this course is to promote the application of outdoor air monitoring and control to improve a building’s indoor environment, pressurization control, and energy use.

The target audience for this course is consulting engineers, architects, contractors, owners, facility managers, code officials, and LEED project managers with a basic knowledge of HVAC systems.

Learning Objectives:

1. Compare HVAC Systems With and Without Outdoor Airflow Measurement & Control

2. Design and Apply Outdoor Airflow Measurement and Control Systems

3. Prepare and Apply for Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring LEED Point (LEED 2009 IEQ- Credit 1)

4. Specify Outdoor Airflow Monitors

When:

March 26, 2013

6:00-6:30 Social with Snacks and Beverages

6:30-7:30 Program

Where:

Applied Building Sciences

1890 Milford St. Charleston, SC 29405

Continuing Education Credit:

1 GBCI LEED Specific Credit

1 AIA HSW Credit

****2013 Membership Blitz!!! Any USGBC-SC member who brings a non-member guest to a monthly program will be entered to win one of six $100 gift certificates to Half-Moon Outfitters!!! The drawing will be held in December. ****

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Call them Green Building Rock Stars, Sustainability Super Heroes or just plain leaders.  The South Carolina Chapter of the US Green Building Council wants to honor them at the Seventh Annual Green Building Leadership Awards Program, sponsored by Duke Energy and the Luncheon sponsored by BMW held in conjunction with SustainSC2013, April 24-26 in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Nominations will be accepted for Leadership Awards and Exemplary Project Awards through February 28, 2013.  Click here for the nomination form and instructions.

The awards honor outstanding people, organizations and projects that have furthered the cause of green building in South Carolina.  Nominees must be honored for work performed in the state, and honored projects must have been completed within the past three years.

Leadership awards will honor individuals, firms or organizations that lead by example, or which have helped to transform markets by providing information or education that establishes the value of green building.  They are intended to honor efforts “above and beyond” —not simply a job well done.

An Exemplary Project is one characterized by unique environmental, social and economic success, as well as its ability to inspire others.  It will also be judged by measurable attributes such as energy or water savings. Projects must be registered for certification under the USGBC’s LEED certification program.  In certain instances a project may be considered if it is registered under the Green Globes, EarthCraft or NAHB Green Homes programs.

Past award recipients include:

2006: University of South Carolina, Furman University, Clemson University, John Knott (Noisette)

2007: S.C. Energy Office, Craig Gaulden Davis, Coastal Carolina University, Sen. James Ritchie

2008: Mayor Keith Summey, City of North Charleston, Upstate Forever,  7^th Grade Teachers of Georgetown Middle School, Dennis Knight

2010: James Meadors/Charleston Green Committee, Tony Bakker, Frank Powell (Furman University), Beezer Molten/Halfmoon Outfitters

2011: Don Cameron, Housing Authority of Charleston, YMCA of Coastal Carolina, Jackson School, Kershaw County School District, Holiday Inn Hotel, W. Columbia, Keith Sanders Service Award, for outstanding service to the Chapter:  Denise Sherman, Allen Taylor, John Hansen

2012: Bryan Cordell, SC Sustainability Institute, Wofford College Goodall Environmental Studies Center, Keith Sanders Service Award, for outstanding service to the Chapter:  Denise Sherman, Allen Taylor, John Hansen, Dan Gerst

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – (February 2013) – A past winner of the USGBC-SC Chapter Green Building Leadership Award has received another honor related to the greening of the hospitality industry.

Hema Patel, Owner/Partner of Courtesy Management Inc. and owner of the Holiday Inn & Suites Columbia-Airport, was named the South Carolina Hotelier of the Year by the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA).

Read More…

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