Green Reflections: Fresno Branch Event in Review

The bi-monthly USGBC Fresno Branch program and Green Mixer was an exciting one with two distinguished local professionals with a healthy Central Valley on their agendas! The meeting was kicked off with a Green Mixer and was a fun hour of socializing with our green friends!

Reflecting the close connection between LEED standards and air quality measures in the Central Valley, USGBC was pleased to present Dan Barber of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District as the first speaker. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Valley Air District) is committed to improving the health and quality of life for all Valley residents through effective and cooperative air quality programs. The focus of Tuesday night's event was on general District functions and achievements as well as introduction and review of Rule 9510 Indirect Source Review.

Rule 9510 is a commitment in the Environmental Protection Agency approved PM10 Attainment Demonstration Plan with an objective to air quality impacts associated with new development projects within the San Joaquin Valley. The measure targets project construction and operational emissions and is credited with significantly reducing Valley emissions. The District's function is to protect public health while promoting good economic climate.   

Congratulations to SJVAPCD for their achievements, including being the most efficient District in the State, having the lowest mitigation fees in the State, and setting a Valley Clean Air Record in August.  Thank you for your thorough and informative presentation!

View presentation here. 


Our second notable presenter of the evening was Sam Geil, representing the non-profit International Green Industry Hall of Fame with the mission of recognizing individuals and organizations from across the globe for outstanding achievement(s) in the Green Industry and providing an educational forum for the international public.

The Inaugural Induction Ceremony & Conference held at the LEED Certified U.C.Merced campus on March 25, 2011 was a great success, with many inductees including: ACORE, Grundfos, Josh Dorfman, DripTech, City of Fresno, Recycling Program, and Duke Smart Home Program. Congratulations to International Green Industry Hall of Fame for enthusiastically supporting green building and to all of the 2011 inductees for your dedication to promoting a healthy and sustainable environment.

Applications and additional information regarding the IGIHOF  can be found at /http://www.gogreenhall.org/.

Check back soon for information on the Fresno Branch January event! Fresno Branch events are held on the first Tuesday of every odd month (Jan, March, etc) at 5:30pm at the Unitarian Church. 

Support growth and innovation of the green building sector by sponsoring Valley Go Green Summit and Expo

Don't miss this golden GREEN opportunity! The USGBC Central California Chapter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is seeking sponsorship for the Valley Go Green Summit on February 23, 2012. We are looking for corporate sponsors and have booth spaces available for the vendor expo for this event expected to draw over 300 attendees.Sponsorship opportunities are available at a number of levels with excellent benefits. This is a great opportunity for your company to show its leadership in the green building industry in the Central Valley and beyond.

The Valley Go Green Summit is a highly informative event with a focus on presenting creative solutions to the community and organizations for applying innovative renewable energy initiatives and green building techniques to create more sustainable communities. Attendees will enjoy learning collaboratively throughout the full day interactive summit with multiple education sessions and notable featured guest speaker, Terry Tamminen. Hosted by USGBC-CC in partnership with Southern California Edison, the Valley Go Green Summit will have something for everyone – from the experienced LEED professional to the novice homeowner.

Learn more about partnering with USGBC-CC for this exciting event!

Check back soon for updates!

USGBC and Joint Building, Design and Construction professionals Holiday Party

It’s that time of year again!

Join us for the 18^th Annual Industry Holiday Party!!!

Thursday December 8^th, 6pm-9pm

Register online now at:

http://www.cencalbx.com/registration/default.asp?EventID=411

or contact the Central California Builders Exchange

Join local Building, Design and Construction

Industry professionals at the Fresno Art Museum

Tickets are an economical $25 per person

Please join us for an evening of art, drinks, music, hors d’oeuvres,
and a 50/50 cash raffle to benefit the Rotary Storyland/Playland

Board of Directors Call for Nominations

The USGBC Central California Chapter announces a Call for Nominations to the Chapter’s Board of Directors through November 25, 2011. Applications are to fill four 2-year board seats. Officers include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Chapter is also seeking Directors from Mariposa/Merced/Madera, Fresno, Tulare/Kings, and Kern Branches as developing these Branches is an ongoing chapter goal. 

The Board of Directors leads the CC Chapter in implementing its goal to provide green building education, training and advocacy programs to Central California individuals in order to promote sustainable communities. In 2011, the Board has guided the CC Chapter in providing free LEED Workshops, Storm Water Training, educational and social bi-monthly branch programs, participation in the Energy Efficiency Expo with the EDC Clean Energy Cluster, and developing the first Valley Go Green Summit region wide conference planned for 2012. 

