New York’s City Council passed major legislation this afternoon that places New York City at the forefront of municipal efforts to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.
Under the umbrella of PLANYC, which outlined measures to reduce our city’s total carbon footprint 30% by 2030, the four bills are known as the “Greener, Greater Buildings Plan” and are among the most progressive adopted in the United States. Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn announced the legislation on Earth Day (April 22) of this year and their offices have worked alongside Council Members Jim Gennaro, Dan Gardonick, Domenic Recchia, Jr. and Melissa Mark-Viverito as well as many others to shepherd the bills to passage.
Taken as a whole, this suite of bills is expected to reduce the city’s carbon footprint by nearly 5%, equal to eliminating the entire carbon footprint of Oakland, California.
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Urban Green Council is planning our educational calendar for Q1 2010 and would like your input to help us best serve your educational needs. Please take a moment now fill out our LEED Education Survey to let us know what you want to see next year. If you enroll in GBCI’s CMP Program before December 31st, you can count all CMP activities completed since July 8, 2009 (
including educational sessions at Urban Green Expo 2009!). See full details here.
If you have questions about LEED exams, credentialing or continuing education requirements, please see our new LEED Credentialing FAQ page.
At Urban Green’s Annual Member Meeting last week, candidates for the 2010 Board of Directors addressed the membership. There are four seats open: one for a representative of Emerging Green Builders (EGB), our young professionals group, and three for Directors-at-Large. Learn about the candidates and cast your vote here. (Only members of the Chapter may vote. If you are uncertain of your membership status, please contact Ben Weber at membership@urbangreencouncil.org.)
Energy Code Changes: What the Design Team Needs to Know
January 5th - 20th at Alexander Hamilton US Custom House
The NYC Department of Buildings now requires that all projects submitted for approval include calculations to demonstrate compliance with the NYS Energy Code. At the request of the New York City Department of Buildings the AIA New York Chapter, ASHRAE-NY and Urban Green Council have assembled a group of speakers to disseminate their knowledge and understanding of the NYS Energy Code and to make clear the Energy Code submittal requirements for all projects in NYC. These sessions will take place over 5 evenings in January. Details here.
AIA Continuing Education Credit: HSW/SD 1.5 (AIA credits may also be used by NY State Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors)
1st Wednesday Technical Roundtable: Lighting Retrofits
January 6th at Bovis Lend Lease
Utilizing Goshow Architects’ new office as a case study, the program provides attendees with a great opportunity to learn how to improve energy efficiency in existing commercial buildings in compliance with Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed Greener Greater Buildings Plan. Details here.
AIA Continuing Education Credit: HSW/SD 1.0 (AIA credits may also be used by NY State Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors).
Pentagram's Branding Work for Urban Green Council
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The Green Facade
EPA 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
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Carbon Neutral Now
Passivehaus Diary
Clearing a Path for Bikes in City Office Buildings
