US Green Building Council Central California Blog

US Green Building Council Central California Blog https://usgbccc.org/ US Green Building Council Central California blog posts US Green Building Council Central California Wild Apricot - membership management software and more en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:51:58 GMT Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:51:58 GMT Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:06:41 GMT Call for Nominations <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="center"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Making a difference requires leadership.</font></p> <div align="center"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="center"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Join our Board of Directors to advance</font></p> <div align="center"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="center"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">a green built environment in Central California. </font></p><br> <br> <br> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">September 15, 2025</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">USGBC Central California is now soliciting <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N3_97Dxea2IoP6GqWe_fL9J4g0QZ8Zm84ztKuEEt-e4/edit" target="_blank">nominations for election to the Board of Directors</a>.  This position provides the opportunity to help advance green buildings and communities in Central California and become part of the leadership team of a growing organization.  The Chapter is seeking Directors who are committed to increasing sustainability in our built environment, passionate about making an impact in our community, experienced in leading volunteer organizations, and willing to commit leadership to helping the Chapter serve our community.  Find out more about board membership in our <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/USGBC%20CC%20Election%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf" target="_blank">election fact sheet</a>.</font></p><br> <br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">ELECTION SCHEDULE</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Filing Period:                                              September 15th – November 7th, 2025</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Deadline to Submit Application*:              November 7, 2025</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Candidate Notification:                            November 14, 2025</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Elections:                                                    December 1 – December 31, 2025 </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">New Board Members Seated:                   January 1, 2026</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Who can Vote:                                           All current paid Chapter members*</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"> *To join the Chapter and be eligible to apply and vote, click here: www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member and follow instructions on Registering for a Chapter Membership link below. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">TERMS & MEETINGS</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">The term of office is for two years from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.  Terms of board members are staggered so that half the Board changes each year.  Board meetings occur on a monthly basis, generally online.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">             </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">QUALIFICATIONS</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Given the Chapter’s expanding scope of programs and local influence, a number of qualifications are particularly important.  The Board seeks diversity and leadership qualities to assure strong and dynamic local leadership. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Candidates will be selected to provide a mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership, business experience, diversity, and continuity. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Candidates must sign the USGBC-CC Board of Directors commitment form.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Candidates are expected to be USGBC-CC members, new member applicants are accepted.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        We are currently looking for candidates from the following fields: architecture, banking, law, construction, real estate development, engineering, government, interior design, landscaping, transportation, marketing.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">GENERAL INFORMATION                         </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Nominations will be accepted for seven (7) board seats.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        You may nominate yourself or nominate another member by asking them to do so by completing the</font> <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N3_97Dxea2IoP6GqWe_fL9J4g0QZ8Zm84ztKuEEt-e4/edit" target="_blank"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif">linked application form</font></a><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Bios and applications will be sent out with the ballots.  Voting instructions will be sent to all members prior to commencement of voting. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Submit the completed Board of Director Application and signed Board of Director Commitment by the deadline above.  Submission of the Board of Director application implies agreement. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">·        Direct all questions to connect@usgbccc.org</font></p><br> <br> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>BOARD OF DIRECTORS</strong></font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">OFFICERS</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Aya Shitanishi</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">President</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Ellis Vance</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Treasurer</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Sheila Hakimipour</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Secretary</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">DIRECTORS</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Andres Jauregui</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Anthony Williams</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Uris Giron</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p style="line-height: 19px;" align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Laura Gromis</font></p> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <div align="right"> <br> </div> <p align="right"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13542485 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13542485 Laura Gromis Fri, 13 Dec 2024 03:28:39 GMT Adaptive Reuse Design Competition Highlights Value of Existing Materials <p>Fresno, CA. USGBC Central California is excited to congratulate Lee Miyamoto on winning First Place and Dayle Edinborough on winning second place in the 2024 Adaptive Reuse Design Competition. The competition was held by USGBC Central California and sponsored by AARP for local students in the region. Construction, engineering, and design students were invited to submit proposals.</p> <p>Students were invited to share their ideas and find unique ways to adaptively reuse the existing Nippon 2 building in the Japanese part of Fresno’s Chinatown while incorporating decarbonization, heat island reduction, and social infrastructure strategies. The building has been empty for years and does not conform to current code regulations. This area of Fresno has been getting lots of attention recently, due to the development of a High-Speed Rail Station which will have an entrance facing Chinatown, and the rising housing costs leaving many residents in need of shelter. The 2024 Adaptive Reuse Design Competition highlights the opportunities in using underused buildings to serve the needs of a town with an aging population.</p> <p>Historical backgrounds, neighborhoods, and land demographics were considered when designing the new repurposed property. The designs focused on the needs of an aging population with an average age of 50 and accessible for all people regardless of disability or social status.</p> <p>The project brought together many partners to develop guidelines and evaluate the submissions, including the Mayor’s office, City of Fresno Economic Development Department, Fresno State Interior Design Department, Gazarian Real Estate Center, Chinatown Foundation, and AARP to make this visioning project a reality.</p> <p>Our Adaptive Reuse Design Competition winners were announced during the USGBC Central California’s Design Showcase and Holiday Party, which took place on the 10th floor of The Grand 1401, only a couple blocks away from the existing Nippon 2 building in the Japanese part of Fresno's Chinatown. Winners were picked anonymously, and their names were not shown to judges before the competition or when judging their proposals at any time.</p> <p>Adaptive Reuse is one of the greenest ways a building can make a green impact. Using existing buildings for new usage is key, as it reduces waste, saves materials, extends the useful life of buildings, preserves culture, articulates heritage, and most importantly transforms underused spaces for communities.</p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13447230 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13447230 Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:34:19 GMT Community Input Needed! <p style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">This September and October, the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) is asking the community’s help to develop the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). As a key part of the planning process, the community is asked to fill out a</font> <a href="https://publicinput.com/usgbcsurvey"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif">survey</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">to gather community suggestions and feedback on the greatest transportation needs in Fresno County, including bike lanes, bus stops, sidewalks, road improvements, and others. Your thoughts and input will ultimately help shape the 2026 RTP and help the region’s cities and the county prioritize project funding based on needs and available resources. In Spring 2025 Fresno COG will be identifying possible greenhouse gas reduction options the public should weigh in on.</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">To provide your own feedback, and to learn more about the project and where you can find us next, please check out our dedicated RTP/SCS website, PlanFresno.com. All in-person event materials will be available online.</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#0F4761" face="Arial, sans-serif">Stay Updated</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">For up-to-date information about this project, please visit</font><a href="https://www.planfresno.com/"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif">PlanFresno.com</font></a><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">. Fill out our survey at our</font> <a href="https://publicinput.com/usgbcsurvey"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif">Website</font></a><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">. If you have questions, please email the project team at info@fresnocog.org or call (559) 233-4148</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#0F4761" face="Arial, sans-serif">About the Project</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Every four years, state and federal regulations require Fresno COG to update our Regional Transportation Plan, a plan for the future of Fresno County’s regional transportation system. These plans are developed with the help of substantial community feedback and extensive data gathering to ensure alignment with existing community plans and local planning documents, which reflect the future needs and desires of our community. To learn more about the project and participate in the process, please visit</font><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planfresno.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cpsierra%40swspr.com%7C5c9603cd121640f8dbe508dcb73c6e00%7C300ffb0d86364fcbba52e9f239016d5b%7C0%7C0%7C638586717378668746%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7K%2BCTXazDSQHdPmoewu8iB%2FkaOBgCJDD5wBpDxrE134%3D&reserved=0"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#467886" face="Arial, sans-serif">our webpage</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">or take a survey to tell Fresno COG your transportation needs and suggestions.