Message from exec. director of Long Island USGBC

The USGBC LI Chapter hit the ground running in 2013. January saw a tremendous initial program line-up. On January 16th a daylong conference and expo was held in Uniondale on turning Brownfields into Greenfields. The conference was divided into two panel discussion sessions. The panelists treated the audience to an informative and stimulating discussion on the merits of taking a blighted property and shepherding it along through the myriad and sometimes complex regulatory, zoning and financial hurdles to eventually become an economic, esthetic, and environmental benefit to the community. In addition to the knowledgeable panelists the event was supported by a score of sponsors and exhibitors from commercial and non-profit sectors supporting environmental sustainability and green building. The following Wednesday, together with the support of LIPA, we began in the morning with an eye opening presentation by Paul Reale of the National Resource Defense Council on the "Energy Aligned Clause." Commercial building owners often balk at investing in energy conservation measures. They do so not because the ECMs don't reduce energy costs, rather because in many leases the tenants realize the energy savings. This is the classic "split incentive problem." A leasing solution called the Energy Aligned Clause was first used in 2011, and it's starting to get some real attention as it removes a barrier to energy efficiency projects in many commercial buildings. On the afternoon of the 23rd, the USGBC-LI held the first of what we hope and imagine will be one of many more green professional (GPRO) training classes on the "Fundamentals of Building Green." This was followed by a GPRO course on construction management and exam on January 30th. GPRO courses and coordinated certificate exams teach skilled workers how to meet the expectations of owners and tenants who want healthier, environmentally sustainable, and energy-efficient homes and offices. GPRO is a national green building training and certificate program that teaches the people who build, renovate and maintain buildings the principles of sustainability combined with trade-specific green construction knowledge. In addition to these programs and events the chapter committees have begun meeting and planning for another productive year as we continue to work for the benefit of all Long Islanders because it's not about buildings...it's about people. Vince Capogna, LEED AP ID+C, GPRO: O&M, CM, is the executive director of the Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and principal of Synergy Green Building Group, Inc., New Hyde Park, N.Y.