http://ecobuild.20miletech.com/index.php en production@20miletech.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-01T16:19:46+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/mcgraw-hill-reports-green-bim-growth-as-covered-by-ecobuild-america/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/mcgraw-hill-reports-green-bim-growth-as-covered-by-ecobuild-america/#When:16:19:46Z   NEW YORK, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The growth of the green building market will drive adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, according to a new SmartMarket Report, Green BIM: How Building Information Modeling is Contributing to Green Design and Construction, released today by McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). Produced in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Autodesk, and 13 other prominent industry organizations, the report provides new insights on the convergence of two important construction industry trends: green building and BIM, known simply as "Green BIM."    "Green building is already transforming design and construction in the United States, and BIM has the potential to increase innovation—and design and construction efficiency," said Harvey Bernstein, vice president, global thought leadership and business development, McGraw-Hill Construction. "Therefore, the intersection of BIM tool use with sustainability goals is a powerful practice that can be truly transformative in increasing industry productivity." The industry agrees that they are just beginning to tap the full potential of BIM to achieve their green objectives. Only 17% of Green BIM practitioners are currently realizing more than 50% of BIM's potential for their green goals, but a sharp increase in Green BIM use is expected in the near future.   "The report reveals the share of activity where BIM is being applied to help achieve sustainability goals, showing the fact that this is still a nascent emerging trend," Bernstein added. "However, the future outlook is dramatic: 78% of the survey respondents who aren't currently using BIM on green building projects expect to do so within just three years. That's a significant increase." The report captures perspectives on the future of Green BIM from a wide range of experts, as well as case studies that demonstrate Green BIM's contributions to achieving sustainable outcomes. According to the report, as green building becomes a larger share of construction, the benefits provided by BIM will also be more widely recognized, and the use of BIM as a whole will increase. "Green and BIM have been the two most dynamic trends in our industry," said Steve Jones, who leads McGraw-Hill Construction's BIM initiatives. "Although they have been growing independently, it was inevitable that they would converge because the analysis and simulation capabilities of modeling are such a natural fit with the objectives of green building. This report establishes a baseline for the state of that evolution and points the way towards further exciting developments." Robert T. Armistead, president of MCAA, agrees, "MCAA and our foundation, the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation, have been working extremely hard over the past five years to provide our members with the highest levels of green and BIM education possible. Until recently, these efforts have been proceeding on separate tracks, but this [Green BIM] study validates what we've seen—or at least suspected—that these two mega-trends are coalescing. Green construction, like everything else in our society, is now highly information-rich and dependent, and that makes it ripe for modeling." BIM offers an efficient way to create and leverage digital models for the design, construction and operation of projects, and it is revolutionizing the way firms communicate, solve problems and achieve better outcomes. Current users who practice Green BIM also report intensive use of BIM. Nearly half (49%) of Green BIM practitioners use BIM on over 50% of their projects, compared to approximately one quarter (28%) of non-Green BIM companies. Green BIM practitioners are also more intensive users of the software since they both create and analyze models more frequently than non-Green BIM companies. "Autodesk BIM solutions enable our customers to use the rich, intelligent information from the design model to conduct whole-building energy analysis by accessing local weather data to simulate performance and visualize appearance, all from right within the design palette," said Rick Rundell, senior director of AEC Simulation Products, Autodesk. "This leads to better-informed decision-making, much earlier in the design process. As the McGraw-Hill Construction Green BIM research shows, more and more projects are being completed with BIM to meet goals for sustainability, and we continue to deliver solutions that help put sustainable design decision-making in the hands of architects, engineers and contractors to support industry demands for greater visibility and predictability." According to prior McGraw-Hill Construction studies, energy efficiency is the most often cited green building benefit, yielding significant cost-savings over a building's full lifecycle, and Green BIM is no exception. The study expects strong growth