August/September 2008
Walking The Talk
C O N T E N T S
ED Corner: Chapter Progress and Five Year Anniversary Celebration
LEED 2009: Regional Credits
The Business of Green: Take Control of Your Lighting Costs
Materials & Resources: What You Need to Know About Environmentally Friendly Paint
Water Efficiency :Reduce Potable Water Through Grey Water Systems
Walking the Talk: FSC Certification for Chapter LEED Study Guide
Regional Update: Metro Denver Branch Leadership
VISION
Promote responsibility for Colorado's environmental legacy.
MISSION
Advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy advocacy, and information and resource sharing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Hootman, President
RNL Design
Dana Kose, Vice Chair
M.A. Mortenson
Megan Christensen, Secretary
Bovis Lend Lease
Jim Bradburn, Treasurer
RMH Group
Mike Lowell, Advocacy Chair
US GSA
Bobby Molinari, Membership Chair Hyatt Select
Josh Radoff, Director At Large
YRG Consultants
Sue McFaddin, Director At Large Seven Generations
Ted Caulkins , Education Chair
Silvertip Integrated Engineering
Daniele Loffreda, Communications Chair
Plateau Enviro Associates
Conor Merrigan, EGB Chair
C2 Sustainable Development Consultants
Deb Kleinman
Executive Director
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at dgloffreda@msn.com
FSC Certification for LEED NC Study Guide
Colorado Chapter demonstrates environmental leadership
By Patti Mason, USGBC Colorado Chapter
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AlphaGraphics, the printer responsible for printing and shipping the Colorado Chapter’s LEED for New Construction study guide, recently announced receiving certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). With this announcement, the study guide and the envelope it is mailed in can now utilize the internationally recognizable FSC logo.
FSC certification is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management worldwide. FSC is the only forest certification system that is supported by all major environmental groups, including the U.S. Green Building Council. The international certification is a “chain of custody” program that strives to ensure that the world’s forests are managed to meet the social, ecological and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations.
FSC certification is administered by Scientific Certification Systems. Before the logo could be added, the guide and its envelope were sent to the administrators of the FSC program to ensure compliance.
USGBC CO Product Manager Molly Miller used her experience in publishing to sift through the frequently green washed printing industry. “Not a lot of people realize the enormous carbon footprint left behind by traditionally recycled paper. You have to trust that your printer.” Sales Consultant Tom Ellis understood the Chapter’s motivation for ensuring that the study guide’s print materials reflected its content.
Being FSC certified shows that you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. Miller was eager to work with AlphaGraphics while they pursued this certification. Miller was also drawn to AlphaGraphics because of their own commitment to creating a corporate culture driven by sustainability.
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Through an alliance with Carbon Harmony, AlphaGraphics is acquiring carbon credits to offset approximately 125% of the annual carbon emissions resulting from their operation. Because these emissions are primarily a result of electricity usage, the carbon offset credits purchases will be directed toward methane digester investments. These investments will both reduce methane emissions and produce low impact electricity. The “carbon footprint” was analyzed by iCAST – the International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology.
Third party certification programs are quickly becoming the standard across all industries. Paper, paint, textiles, furniture, and food are just a few examples of products that now carry logos designed to entice environmentally responsible consumers.
Members of the green building community learned early on that not all labels are created equally. Fortunately, FSC controls each certified operation at least once a year – and if they are found not to comply, the certificate is withdrawn.