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Mid-Atlantic Sustainability Conference Session Descriptions

Friday Sessions

Thursday, June 27th

10:30-12:00

LEED Introductory Workshop, Overview and Application

Jason Kliwinski, The Prisco Group, chair
Kristin Reisinger, Stephen Tilly, Architect
Stephen Tilly, Stephen Tilly, Architect
Alan Traugott, Flack & Kutz Consulting Engineers

This session is designed to be a beginner seminar for those who don't really know or want to become more familiar with what LEED or USGBC is or how to apply it in their projects. Will include 45 min. explanation and outline of LEED, 1/2hr case study of LEED in practice on various projects, and 25 min. of open forum discussion on applications of LEED and its benefits shortfalls, etc.

Financing High Performance New Housing
Rick Gerardi, NYSERDA
Jim Ragan, The Bank of New York

Both New Jersey and New York have programs designed to assist builders and developers make new and rehabilitated housing of all types more affordable.  States use a combination of utility and Systems Benefit Charge (SBC) funds, local, state, and federal dollars to assist both design and financial support.  Learn what these two states have to offer for builders, developers, homeowners, and multifamily building owners to make their buildings safer, more resource efficient, more durable, more comfortable, and more affordable.

An Overview of High-Performance Schools and Their Benefits

Jeffrey Brown, Global Learning, Inc., chair
Deane Evans, NJ Institute of Technology

High Performance Schools provide the highest quality learning environments.  This session will be an introduction to the concepts and qualities that are typically associated with High Performance Schools; specifically detailing the cascading benefits to the school districts. This presentation is an introductory overview that will provide definition and context for the entire High Performance Schools track. As the name implies, this is a general beginners track with a lot of good information and definitions.

Introduction to Clean Energy Technologies and Markets

Athena Sarafides, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Dave Rapaport, Northern Power Systems
Jim Torpey, FirstEnergy Technologies

This session will provide an overview of the various major clean energy technologies, including photovoltaics, biomass gasifiers, on-site cogeneration, fuel cells, and wind turbines. The speakers will explain how they work, show where they are currently used, and describe their current economics. Dave Rapaport of Northern Power Systems will focus on describing and explaining the technologies, with a particular focus on commercial applications. Jim Torpey of FirstEnergy Technologies will describe the current and likely future market for them in the Mid-Atlantic region. There will be ample time for audience questions so that you will go away with answers to those nagging basic questions that you didn’t know who to ask.

Audience: This session is designed for anyone who wants an introduction to clean energy technologies, including representatives of businesses and institutions considering adding these technologies to their energy portfolio.

Distributed Energy for Improved Reliability and Quality
Lew Milford, Clean Energy Group
Joel Gordes, Environmental Energy Solutions
William O'Sullivan, NJ Department of Environmental Protection

This session will focus on businesses’ need for power reliability and quality. In our computer-based economy, the financial losses from power outages and power fluctuations can be great. This session will explore the world of distributed generation—small, modular, fuel-diverse energy sources that can be placed close to the point of use. It will explore the technologies, drivers, barriers, and economics of various distributed generation technologies. It will assess whether fuel cells, wind, solar, and microturbines can crack the market that is currently dominated by battery-powered uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and diesel generators.  

Toward a Sustainable Economy
Kevin Lyons, Rutgers Integrated Administration System, chair
James T. Milway, The Purchasing Department
Joseph Verga, Verizon

Our opening panel will introduce track participants to some of the most innovative purchasing agents in the country; individuals who are moving the future of using procurement practices for waste minimization into the present.  Kevin Lyons, author of Buying for the Future: Contract Management and the Environmental Challenge, will describe his ground-breaking work at Rutgers University, which serves a population of the size of a small city.  He will discuss both present trends and concepts to merge environmentally preferable procurement actions into the standard purchasing function and work toward future changes that will have long lasting positive effects on purchasing.  Jim Milway and Joe Verga represent the Institute for Supply Management, the largest organization of purchasing professionals in the country.  Together they will discuss how large and small businesses are taking everyday purchases beyond their existing specifications to cut costs and develop sustainable resources.  They will cover the all-important issues of motivation, commitment, education and marketing/communications.