for energy performance simulation tools in particular: 95% of firms practicing BIM for green projects will do energy performance simulations within two years, compared with 73% now; and 79% of firms using BIM (but not focused on green projects) will conduct the simulations, compared to 21% currently. Energy efficiency is also an important tenet of the USGBC's LEED certification, a sought-after distinction for many green builders. At the core of every successful LEED project is a project team that practices integrated design," said Brendan Owens, vice president of LEED Technical Development, USGBC. "BIM provides an essential tool that supports integrated design, and to that end, will be extremely helpful in advancing this important concept. The ability to integrate BIM with LEED Online will move that idea faster and further.Data presented in the report are drawn from a McGraw-Hill Construction survey of design firms, contractors and other major construction industry players in the U.S. who already use BIM. The report aims to determine how often, when and why they are using BIM on green projects, and provides a portrait of firms that are already Green BIM practitioners in contrast to typical BIM users, as well as insights into how they use BIM to achieve their green goals and what they anticipate the future to hold. To download the free report, visit http://construction.com/market_research/FreeReport/GreenBIM/. Premier association partners include U.S. Green Building Council and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. The premier corporate partner is Autodesk. Corporate contributors include Balfour Beatty, Chicago Faucets, Graphisoft, Johnson Controls, and Parsons Brinckerhoff. The association partners are the American Institute of Architects, the Associated General Contractors of America, Construction Owners Association of America, Design-Build Institute of America, National Association of Women in Construction, National Electrical Contractors Association, National Institute of Building Sciences, and buildingSMART alliance. About McGraw-Hill Construction: McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the construction industry. For more than a century, it has remained North America's leading provider of project and product information, plans and specifications, and industry news, trends and forecasts. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers in the $5.6 trillion global construction industry through Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record, GreenSource, and 10 regional publications. To learn more, visit www.construction.com or follow @mhconstruction on Twitter. About The McGraw-Hill Companies: Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information and education company providing knowledge, insights and analysis in the financial, education and business information sectors through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2009 were $5.95 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.   2010-09-01T16:19:46+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/aec-science-and-technology-supports-the-mechanical-insulation-installa/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/aec-science-and-technology-supports-the-mechanical-insulation-installa/#When:16:03:38Z August 31, 2010   Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand  478 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510   Senator Mike Johanns 404 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510   Supporting the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2010 (S.3716) Dear Senators Gillibrand and Johanns, The undersigned organizations commend you for your introduction of S.3716, the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2010. Thank you for your bipartisan leadership in recognizing energy efficiency and high-performance buildings as critical components of any strategy to reduce our energy use and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. Ensuring all mechanical systems are specified, installed, operated and maintained at the most effective level of performance is essential to realizing the full potential of energy efficient buildings.   Our nation’s buildings account for 40 percent of our primary energy use—more than either transportation or industry. They are responsible for 72 percent of the electricity consumption and 39 percent of the total U.S. CO2 emissions. These CO2 emissions approximately equal the combined total emissions of Japan, France, and the United Kingdom.   Current federal energy efficiency provisions in the tax codes do not incentivize mechanical insulation maintenance, retrofits, or installation beyond current minimum requirements. They favor visible and highly publicized energy improvements, and while those are also needed, significant energy and cost savings can be found through mechanical insulation. By creating a tax credit for the installation of mechanical insulation for commercial buildings and industrial and manufacturing facilities, including power plants, refineries, hospitals, schools, and universities, S.3716 would help spur adoption of this technology, realize the vast energy savings possible in the commercial and industrial sectors, and boost our economy through green job creation in all 50 states.   