</font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></p> <p style="line-height: 17px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">About Fresno COG</font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif">Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) is a Metropolitan Planning Organization involving over 16 different cities. Fresno COG is a voluntary association of local governments – one of California’s 38 regional planning agencies and one of 500+ nationwide. Fresno COG works by conducting studies, planning, and funding for the future of Fresno County. Every 4 years this organization updates a Regional Transportation Plan to be implemented through public participation through surveys. This Transportation plan is a framework for a 20-year vision for Fresno County. </font></p><br> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><font style="font-size: 16px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdjePOwO2CGO2peK7UBRNfBr9C-gSPWb-KxXUHMTMixgl73_DQ7-PBMTfHMJNDkcFVQsLbFfRm5YgSvOVnyFe8Grj1fC9wV0V64Kctw4tZF--WUFdwMeScRCX3dtVzvQBffUqjvEcuOGt4UCd_TyuQpUD5f?key=PzjH65UktPNw_BxBMAcxFg" width="189" height="339"></font></span></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13410685 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13410685 Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:00:00 GMT Call for Proposals: 2024 Adaptive Reuse Design Competition <blockquote> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Save%20the%20Date%20AARP%20Design%20Competition%202024%20(2).png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p>The 2024 Adaptive Reuse Design Competition <span>is asking all participants to adaptively reuse the existing Nippon building to enable residential or mixed-use usage in Fresno’s Chinatown. All designs will need to highlight sustainability through heat island mitigation, decarbonization, and social infrastructure strategies. The historic background of the building and neighborhood shall be considered in the design. The design needs to include the needs of the aging population and be adapted for accessibility. </span></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p><span><a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/Adaptive%20Reuse%20Design%20Competition%20Guidelines.docx.pdf" target="_blank">Competition Guidelines</a></span></p> <p><span><a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/Chinatown%20Neighborhood%20Map%20in%20color.pdf" target="_blank">Attachment 1</a></span></p> <p><span><a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/Nippon%20No%202%20Shirkawa%20notes.pdf" target="_blank">Attachment 2</a></span></p> <h1 class="contStylePageTitle"><a href="https://usgbccc.org/event-5888448" target="_blank" style="font-family: "Roboto Condensed";"><font style="font-size: 18px;">PARTICIPANT SIGN UP</font></a></h1> <blockquote> <p><strong><u>IMPORTANT DATES</u></strong></p> <h2 class="contStyleTitle">Public Walk of Building:</h2> </blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p>Thursday, October 3rd, 3:30 - 5:30PM</p> <p><a href="https://usgbccc.org/event-5888393" target="_blank">SIGN UP REQUIRED</a></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote> <h2 class="contStyleTitle">Design showcase and public choice election:</h2> </blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p>Thursday, December 12, 5PM</p> <p><br></p> </blockquote> </blockquote><a href="http://www.usgbccc.org/designcompetition" target="_blank">More information and updates</a> <br> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> </blockquote> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13410625 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13410625 Laura Gromis Thu, 30 Nov 2023 21:40:44 GMT Press Release: ADU Design Competition Highlights Sustainable Solutions for Multigenerational Living <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Fresno, CA. The US Green Building Council Central California (USGBC-CC) announced the first annual winners of the ADUs for all ages 2023 Design Competition.  The designs were displayed at this year’s Tiny House Expo at the Fresno Home and Garden Show.  A distinguished jury selected first, and second place awards and a public choice winner was voted by the public at the exhibition. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The expert panel of judges including Andres Jaurique, Executive Director Gazarian Real Estate Center, Dan Fitzpatrick, President, Tiny Home Industry Association (THIA), Michelle Zumwalt, Architect, City of Fresno, and Dr. Ajith Weerasinghe, Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering, voted Fresno architect Arthur Dyson’s entry for the First Place Award.  Additionally, Dyson was also awarded the Second Place Award. The People’s Choice Award went to Gladys Molina, an architect with the City of Fresno.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a secondary housing unit that is either attached to or located on the same property as a primary residence. These units, also known as granny flats, in-law suites, or backyard cottages, provide additional living space while maintaining the character of the existing neighborhood.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The ADUs for all ages design competition asked participants to design a sustainable Accessory Dwelling Unit, to enable multigenerational living on an existing single-family. All designs were required to be sustainable and include passive design elements and fit the needs of aging individuals. The designs had to comply with the California State Building Code and be adaptable for accessibility. The focus was on multi-generational living arrangements and featured sustainable solutions.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The size was limited to 350 to 500 square feet with one-bedroom, bath, kitchenette and living area. The building systems included solar panels and batteries, HVAC systems with passive ventilation systems may be used to minimize HVAC operational time and additional passive design elements.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Additional sponsors were the Fresno Home Shows, AIA San Joaquin and the Tiny Home Industry Association. Funding was provided by the AARP Community Challenge Grant. </font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 19px;" face="Arial, sans-serif">About USGBC Central California</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The US Green Building Council Central California is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Fresno, CA with the mission to engage San Joaquin Valley communities in the transformational development and promotion of ecologically healthy built environments. USGBC-CC’s work centers on community engagement, education, networking, and advocacy for solutions that are good for human health, communities, and the climate. USGBC-CC is a partner of the City of Fresno in its Transform Fresno project focused on creating transformative climate communities and led the design for the Circle V Indigenous and Environmental Resource Center in collaboration with the San Joaquin River Conservancy.</font></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13285531 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/13285531 Laura Gromis Thu, 15 Jul 2021 20:13:44 GMT Architecture at Zero Competition to Benefit Farmworkers in Visalia <p align="center"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Architecture-at-Zero-banner-728x90.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> <p>The American Institute of Architects, California (AIACA) announces the launch of the tenth annual Architecture at Zero competition focused on decarbonization, equity and resilience in building design. The annual competition is open for entries from students and professionals worldwide.</p> <p>This year, AIACA will partner with Self Help Enterprises in Visalia, CA, to develop a design challenge to create affordable housing for farmworkers in California’s Central Valley. Up to $25,000 in prize money, is awarded by a jury of international experts.</p> <p>“The American Institute of Architects, California is excited to collaborate on this important initiative that affirms the role of architects in leading efforts to use design to curtail climate change,” said Brett Dougherty, AIA, AIACA President. The competition strives to generate new, innovative, decarbonization building design ideas that respond to equity and resilience and help achieve California’s ambitious energy goals.</p> <p>“Self Help Enterprises is delighted to participate in the 2021-22 Architecture at Zero competition and receive fresh ideas, thoughts and concepts that can be applied in Visalia and the surrounding San Joaquin Valley,” said Betsy McGovern, Program Director of Real Estate Development. “There continues to be a huge demand for housing for farmworkers, and this is a unique opportunity to integrate decarbonization and climate resiliency through an equity lens.”</p> <p>Competition entries will be juried by international experts including: Paul Torcellini, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Allison Williams, FAIA; AGWms_studio; Lance Collins, AIA, Director at Partner Energy; and Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, Cameron MacAllister Group.</p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">To learn more, visit www.architectureatzero.com.</font></p> <p>This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Southern California Edison under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Cosponsors include: Pacific Gas and Electric Company; San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company. Other sponsors include: the California Energy Commission, US Green Building Council Central California and the International Building Performance Simulation Association.</p> <p align="center"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/ArchitectureatZero-grid.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10754231 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10754231 Laura Gromis Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:40:09 GMT Roosevelt High School's Bike to School Event <p><span><font style="font-size: 14px;"><font color="#000000">Roosevelt High School took on the Transportation Challenge set up by Fresno State and USGBC Central California this S</font><font color="#000000">pring and worked on the question: How can we get more students to bike to school? As students, we noticed that only a very small percentage of our staff and students ride their bike to school. While we set out to answer a larger, solution-based question, we realized we first needed to identify the barriers that prevent more people from cycling. </font></font></span></p> <p><font style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="">We used our knowledge of Roosevelt’s surrounding geography and student body population to make predictions about what would impede students from biking to school. We thought about how traffic heavy the intersection at our school was, our own  hesitations with the safety of our neighborhoods and the safety of parked bikes at school. Some of our own members know first hand that people’s distance from school is a factor that stops many from biking to school; especially because a lot of us choose to come to Roosevelt because of the School of the Arts magnet program. Another one of our members shared that he didn’t know how to ride a bike; we hadn’t even discussed the most basic of obstacles: access to a bike itself and knowing how to ride in the first place. </span></font></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">We brainstormed some solutions like working with local bike shops to pass out bikes and helmets, giving out alarms and locks for students that park their bikes at school, and calling on city government to expand bike lanes in our area. We recognized that while our solutions looked great, they were pretty big projects to take on. </font></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">We needed to engage with our Roosevelt community. We figured the best way to start the conversation was with a survey. We sent it out to students and teachers, and the results gave us insight into what Roosevelt students' relationship is with biking.</font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">The results of the survey indicated that almost half of the population has never ridden a bike, and almost 75% had never ridden a bike to school before. People pointed to distance, lack of protected space, and lack of access to bikes as the most common reasons for their lack of riding. </font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">Seeing as it was already the end of April, we knew as a group we didn’t have the time to solve these big-scale, long-term problems, but rather we needed to come up with something we could do now.