New Center Development: Case Studies
Bob Melvin, Washington Township, chair
Neal Payton, Torti Gallas CHK Architects
Rob Steuteville, New Urban News

There is some momentum developing in the region around the concepts of sustainable development and new urbanism. This session will provide an overview of "sustainable/new urbanist" new communities that are being planned and developed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Two specific case studies - Kings Farm in Maryland and Washington Town Center in New Jersey will be discussed in some detail. What are the challenges and opportunities facing this type of new communities? How has the market reacted? Have Government smart growth policies aided or hindered these projects?

2:00-3:30

Adaptive Reuse of Existing Facilities
David Gibson, D.F. Gibson Architects

Through example projects, we hope to demonstrate that existing infrastructure can be creatively and wonderfully reused for new purposes while conserving our resources and using sustainable products and practices. Focus will be on higher education facilities and commercial projects.

Building Better Homes for Less
William Zoeller, Steven Winter Associates, Inc., chair

The introduction of new technologies and the application of building science has made it possible to design and build new homes which radically out-perform "standard practice" housing in terms of energy efficiency, comfort, durability, and waste reduction all without costing more and sometimes even less. Using "systems-engineering" approaches production builders from all different climate zones are proving they can save time, material, and money while producing the higher performing homes demanded in the market place. Learn these proven techniques and how to incorporate them without extensive learning curves or drastically altered production methods.

William Zoeller is Senior Architect and Associate at Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA), a Norwalk based Architectural and Engineering firm specializing in high performance building design.   Mr. Zoeller has twenty years experience that includes work as a project manager with The Consortium of Advanced Residential Buildings, (CARB), a Building America Team, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional responsibilities include contributing author to the HUD Residential Rehabilitation Guide, continued work on custom residential design commissions, and as project manager on the HUD initiative PATH (the Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing).

Resources and Technical Assistance for High-Performance Schools
Athena Sarafides, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Deane Evans, NJ Institute of Technology
Mark Lohbauer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
William Marston, MMA Integrated Architecture & Design Consulting
Michael Winka, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Edward Zazzali, PSE&G

The issues involved with creating High Performance Schools can be complex.  Without the proper understanding of both the advantages and the incentives for creating this kind of quality learning environment, it can be hard to keep a school on the High Performance track.  This session is designed to give an overview of assistance programs available to help design, build or renovate schools to be high performance schools. School officials, as well as design professionals will be given an overview of financial, technical, regulatory and informational assistance specifically geared to educational facilities. This session is designed for everyone involved in the construction or renovations of school buildings from the school representatives to the design professionals.    

The Mid-Atlantic’s Renewable Potential
Joseph Carpenter, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Michael Brower, True Wind Solutions
Rick Handley, Northeast Regional Biomass Project

Many people talk about the potential benefits of developing renewable energy in the Mid-Atlantic region, but how much energy is it realistic to expect to get from renewables in the near-term and the longer future? What are the available renewable resources? Which parts of the region are best suited to renewable energy development? Each of the speakers will focus on a different renewable resource: Michael Brower on wind, Rick Handley on biomass, and a third speaker on solar. Not only will they discuss the total resources available, but they will also highlight the most cost-effective locations and technologies for developing renewable energy in the Mid-Atlantic region. Joseph Carpenter will moderate the discussion.

Audience: Because it will look at the general prospects for renewable energy in the region, this session should be of interest to many varied groups, including renewable energy business people, government officials, utility representatives, environmental advocates, builders, planners, and project developers. It assumes basic familiarity with the various clean energy technologies.

Photovoltaics in Buildings

Mary Pelletier, NESEA, chair
Steven Strong, Solar Design Associates

Architects and engineers with vision have come to understand that it is no longer enough to simply create buildings that are aesthetically pleasing. Buildings must also be environmentally responsive. Interest in the building integration of photovoltaics, where the PV elements actually become an integral part of the building, often serving as the exterior weathering skin, is growing worldwide. The early PV-powered buildings provide a window into the coming new era of environmentally responsive, energy-producing buildings. Steven Strong will present a world overview of building-integrated PV activity, including a description of component and systems development using built examples from the US, Europe, and Japan.

Audience: This session will provide an introductory overview that will be of interest to a wide audience, including architects, engineers, building owners, environmental advocates, and others.  

Daylighting Techniques for Schools
Muscoe Martin, Susan Maxman & Partners, Architects, chair
Bruce Coldham, Coldham Architects
William G.Reed, Natural Logic Inc.

