Big Things to Be Thankful For

Hello Guild Members,

We as EcoBuilders have some big things to be thankful for this year:

- Our nation is turning to an integrated sustainable energy grid as part of the new leadership's strategic plan for the future.

- Green knowledge is going deeper and wider, so both early adopters and those just learning can make a bigger difference.

- The Guild is almost finished with its 5 year strategic plan, which will facilitate funding for more programs and paid staff.

As we gather with family and friends this season, let's be sure to share our pride and joy for being part of the solution.

Thankful for all you do ~

Your Regional Board Co-Chairs - Terry, Fiona, & Ben

Seattle's First Permitted Straw Bale Project

Take a truck load of straw wrap it in wire and Stucco add a roof, solar heat, windows and doors and voila! Seattle has it's first permitted straw bale project.

STRAW BALE PHASE II
STUCCO WORK PARTY
Nov 29th & 30th
6819 37th Ave. NE

Saturday Work Party 9-6
Stucco and Wire Mesh
Sunday Work Party 10-6
Lots More Stucco

INTERESTED?
stop by and help / take photos / just take a look at what we're up to
no rsvp req'd but if you know you're going to show up
please email blajbour@comcast.net AND sage@sagedesignsnw.biz
you'll be well fed and have fun knowing that we are working on
Seattle's First Permitted Straw Bale Project!

What better way to work off all those mashed potatoes and gravy?

Who's building this project anyway?

check out RA's Construction for more details.

Or, check out S.A.G.E. Designs NW's website for a direct link to
a slideshow.

Changes to LEED Accreditation in 2009

With the new version of the the LEED Rating System (LEED 2009) being launched in March 2009, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has announced the changes it will be implementing for LEED AP accreditation. Here's a summary of what those changes will be and how they will affect current LEED Accredited Professionals.

New LEED APs:

• The new LEED exams (yes, there will be multiple) will begin beta testing in February 2009.
• At the same time, the GBCI's new multiple tier accreditation system will take effect.
• These tiers will include LEED Green Associate, LEED Accredited Professional, LEED AP Fellow and the Legacy LEED AP, each with their own requirements & fees.
• Visit the GBCI's LEED Credentialing Facts for more information.
  

Current LEED APs:

• The current LEED AP exam will be phased out. The final opportunity to take this exam under the current rules will be May 2009.
• After that all current LEED APs will become known as Legacy LEED APs.
  
• Starting in June 2009, Legacy LEED APs have two years to opt in to the new system. Once you decide to opt in, you have another two years to complete the requirements. If you haven't updated your credential by then (a maximum of four years if you're deadline-driven), you can no longer use it and must start from square one.
• Legacy LEED APs must sign on to a disciplinary policy, which is basically a code of ethics for LEED APs. There will also be credentialing maintenance (continuing education) requirements, which haven't been outlined yet, and a biannual "maintenance fee" of $50.

BuildingGreen.com's recent article Major changes announced for LEED AP credential program
also provides a great overview of these upcoming changes.

Welcome!

You are now reading the very first post on the Guild’s new Ecobuilding Times blog. The decision to take our newsletter online is a sign of the times of course, but we are also interested in exploring new ways to engage our members. This blog does away with sporadic calls for newsletter submissions and their associated deadlines, and instead allows for the constant flow of information relevant to all our members. We believe communication at this level will be critical to the ongoing success of the Guild as we maneuver our way through changes to the website, Green Pages and formulate our strategic plan.

We expect this blog to evolve over the coming months, but the idea is to keep it simple in design and rich in content. This blog will be written by members, for members, so there’s no professional journalism required. If you are interested in contributing to the Ecobuilding Times on a regular basis, let us know and we’ll sign you up today. Otherwise email ideas and stories to ecobuildingtimes@ecobuilding.org. And please, no marketing or self-proclamations of greenness, that’s what the Green Pages are for.