</font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">After some back-and-forth we came up with the idea of an after school Bike to School event for the Bike to School month of May where we would bike from the neighborhood across the way all the way to City Hall and we would integrate some of our previous solutions ideas like bike alarms, locks, lights, and helmets as give-aways. We got helmets donated from BPAC to give out to those in need of one, and lights from Rubbersole. </font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">On the day of the Bike to School event, we set up a helmet decorating and light attachment station. A crowd of teachers, students, and community members much larger than we expected formed and our teacher called us onstage to speak. After some nervous shifting and awkward silence due to stage fright, our members spoke on the theme “Why We Ride.” They mentioned the nostalgia biking holds as it was something they did to bond with family members or how good it feels to ride freely with the wind blowing through your hair.</font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">Finally, the time to ride came. We jumped on our bikes and started on route to the neighborhood across from our school. We listened to the music playing from my teacher’s speaker and we finally got to have conversations with people we only ever saw through a Zoom screen.</font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">We continued the route into busier streets, and even got to use a new protected bike lane on our way to city hall. As a vulnerable cyclist, you are highly aware of the spaces around you, and we noticed when cars felt a little too close to us or when barricades between the streets and bike lanes made us feel so much safer. </font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 19px;"><span><font style="font-size: 14px;">This experience taught us how valuable time outdoors is and how valuable it is to create events (and streets!) that bring people together. This is why bike riding proved to not only be impactful as a mode of climate action, but as a source of happiness and communal peace. </font></span></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 12px;"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/B8C51B92-FB2F-416B-AF5E-3F0DA34B89C6.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/CDA658FF-FB43-46B3-BF89-3ADCF7529896.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/E664CE7E-36B3-4485-A25C-CAFEC5799FDA.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0"></font></p><br> <br> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10592436 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10592436 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:59:41 GMT Join the 2021 Membership Drive and Get a Discount $$ <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Membership%20Drive.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks to our members, we work in our community to advance green buildings. With your support, we are able to advance green buildings and communities through advocacy, education, networking and soon, a hands-on green building project. </font></p> <p>We believe in transforming the built environment and that green buildings and communities should be for all, including communities in Central California. Because everybody deserves a built environment that is good for our health, creates healthy places, reduces the impact on our natural resources and is part of the solution to address climate change.</p> <p>Join us to show the support for green buildings in our region and help increase the capacities of our local chapter. We strive to make membership affordable. For $75 or the cost of a nice night in or out, general members show their leadership in the green building world and support our programming all year long. We offer reduced rates for students ($25) and emerging professionals ($35), and supporting memberships for those that want to increase their support for our chapter at $150.</p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks to our newest member Alyssa from Gd.Stwrd, all new members that sign up until Earth Day will receive 25% OFF when shopping at her local zero waste store, <a href="http://www.gdstwrd.com/">www.gdstwrd.com</a>.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sign up today to <a href="https://usgbccc.org/Join">BECOME A MEMBER</a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></p> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#000000">Interested to join as company to demonstrate your support and expertise? Check out our <a href="https://usgbccc.org/Join">partnership opportunities </a></font></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10284908 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10284908 Laura Gromis Mon, 01 Mar 2021 20:28:14 GMT US Green Building Council Central California and Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival to Start Planning Process for Native American and Environmental Resource Center at the San Joaquin River <p align="center"><strong><font><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Attachment%20C%20IMG_4918.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font><strong><font>PRESS RELEASE</font></strong></font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font><br></font></strong></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font>Fresno, CA March 1, 2021</font></strong> <font>— The US Green Building Council Central California (USGBC-CC) has received a grant from the San Joaquin River Conservancy (Conservancy)to start the planning and design process to enable public access and create an Indigenous and Environmental Resource Center at the Circle V property located at the San Joaquin River, just outside of Fresno in Madera County. USGBC-CC received final approval for this grant funding as part of the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Fund (Proposition 40) and the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84) from the Wildlife Conservation Board, which manages the Conservancy’s grant funds.</font></p> <p><font>USGBC-CC in collaboration with the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS), will be leading the public outreach process to adaptively reuse two buildings that are connected to a beautiful riparian and oak woodland along the river. AICLS will reach out to local tribes as tribal liaison for the project. </font></p> <p><font>This project will include educational opportunities for local Fresno State students by integrating different student learning opportunities and classes including Engineering, Construction Management, Interactive Multimedia and Business. The goal is to achieve LEED certification and create an innovative demonstration project for green buildings in our region.</font><span style="background-color: white;"><font color="#222222"> </font></span></p> <p><font>“Since 2007, our organization has been working to bring together professionals to learn from and inspire each other to build green buildings. We are excited to start the process to develop a green building to help provide hands-on learning opportunities and educate the wider community on the details and benefits of green buildings’, says Laura Gromis, Executive Director of USGBC-CC. “Working with the local tribes, we are excited to connect</font><font> </font><span style="">the ancient values of sustainability of indigenous cultures with modern ways to create a sustainable built environment”, she adds.</span></p> <p><font>“This is a unique opportunity to provide indigenous language education resources while creating a center reflective of the local tribal stakeholders and increasing awareness of the indigenous languages and cultures along the river,” says Carly Tex, Executive Director of AICLS, “We are looking forward to working with USGBC-CC and to further our mission to support California Indigenous languages and cultures through this education project.”</font></p> <p><font>John Shelton, Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Conservancy adds: “We are extremely excited to work with USGBC-CC, AICLS, and Fresno State on this project.  The San Joaquin River Parkway is a great resource that has significant value to all the communities of our region. In acknowledgment of the San Joaquin River’s importance to our region’s Native Americans, this project provides what I hope is the first of many opportunities for indigenous voices to be part of the team from the envisioning to the operations.”</font></p> <p></p> <p><font><strong>About USGBC Central California</strong></font></p> <p><font>The US Green Building Council Central California is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Fresno, CA with the mission 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. USGBC-CC is focused on education, networking, and advocacy to advance its mission and is a partner of the City of Fresno in its Transform Fresno project focused on creating transformative climate communities.</font></p> <p><font><strong>About Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival</strong></font></p> <p><font>The Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival is an all-Native run and led non-profit organization with the mission to foster the restoration and revival of indigenous California languages so they may be retained as a permanent part of the living cultures of native California.  We do this through advocacy, education, and training of speakers and learning, identifying and using indigenous languages resource materials, implementation of linguistic information and tools, creating learning program models and language restoration materials, maintaining master and apprentice language teams and using modern technology for language documentation and restoration.</font></p> <p><font><strong>About San Joaquin River Conservancy</strong></font></p> <p><font>The San Joaquin River Conservancy was created by the California Legislature in 1992 to develop and manage the San Joaquin River Parkway, a planned 22-mile natural area and wildlife corridor extending from Friant Dam to State Route 99, with interconnected trails, recreation, and outdoor education features. The Conservancy is committed to protecting the river’s environmental, wildlife, cultural, scientific, agricultural, educational, recreational, scenic, and flood conveyance resources, which are of regional and statewide significance.</font></p> <p><font>……</font></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10152887 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10152887 Laura Gromis Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:57:05 GMT Fresno County GRID study virtual information room <p>As it moves toward a 100% electric fleet, the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency is conducting an electrical grid study to examine possible grid enhancements to meet the needs of rural Fresno County.  Potential benefits go far beyond increased access to reliable transportation services and include reliability of the electric grid, economic development, and carbon emission and air pollution reductions.</p> <p>Want to learn more about the Electrical Grid Study, the trend toward electrification and what it could mean to rural Fresno County?</p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><a href="https://aecomviz.com/FCRTA360" target="_blank">Check out the FCRTA virtual GRID study room</a></strong></font></p> <p>Virtually explore and learn about the grid, electric vehicles and how electrification can impact rural Fresno County.</p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/GRID%20study.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10152569 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/10152569 Laura Gromis Tue, 08 Sep 2020 22:48:35 GMT Call for Nominations <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">USGBC Central California is now soliciting nominations for election to the Board of Directors.  This position provides the opportunity to help advance green buildings and communities in Central California and become part of the leadership team of a growing organization.  The Chapter is seeking Directors who are committed to increasing sustainability in our built environment, passionate about making an impact in our community, experienced in leading volunteer organizations, and willing to commit leadership to helping the Chapter serve our community. </font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Find out more about board membership in our <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/USGBC%20CC%20Election%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf" target="_blank">election fact sheet</a>.</font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">ELECTION SCHEDULE</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">          </font></strong></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Filing Period:<strong>                                               <em>September 9 – November 19, 2020</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Deadline to Submit Application*:              <strong><em>November 19, 2020</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate Notification: <strong>                            <em>November 20, 2020</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Elections:                                                    <strong><em>November 30 – December 18, 2020</em></strong>  </font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">New Board Members Seated:                   <strong><em>January 1, 2021</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Who can Vote:                                           <strong><em>All current paid Chapter members*</em></strong></font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> *</font></strong><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">To join the Chapter and be eligible to apply and vote, click here:</font></em> <a href="http://www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><em>and follow instructions on Registering for a Chapter Membership link below. </em></font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">TERMS & MEETINGS</font></strong></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">The term of office is for two years from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.  