Studies on daylit schools have shown that students achieve higher test scores and are generally more productive in schools that are daylit. This session will be a technical discussion of how daylighting issues are incorporated into the design process.  Presenters will use actual case studies to illustrate design principles. This is a session for technical minded folks.  The level of discussion will be to guide future design decisions.

Corporate Sustainability Initiative
Jeff Cotton, Interface Flooring Systems, chair
Cassandra Kling, Evergreen Services

Good business is sustainable business.  This session will focus on showing case studies of actual sustainable business actions, many by fortune 500 companies.  These case studies document the business case for sustainability. Pure business logic and economic benefit is the driving force for many of these actions, but the environmental, regulatory, productivity and media benefits provide incredible value to the companies.  Case studies will be discussed in detail as to cost, benefits and savings. The presentation will be geared at a general audience interested in sustainability at the corporate level and will not dwell on technical aspects.

Asset Recovery and Demanufacturing
Lori Nanton, NJ Institute of Technology, chair
Nick Albano, Advanced Recovery, Inc.
Ed Grenchus, IBM Asset Recovery Center
Lauren Roman, United Recycling Industries

The session will discuss new demanufacturing technologies and business practices for recovering value from end-of-life discarded products.   Business issues for demanufacturers will also be discussed in the context of an emerging national program for electronic product recycling.

This presentation is for a general audience.  

Urban Redevelopment

Jerome Blue, Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority
Neal Payton, Torti Gallas & Partners, CHK Architects
Karen Torian, Housing Authority of the City of Newark

The three projects selected for this session make a clear statement that redevelopment within the context of urban environments can be cost effective, energy efficient, livable and marketable. Designed to create living mechanical organisms, each of the respective projects have building designs that intentionally integrate high quality, energy efficient mechanicals into their overall infrastructure. Each project demonstrates the extent to which redevelopment can be used as a viable tool in the revitalization of older pre-existing communities. Furthermore economies of scale and affordability are achieved by the promotion of a mix of land uses and mixed use buildings that are organized to compliment existing cultural and social structures, while also acting as a catalyst for community revitalization. A key strategy within each project was the creation of home ownership opportunities with close proximity to recreational, entertainment, cultural, and commercial establishments. This was intended to promote integrated developments with an increased potential for long-term economic viability and sustainability.

4:00-5:30

Creating Healthy Indoor Environments

Jeff Cotton, Interface Flooring Systems
Jason Kliwinski, The Prisco Group

Technical product session describing industrial processes as well as finish products that are environmentally friendly. Discussion will include technical data on chemicals to avoid and their corresponding products as well as composition of environmentally friendly alternatives. Some attention to HVAC design will be given here.

Zero Energy Homes Program

Robb Aldrich, Steven Winter Associates, Inc., chair
Donald Bradley, Solar Strategies Development Corp.
Glenn Strahs, US Department of Energy

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is encouraging builders across the country to produce not only high performance housing, but also, housing that uses little or "zero" energy. The Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) program works in cooperation with builders to combine high performance technologies with renewable energy technologies.  A demonstration home was built on the Mall in Washington, DC in 2001, and builders across the country are participating.  Hear about the plans and the successes of this program.

Health and Productivity in Schools

Joseph Ponessa, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, chair
Joseph Grabowski A.I.A., Middleton School

We all want our children to have a healthy school environment. Unfortunately toxic releases and mold growth run rapid in our poorly designed schools. Teachers, administrators and especially students are getting sick, just by attending school. The cost of the increased liability, student illness and retrofit construction is draining school budgets across the country.  This session will explore the underlying issues of why our schools can be unhealthy and how to avoid these problems. This presentation is for a general audience, detailing to the lay person and technical expert what some of the issues are and how to avoid these mistakes.

State Efforts to Promote Renewable Energy: A Progress Report
Lew Milford, Clean Energy Group, chair
Roger Clark, Sustainable Development Fund
Elaine Bryant, New Jersey Clean Energy Program
Jeffrey Peterson, NYSERDA

For supporters of sustainable energy practices, one of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the establishment by several states of funds to promote the implementation of environmentally friendly energy technologies. Leaders from the funds in New York, New Jersey, and the greater Philadelphia area will describe their programs and assess what their initiatives have accomplished so far. They will also look at the lessons that have been learned and any barriers to quick progress in renewable energy development. They will describe their funds’ future plans.