Thank you again for your bipartisan leadership on improving energy efficiency and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by upgrading the built environment. The undersigned organizations look forward to continued work with you as this bill moves forward. If you or your staff have any questions or would like more information, please use the contact information listed below for each organization. Sincerely,   American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Contact: Mark Ames, Manager of Government Affairs Phone: 202-833-1830 Email: mames@ashrae.org Air Barrier Association of America, Inc. Contact: Laverne Dalgleish, Executive DirectorSupporting the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act Phone: 204-956-5888, Email: ldalgleish@buildingprofessionals.ca National Institute of Building Sciences, National Mechanical Insulation Committee Contact: Ryan Colker, J.D., Director of the Consultative Council/Presidential Advisor Phone: 202-289-7800 x133 Email: rcolker@nibs.org AEC Science & Technology, LLC Contact: George S. Borkovich, Principal Phone: 610-444-9692 Email: george@aecst.com Ecobuild America Contact: George S. Borkovich, Principal Phone: 610-444-9692 Email: george@aecst.com Institute for Market Transformation Contact: Cliff Majersik, Executive Director Phone: 202-525-7005 x303 Email: cliff@imt.org Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Contact: John McNerney, General Counsel Phone: 301-869-5800 Email: jmcnerney@mcaa.org Associated General Contractors of America Contact: Karen Kapsevic, Director, Tax, Fiscal Affairs and Infrastructure Finance Phone: 202-547-4733 Email: lapsevick@agc.org National Insulation Association Contact: Michele M. Jones, CMP, EVP/CEO Phone: 703-464-6422 Email: mjones@insulation.org Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Inc. (SMACNA) Contact: Stan Kolbe, Director of Governmental Affairs Phone: 202-547-8202 Email: skolbe@smacna.org   National Society of Professional Engineers Contact: Sarah E. Ogden, Senior Manager of Government Relations Phone: 703-684-284 Email: sogden@nspe.org American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Contact: Suzanne Watson, Director of Policy Phone: 202-507-4006 Email: swatson@aceee.org cc: Max Baucus, Chairman, Committee on Finance Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member, Committee on Finance Jeff Bingaman, Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Jim Bunning, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure 2010-09-01T16:03:38+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-to-showcase-cisco-smart-connected-building-solutions/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-to-showcase-cisco-smart-connected-building-solutions/#When:16:05:39Z The next generation of smart connected real estate solutions will be in the spotlight December 7-9, 2010 when the Ecobuild America show debuts in Washington, DC.   As a platinum sponsor at Ecobuild America, Cisco will have a featured display showcasing the company’s smart connected building architectures and solutions. The Cisco booth will be surrounded by integrated solutions from third-party organizations helping to redefine the way buildings are designed, built and operated in today’s energy conscious, sustainability-minded world.   Via sessions on the Ecobuild educational conference as well as short third party presentations and through hands-on displays on the exhibition floor, the showcase will feature a variety of applications to help architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, urban planners and developers improve the built environment. This will include:   How government and private partnerships are collaborating to develop both greenfield and brownfield sustainable, connected communities; How technologies incorporated throughout the built environment and community impact the way people work, live, play and learn; How this new model enables residents, workers and visitors to take a more proactive role lowering their individual and their community’s carbon footprint; How this new model will impact the way sustainable communities and the built environment are designed, built and operated.   George Borkovich, principal and co-creator of Ecobuild America commented, “We are extremely pleased to be working with the Cisco team on this ground-breaking event. While Ecobuild is known for presenting a platform for our industry to improve the way building and construction projects perform, the heartbeat of the event is the technology tools that are available to make that happen. Cisco, long-known for its innovative and industry-leading networking solutions, is now going straight to the people most responsible for planning, designing, building and operating the world we live in. We are excited to see them take such a pro-active role in moving our AEC industry forward.”     