Terms of board members are staggered so that half the Board changes each year.  Board meetings occur on a monthly basis, generally in person but currently virtually due to COVID19.</font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">             </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">QUALIFICATIONS</font></strong></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Given the Chapter’s expanding scope of programs and local influence, a number of qualifications are particularly important.  The Board seeks diversity and leadership qualities to assure strong and dynamic local leadership. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidates will be selected to provide a mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership, business experience, diversity, and continuity. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate must sign the USGBC-CC Board of Directors commitment form.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidates are expected to be USGBC-CC members, new member applicants are accepted.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">We are currently looking for candidates from the following fields: architecture, banking, law, construction, real estate development, engineering, government, interior design, landscaping, transportation, marketing<a name="_Hlk526929362"></a>.</font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">GENERAL INFORMATION</font></strong><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">                         </font></em></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Nominations will be accepted for seven (7) board seats.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">You may nominate yourself by completing the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvQNGhR8rIe5fRFxkeJPW1wfOZ1k_SVyWiR8SGFB5OM-yI9A/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">application form</a> or nominate another member by asking them to do so.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Bios and applications will be sent out with the ballots.  Voting instructions will be sent to all members prior to commencement of voting. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Submit the completed Board of Director Application</font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">by the deadline above.  Submission of the Board of Director Commitment implies agreement. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Direct all questions to</font> <a href="mailto:connect@usgbccc.org"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">connect@usgbccc.org</font></a></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Officers</strong></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Sheila Hakimipour</font></p> <p><em><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Interim President</font></em></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Vacant</font></p> <p><em><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Vice President</font></em></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Mayuko Russell</font></p> <p><em><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Treasurer</font></em></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Glenn Terpstra</font></p> <p><em><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Secretary</font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br></font></em></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Directors</strong></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Andres Jauregui</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Charlie Harris</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">David Brenner</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Laura Huisinga</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Executive Director</strong></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Laura Gromis</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>US Green Building Council </strong></font><strong style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Central California</strong></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Water, Energy and Technology Center</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">2911 E. Barstow Ave., M/S OF 144</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Fresno, CA 93740</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">www.usgbccc.org</font></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/9263334 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/9263334 Laura Gromis Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:05:27 GMT Congratulations to the 2020 GAVC Winners <p>The 2020 Green Apple Video Competition was all about active transportation e.g. walking and biking and we did not get disappointed by the great submissions!</p> <p>Congratulations to this years' Green Apple Video Competition winners! Their videos capture the fun, relief, transportation and joy active transportation provides. Great work!</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Professional Category</strong></p> <p>1st place: Sammy Gonzales, Team Ro Productions: Let's Go!</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9K_3A_K7o8k?start=6" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></p> <p>2nd place: Shira D. Gordon, She Rocks Science: Ride Your Bike</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zIvrXR1IXk8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></p> <p><strong><br></strong></p> <p><strong>Student Category</strong></p> <p>1st place college category: Arianna Gonzales, Fresno State: G.A.V.C. 2020</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJn9Hz_5LUk?start=5" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></p> <p>1st place K-12: Lillian Gromis, 1st grade: Bike Riding Safely is Fun</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1UeChwVwBps" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/GAVC%20Sponsors.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/9028717 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/9028717 Laura Gromis Fri, 27 Mar 2020 18:41:34 GMT Let's Move: Green Apple Video Competition extended to May 29, 2020 <p>40% of California's Greenhouse gas emissions is coming from the transportation sector. One way we can all reduce emissions is by reducing Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), the distance traveled in combustion engine cars. What better way to reduce car usage than using active transportation, e.g. biking and walking? Biking and walking improves air quality, increases health, boosts immunity, reduces weight, and connects you to your community.</p> <p>Take the time to reflect on active transportation in your community and your life and share your perspective by participating in the Green Apple Video Competition! The deadline for the competition is extended until May 29, 2020. Check out more including detailed participation guidelines at www.usgbccc.org/greenapple.</p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/2020%20GAVC%20Flyer%20Updated.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/8862750 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/8862750 Laura Gromis Tue, 29 Oct 2019 21:46:56 GMT Call for Nominations <p><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">USGBC Central California is now soliciting nominations for election to the Board of Directors.  This is a great way to contribute to help advance green buildings and communities in Central California, while creating lasting business relationships.  The Chapter is seeking Directors who are committed to increasing sustainability in our built environment, passionate about making an impact in our community, experienced in leading volunteer organizations, and willing to commit leadership to helping the Chapter serve our community. </font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Find out more about board membership in our <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/USGBC%20CC%202018%20Elections%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf">election fact sheet</a>.</font></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">ELECTION SCHEDULE</font></strong></p> <p><br></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Filing Period:  October 29- November 25, 2019</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Deadline to Submit Application:  November 25, 2019</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate Notification:  November 27</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">Election: November 28 - December 8, 2019</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">New Board Member Seated:  January 1, 2020</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Who can Vote:</font><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </font><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </font><font face="Calibri, sans-serif">                                        </font><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </font><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" color="#524D49" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><em>All current paid Chapter members*</em></font></strong></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> *</font></strong><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">To join the Chapter and be eligible to vote, click here:</font></em></font> <a href="https://usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><font color="#0000FF">www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member</font></font></a> <font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><em>and follow instructions on Registering for a Chapter Membership link below. </em></font><br></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><strong><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">TERMS & MEETINGS</font></strong></p> <p><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">The term of office is for two years from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.  Terms of board members are staggered so that half the Board changes each year.  Face to face board meetings occur on an every other month basis.   </font></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><strong><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">QUALIFICATIONS</font></strong></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 7px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </font><font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Given the Chapter’s expanding scope of programs and local influence, a number of qualifications are particularly important.  The Board seeks diversity and leadership qualities needed to assure strong and dynamic local leadership. </font></p> <p><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidates will be selected to provide a mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership, business experience, diversity, and continuity. </font></font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate must sign the USGBC CC Board of Directors commitment form.</font></font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">We are looking for candidates from the following fields: architecture, banking, construction, development, engineering, government, interior design, landscaping, transportation, marketing, community development</font></font><br></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">GENERAL INFORMATION</font></strong><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">                         </font></em></font></p> <p><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Nominations will be accepted for six (6) board seats.</font></font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">You may nominate yourself by completing the <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/2018%20Election%20Application%20Form.docx">application form</a> or nominate another member by asking them to do so. </font></font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·</font><font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">      </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Bios and applications will be posted on Chapter website.  Voting instructions will be sent to all members prior to commencement of voting. </font></font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Submit the completed Board of Director Application and signed Board of Director Commitment by email to</font></font> <a href="mailto:info@usgbccc.org"><font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">info@usgbccc.org</font></a> <font color="#524D49" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">by the deadline above.  