Audience: This session will be of interest to anyone who wants to know how renewable energy is being promoted and advanced in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Design for Environment and New Eco-Products

Dr. Reggie J.Caudill, NJ Institute of Technology, chair
Subir K. Dey, NJ Institute of Technology
Rick Lehman, Rutgers University
David Thompson, Panasonic

The session will focus on evolving web-based techniques and current industrial applications of green design tools and practices. The session will also address the development of new building products from recycled materials with an emphasis on recovered plastics and CRT glass.

This presentation is for a general audience and for those interested in sharing information on new green products for the building and construction industry.  

Sustainable Transportation

Bill Beetle, NJ Department of Transportation, chair
Janine Bauer, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Thom Kleiner, Orangeburg, NY
Lloyd Thompson, Moffatt and Nichol Engineers

What is sustainable transportation and how can it be brought about?  This panel of experts will explore topics including the land use/transportation interface, transit-oriented development, balancing growth in port activity with landside logistics, and context-sensitive road design.  In each use, sustainable transportation requires meeting mobility and accessibility needs in concert with economic and community wellbeing.  Transportation, community, and logistics practitioners can learn new approaches to problem solving.

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Friday, June 28th

8:30-10:00

Master Planning for Sustainable Facilities and Campuses

Eduardo Del Valle, Kean University, chair,
Regina Bleck, Rutgers University
Gary Jay Saulson, PNC Realty Services

"All of the mistakes are made in the planning stage." This session will teach planners, facility managers, and developers to think before they act in preparing the master plans that will shape our future for the next 10 to twenty years.

Consumers Making the Wrong Decisions for Their Homes

F.L. Andrew Padian, Steven Winter Associates

Why is it that when a homeowner needs to seal their ducts and change to higher efficiency appliances, they decide to replace their double pane windows with double pane windows, add 12" of insulation to their 12" of insulation, and buy vinyl siding?  Homeowners are inundated with high-end marketing of higher-ticket items, as well as gadgets that have little or no effect on energy usage, durability, or comfort in the home.  What are the best, inexpensive, and cost effective improvements in the typical home, and why don’t consumers do them?  This session is designed for home improvement contractors and homeowners to meet each other and find the common ground.

Speaker:  F.L. Andrew Padian is a Senior Housing Specialist with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA). He has extensive experience in providing technical assistance and training for numerous clients in the areas of building science, energy efficiency, and multifamily housing, with special emphasis on affordable energy solutions. He has over twenty years of extensive experience creating, developing, and managing energy and environmental programs in the private and public sector.

Innovative HVAC Systems in Schools (Technical Session)

Lynn Stiles, Stockton State College, chair
Paul Stoller, Atelier Ten
Michael Sherber, Sherber & Associates

The design of the heating ventilating and air conditioning systems impacts many factors of an entire school.  Smart designs can reduce the first cost, improve occupant comfort and substantially reduce the operating and maintenance costs over the life of the system. This session will be a technical session for design professionals and facility personnel that discusses in detail several HVAC options that optimize performance. This session is for facilities managers and design professionals and people interested in technical HVAC information.

Developing a Large Solar Project: Case Studies

Eva Gardow, New Jersey Clean Energy Program, chair
Thomas Leyden, PowerLight Corporation,
Leigh Seddon, Solar Works Inc.

How does a business or institution go about building a solar building? What’s involved with working with architects, engineers, and contractors? What makes for a successful project? Thomas Leyden of PowerLight Corporation and Leigh Seddon of Solar Works Inc. will each describe 1-2 large-scale solar installations on commercial or institutional buildings and will explain the process that made those projects possible. They will draw conclusions about the opportunities and obstacles facing such solar installations.

Audience: Business and institutional decision-makers, solar installers, environmental advocates, utility representatives, government officials.

Diverting Food Residuals from Your Waste Stream

Priscilla Hayes, NJ Solid Waste Policy Group, chair
Joseph Hayes, Woodhue Ltd.

Food residuals, or food waste, is a very heavy, wet, and odorous segment of many business waste streams. Per capita food waste generation from businesses which serve food can be as much as one and a half pounds per meal, or up to 30 tons per month.  Supermarkets can produce even more waste—as much as 45 tons per month.  This can lead to substantial tonnage fees using traditional waste haulers, as well as health and aesthetics concerns.  Drawing on the information being collected in several ongoing studies, Priscilla Hayes will discuss the state of food residuals across the mid-Atlantic region, and the advantages which various businesses have enjoyed from recycling this material. Joseph Hayes will discuss the work his firm has done with individual businesses across the region, and the work he is doing to increase the range of options in the area.

