News

In 2009, Sustainable Tallahassee partnered with Rainbow Rehab, Inc., to begin renovation of an older home at 303 Putnam Drive. This effort resulted in achievement of the US Green Building Council’s “LEED for Homes Gold” certification.  The LEED award was presented by the local chapter of the U.S.Green Building Council at Sustainable Tallahassee’s Green Drinks on November 28, 2012 to Buddy Holshouser, President of Rainbow Rehab, the current homeowner, and the team involved in this project.
 
The dedicated team from inception throughout the renovation and finally to achievement of LEED certification includes:

• Anne Hingst, founder of Rainbow Rehab
• Buddy Holshouser, President of Rainbow Rehab and Team Leader
• Mark Worley, US Green Building Council member and volunteer builder, and board member of Sustainable Tallahassee at the time of this project
• Marc Dick, landscape designer
• Rachelle McClure, LEED project team leader, LEED AP
• Steven Service, energy and LEED rater
• Jeanette Castillo, who created the documentary film
• Mark D. Powell, PhD, Sustainable Tallahassee board member who coordinated the completion of the LEED certification
• More than 100 volunteers, including many FSU students

This renovation created a home that is 40% more efficient than most new US homes and 30% more efficient than new homes built to the Florida building code. Some of the features include: closed-cell foam insulation throughout, tankless water heater, metal roof, energy star appliances and HVAC, thermal windows and energy efficient lighting, re-use of existing beadboard walls and ceiling, water permeable exterior hardscaping, and effective landscaping to control runoff and eliminate or reduce the need for watering. The structure was originally built in 1939 with local cypress which protected against rot and infestation, and by careful re-use of materials the landfill waste was minimal.  The home also achieved an Energy Star rating with a HERS score of 60.

The LEED Green Building Rating System (LEED = Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a cutting edge certification of sustainably built and operated green buildings.  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) administers the LEED rating system in an effort to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life for the people who use the buildings.  The rating system is consistently updated in an effort to encourage market transformation towards more sustainable practices.  LEED certified buildings represent the top 20% of the market in terms of sustainability.

LEED certified homes are required to meet sustainability standards in seven different categories:

• Sustainable Sites
• Locations and Linkages
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Awareness and Education
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality

For this reason, all parts of a LEED certified home can be considered to be green.  But, the homes are also healthy, comfortable and durable.
 
Achieving LEED certification of a home is not simple because every aspect of the home, inside and out, must be environmentally responsible.  Out of 100 potential LEED credits for green features of a home, the home on Putnam Drive achieved a score of 70, eligible for the “Gold” level of certification.  Nationwide, 670,000 houses have achieved LEED certification, with 172,000 of those achieving “Gold” level.  In Florida, there are 366 certified homes, with only 3 in Tallahassee.  That is evidence that the LEED certification of the home at 303 Putnam Drive is a huge accomplishment by the project team.

An outstanding video documenting the process and featuring many of the team listed above was produced by the FSU School of Communications - click HERE to see the full video and the completed home.

You can learn more about the LEED certification at www.usgbc.org/leed/homes or visit the website of the local USGBC chapter at www.usgbc-fcrc.org

Our sister organization in Georgia is holding a conference on sustainability as it pertains to historic preservation. The following is from the email they forwarded to us.

Is your voice lost in the din of cries to “build green!”, “save our historic places!”, “green tech is the answer!”? How do we unite our voices to value and promote preservation as a critical first step in the sustainability journey? Join us in Atlanta for an inaugural conference focusing on southern initiatives that combine sustainability and historic preservation, preserve tradition and ecology, while achieving high standards of sustainability. This conference will help us merge our conversations and actions to restore and revitalize our cities, communities, economy, and enhance our quality of life. We hope you will join us and please share with your networks!

HERE is a link to the agenda: shpdraft conf agenda 7-30.pdf

Click here to register:USGBC GEORGIA website - event registration

Members and non-members are invited to our monthly mixer at Level 8 at the Hotel Duval. We meet the 1ST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. This is an informal gathering of green professionals with a short presentation on one of Tallahassee's LEED Gold building projects, the FSU Student Success Center Phase II /  Dunlap Building. Project team leaders will be available for questions, after a brief presentation on the LEED certification process for the building.

Members and invited guests are welcome - no fees are associated with this event. However, please take a moment to register so we can prepare for attendance. Click here to register USGBC Mixer @ Level 8, Hotel Duval

Level 8 is located on the eighth floor of the Hotel Duval, at 415 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL. Phone (850) 224-6000. Here is a link to google maps: Hotel Duval - Google map

All drinks will be priced at happy hour prices ($3 domestic beers, house wine & well drinks). Valet parking is available, and plenty of street parking is available on E. Carolina St. and E. Virginia St

fyi...We received the following email regarding an open executive position in California.