Submission of the Board of Director Commitment implies agreement. </font><br></p> <p><font color="#524D49"><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="Times New Roman">       </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Direct all questions to</font></font> <a href="mailto:info@usgbccc.org"><font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">info@usgbccc.org</font></a></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/8108270 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/8108270 Laura Gromis Mon, 29 Apr 2019 21:06:30 GMT Congratulations to our GAVC 2019 Winners! <p align="center"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/GreenArtboard%201%20copy@2x.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="267" height="131"><br></p> <h4 align="center">We are excited to announce our Green Apple Video Competition 2019 winners!</h4> <p align="center"><strong>First Place for Cinematography</strong></p> <p align="center">"Using Creativity to Inspire"</p> <p align="center">Santiago Garcia, Director, Sebastian Martinez, Writer, Sergio Espinoza, Producer and Edwin Plascencia, Key Cast, Central High School</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2yiOg13-quY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><br></p> <p align="center"><strong>First Place for Content</strong></p> <p align="center">"GAVC Environmental"</p> <p align="center">Arianna Gonzalez, Roosevelt High School</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hy8pRQ178d4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></p> <p align="center">Thank you to our program partners</p> <p align="center"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Water%20and%20Sustainability%20Logo-stacked.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="84" height="69">   <img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/CMAC.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="100" height="100">     <img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Sponsor%20Logos/FAM.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="118" height="86"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/7310170 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/7310170 Laura Gromis Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:00:00 GMT Call for Nominations <p align="right"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style=""><font color="#524D49"><span style="">October 15th, 2018</span></font></span></font><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span></font></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><br></font></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="">USGBC Central California is now soliciting nominations for election to the Board of Directors.<span style=""> </span> This is a great way to contribute to help advance green buildings and communities in Central California, while creating lasting business relationships.<span style=""> </span> The Chapter is seeking Directors who are committed to increasing sustainability in our built environment, passionate about making an impact in our community, experienced in leading volunteer organizations, and willing to commit leadership to helping the Chapter serve our community.<span style=""> </span></span></font></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style="">ELECTION SCHEDULE</span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style=""><span style="">          </span></span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">Filing Period:<strong><span style="">                                              </span> <em>October 15 – November <font face="Open Sans,WaWebKitSavedSpanIndex_11">23</font>, 2018</em></strong></font></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">Deadline to Submit Application: <strong style="normal"><span style="">             </span> <em>November <font face="Open Sans,WaWebKitSavedSpanIndex_13">23</font>, 2018</em></strong></font></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">Candidate Notification: <strong style="normal"><span style="">                          </span> <em>November <font face="Open Sans,WaWebKitSavedSpanIndex_15">23</font>, 2018</em></strong></font></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">Elections: <span style="">                                                  </span> <strong><em>November <font face="Open Sans,WaWebKitSavedSpanIndex_17">23</font> – December 8, 2018</em></strong> <span style=""> </span></font></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">New Board Members Seated:<span style=""> </span> <span style="">                </span> <strong><em>January 1, 2019</em></strong></font></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><span style=""><font style="font-size: 14px;">Who can Vote:<span style=""> </span> <span style="">                                        </span> <strong><em>All current paid Chapter members*</em></strong></font></span><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: justify;"><strong><em><span style=""> </span></em></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>*</span></strong><em><span style="">To join the Chapter and be eligible to vote, click here:</span></em> <span style=""><span style=""><a href="https://usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member"><font color="#0000FF">www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member</font></a></span></span> <span style=""><em>and follow instructions on Registering for a Chapter Membership link below.<span style=""> </span></em></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style=""> </span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style="">TERMS & MEETINGS</span></strong><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="">The term of office is for two years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.<span style=""> </span> Terms of board members are staggered so that half the Board changes each year.<span style=""> </span> Face to face board meetings occur on an every other month basis. <span style=""> </span></span> <strong style="normal"><span style=""><span style="">          </span></span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style="">QUALIFICATIONS</span></strong><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="">Given the Chapter’s expanding scope of programs and local influence, a number of qualifications are particularly important.<span style=""> </span> The Board seeks diversity among types of USGBC member companies and leadership qualities needed to assure strong and dynamic local leadership.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Candidates will be selected to provide a mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership, business experience, diversity, and continuity.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Candidate must sign the USGBC CC Board of Directors commitment form.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">We are currently looking for candidates from the following fields: architecture, banking, construction, development, engineering, government, interior design, landscaping, transportation, marketing<a name="_Hlk526929362"></a><font color="#524D49">.</font></span><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="normal"><span style="">GENERAL INFORMATION</span></strong><em><span style=""><span style="">                         </span></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Nominations will be accepted for seven (7) board seats.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">You may nominate yourself by completing the attached <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/2018%20Election%20Application%20Form.docx" target="_blank">application form</a> or nominate another member by asking them to do so.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Bios and applications will be posted on Chapter website.<span style=""> </span> Voting instructions will be sent to all members prior to commencement of voting.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Submit the completed <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/2018%20Election%20Application%20Form.docx" target="_blank">Board of Director Application</a> and signed Board of Director Commitment by email to</span> <span style=""><span style=""><a><font color="#0000FF">info@usgbccc.org</font></a></span></span> <span style="">by the deadline above.<span style=""> </span> Submission of the Board of Director Commitment implies agreement.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 72px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><font style="font-size: 13px;">·</font><span style="">       </span></span></span> <span style="">Direct all questions to</span> <span style=""><span style=""><a><font color="#0000FF">info@usgbccc.org</font></a></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br></p> <p align="right"><br></p> <p align="right"><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4398423 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4398423 Laura Gromis Tue, 30 Aug 2016 18:34:14 GMT LEED Lab at UC Merced <p><em><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times, serif">Guest blog by Mark Maxwell, Assistant Director of Construction & LEED Coordinator, and Design & Construction at the University of California, Merced, where he leads LEED Lab (LINK:</font></em> <a href="http://engineeringservicelearning.ucmerced.edu/team-leed-lab"><em><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times, serif">http://engineeringservicelearning.ucmerced.edu/team-leed-lab</font></em></a><em><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Times, serif">).</font></em></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">LEED Lab is a post-secondary course that uses the built environment to educate and prepare students to become green building leaders by learning how to reduce the environmental impacts of buildings. In the course, students facilitate the LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance process with the goal of certifying a new facility each year. Completing the LEED Lab course will give students the skills, knowledge and expertise to manage future certifications and other projects in sustainability. Students who attend and pass this course will also be positioned to sit for the professional certification exams to earn their LEED Green Associates (LEED GA) & LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). This course also provides the study guide and practice exams for the LEED Green Associates exam.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">At UC Merced, LEED Lab started in the fall of 2015 and allows for a maximum of 15 students under Engineering for Service Learning, bringing together students from all grade levels and disciplines. Each semester has a new group of students, so making a clear hand off of materials and projects timeline from the first semester to the second is crucial for the project’s success.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">In the first semester, stakeholders from various departments were identified (purchasing, energy, recycling, custodial etc.), since students will be collecting and gathering data from these departments. After the students met with the stakeholders, they broke up into three teams and each team was assigned a credit category or categories. Some categories are much easier than others, so some teams could take on more.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">Next, the teams read all the credits in their categories to determine which credits they were going to pursue. They then developed a scorecard for the project of the credits the class was pursing, to come up with the total number of points and certification level they could achieve. I then gave a 15 minute presentation on LEED Online. This presentation explained how to access LEED Online, once they registered with the US Green Building Council and navigate through documenting credits.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">FInally, each team was assigned to put together credit summaries for the next semester class, which allowed the team members to have a basic understanding of every credit the team was going to pursue. Each credit summary would have the name of the credit, the intent, possible points, list of implementations, timeline for documentation, the stakeholder and contact information to coordinate with for data collection and other pertinent information to help the team member document the credit.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">The second semester teams read all the credit summaries and decided when the three month performance period would be so that they could begin to document the credits. Once the performance period started, students began contacting and working with the stakeholders to collect data. Students documented their credits to LEED Online as they were completed.