SBIC Announces 2011 Beyond Green Jury

The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council is pleased to announce the jury for the 2011 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards.  The jury is comprised of industry members whose commitment to excellence is longstanding and well documented.  Our jury includes: Ron Burton, Tom Herron, James W Leach, and Charles Matta, FAIA.  This year’s program is being chaired by Helen English.  For more click here

Recap by Bud DeFlaviis, Executive Director

Reminding our policymakers about the role that buildings play in our daily lives is an important, ongoing process. Events like High Performance Building Week help the industry achieve its mission. Building practitioners representing a variety of industries and trades recently convened in Washington for the annual High-Performance Building Week. Events in support of the week were designed to remind policymakers about the important role that buildings play in supporting our economic success and our overall wellbeing.

Held during the week of May 23rd, the sessions were kicked off with a press conference held by SBIC Chairman, Doug Read, Congressman Russ Carnahan and Congresswoman Judy Biggert. This was followed by a High-Performance Building Briefing 101, designed to help new Congressional staffers understand building basics, and the critical role they play in our lives. The day ended with a Building Community Leadership Dialogue, hosted by NIBS. The discussion focused on the release of the Consultative Council’s report to Congress and featured a discussion focused workforce and education issues facing the building community.

Wednesday featured a Congressional Caucus Coalition Briefing that provided attendees with a bipartisan, inside look at the budgetary issues facing Congress, and the building community today. This was followed by a tour of American University’s campus, which has undergone significant retrofits designed that improve the University’s sustainability profile. Thursday began another Congressional briefing for staffers of the findings of the NIBS Consultative Council Report as well as progress being made by the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium. The week ended with a reception hosted by the American Society of Landscape Architects on their rooftop, which an outstanding example of an urban green roof.

Interest in green buildings has grown tremendously over the years as consumers recognize that a number of energy-efficiency strategies can save money and reduce impact on the environment. Not surprisingly, the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is encouraged by this recognition.  To learn more, click here.

Portland Cement Association (PCA) predicts little growth (+3.4%) for housing starts in 2011. A significant increase of 40%, however, is expected for 2012. The cause of the 2011 delay, PCA reports, is unstable housing prices, tight lending standards, and a high home inventory. Foreclosure environments are expected to counteract favorable conditions, such as employment gains and affordability improvements. Edward Sullivan, PCA chief economist, predicts growth construction will vary considerably by region, even with an expected improvement of national economic conditions. To learn more, visit the full document here.



A new User’s Manual, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, educates industry professionals on how to meet the requirements of a green building standard published by three leading industry organizations. To learn more click here. To learn more, Click Here.

The latest case study detailing SBIC’s Beyond Green™ award winner is now available on the WBDG website. This study examines how the Empire State Building underwent an extensive retrofit designed to achieve comprehensive energy savings in a way that would replicable for other commercial properties. Submitted by Rocky Mountain Institute, Jones Lang LaSalle, Clinton Climate Initiative and Johnson Controls, this iconic building will continue to inspire and educate others who want to create high-performance buildings. Click Here.

Beyond Green™ Residential Case Study is Now Available on the WBDG! A new Case Study examining the Charlotte Vermont House is now available on the WBDG website. This study examines how Pill—Maharam Architects created a zero-net energy house that provides all the amenities of a conventional home with minimal impact to the environment.

Announcing the 2010 Beyond Green^TM Awards Program!

Along with our sponsors, SBIC is proud to announce the 2010 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards. This unique program recognizes the initiatives that shape, inform, and catalyze the high-performance building market, as well as the real-world application of high-performance design and construction practices. To Learn More, Click Here

SBIC's Build Better Buildings Brochure.

Sheri Koones, SBIC member and accomplished author, has just released her latest book that helps readers obtain the house of their dreams in an ecologically responsible way. Her latest tome, Prefabulous + Sustainable, demystifies the prefabricated house by profiling 25 unique homes to showcase how factory-built homes are greener, more efficient, sturdier, and more cost-effective than site-built homes. Written in an easy-to-understand style, Ms. Koones walks the readers through each of the homes, explaining the materials, strategies, and systems used to create a sustainable living environment. Photographs, captions, floor plans, and sidebars illustrate to readers that sustainable living is not as complicated as one might think. To learn more please visit: http://www.sherikoones.com