Ms. Freeman,

Ralph Andersen & Associates is working with the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) on the recruitment of their new Executive Director. I wanted to make sure that you and any of your contacts are aware of this important position and would like to ask your assistance in circulating the attached recruitment announcement for this position.

Anyone interested or any referrals can be directed to me at this email address. I can also be contacted at (916.630.4900) or on my cell phone (916.804.2885). I am available after hours to have a discussion with interested parties.

I would appreciate you considering this information and/or routing this information to appropriate parties right away. Thank you again for your help.

Heather Renschler
Ralph Andersen & Associates
heather@ralphandersen.com
Office 916.630.4900 ext. 18
Cell 916.804.2885
5800 Stanford Ranch Road, Suite 410
Rocklin, CA 95765
www.ralphandersen.com

Join the Florida Capital Region Chapter for the Green Apple Day of Service on Sept. 29!

The first annual Green Apple Day of Service, hosted by the Center for Green Schools, brings together advocates from around the world, including students, teachers, parents, USGBC chapters and community members in support of healthy, sustainable schools through service projects in their communities.

Visit mygreenapple.org to find or start a project in your community, show your support for our movement, connect with others who are already taking action and share your story with us.

http://usgbcga.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=72&eventId=348286

Welcome and Congratulations to our new committee chairs:

Education Chair: Hal Lunsford, Dept. of Env. Protection

Nominations Chair: Gretchen Miller, AIA, Florida A&M Univ.

Membership Committee: Kevin Gardener, Culpepper Construction

The president, Marc Dick, made the appointments this past Friday and the board approved each of them unanimously. Please join us in congratulating them on their new positions within the USGBC-Florida Capitol Region Chapter.

The Delta Kappa Omega Foundation Providence Community Service Center, to be constructed at Levy Ave. and Highland St. in Tallahassee, has been selected by the Florida Capital Region Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to receive no-cost assistance with LEED®  building certification. 

Tallahassee, Florida, December 17, 2010 – The Capital Region Chapter of the USGBC has announced that the proposed Delta Kappa Omega Foundation Providence Community Service Center is the recipient of its first annual Green Building Outreach Initiative (GBOI).  This assistance program will allow the developers of the Providence Center to receive from the Chapter payment of LEED® certification fees and the pro bono services of USGBC volunteers for the design and documentation required for certification as a green building.  LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  The LEED® certification process is an internationally recognized program that provides independent, third party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. 

The Providence Center is a planned 5,900 square foot multi-use building that will include two meeting rooms, computer training space, and a central meeting hall.  The facility is proposed for construction at the northwest corner of Levy Avenue and Highland Street in South Tallahassee.  The center is being developed by the non-profit Delta Kappa Omega Chapter Foundation, Inc. with assistance from the City of Tallahassee.  The Delta Kappa Omega Foundation has a membership of 250 African American women dedicated to serving the Tallahassee community.  According to the Foundation, the Center will provide a positive place where residents of the Providence community can connect with each other and develop stability and neighborhood pride.  The developers of the project are anticipating that future energy savings will be a major benefit of LEED® certification.  They also believe that the certification will be a source of pride as well as an opportunity to educate the community about the benefits of energy efficient design.

According to the USGBC there are other benefits to organizations that achieve LEED® certification including reduced operating costs, improved employee productivity and satisfaction, and enhanced occupant comfort and health.  LEED® certification can also serve toward furthering a non-profit’s mission to serve the community by enhancing and protecting local ecosystems, improving air and water quality, reducing solid waste, conserving natural resources, minimizing strain on local infrastructure, and contributing to a community’s overall quality of life.

The Florida Capital Region Chapter of USGBC hopes that this GBOI pilot project will generate interest and raise awareness in the community for sustainable design and LEED® certification. The Legacy Program is expected to not only provide a valuable service to non-profit organizations that are selected to receive assistance, but will also allow local USGBC members as well as other interested volunteers to receive experience in the LEED®  certification process.

The US Green Building Council is a nationwide non-profit organization that promotes environmentally sustainable building design and operation.  The Florida Capital Region Chapter includes a membership of approximately 220 and serves Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Liberty, Taylor, Madison, Holmes, Washington, Franklin, Gulf, and Calhoun counties.

Engaging and Educational Experience For All

This event, which builds on our efforts from the 2008 Climate Action Summit, will educate attendees of the benefits and necessity of developing a sustainable community. The 2010 Sustainable Communities Summit will feature presentations and workshops on fostering a sustainable economy and the importance of sustainable food systems, two key aspects of a sustainable community.

Local Sustainable Business & Economy - The goal of community sustainability is to establish local economies that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible.

Sustainable Food Systems - Community efforts can encourage sustainable agriculture practices, support local food producers, and facilitate the production and distribution of locally-produced food through farmer’s markets and cooperative food buying programs.

Registration - There are two options being offered inclusive of meals, a $20 option for students and a $45 option for non-students.  The meals will consist of continental breakfast and plated lunch featuring organic and local ingredients.

For more information visit http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/summit/index.html