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">Some of the measurable benefits from this class are LEED Certification, lower operating costs, more healthy and productive working environment, reduced waste sent to the landfills, energy and water conservation, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and educating the students and community.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">After talking with several students about the class, they felt they had a broader knowledge of sustainability and the built environment. Once student told me that he got an internship at Fritto Lay, because of this class that he took. This class really engaged different majors and not just ones they would typically take an engineering class. When I asked several students who were majoring in History, English or Economics, why they took this class, they said because we want to learn more about sustainability.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 16px;">If you think about it, sustainability touches on everything we do as well as every major. Not just buildings, but how we operate buildings our lives and the day to day things we do that impact our environment.</font></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 16px;">If you are interested in volunteering or supporting LEED Lab at UC Merced, please contact USGBC Central California <a href="mailto:info@usgbccc.org">info@usgbccc.org</a>.  </font></strong></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4218702 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4218702 Laura Gromis Tue, 10 May 2016 15:50:04 GMT Fresno State Tiny House Project <p>From Rodrigo Alcantar, Fresno State Construction Management Student</p> <p>USGBC Central California has teamed up with Fresno State Construction Management Students to help with the project to build a Zero Net Energy Tiny House. The Construction Management Senior Capstone (CM 180A & B) classes are responsible for coordinating; communicating and managing of the project to successfully work with both staff and students of other disciplines here at Fresno State. The students are building a zero net energy portable tiny home from scratch for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). The tiny house that our class will construct will be a prototype for the following year Senior Capstone class who will be representing Fresno State in Sacramento. USGBC Central California members and local green building organizations are supporting the project with donations and mentorships.<br></p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Fresno%20State%20Tiny%20House.JPG" alt="" title="" border="0" width="179" height="239" align="left"></p> <p>The tiny house project requires skills to be used which have been taught throughout the entire Construction Management program. It requires architectural and structural drawings to be made using design software, which ultimately have to be approved by a licensed structural engineer. A detailed estimate and schedule will be required to be made in order to carry out the project. Also, the Tiny House will comply with current building code, requiring inspections to be done by qualified inspectors in the construction industry. The tiny house will be a zero net energy structure, meaning it will need to be self sustainable, which is a major topic that has been incorporated in nearly every construction management course. Finally, building the tiny home will require our class to work as a team, not only with each other, but with other students in the engineering, business, and interior design majors, and members in the community as well. Ultimately, this project will require our students to apply our skills and knowledge, which we have obtained throughout the Construction Management program, and apply it directly to a project which will pose similar challenges that can be seen in real world construction projects.</p> <p>Although tiny houses are becoming more popular throughout the nation, they are not very well known in the Central Valley. The tiny house project will allow the community to see that a tiny house, which can simply be transported with just a pick-up truck, can provide both comfort and sustainability. Since our Tiny House will be a net zero energy house, it will show members of the community that it is possible, and practical to live in a home which is essentially self sustainable, inexpensive, comfortable, and easy to transport.</p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/IMG_8297.JPG" alt="" title="" border="0" width="267" height="200" align="right">This project will not only have an impact on the environment, but also on the social aspect of the entire community. We believe that this project will bring awareness to the new age of zero net energy housing movement that is still in its prime. If people are aware of zero net houses, the total carbon footprint emission will be decreased significantly over a long period of time. Awareness to the general public will make purchasing zero net energy houses more affordable due to the increase in demand. USGBC Central California and Fresno State students have been able to start the conversation with the community during different outreach events including the CSI product show and Earth Day Fresno. </p> <p>Facebook: Fresno State Tiny House</p> <p>Instagram: @FSTinyHouse</p> <p>Twitter: @FSTinyHouse</p> <p>#FSTinyHouse</p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4011997 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/4011997 Laura Gromis Tue, 10 Nov 2015 19:05:52 GMT Summer 2015 Water Conservation Challenge Winner Achieves Major Reduction in Water Use <p>USGBC Central California’s “Summer 2015 Water Conservation Challenge” has a very worthy winner: Stan Ruiz reduced his water usage from July 2014 to July 2015 by a whopping 86%! We congratulate Stan to this great achievement, well done!</p> <p>You may think: I can get to that number too if I eliminate all outdoor watering. Well, actually Stan did something different: He took out all his front and back lawn and replaced it with climate appropriate plants, drip irrigation and 4 to 5 inches of wood chips. “After the roots established I reduced the water supply by another 30% and it looks great.” </p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Pictures/Activity%20Photos/Stan%20Ruiz%20Front%20Yard.jpg" alt="" border="0" width="230" height="192" align="left"></p> <p>Ruiz has done most of the work himself and did not spend more than $1,200 on his project. “I am just an average guy who loves to work in his garden and make it pretty”, says Ruiz. “If I can save this much, everybody can.” Stan wins a smart controller to help fine tune his irrigation system to ensure maximum water efficiency in his outdoor watering.</p> <p>This is just one example of amazing individual residential impacts that is happening around Central California to increasing water efficiency, conservation and sustainability. We congratulate all other water savers that met the Water Conservation Challenge criteria of reducing water usage by 25% and submitted their water water bills. </p> <p>To find out more how you can reduce your water usage and how to convert to climate appropriate landscaping, visit the <a href="https://usgbccc.org/WaterConservation" style="line-height: 1.47;">Water Conservation section</a> on our website.<br></p> <p>Thank you to our challenge sponsors Toro and Home Depot for providing prizes for our challenge winners and the Fresno Bee to help our outreach efforts with a media partnership.</p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3626798 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3626798 Laura Gromis Tue, 27 Oct 2015 19:01:12 GMT Call for Nominations <p></p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p></p> <p align="right"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">October 27, 2015</font></p> <p align="right"></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">USGBC Central California is now soliciting nominations for election to the Board of Directors.  We hope you will consider this opportunity to contribute at the leadership level and to help shape the Chapter’s future and the green building industry in Central California, while creating lasting business relationships.  The Chapter is seeking Directors who are committed to increasing sustainability in our built environment, passionate about making an impact in our community, experienced in leading volunteer organizations, and willing to commit leadership to helping the Chapter serve our community. </font></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">ELECTION SCHEDULE</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">          </font></strong></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Filing Period:<strong>                                                      <em>October 27 – November 17, 2015</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Deadline to Submit Application: <strong>                <em>November 17, 2015</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate Notification: <strong>                                <em>November 19, 2015</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Elections:                                                             <strong><em>November 23 – December 18, 2015</em></strong>  </font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">New Board Members Seated:                    <strong><em>January 1, 2016</em></strong></font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Who can Vote:                                                                  <strong><em>All current paid Chapter members*</em></strong></font></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"> *</font></strong><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">To join the Chapter and be eligible to vote, click here:</font></em> <a href="https://usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">www.usgbccc.org/Become-A-Member</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><em>and follow instructions on Registering for a Chapter Membership link below. </em></font></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">TERMS & MEETINGS</font></strong></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">The term of office is for two years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017.  Terms of board members are staggered so that half the Board changes each year.  Face to face board meetings occur on a bi-monthly basis.   </font></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">               </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">QUALIFICATIONS</font></strong></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Given the Chapter’s expanding scope of programs and local influence, a number of qualifications are particularly important.  The Board seeks diversity among types of USGBC member companies and leadership qualities needed to assure strong and dynamic local leadership. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidates will be selected to provide a mix of expertise, potential contributions, leadership, business experience, diversity, and continuity. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Candidate must sign the USGBC CC Board of Directors commitment form. </font></p> <p></p> <p><strong><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">GENERAL INFORMATION</font></strong></p> <p><em><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">                                                         </font></em></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Nominations will be accepted for four (4) board seats.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">You may nominate yourself by completing the attached application form or nominate another member by asking them to do so.</font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Bios and applications will be posted on Chapter website.  Voting instructions will be sent to all members prior to commencement of voting. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Submit the completed <a href="https://usgbccc.org/resources/Documents/2016%20Election%20Application%20Form.xps" target="_blank">Board of Director Application</a> and signed Board of Director Commitment by email to</font> <a href="mailto:info@usgbccc.org"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">info@usgbccc.org</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">by the deadline above.  