Sustainability Metrics
      
Reggie Caudill, NJ Institute of Technology, chair
Clinton Andrews, Rutgers University
David Dickinson, NJ Institute of Technology

The session will address the development and application of new sustainability metrics and total cost assessment techniques, as well as, goals being proposed as part of the New Jersey Sustainable State Initiative. Join us to find out how companies are beginning to integrate sustainability into everyday business practice…improving the environment, and their own position in the marketplace—all the while improving their economic "bottom line

This presentation is for a general audience.  

Sustainable Site Planning
  
Michael Skelly, Sr., Eco Living Fellowship, chair
Ann Brady, The Regional Planning Partnership

Site planning provides many opportunities to increase the value and sustainability of projects and communities. This session will focus on concepts and examples of Sustainable Site Design, Green Infrastructure/Urban Greening/Forestry, Constructive Wetlands/ Sustainable Water Purification.

10:30-12:00

Integrating Sustainable Design in Your Projects: It's a no-brainer

Cassandra Kling, Evergreen Services Corp., chair
Muscoe Martin, Susan Maxman & Partners Architects
Carl Stein, Stein White Nelligan Architects LLC

Using built or planned projects, we will review the incentives, technologies, design processes, and construction that make a project sustainable, including LEED integration. University, Commercial, and Industrial projects will be touched upon and case studies will be explored.  

Affordable Sustainable Housing in Newark
Max Benjamin, JP Affordable Housing
Joseph Lstiburek, Building Science Corp.

As a dynamic demonstration of what can be done in urban settings, two developers designed and built high performance housing in Newark that proved that rehabilitation and new construction could be resource efficient, comfortable, safe, affordable, and offer beautiful housing.  Listen to the cutting edge work done by two different developers in three different settings in Newark.

Renewable Energy Systems in Schools (Technical Session)

Lyle Rawlings, Advance Solar Products, chair
Christopher Cook, E3 Energy Services, Inc.
Leigh Seddon, Solar Works Inc.

When renewable energy systems are put on schools we are able to teach our children by example. This session will be a technical overview of what it takes to put renewable energy systems on schools.  An overview of products, system sizing and design, safety, cost and benefits will be provided.  This session is geared toward design professionals and facilities managers.

Sustainably Grown and Harvested Biomass

Edward Lempicki, Chief Forester of New Jersey, chair
Louis Bravakis, Novus Energy
Mark Vodak, Rutgers University

What is sustainably grown and harvested biomass?  Examples of certification programs and practices that meet this definition will be identified and discussed.  Trends in biomass production and use for electric generation will be discussed.  Ed Lempicki will provide an overview of biomass projects in New Jersey, e.g. Willow Bio Energy Research and the Urban Log Recycling and Certification Program, Louis Bravakis will focus on Rex Lumber’s experience in documenting sustainability and Dr. Vodak will identify various sustainability certification programs and their criteria.

Audience: This session will be of interest to individuals, government and private sector representatives that are interested in purchasing green electricity.

How to Build a Thriving Market for Green Electricity

Michael Winka, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Pam Frank, Partners for Environmental Quality
Dave Gillespie, New Jersey Transit
John Halley, Community Energy
John Holtz, Green Mountain Energy
Anne Marie McShea, Green-e Mid Atlantic

The challenge still remains – how do we build a thriving market for green electricity?   The green electricity market is growing but still faces some challenges.  This session will be structured as a forum. Session speakers and conference participants will have an opportunity to discuss the challenges and explore opportunities to expand and promote the green electricity and renewable energy market in New Jersey and elsewhere in the mid-Atlantic region. Case studies detailing successful green power procurements by non-profits and sState agencies will be discussed.  Green power providers will discuss trends in availability and pricing of green power.

Audience: This session will be of interest to individuals, government and private sector representatives that are interested in purchasing green electricity.

Finding and Buying Less Toxic Alternatives

Alicia Culver, INFORM, Inc.
Bill Lowry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Mark Miller, Terresolve Technologies, Inc.  

All of New Jersey’s lakes and rivers are heavily contaminated with mercury, some of which originates from the manufacture and disposal of thermostats, appliances, vehicles and other products that contain this potent nerve toxin. This session will identify building construction and facility maintenance products that made with highly persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs). Speakers from the public, private and non-profit sectors will also describe a new initiative to help businesses and government agencies evaluate, specify and purchase environmentally preferable products such as low-mercury lamps, PBT-free construction products, plant-based lubricants for vehicles and other equipment, and low-toxicity paints and janitorial cleaning supplies.

