Posted on March 27, 2009 by Chris Cheatham

Green Building Thoughts: The Stimulus, The Bond, LEED AP, and Rock Chalk

It may surprise you to learn that I have a real job.  Seriously, I do and I love it!  I am a construction litigator and I am currently involved in a major construction delay claim.  I have been preparing a motion the last few days, hence the late filing of today’s post. 

There is a lot going on in the green building world.  The Stimulus.  D.C.’s unique green building bond (i.e. the green building unicorn).  LEED AP exam deadlines.  And also a little basketball.  I often don’t have time to touch on all the issues I would like, so today, I provide you my thoughts on these many issues. 

The stimulus.  In my “Green in the Stimulus” slideshow, I indicated that the General Services Administration has until April 3, 2009 to prepare a list of federal projects to receive stimulus-funding.  While that is true, apparently the GSA does not intend to release this list on April 3:  “Morris said a list of stimulus-funded projects is being vetted by the administration, but he could not give a date for the list’s release.”  Stay tuned for further details.

The D.C. Bond.  You may have noticed that I have been writing a lot about the D.C. Green Building Act's performance bond requirement.  It seems the issue takes a new turn everyday.  The most recent rumor is that the D.C. may incorporate the green building bond into zoning requirements.  How are we going the wrong way on this?  Look for a guest post next week on the issue. 

The LEED AP Exam.  I get a lot of google hits from people trying to decide if they should take the LEED AP exam.  My general thought is that if you are interested in a career in green building and you have some free time and money, you should take the exam.  You do know the deadline to sign up for the LEED AP exam is March 31, right?  Also, the Green Building Certification Institute recently announced that you actually have to take the LEED AP exam by June 30, 2009.   

The Defending Champions.  Finally, it is my favorite time of year.  It is the time of year when the University of Kansas Jayhawks take flight.  In addition to my job and this blog, I also am just a little bit COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY (ed: my fiancee made this change) obsessed with Kansas Jayhawks basketball.  Always have been, always will be.  I hope Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Bill Self and company continue rolling and dispatch of the Spartans in quick fashion tonight.  Rock Chalk Jayhawk! 

Photo:  ruralocity

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Posted on December 5, 2008 by Chris Cheatham

What's the Matter with Kansas Green Building?

For Thanksgiving, I returned to my original home, Kansas, fully expecting to take a break from green building.  Turns out, green building was waiting for me in Kansas as well. 

On the Saturday evening following Thanksgiving, I attended my high school reunion.  Just like any other reunion, my classmates and I discussed our jobs and what we were up to.  The responses amazed me.  One person told me about her parents roofing business in Kansas that was now preparing to install solar panels throughout Kansas.  She and I agreed that as soon as Kansas implemented incentives for solar panels, the business would take off. 
 
Another former classmate explained how he designs "green" acoustics for LEED certified schools.  I was amazed to learn that there is already one LEED certified high school, Staley High School, in the Kansas City area.  Finally, I spoke to another former peer who is involved with sustainable finance. 
 
As if that was not enough, I woke up Sunday morning and read yet another article about the green building revival of Greensburg, Kansas.  The article sums up the story of how Greensburg rebuilt itself "green" after a devestating tornado and what the Greensburg example means for the rest of the country:

America can learn a lesson from the recovery of Greensburg, Kan., and two men from Lawrence plan a cross-country tour to spread the town’s “green” gospel.

“I look at Greensburg as a sort of experiment for the entire country,” Fraga said. “It can be a template for all of rural America, proof that these little towns don’t just have to fade away.”
While cities like Washington, D.C. and New York City have enacted sweeping green building regulations, much of the country is still learning about green building strategies.  Based on my experiences in Kansas over the Thanksgiving holiday, I am confident that the rest of the country is well on its way to embracing green building in 2009. 
 
Related Links: 

Photo Credit: Hometown Invasion Tour

 

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Posted on September 5, 2008 by Chris Cheatham

There's No Place Like a Green Home

Over the Labor Day weekend, I had the pleasure of returning to my alma mater and attending the Orange Bowl Champion University of Kansas Jayhawks’ opening game of the college football season.  While I was in Kansas, I remembered one of the more memorable recent green building developments:  after being decimated by a powerful tornado, the small town of Greensburg, Kansas announced it would rebuild the entire town “green.”  

Being from Kansas, it was devastating but not all that surprising to hear a Kansas town had been demolished by a tornado.  More surprising was Greensburg’s ambitious announcement.   Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who was skeptical: 

"There was resistance to change," says Gene West, the county commissioner. "[Greensburg] is a rural area, and a conservative one."

Once the benefits of green building were explained to the Greensburg residents, opinions quickly changed:

"Our old church sometimes cost up to $1,000 a month to heat," says George, who plans to build back his church to the highest green standards. "Now, I'm not a tree-hugger by any means. But we have to be responsible for how we use natural resources, and be prepared for a future where energy costs are only going up."

Greensburg unveiled its first green building, the LEED Platinum 5.4.7 Arts Center (5.4.7 stands for the day the tornado struck), on May 4, 2008, the one year anniversary of the tornado.  Students in Studio 804, part of the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Planning, designed and constructed the building.  Others have taken notice of Greensburg’s remarkable pledge, as Planet Green and Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up to chronicle the rebuilding of a green Greensburg.  

GBLU is currently arranging to speak with members of Studio 84 and hopes to bring you information about the difficulties that arose during the Greensburg project.  Additionally, we are going to look at the Greensburg ordinance that requires green building.  Until then, Rock Chalk Jayhawk! 

Photo credit:  David McKinney / KU University Relations

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