To learn more or to apply to participate in Ecobuild, companies can contact Ecobuild America at 610-444-9692. For more details about the overall event, go to http://www.aececobuild.com/     About Ecobuild America: Under the leadership of principals Richard C. Vendola, Jr. and George Borkovich, AEC Science & Technology, LLC (Centerville, MA), manages and produces Ecobuild® America conference and exhibit and the AEC-ST® Community. Together with their executive team, they have a depth of experience in technology and event planning for the AEC industry, including creating and managing the former A/E/C SYSTEMS International conference and exhibition. AEC-ST’s Ecobuild event and online community are designed to educate design and construction professionals on improving our built environment and cover the unique intersection where ecology meets technology.     # # # 2010-08-25T16:05:39+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-and-mp-asia-join-hands/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-and-mp-asia-join-hands/#When:15:49:31Z Centerville, MA & Singapore – August 25, 2010 – AEC Science & Technology, LLC (AEC-ST) has signed a joint venture agreement with MP Asia, a major international professional exhibition and conference organiser based in Singapore to produce Ecobuild events globally. The first such joint effort will be held in Asia. Ecobuild Asia, a conference and exhibition for design and construction professionals will take place in 2011. Asia has been selected for the launch event as it presents exciting prospects. Many of the economies have since rebounded strongly after the financial crisis. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently revised its 2010 growth forecasts for 45 economies in Developing Asia, which spans the Pacific to Central Asia, to 7.9%, up from an earlier forecast of 7.5%.   Environmental awareness in Asia is also on the increase and with many governments making environmentally friendly developments a priority, and real estate developers becoming more and more eco-aware. Mc-Graw Hill Construction’s recent Global Green Building Trends SmartMarket Report quantifies Asia as the fastest growing regional green building market in the world. The study predicts the population of firms largely dedicated to green building is expected to jump from 36% today to 73% in 2013.   For example, since the inception of Singapore’s Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings program, five years ago, the city-state has experienced a concerted shift towards the development of high performance buildings and infrastructure. The interest has gained fast momentum and is growing beyond Singapore’s shores into Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and other Asian countries. The birth of Ecobuild Asia creates a new world of opportunity for US exporters of green products, services and technologies. Not only will Ecobuild Asia help create and enhance the visibility of US exporters in the Asia, but it will also build solid business leads around the region.    AEC-ST Principal George Borkovich further explains the synergy of this joint venture with MP Asia, “Asia is a region brimming with US-assisted construction development and is a perfect extension of our brand.  We are pleased to partner MP Asia which is plugged into the vibrant Asian marketplace.” AEC Science & Technology was advised during negotiations by Global Event Strategies LLC. Sylvia Phua, of MP Asia explains, “The combined experience of AEC Science & Technology and MP Asia in their respective sectors will make Ecobuild Asia the first event of its kind in Asia and will provide a unique opportunity for US, Asian and other global public and private companies to meet face to face with prospective buyers and major players of the real estate and construction industry.” ABOUT ECOBUILD AMERICA Ecobuild America, produced by AEC Science & Technology, has educated the building industry on sustainable, green, and high performance solutions for the built environment since 2005. Ecobuild is sponsored by the leading American professional association - the National Institute of Building Sciences who will co-locate its 2010 Annual Meeting with Ecobuild. Authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1974, the Institute serves as an interface between government and the private sector by supporting advances in building science and technology to improve the built environment through the development of policies, practices and standards used throughout the AEC industry. For 2010, Ecobuild America is enhanced by a variety of co-located events including: the 33rd World Energy Engineering Congress and Tradeshow -well-recognized as the most important energy event of national scope for end users and energy professional in all areas of the energy field; the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Green building Symposium and many more. For more information on Ecobuild America, visit www.aecEcobuild.com. To exhibit, advertise or become a sponsor of Ecobuild America, please call 800.996.3863.   ABOUT MP ASIA MP Asia, a subsidiary of MP International, specializes in organizing exhibitions, conferences and special events for various industries and interest groups. Established in 1987, the MP group has organised and managed some 300 national, regional and international events, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2009 Leaders’ Week. It is a leading international organizer of trade exhibitions, including ITMA and ITMA Asia.   