Using a Waste Audit to Plan Waste Minimization

Tom Constantino, PSEG Resource and Recovery Center, chair
Michael Buono, Environmental Services Management Group
Karen Smith, Environmental Services Management Group

This session will provide an introduction to performing a waste audit--i.e. determining what is in your waste, and in what quantity--and demonstrate how waste audits can be used to plan waste minimization and "resource management." Tom Costantino will describe how PSEG, one of the country's largest independent power companies has moved from what it calls "waste accounting" to resource management, an alternative to traditional waste contracting and recycling.  Michael Buono and Karen Smith will describe how they have helped save companies money through their waste audits. They will also discuss the extension of the waste audit concept to the building area, and their work with LEED.

Policy Changes to Advance Livable Communities
            
Susan Bass Levin, NJ Department of Community Affairs, chair
Martin Bierbaum, NJ Department of Community Affairs
Barbara Lawrence, New Jersey Future

The Garden State has the most comprehensive state land-use blueprint in the nation, the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan.  Find out from this panel of experts how federal, state, county and local efforts, policies, programs and funding can be brought to bear to increase the number of livable communities and improve people’s quality of life.  Learn the latest about what’s happening as a result of Governor James E. McGreevey’s Executive Order No. 4.  Hear views on what more might need to happen to promote smart growth.

Audience: Business and governmental decision-makers, environmental interests, and anyone with an interest in New Jersey smart growth public policy on a host of levels, as well as federal initiatives and public policy.

2:00-3:30

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Michael Winka, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Edward Borer, Princeton University
Donald A. Brown, PA Consortium of Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy
Joseph Sullivan, The College of New Jersey

The integration of energy with the environment and economy is relatively simple.  It is all the same basic discussion but in different languages.  The common link is they can all be translated into a CO2 based language and can be traded back and forth.  New Jersey has set a goal for a 3.5% reduction in total 1990 CO2 emissions by 2005.  NJDEP has signed agreements with various sectors to help reach that goal.  One is these agreements is with all 56 College and University Presidents, which is being replicated in other states.   Part of the solution to reducing GHG (aka CO2) is using new emerging and innovative technologies. Colleges are small communities and are good proving grounds for using these new technologies.  The panelist will present an overview of the examples of green design and energy efficiency being implemented on college campuses and lessons learned.  

Award-Winning Buildings

Mary Pelletier, NESEA, chair
Elmer B. Burger II, LDA-L.D. Astorino Companies
Muscoe Martin, Susan Maxman & Partners Architects

This session will review the process of making decisions through design and construction for two award winning buildings: the PNC Firstside Center and the Cusano Environmental Education Center. Elmer B. Burger II, A.I.A., Vice President of Corporate Commercial Architecture at L.D.Astorino Companies, and Principal-in-Charge of the PNC Firstside Center project team, will discuss major factors which contributed to the project’s success, and it's LEED silver rating. PNC Firstside Center is a 645,000 square foot office for 1,800 employees of the PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This LEED certified project was completed in September of 2000.  

Muscoe Martin, A.I.A., a Principal of Susan Maxman & Partners, Ltd, was Principal-in-Charge of the Cusano Environmental Education Center. This 13,200 square foot public education facility located at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in urban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, opened in January, 2001.  Learning about these two award winning buildings will give building owners, architects, and other design professionals perspective on establishing green priorities.


Healthy Homes: Materials in Residential Construction

Darren Port, New Jersey Green Homes Office, chair
Paul Novack, Environmental Construction Outfitters of NY
Wayne Tusa, Environmental Loss and Control, Inc.

Healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a significant issue in the construction of residential buildings.  This session will address construction and finishing material section, the materials consequence on IAQ and how to integrate material section into whole systems design of residential construction.  

Case Studies of High-Performance Schools

Jason Kliwinski, The Prisco Group, chair
Heidi Fichtenbaum, Ford, Farewell, Mills & Gatsch Architects
Larry Schoff, US DOE Energy Smart Schools

High performance schools are being built all over the country as well as in our own backyard.  The speakers in this session will give a detailed overview of some model schools, including details of cost and performance. Building design, system components, site planning and material selection will be covered, as well as how the integrative design process assisted in the entire process.This session will be geared toward school officials and their design professionals with lots of best practice information.

