• Meet The Trainers: Scott Kelly and David Johnston
  
• We Want To Hear From You!
  
• Spotlight On: York College of Pennsylvania Engineering Innovation Center
• 2008 Tax Deduction Supports Commercial Green Building Practices
  
• Green Advantage in the News: Certification Benefits Building Professionals
  
• Welcome to GA's New COO and General Counsel
  
• Announcing Green Advantage's New Director of Certification
  
• Green Tip from Matthew Wylie of Texas
  
• Green Advantage at GreenBuild
  
• California Adopts Green Building Code
  
• Making a Difference: GreenFleet!
  
• Green Advantage Success Story: D.C. Chapter of NECA
  
• Upcoming Green Advantage Training Opportunities
  

Meet The Trainers: Scott Kelly and David Johnston

Scott Kelly launched Re:Vision Architecture, one of the region's leading lights in green building. Re:Vision works exclusively on green and sustainable projects with a quarter of its business focused on educating architects and contractors about sustainable practices.

Re:Vision works exclusively on green and sustainable projects with a quarter of its business focused on educating architects and contractors about sustainable practices.

David Johnston, residential Green Advantage® nationally acclaimed trainer and author, self-proclaimed “recovering builder”, and visionary. His job is “to facilitate the transition from conventional practice to green building,” a transition that is, in his view, a necessity not a luxury.

David is the founder of What's Working, Inc., a unique firm that guides clients ranging from individual homeowners to corporations and from states to municipalities on how to incorporate green building into everyday practice.

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We Want to Hear from You!

We want to hear from you, our GreenAdvantage® Certified Practitioners, about what is and isn’t working in the field. In future issues of our GREENLIGHT newsletter, green tips, best practices, certification success stories, or other articles selected for publication will include the contributor's name, picture, company, and website address. Your ideas and thoughts about how to be more successful with green building are appreciated!

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Spotlight On: York College of Pennsylvania Engineering Innovation Center

What's the value of green building in a community? More than the resulting efficiency and cost savings, green building can contribute to a community's pride and character.

This is not just a “warm and fuzzy” effect but a catalyst to attract more visitors, businesses and residents. Kinsley Construction, Inc. demonstrated this with its green renovation of the York Narrow Fabrics Company factory, into the York College of Pennsylvania Engineering Innovation Center. Kinsley Construction, Inc., a design/build, construction management and full-service general contracting firm in the mid-Atlantic region, has committed to green building throughout the firm. Thirty-five of Kinsley's employees are Green Advantage-Commercial (GA-C) Certified.

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2008 Tax Deduction Supports Commercial Green Building Practices

According to Blackman Kallick, a leading Chicago-based accounting firm, the 2008 tax law provides a deduction for commercial green building practices.

Under prior law, the cost of energy-saving investments generally had to be capitalized and depreciated. Now, Section 179D provides a deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings through December 31, 2008. A deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is allowed for the cost of investment in energy-efficient commercial building property that is part of new construction or renovation. The amount of the deduction is limited to the lesser of (1) $1.80 per square foot of the building or (2) the cost to install “energy-efficient commercial building property.”

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Green Advantage in the News.... Certification Benefits Building Professionals

In July, The Philadelphia Business Journal reported on the growth of Green Advantage® and how certification benefits the building industry professionals. An excerpt from that article:

"It's one thing to design a green building, but if the contractor doesn't understand why the design team asks [for things], it can be derailed," Heather Blakeslee (educational programs coordinator for the Delaware Valley Green Building Council) said. "It takes all three steps operating in a green manner to realize cost, energy and water savings. It's got to be designed, built and operated green."

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Welcome Green Advantage's New COO and General Counsel

On September 15, 2008, Marc Nichols joined GreenAdvantage® as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. I caught up with Marc earlier this month and had an opportunity to ask him about his move to Green Advantage and his goals for the organization. He started by stating that he looks forward to meeting and working with all the members of the Green Advantage community. He's currently traveling around meeting major clients but invites your contact if you have immediate concerns or needs.

Q. Marc, you've been on board a short time but already we're seeing some changes around Green Advantage. What changes are underway?

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Announcing Green Advantage's New Director of Certification

Green Advantage is pleased to welcome the new Director of Certification, Dr. Amy Townsend. Amy joined the Green Advantage team on October 15. Amy is pleased to support the training and certification of contractors and designers and looks forward to expanding the GA certification in the United States and abroad.

As the Director of Certification services, Amy is responsible for creating, processing, and finalizing GA's authorized training standards; producing and maintaining protocols, policies and procedures; creating new exams, study guides, and curriculum guides; overseeing the exam process; and ensuring that certification services meet or exceed all third-party requirements.

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Green Tip from Matthew Wylie of Texas - Change the culture

The construction business is awash in the green building movement. As clients become more aware that green building is a legitimate economic initiative, more are gravitating to what was previously viewed as a movement of tree-hugging philanthropy. Meanwhile, the public is bombarded with green media, making green buildings, and green business viable marketing strategies for organizations

For individuals, living green is a lifestyle shift. Likewise, organizations must make a deliberate change in their culture to most effectively take advantage of their green opportunities. This culture change doesn’t have to be dramatic or swift or come in great leaps of progress but must be embraced by leadership and grounded in education.

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Green Advantage at GreenBuild

Are you coming to GreenBuild?

This year, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo will convene in Boston November 19-21.

As stated on the GreenBuild Web site, Boston is the historic cradle of the American Revolution and home to innovations that have far-reaching impact. It is the perfect place to celebrate Greenbuild 2008’s theme of “Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability.”

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California Adopts Green Building Code

A Green Building Code has been adopted by the California Building Standards Commission that policymakers say is the first of its kind in the nation. The new code will be voluntary until 2010 when its provisions are expected to become mandatory. The code sets targets for energy efficiency, water consumption, dual plumbing systems for potable and recyclable water, diversion of construction waste from landfills, and use of materials in construction and design.

The standards cover commercial and residential construction in the public and private sectors. The green thresholds include a 15% reduction in energy use compared to current standards. All the measures would at least be comparable to the requirements of a "silver rating" under the (LEED) standards.

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Making a Difference: GreenFleet!

I spoke with a colleague recently about changes being implemented in their company and had one of those stunning “Why didn’t I think of that first!” moments. After a round of golf….um, networking laced with much Green Building discussion, I was embarrassed as we dropped my clubs off at my big, bad, 5.7 liter Dodge Ram (yeah, it’s got a Hemi), and then proceeded to his Toyota Camry Hybrid.

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Green Advantage Success Story: D.C. Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association

Electrical contractors in the Washington, D.C. area are taking aggressive steps to increase their knowledge of green building. One such step is by participating in Green Advantage training programs. The Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association has held three GA workshops this year: two sponsored by The Electrical Alliance--a partnership of NECA-D.C. and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers--and one sponsored by the Association itself. Around 100 employees from electrical contracting firms participated in one of the three workshops and demand is high for more training opportunities.

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Upcoming Green Advantage Training Opportunities

Interested in becoming Green Advantage ® Certified?

Through the certification process, Green Advantage, Inc. endeavors to elevate the standards and enhance the capabilities of building industry personnel to produce high performance, healthy buildings through integrated design and construction. To arrange your own in-house corporate Green Advantage © Authorized Training and Certification Event please contact us at info@greenadvantage.org. Let us help you meet your Green Building Goals!

Check out these upcoming training opportunities

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