A member of the Pico group, the MP group is headquartered in Singapore with a global footprint across Asia and Europe. MP’s success with various partners is a testimony of its ability to identify opportunities and maximize the rewards for win-win partnerships. For more information on MP Asia, visit www.mpinetwork.com. ABOUT AEC SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY®, LLC Under the leadership of principals Richard C. Vendola, Jr., and George Borkovich, AEC Science & Technology, LLC (Centerville, MA), manages and produces Ecobuild America. Together they have a depth of experience in technology and event planning for the AEC industry, including creating and managing the former A/E/C SYSTEMS International conference and exhibition. The events cover the unique intersection where ecology meets technology. AEC Science & Technology is a proud member of: buildingSMART alliance™; Green Building Initiative; High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition; Sustainable Building Industry Council; United States Green Building Council, and Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.       ### 2010-08-25T15:49:31+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/free-sample-of-the-zweig-letter-featuring-what-you-need-to-know-about-/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/free-sample-of-the-zweig-letter-featuring-what-you-need-to-know-about-/#When:18:19:58Z WHAT IS THE ZWEIG LETTER? If you're running an architecture, engineering, or environmental consulting firm, you should be reading The Zweig Letter. It's the only weekly management advisor written exclusively for principals and managers like you. You'll get valuable advice, frank opinions, industry news, and real-life management practices that work 48 times a year in print and every day online. Subscribe to The Zweig Letter, and put it to work for your firm today! Save on shipping and get your edition "hot off the press" without waiting for the printer by subscribing electronically. FREE SAMPLE - EXCLUSIVE FOR ECOBUILD SITE VISITORS Don't miss, "What You Need to " -President of the National Institute of Building Sciences is tackling nation's problems related to building science and technology. This article on page 8 was written by AEC Science & Technology Principal George S. Borkovich. Open/download your free sample issue   2010-08-24T18:19:58+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/buildingsmart-alliance-seeks-industry-input-on-national-bim-standard/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/buildingsmart-alliance-seeks-industry-input-on-national-bim-standard/#When:22:23:34Z FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 17, 2010 Contact: Gretchen Hesbacher ghesbacher@nibs.org (202) 289-7800, Ext. 171   The buildingSMART alliance needs some help with its building information modeling (BIM) standard. The Alliance, which is both a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences and the North American chapter of buildingSMART International, has the responsibility of developing the United States National BIM Standard™ (NBIMS). Version 1 of NBIMS established the overview, principles and methodologies of what the standard will be. The Alliance is now beginning the development process for Version 2 (the nitty-gritty of the standard itself) and needs industry input. BIM has the potential to involve all aspects of the facilities industry, including architects, engineers, contractors, insurers, unions, manufacturers, lawyers, homebuilders, vendors, owners, consumers, local, state and federal governments, codes and standards developers, and testing representatives. Therefore, the Alliance is working to assemble a project committee of representatives from all of these sectors. NBIMS Version 2 will be the first true consensus BIM standard for the United States and it likely will be the basis of several other nations’ BIM standards around the world, so industry input (both domestic and international) is crucial. After assembling the project committee, the Alliance will issue a call for ballot submissions, followed by an industry review and comment period, then a resolution period. Voting on the final changes is expected to take place in July 2011, with the completed National BIM Standard Version 2 projected to be released at the end of that year. The opportunity to participate on the NBIMS Project Committee and throughout the development process is open to all members of the Alliance and the National Institute of Building Sciences. To learn more about membership, the committee and to download an application, visit http://www.buildingsmartalliance.org/index.php/nbims/committee/. About the Institute The National Institute of Building Sciences, authorized by public law 93-383 in 1974, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that brings together representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor and consumer interests to identify and resolve building process and facility performance problems. The Institute serves as an authoritative source of advice for both the private and public sectors with respect to the use of building science and technology. www.nibs.org 2010-08-18T22:23:34+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-to-offer-scholarships-to-qualified-government-employe/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/ecobuild-america-to-offer-scholarships-to-qualified-government-employe/#When:14:40:07Z Under Executive Order 13514; Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance; the energy reduction and environmental performance requirements of E.O. 13423 have expanded. Federal agencies are now required to develop, implement, and annually update a Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan that prioritizes agency actions based on life-cycle return on investment.   