Wind Energy Development: Prospects for the Nation and the Mid-Atlantic Region

Maryann Daniel, US DOE Philadelphia Regional Office, chair
Phil Dougherty, Wind Powering America
Henry DuPont, Lorax Energy Systems

In recent years, as the price of wind turbines has come down, the use of wind power has grown at a faster pace worldwide than any other energy source. Although the Mid-Atlantic region, does not have the nation’s best wind resources, there is still the potential to get a significant share of our electricity from wind. This session will look at the overall state of wind energy development in both the nation and in the region. Phil Dougherty of the US Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America program will discuss overall national trends and the likely future course for wind development. Henry Dupont of Offshore Services will examine the opportunities for developing financially attractive wind projects, especially small and medium-scale ones, in the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryann Daniel of the DOE’s regional office will chair the session and will highlight several of the recent important wind power projects in the region.

Solar for Cities

Gregory Kiss, Kiss and Cathcart, Architects, chair
Don Bradley, Solar Strategies
Tom Thompson, 1st Rochdale’s Green Apple Renewable Energy Program

Solar is often associated with remote off-grid uses and suburban custom homes, but it is starting to be used more widely in cities and there is considerable potential to use it on a much larger scale. Each of the speakers will discuss a different range of solar applications in cities. Gregory Kiss will focus on new commercial construction. Don Bradley will discuss new low-rise housing, including low and moderate-income housing. Tom Thompson will focus on opportunities for installing solar systems on the roofs of existing apartments and commercial buildings.

Audience: architects, builders, designers, utility representatives, urban planners, solar installers, environmental advocates, others interested in the future of cities. A non-technical session.

Environmental Procurement and Contracting- Practical Teambuilding and Overcoming Obstacles

Priscilla Hayes, NJ Solid Waste Policy Group, chair
Clint Andrews, Rutgers University
Thomas Bryant, Rutgers Business School
Kevin Lyons, Rutgers Integrated Administration System
Peter Smouse, Rutgers University

A New Jersey Solid Waste Policy Group team will discuss the practical aspects of implementing environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) in your organization. Speakers will discuss marketing of environmentally preferable purchasing to your organization, and how to develop institutional support and an EPP team, with representatives of purchasing, policy making, environmental, health and safety, and facilities/maintenance departments, as well as product users.  They will describe techniques and resources for finding products and assessing quality, and how to develop a decision-making matrix and write new specifications, taking potentially higher initial costs into account. They will also describe some methods for communicating EPP throughout the organization.  

Healthy Communities, Healthy People

Kathleen Bird, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, chair
Reid Ewing, Voorhees Transportation Center
Elizabeth Humphrey, Smart Growth America
M. Katherine Kraft, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

What makes a livable, healthy community?  Although we are living longer, land-use decisions are damaging our health.  Yes, sprawl is killing us.  Beyond the need for clean water and clean air, people need transportation, social interaction and physical activity.  Learn from a panel of national experts about the latest research on the links between public health and the built environment.  Hear about new initiatives by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the design of places to live, work and play that improve people’s health and incorporate moderate physical activity in daily life.

Audience:  Business and governmental decision-makers, anyone interested in hearing about an emerging and provocative area in which public health concerns, transportation, construction, research, economics and public policy all come together.  A non-technical session for anyone, especially those interested in creating partnerships and seeking competitive funding for planning  the built and natural environment in ways that promote better health.

4:00-5:30

Grand Tour of European Green Buildings

Mary Pelletier, NESEA, chair
Bruce Coldham, Coldham Architects

In the fall of 2000, Bruce Coldham and four of his professional colleagues spent 3 weeks touring 34 of the most celebrated "Green" Buildings in 4 European countries - Germany, Switzerland, Holland and England. This interdisciplinary team of green building professionals was given extraordinary access to the buildings, and met with several leading European architectural and building system designers. Coldham returned in the fall of 2002 to add to his understanding of these and other high performnace buildings.