Submission of the Board of Director Commitment implies agreement. </font></p> <p><font face="Symbol">·<font style="font-size: 9px;" face="'Times New Roman'">        </font></font> <font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">Direct all questions to</font> <a href="mailto:info@usgbccc.org"><font style="font-size: 15px;" face="Calibri, sans-serif">info@usgbccc.org</font></a></p> <p><br></p> <p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3602849 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3602849 Laura Gromis Thu, 02 Jul 2015 11:44:28 GMT Summer 2015 Water Conservation Challenge <p><font style="font-size: 15px;"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/HomePageSlides/1%20Water%20Conserv%20Contest%20Banner.jpg" title="" alt="" width="600" height="223" border="0">Fresno, CA, April 30, 2015 – With the current drought conditions, USGBC Central California challenges residential water users to be the change to reduce water usage. USGBC Central California announces the Summer 2015 Water Conservation Challenge to encourage residential water users to use their creativity to do their part to conserve water during the present drought and beyond. Metered residential water users in Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Mono and Inyo counties who reduce their water usage between 2014 and 2015 by at least 25% are eligible to participate. Residents must submit their water bills from 2015 and 2014 which contain at least 15 days for the month of July. The gallons for each cycle must be indicated on the documents. The winners will be determined by the greatest percentage decrease from 2014 to 2015. Last day to submit the water bills is August 31<sup>st</sup>, 2015.</font></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">“Water conservation is an essential element of green building and is especially relevant in California,” says Laura Gromis, Executive Director of USGBC Central California. “Our current drought situation requires everybody to be water smart this summer. With water being the central resource management challenge in Central California, this crisis provides the opportunity to make lasting changes to make our region more resilient to changing precipitation patterns.” USGBC Central California provides a vast amount of resources on its water conservation portal at</font> <a href="https://usgbccc.org/waterconservation"><font style="font-size: 15px;">www.usgbccc.org/waterconservation</font></a> <font style="font-size: 15px;">to help residents with their efforts to be part of the change. USGBC Central California has developed an overview of water conservation requirements and rebates provided by local water districts which will be updated throughout the summer. Additionally, the water conservation portal hosts links to relevant resources about water conservation, irrigation efficiency and climate appropriate landscaping.</font></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">“I am excited to participate in the Summer 2015 Water Conservation Challenge.  This will be a fun competition to be part of,” says Kingsburg resident Stan Ruiz. “I wanted to do the right thing to help conserve water and took out all my front and back lawn and replaced it with climate appropriate plants, drip irrigation and 4 to 5 inches of wood chips. After the roots established I reduced the water supply by another 30% and it looks great. So far I have saved more than 50% in comparison to the same month of last year’s water usage.” Ruiz has done most of the work himself and did not spend more than $1,200 on his project. “I am just an average guy who loves to work in his garden and make it pretty”, says Ruiz. “If I can save this much, everybody can. The challenge is on.”  This is just one example of individual residential impacts that the USGBC is looking to highlight through the challenge of increasing water efficiency, conservation and sustainability.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">More info at www.usgbccc.org/waterconservation.</font></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3416645 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3416645 Laura Gromis Tue, 26 May 2015 17:52:46 GMT Green Building Leaders Awarded at Spring Into LEED <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">USGBC Central California announced the winners of the Most Outstanding<img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Activity%20Photos/IMG_8644.JPG" title="" alt="" width="200" height="133" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"> Green Building Innovator Awards at the semi-annual Spring Into LEED award dinner and fundraiser on April 28th. Honored were the leaders in the Green Building Movement that were instrumental in designing and building LEED buildings in Central California. To date, 107 projects received LEED certification in Central California, creating over 5.5 million square feet of green building space. UC Merced received the award of Owner with Most LEED Buildings <img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Activity%20Photos/LEO%20AND%20DOTTIE%20KOLLIGIAN%20LIBRARY.jpg" title="" alt="" width="200" height="76" border="0" align="left" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;">with 15 LEED buildings at their campus. Teter Architects and Engineers received the award for Contractor with Most LEED Buildings with 9 LEED projects. 907 Windsor Remodel in Tulare, a single family house in Tulare, received the award for LEED Project with Highest Points Achieved, for earning 97.5 points of 100 for their LEED for Homes Platinum project.</font></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">USGBC Central California congratulate the leaders of the leaders in the<img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Activity%20Photos/IMG_8714.JPG" title="" alt="" width="200" height="133" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"> Green Building industry in Central California. Within the last two year, the number of LEED buildings in Central California nearly doubled and demand for sustainability in building is increasing. People are more concerned about the impact buildings have on their health, productivity and the environment.</font> <a href="http://www.usgbc.org/leed">LEED</a><font style="font-size: 15px;">, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is redefining the way we think about the places where we live, work, learn, play and worship. As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED is the most widely used green building <img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Spring%20Into%20Leed_KernSchools.jpg" title="" alt="" width="200" height="160" border="0" align="left" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;">rating system in the world, with nearly 30,000 LEED certified commercial buildings in more than 150 countries and territories globally. LEED-certified buildings offer lower operating costs and better indoor environmental quality, making them attractive to a growing group of corporate, public and individual buyers. High-performing building features increasingly enter into tenants' decisions about leasing space and into buyers' decisions about purchasing properties and homes. California is amongst the top 10 states with LEED building per capita in the Nation.</font></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">A big thank you to all that contributed to Spring Into LEED, <a href="http://www.harrisconstruction.com/">Harris<img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Activity%20Photos/IMG_8637.JPG" title="" alt="" width="133" height="200" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"> Construction</a> for hosting us at their beautiful LEED Silver office building, our donors of raffle items, <a href="http://www.mechoshade.com/">Mecho Systems</a>, <a href="http://www.nora.com/us/">Nora Systems</a>, <a href="http://www.landscapeforms.com/en-US/Pages/default.aspx">Landscape Forms</a>, <a href="http://icflooring.com/">Innovation Commercial Flooring</a>, <a href="http://www.nationalofficefurniture.com/">National Office Furniture</a>, <a href="http://www.mohawkflooring.com/">Mohawk</a>, <a href="http://western-building.com/">Western Building Materials</a>, <a href="http://www.patcraft.com/">Patcraft</a>, <a href="http://www.tenayalodge.com/">Tenaya Lodge</a>, <a href="http://www.marlite.com/">Marlite</a>, <a href="http://www.coalesse.com/">Coalesse</a> and <a href="http://www.3-form.com/">3-Form</a>, and all our great volunteers that helped put the event together.</font></p> <p></p> <p><font style="font-size: 15px;">Check out the <a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/real-estate-blog/article20927931.html">Fresno Bee article</a> about the award winners.</font></p> <p align="center"><font style="font-size: 15px;"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/2015%20LEED%20Projects%20Map%20-%20Copy.jpg" title="" alt="" width="463" height="600" border="0"><br></font></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3357916 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3357916 Laura Gromis Thu, 07 May 2015 22:37:34 GMT Roadblocks for Alternate Materials and Methods in the Building Code <p><em>This opinion article was submitted by Jeffrey T. Janes, M.S., C.B.O.</em></p>The story behind alternate materials and methods (AMM) in the building code go back to when I first needed to understand them as an apprentice architect and then later as a government official charged with approving or denying such applications.  What I have seen over the years, are many good and well thought out ‘green’ products and sustainable materials that were sound in concept but lacked the correct process flow to step through our modern day building codes.  Does this mean unless you have lots of money and access to a fancy research laboratory you should not even bother?  No.  But it does mean you need to understand what a code official is looking for when evaluating AMM of construction to be sure the minimum code standards are met. <br> Are all materials approved in the building code or through alternative methods safe for the environment?  Certainly not.  In fact, an argument can be made that many of the currently ‘approved’ materials can be more toxic and harmful to people and the environment than not.  So how can this be?  If the job of the code official for each city or county is to protect people, how do these materials get approved in the first place?  Yes, you may not like the answer, but big business, profits, and cheap processes do play a role in this decision making process through approval.  So what is the point?  The point is, as responsible ecological designers, we need to figure out the AMM approval process in the local jurisdictions where we do business so we can have smarter and healthier materials approved for use in the built environment. <br> In the end, once an AMM product is approved within a jurisdiction by a building official, that approval is like a gold standard that can be used to start the dialogue about that product within other jurisdictions.  I believe this is one strategy in bringing forth smarter and healthier materials for use in the built environment. <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3335891 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3335891 Laura Gromis Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:10:54 GMT Policy Palooza Coming Up <p align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/USGBC%20PolicyPalooza%202015.png" title="" alt="" width="200" height="183" border="0" align="left" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;">PolicyPalooza</b> is USGBC California’s annual two-day Rite of Spring gathering in Sacramento devoted to state policy and innovative ideas. Ask around: those who’ve attended past events rank it as one of the highlights of the year. Held in conjunction with activities at the <a href="http://www.green-technology.org/gcsummit/index.html">Green California Summit</a>, <i>PolicyPalooza 2015</i> consists of the April 7th Day at the Capitol, where USGBC members from around the state gather and meet with their local legislators and their staffs about making our shared transformative vision the new normal. In between meetings, you can visit our Summit exhibit booth, regroup and share experiences at our Advocates’ Luncheon and toast our policy champions at our Green Hard Hat Awards reception. PolicyPalooza Day 2 shifts to the USGBC California track of panel sessions at the Green Summit devoted to LEED & CALGreen, data & building performance, and water reuse.</p> <p align="left" style="text-align:left"></p> <p align="left" style="text-align:left">USGBC members comprise a big tent collection of people from a variety of business and professions united in their desire to build a more sustainable, prosperous and equitable world. We need to make our voices heard in Sacramento and we very much welcome and appreciate your participation. Extra credit for Southern California members. Act now! Sign up at <b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/policypalooza-2015" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/policypalooza-2015</a>.</b> We’ll posting updates on hotel, schedule and other information at <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i2rj41q8a9mmpr3/AAA__o4jwLoJyq0hemIfv0yfa?dl=0"><b>http://tinyurl.com/policypalooza-details</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3264664 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3264664 Laura Gromis Mon, 23 Mar 2015 17:18:51 GMT Wastewater Treatment Project Wins Special Recognition <p align="left">About 650 students in grades 6-12 competed in the 62nd Annual Central California Regional Science, Mathematics and Engineering Fair on March 16th-19th. Joshuan Donnelly from Buchanan High School won the special recognition from the Central Valley Water Awareness Committee for water related projects with his work on “Aquatic Plants in Wastewater Treatment”. He compared the ability of different common aquatic plants to remove fertilizers from water.  