To underscore their support of EO of 13514, AEC Science & Technology, LLC is offering a limited number of full conference scholarships, valued at $495 to their Ecobuild conference, December 6-10, 2010 at the Washington DC Convention Center. Scholarships are made possible to government employees working in building and infrastructure design/construction through the support of industry vendors who exhibit and sponsor Ecobuild.  “The strategy the Oval Office has laid out regarding high performance building will go a long way in improving our built environment.  We want to help government employees execute the plan easily and effectively by having the best information available to them. Part of that effort is removing any barriers along the path to this goal,” explains Richard Vendola, Principal and co-founder of Ecobuild America.  “Unfortunately, getting government building professionals timely access to learning opportunities is more challenging than ever. Between the high cost of training, cutbacks, layoffs, and the toll the recession has played on the workload of people who still have jobs, we felt this would be a great time to offer these scholarships to select individuals,” Mr. Vendola adds.  Government attendees can especially benefit from these key sessions demonstrating the dramatic benefits of collaborative actions from entities such as: buildingSMART™ alliance, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Onuma Inc., and The Green Standard by attending the following seminars at Ecobuild America: Office of the Federal Environmental Executive Requirements for Federal Greening (session S509) Federal Greenhouse Gas Reports: Regional Requirements for Federal Greening (session S609) Federal Greening Portfolio-wide Emission Reports: Case Studies (session S709) Calculating Carbon Foot Print for Greening Federal Buildings (session S809)  For a complete event session schedule see http://www.aececobuild.com/event-schedule   Anyone interested in applying for a scholarship should send an email to AEC Science & Technology on Department or Agency letterhead with the reason he or she should be considered to receive a fee waiver on their registration (hotel and travel not included).   Scholarship registration requests should be sent to ivett.ortiz@aecst.com by September 30th.                     2010-08-16T14:40:07+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/free-sample-of-the-zweig-letter-featuring-why-henry-green-gets-it/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/free-sample-of-the-zweig-letter-featuring-why-henry-green-gets-it/#When:19:45:06Z WHAT IS THE ZWEIG LETTER? If you're running an architecture, engineering, or environmental consulting firm, you should be reading The Zweig Letter. It's the only weekly management advisor written exclusively for principals and managers like you. You'll get valuable advice, frank opinions, industry news, and real-life management practices that work 48 times a year in print and every day online. Subscribe to The Zweig Letter, and put it to work for your firm today! Save on shipping and get your edition "hot off the press" without waiting for the printer by subscribing electronically. FREE SAMPLE - EXCLUSIVE FOR ECOBUILD SITE VISITORS Don't miss, "Why I Beleive Henry Green Gets It" -President of the National Institute of Building Sciences is tackling nation's problems related to building science and technology. This article on page 6 was written by AEC Science & Technology Principal George S. Borkovich. Open/download your free sample issue     2010-08-13T19:45:06+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/institute-brings-broad-industry-perspective-to-doe-initiatives/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/institute-brings-broad-industry-perspective-to-doe-initiatives/#When:18:36:59Z From sustainable federal buildings to developing a road map for net-zero buildings, the Department of Energy (DOE) is tackling a number of cutting-edge challenges and the National Institute of Building Sciences is there to provide input from the industry’s perspective. In its unique role as an authoritative source of advice for both the private and public sectors with respect to the use of building science and technology, the Institute recently submitted comments in response to DOE’s call on the proposed rulemaking “Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Design Standards for New Federal Buildings.” Its primary message: Consider sustainability to be just one aspect of a high-performance building. The rulemaking calls to establish sustainable design criteria as required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). Among its comments, the Institute encouraged DOE to use a holistic approach to achieve sustainability in federal buildings; look at lifecycle costs instead of first costs as a basis for sustainable decision making; and include operations and maintenance staff and building occupants in the long-term