This session will examine the current state of high performance green buildings in Europe through a selection of the projects visited - including the Jubilee Campus of Univ. Nottingham by Hopkins & Partners/Arup, the Wessex Water building by Bennetts/Buro Happold; the Mont Cenis Training Center by Jourda/Arup, and buildings by Joachim Eble, Peter Hubner, and Baumschlager &Eberle.  It will reveal innovative, practical and transferable green building strategies; it will consider the design process necessary to support good, ecological design; it will attempt to separate the "hype" from the "heroic." that is associated with the media coverage of these buildings The session will include a comprehensive illustrated slide presentation as well as technical and performance data. on the projects discussed. Data sheets for each project discussed will be available at the session or can be obtained from www.coldhamarchitects.com

Importance of Building Comissioning and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
Scott Chrisner, Chrisner Group, chair
Bruce Curtis, Dometech Engineering
Michael Gresty, Kinetix LLC

Building can be designed for high performance standards on paper, but if the end product is not checked to ensure it is performing to those standards, it may all have been for not. This session will look at the emerging industry of building commissioning and its important role in creating successful sustainable, high performance projects. Also in this session, we will examine the perceived notion that sustainability costs more and the reality that it saves money on a variety of project types.

High Performance/Affordable Housing Roundtable

Cassandra Kling, Evergreen Services, chair
Chris Benedict, Chris Benedict, RA
Christine Bruncati, Chris Benedict, RA
Darren Port, New Jersey Green Homes Program

Affordable housing has been built with and without government assistance, and still achieved high levels of sustainability, through various programs in New York, New Jersey, and across the country.  Listen to these practitioners talk about their experience in building better housing for affordable clients.  Bring your questions!

Using Sustainable Actions as a Teaching Tool

Chris Mason, NESEA, chair
Merrilee Harrigan, Alliance to Save Energy
Tonya Oznowich, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Education Program
Paul Stoller, Atelier Ten

This session is designed not only for educational professionals, but for their design professionals as well. Learning directly from you environment facilitates the learning process. Hear about sustainable actions at schools are being integrated into lesson plans. Both design professionals as well as school representatives with find this session to be helpful to innovative programming.

Fuel Cells in Stationary Uses and Transportation

Robert Brown, FuelCell Energy,  
Chris Haun, H-Power

There has recently been considerable industry and public interest in the prospects for fuel cell technology, but what is the current state of this technology? How close is the technology to wide-scale use? What will be the most likely initial applications of the technology. This session will look at fuel cell applications that are currently being developed both for buildings and for vehicles. It will consider if, why, and under what circumstances business, institutional, and government decision-makers should consider purchasing and supporting fuel cells.

Audience: This session will be of interest to business, institutional, and government decision-makers, as well as utility representatives and environmental advocates. It does not require prior technical knowledge of fuel cells.

Corporate Policy Changes and Incentive Development
                  
Pricilla Hayes, New Jersey Solid Waste Policy Group, chair
Scott Avelino, KPMG Global Sustainability Services
Eric Israel, KPMG Global Sustainability Services
Mary Beth Koza, Bristol Myers Squibb
Ken Kraly, L'Oreal USA

If a new sustainable economy is succeeding, it should create value.  How do companies achieve and demonstrate the business case of sustainable growth programs?  Eric Israel and Scott Avelino will describe how KPMG Global Sustainability Services has created business value through effective risk management systems.  Ken Kraly will describe how, despite a 60% increase in production, L’Oreal USA Clark Manufacturing has decreased greenhouse gas emissions 44% over the last decade.  It’s bottom line cost savings of $2.5 million and much great public relations have resulted using simple energy management, waste minimization, and recycling/reuse programs and techniques.  Mary Beth Koza will describe how the Bristol-Myers Squibb 2010 Sustainability goals influence corporate policy, and how they have resulted in cost savings, and changes in "business as usual" at BMS suppliers.

The Big Picture: New Jersey's Historical Sustainable State Initiative and New Sustainable State Institute

Matt Polsky, NJDEP, chair
Joy Hecht, New Jersey Sustainable State Institute

New Jersey has had a pioneering state-wide initiative involving the development of goals and indicators of many aspects of sustainability and livability since the mid-1990s.  The latest development, which started up only this month, is the establishment of a Sustainable State Institute, a partnership between State Government, New Jersey Future, NJIT & Rutgers University.  Learn about where we've been and, from the new Executive Director, where we are going, including how the Institute will continue to update and potentially develop new indicators; perform research; advise government on public policy; involve the public; and focus on how various sectors, such as potentially local communities and the business community, can pursue sustainable practices.  Advise the Executive Director on how the Institute can be most successful contributing to thinking about and meeting the many challenges to livability, both in the near-term and in the years ahead.

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