We are calling on all our members and future members to help guide the Chapter toward our goals through your dedicated leadership. If you share our vision and want to help carry out our mission you are encouraged to apply for nomination through our application process.  And, remember, although its main responsibility is providing overall policy direction, the Board also offers lasting business relationships and friendships.

All members of our chapter, both USGBC National Member employees and individual members who are not National Member employees, are eligible to apply for the Board of Directors open positions and to vote in the Chapter election. Please note that if you are not currently a USGBC Central California Chapter member, we would still love to have you. Please JOIN USGBC here to qualify for leadership and voting privileges.  

We are looking for individuals from across Central California who bring a desirable mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership experience, partnership opportunities, diversity and continuity and who will actively provide strong and dynamic statewide leadership.

We hope you will consider this exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the Chapter, USGBC and that of the green building industry. To learn more about the CC Chapter board responsibilities, qualifications, and about nominating yourself or others, please FOLLOW THIS LINK.  Nominations are due November 25, 2011. Please send nomination forms to info@usgbccc.org. 

Thank you,

2012 Nominating Committee

US Green Building Council Central California Chapter

First LEED Gold and Fresno Green Office Commercial Building!

Congratulations to Geil Family, LLC, State of California Department of General Services, and Musson General Contracting with their design team for bringing the first LEED GOLD commercial office building to Fresno!! You have shown us that "Fresno Green" happens now.

The State of California's DGS Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is Fresno’s first  commercial office building to be awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for incorporating significant sustainability measures into its design. Owner and Developer, Geil Family, LLC in cooperation with the State of California’s commitment to sustainable design has set an example of what can be designed to save energy and money.

The new building illustrates how building owners are able to work with the State of California Department of General Services, Leasing and Planning Section to provide environmentally responsible facilities for State agencies that lease office space. These types of projects demonstrate DGS and CDCR’s continued commitment to reducing facility operational costs by utilizing energy-conservation strategies at the parole unit buildings.

The new 12,587 square foot office building located downtown on the corner of Divisadaro and “G” Street, achieved the prestigious LEED GOLD Certification for incorporating significant energy savings. The building uses 40% less electricity and water than a typical building of its size due to sustainable measures. The building has a light colored roof to reflect Fresno’s summer heat, waterless urinals, automatic light and motion sensors, higher grade insulation, native plants that require minimal water, building materials with high content of recycled materials that were manufactured locally to save on fuel emissions, as well as using green janitorial cleaning chemicals and systems. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for employees, residents, and the community-at-large.

To build a project like this, the General Contractor, Musson General Contracting, had to have a team of design professionals that were committed to building a sustainable project. The California Department of General Services negotiated the build-to-suit lease to ensure the building accomplished at least a LEED Silver certification which equates to earning a certain number of points that are related to green building practices. With the help of the LEED Accredited Professional, Michelle Musson, along with a team of professional contractors and designers (DLP Associates, Glumac Engineers, Precision Civil Engineering, and Bigler and Assoc. Landscape Architect), the project achieved enough points to meet the even higher LEED Gold requirements. To accomplish this task, Musson used a Design Build approach and took the initial vision of a sustainable project and in turn, designed and constructed a well-built energy-saving building for the developer. The key, Musson believes, is to have a well organized team that understands the whole-building concept of sustainability and is committed to green building practices, so increased costs are at a minimum. The team also invited PG&E into the design phase of the project using the Savings by Design Program which gives money to projects that incorporate energy savings.

On November  4, 2011, the project was presented with the LEED Gold plaque by USGBC National and the Fresno Green certificate by the City of Fresno at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the ribbon cutting and plaque/certificate presentations, an eager audience was given a tour of the building to see the LEED credits and savings in action. A picture tour is provided below:

November 8th Fresno Branch Program

USGBC Fresno Branch is pleased to invite you to our 

next bi-monthly program on November 8th!

GREEN MIXER - Please join us for a social hour before the program begins 

to have some fun and connect with other green industry members! 

Refreshments will be served.

Two Special Presenters: 

Daniel T. Barber, Ph.D., San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Sam Geil, International Green Hall of Fame

Follow the link below for additional information:

Where: Universalist Church, 2672 East Alluvial, Clovis, CA

When: Green Drinks - 5:30pm, Program - 6:30pm