strategies for sustainability. In addition, the Institute became a member of the Steering Committee of the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium (ZECBC). The ZECBC, through funding from DOE, is developing a roadmap for net-zero buildings and heading to a clear destination of improved energy efficiency in commercial buildings. As the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to serve as an interface between government and the private sector, the Institute has an important role because it brings a strong understanding of high-performance building practices and an industry-wide perspective to the Steering Committee. Similarly, the ZECBC itself is a broad-based industry partnership comprised of representatives from national industry, non-governmental organizations and public agencies. To learn more about the Institute and its high-performance building activities, visit www.nibs.org. To view the Institute’s comments to DOE, visit www.nibs.org/enews/DOE-Fed_Comments-NIBS.pdf. To learn about the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium, visit www.zeroenergycbc.org. About the Institute The National Institute of Building Sciences, authorized by public law 93-383 in 1974, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that brings together representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor and consumer interests to identify and resolve building process and facility performance problems. The Institute serves as an authoritative source of advice for both the private and public sectors with respect to the use of building science and technology. www.nibs.org 2010-08-13T18:36:59+00:00 https://www.aececobuild.com/news/persi-to-present-advancing-practices-for/ https://www.aececobuild.com/news/persi-to-present-advancing-practices-for/#When:18:29:31Z August 6, 2010 –  PERSI (Practice, Education and Research for Sustainable Infrastructure) will present “Advancing Practices for Sustainable Infrastructure” as part of the Ecobuild America conference program. The session will consist of 15 to 20 minute presentations by PERSI organizations describing how they are addressing sustainability in their standards and practices for infrastructure, followed by discussions of potential collaborative efforts to address sustainability consistently and effectively.     The following industry leaders from PERSI will share their knowledge and lessons learned at Ecobuild:   American Planning Association American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Landscape Architects American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM International American Water Works Association Autodesk National Institute of Building Sciences PERSI U. S. Green Building Council Plus, more participants to be announced. Since presentations will be brief, each organization will provide handouts and web links for further information. Interested federal agencies are invited to participate in the session and describe their programs for sustainable infrastructure.   Dick Wright, PERSI Director explains, “The PERSI Governing Assembly met in April when nine participating organizations each gave an overview of its current activities for sustainable infrastructure.  We learned so much from each other that we felt it would be good to do the same for a larger audience. Since Ecobuild’s broad scope goes beyond buildings to include infrastructure, we thought it would be the perfect venue to reach out and share ideas with others interested in sustainable infrastructure.”   Ecobuild principal George Borkovich adds, “We are thrilled that PERSI has chosen to conduct this educational program at Ecobuild. The insights of these leaders with regard to practices and standards for sustainable infrastructure will be of great interest to our attendees and will nicely round out our infrastructure offerings.” The session is free and open to all registered attendees at Ecobuild and take place 8am to 11am, and 2pm to 5pm, on Wednesday December 8, 2010. To register or get more information, please visit www.aecEcobuild.com   ABOUT PERSI (Practice, Education and Research for Sustainable Infrastructure)   PERSI (Practice, Education and Research for Sustainable Infrastructure) is an alliance of leading  professional societies and other organizations responsible for development and implementation of practices for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure.   Infrastructure includes constructed facilities and natural features that shelter and support human activities: buildings of all types, communications, energy generation and distribution, green spaces, transportation of all modes, water resources, and waste management and treatment.   For more information see www.persi.us.    ABOUT ECOBUILD AMERICA Ecobuild America®, sponsored by the National Institute of Building Sciences, educates design and construction professionals on how to improve our built environment. This unique, annual conference and exhibit, not only introduces new strategies and materials to create high performance, sustainable structures, but also the technology to do it faster and more profitably. For more information, visit www.aecEcobuild.com. To exhibit, advertise or become a sponsor of Ecobuild America, please call 800.996.3863. ### 2010-08-06T18:29:31+00:00