His experiment demonstrated that the Egeria Densa plant removed nitrogen the fastest, however, the Java Fern was able to withstand the high ammonia concentrations in the second and third trials of the experiment. USGBC Central California’s Water Conservation Committee had the honor to be part of the Central Valley Water Awareness Committee judging team. Congratulations to all students who participated in this year’s science fair!<br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3262933 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3262933 Laura Gromis Tue, 03 Mar 2015 21:58:18 GMT Turf Needs 10 Feet of Water to be Green <p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/Landscaping%20Residential.png" title="" alt="" width="600" height="361" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"><br></p> <p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;">What is your idea of a nice landscape? Most gardens and green spaces in Central California still follow the old model of turf grass and high water use plants. Pair this with on old irrigation system that has low-water efficiency and you have high water consumption and high maintenance landscapes. </p> <p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;">Did you know that traditional turf maintained by an average, 50% efficient irrigation system needs ten feet of water a year to stay green? A whole lot of valuable water in an area with generally low precipitation rates, which is parched by drought and where the biggest industry is water dependent. Time for a change!</p> <p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;">During USGBC-CC’s November workshop “Step-By-Step to Water Wise Landscaping” Brad Greenbury and David Bigelow provided an overview over California appropriate landscaping and efficient irrigation systems. Brad and David are two local experts on water wise gardens with a combined experience of 45 years in converting traditional landscapes to water wise landscapes. Find the ppt of the workshop <a href="http://usgbccc.org/resources/presentations/step-step-water-wise-landscaping-presentation" data-mce-href="http://usgbccc.org/resources/presentations/step-step-water-wise-landscaping-presentation" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">here</a> and a list of water wise plants <a href="http://usgbccc.org/resources/presentations/water-wise-plants-overview-attachment-step-step-water-wise-landscaping" data-mce-href="http://usgbccc.org/resources/presentations/water-wise-plants-overview-attachment-step-step-water-wise-landscaping" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">here</a>.</p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241246 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241246 Laura Gromis Tue, 03 Mar 2015 21:47:53 GMT USGBC Central California and Volunteers Help Local Schools Get Water Wise <p>California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27th, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</p> <p><br></p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/DSCN2636.JPG" title="" alt="" width="150" height="200" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefiting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</p> <p><img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/DSC_0175.JPG" title="" alt="" width="600" height="401" border="0"><br></p> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: normal;">th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman'; color: red;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: red;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Check out media coverage of the event:</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/" data-mce-href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Fresno Bee</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits" data-mce-href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Fresno Business Journal</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA" data-mce-href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">CBS47</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"> </p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership" data-mce-href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Become a USGBC-CC member</a> and support initiatives like Green Apple Day of Service!</span></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: normal;">th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman'; color: red;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: red;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Check out media coverage of the event:</span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/" data-mce-href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Fresno Bee</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits" data-mce-href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Fresno Business Journal</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA" data-mce-href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">CBS47</a></span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"> </p> <p data-mce-style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 20.0063037872314px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; 'Times New Roman';" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership" data-mce-href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 116, 189);">Become a USGBC-CC member</a> and support initiatives like Green Apple Day of Service!</span></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup>th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Check out media coverage of the event:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/">Fresno Bee</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Fresno Business Journal</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">CBS47</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Become a USGBC-CC member</span></a> <span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">and support initiatives like Green Apple Day of Service!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup>th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Check out media coverage of the event:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/02/4156823/green-building-council-conducts.html?sp=/99/170/">Fresno Bee</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/14000-valley-schools-to-get-free-water-audits"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Fresno Business Journal</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/volunteers-audit-schools-for-smart-water-use/11426/3E9Gpl0R1kSsHPNdZo13NA"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">CBS47</span></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><a href="http://usgbccc.org/get-involved/become-memberrenew-your-membership"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Become a USGBC-CC member</span></a> <span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">and support initiatives like Green Apple Day of Service!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup>th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup>th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Sierra Unified is one of the school districts benefitting from the event. The school district is located in the foothills and draws its water from wells. Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor Jim Harris is looking at all options to save water. “We want to make most of the water that we do have”, Jim says. Volunteers looked at sprinkler heads, drinking fountains, faucets and other water outlets. One additional item on the list of the water auditors: signs to encourage water conservation. These belong to the low-cost options to remind everybody to use water wisely.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. This is the first time USGBC Central California is participating in this effort to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman";">Thank you to all the volunteers who participated and all our partners that supported the event,  Platinum Partner TETER AE, Gold Partner City of Fresno, Silver Partners Darden Architects, Sustap, and POM Wonderful.</span></p> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; opacity: 0;"> <p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal;tab-stops:.85in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;Times New Roman"">California’s water scarcity forces everybody to rethink their water use. USGBC Central California volunteers worked with schools to become part of the solution to address this issue. On September 27<sup>th</sup>, 30 volunteers came together to perform free water audits at six Central Valley schools as part of the international Green Apple Day of Service event. The volunteers helped the schools get water wise by detecting leaks, providing the schools an overview over the state of their technology, and evaluation existing water awareness campaigns. Local architects, engineers, construction professionals and students of these fields received training from USGBC Central California and the City of Fresno Water Department to perform the water audits.</span></p> </div> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241243 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241243 Laura Gromis Tue, 03 Mar 2015 21:43:05 GMT Edison High School Students Partner Up With USGBC-CC to Learn About Green Buildings <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">USGBC-CC started 2014 off by partnering up with students from Edison High School’s Green Energy Academy to learn about green buildings.  The program, “Measuring Green Buildings”, had Architects, Engineers and Contractors actually go into the classrooms at Edison High School to provide the students with real-world learning experiences.  The experts engaged students with such diverse topics as:  construction management, commissioning energy systems, acoustical performance, “green” building materials, and architectural design strategies.  As part of the program, students had the rare opportunity to actually test the acoustical performance of one of their classrooms.  After the experience, one of the Edison students commented, “It was something new and new things are always great.  I didn’t really know much about buildings, but after this experience, I now look at buildings with different eyes.”</span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> <img src="https://usgbccc.org/Resources/Pictures/photo%205.JPG" title="" alt="" width="200" height="112" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"></span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">Green Energy Academy’s Teacher, Taylor Vizthum, expressed his excitement about the students’ keen interest in learning, "In a class of High School Seniors, during the last class of the day you typically expect the students to become ever vigilant "clock monitors", however, during this project, the guest speakers and content was so engaging, they persuaded students to remain after class because they still had questions they wanted answered."</span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">After the educational hands-on learning experience students prepared posters that they presented at the “Green Schools Tour”, which took place at Edison High School’s new award winning building.  The tour provided another rare element of learning – networking opportunities.  This collaboration with Professionals actually working in the field is crucial for the seniors as they graduate from High School and plan their future.</span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">“Industry partnerships are one of the key elements as we aim to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century, and meet the needs for better Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education.  Opportunities as such bring context and relevance and help students connect to their learning.  We are grateful for having organizations like USGBC in our community, who are willing to help us connect with the industry and help better the educational experience of our students, and inspire them to pursue STEM fields”, reported Ellie Honardoost, Program Manager of the Office of College and Career Readiness at Fresno Unified.  Members of the USGBC and general public were invited to attend the event and learn about the High School’s program and building.  The event was a great success!</span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv6675073740msonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;">USGBC – Central CA Chapter would like to thank all of the volunteers from Edison High School, Architects, Engineers, and Contractors involved in the project.  A special thank you goes out to the Project Leader, Kjirsten Harpain from Darden Architects, who did an awesome job bringing experts together and working with the teacher to design the curriculum!</span></p> <p><br></p> https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241224 https://usgbccc.org/Green-News/3241224 Laura Gromis