Joseph Maguire

SERF and Roosevelt University to be featured speakers at AASHE Conference

May 30, 2014 Joseph Maguire

We are proud to announce that SERF, in conjunction with the recently SERF Certified Roosevelt University, will be presenting at the 2014 AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) Conference in Portland, Oregon. The conference takes place from October 26th through the 29th. More information on AASHE can be found here.

We will be discussing the manner in which Roosevelt University students were able to take part in the certification process of their Vertical Campus in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. Roosevelt students gained first-hand industry experience, learned about groundbreaking green technologies, and received course credit for their work, while the University established an promising new method for educating students. We’re excited to share Roosevelt’s sustainability story and create new ones at the AASHE conference!

For more information on the content of our upcoming presentation, check out Roosevelt University’s SERF profile.

LCA All the Way

April 23, 2014 Joseph Maguire

At SERF, we hold with the maxim that the greenest building is the one that is already built.

Except when we don’t.

It is generally the case that the reuse of an existing structure is a more sustainable route, even measured over a long time period, than demolition, disposal and construction of a new building, even one chalk full of energy-saving bells and whistles.

But as new systems—many of which are cost-prohibitive to install in existing buildings– lead to ever greater efficiencies, we see that maxims are not rules. The path to determining the sustainable benefit of building new versus reuse lies in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

SERF Foundation’s Director of Research Stan Samuel has co-authored a white paper on Life Cycle Analysis and its potential to aid green building rating systems compare reuse versus new construction

Download a copy here

Tagged With: Adaptive Reuse, Green buildings, life-cycle analysis, SERF, Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities

Pushback on LEED grows

December 3, 2013 Joseph Maguire

From Ohio to South Carolina, people from building owners to state legislators are rethinking their commitment to the USGBC’s LEED certification. Reasons range from political to economic, but amid an ever growing commitment to sustainability, there is strong demand for alternative green building certifications.

We’re not LEED-bashers at SERF. On the contrary, we recognize the USGBC and LEED as the creators of the green building awareness movement and applaud their success. Our mission has always been to extend the reach of this movement by making the certification process more affordable, accessible, and user-friendly.

Moreover, we help tell the story of why holistically green buildings (and sites) are important and, as a rule, good business. Our credibility in this regard demands we honestly assess, and call out, the myriad examples of poor investments and, on occasion, detrimental life cycle effect of chasing points for the sole purpose of attaining certification.

If I had to guess, this unintended and mounting consequence of LEED certification—together with the cost and time demand– is the root of the growing rebellion.

Tagged With: cost of LEED, LEED, SERF, Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities, USGBC

China’s Road to SERFdom

October 23, 2013 Joseph Maguire

It’s hard to keep a good idea down—or even contained.

Over 2 years ago SERF began a relationship with Eva and Lu Jiang from Cixi–in the Chinese province of Zhejiang– at the International Council of Shopping Centers Recon convention in Las Vegas. Eva and Lu are clients of SERF Foundation Trustee Rick Dekam of Midwest Realty Group.

Rick is advising the Lus on their new Ningbo Fashion Outlets in Cixi to house the American retailers of which Chinese consumers are so fond. These targeted American companies are very sensitive to sustainability and green buildings—as is increasingly becoming important throughout China.

SERF’s partnership with the Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction enables us to secure a Mandarin speaking construction expert to certify the structure based on the original plans and specifications.

What a small world…

Has USGBC Shifted its Focus?

July 17, 2013 Joseph Maguire

That’s the question posed by Greg Metz and Ted Lott of Lott3Metz Architects in the Grand Rapids Business Journal (Click here to read the article).

Messrs. Metz and Lott were early, and proud, adopters of LEED certified designation for professionals who have wearied of the additional fees and re-certification required of their practices, which they see as little more than a new USGBC profit center.

Moreover, a sense of fairness is at play. When they were accredited, the implied bargain was that the credential would last for life. The revised rules, and their accompanying fees, unfairly change the terms of the relationship. While Lott3Metz remains firmly committed to sustainable design, they are fed up with USGBC’s demand for ongoing tribute.

So instead of bellying up to the cashier window, Greg Metz would like to see, “…what is the next thing? What’s the next LEED that everybody is going to want to have?” Well Greg, the next thing is here. It’s credible, it’s affordable, and it’s SERF.

Tagged With: Grand Rapids Business Journal, Green Building Certifications, Green buildings, Greg metz, LEED, LEED Accredited Professional, LEED AP, SERF, Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities, sustainability, Ted LottX Lott3Metz, USGBC

Motor City Miracle

July 1, 2013 Joseph Maguire

It is all too easy to hear of the financial meltdown of the City of Detroit government and assume that all is lost.

Hardly. People and organizations who love their city are doing exciting things in Motown. It was my pleasure to present a SERF Certification plaque to Kathy Makino of Shelborne Development on her company’s magnificent adaptive reuse of the historic Chalmers building as Chalmers Square.

In addition to 47 new, energy-efficient housing units, this mixed-use gem features 17,000 square feet of street retail to further bolster the revival of the resurgent East Jefferson corridor (www.jeffersoneast.org). This corridor, originally known as the Jefferson-Chalmars Historic Business District, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

We believe in architect Carl Elefante’s maxim that the greenest building is the one that is already built.

Kathy Makino and Detroit’s Jefferson East community demonstrate that the greenest neighborhood is the one that is already built.

Tagged With: Chalmers Square, Detroit, green, green building, Reuse, SERF, sustainability

SERF Aims to Make Green Building Certification Simple

June 4, 2013 Joseph Maguire

05/10/13- Article by Solar Works Atlanta: SERF Aims to Make Green Building Certification Simple

Tagged With: Environment, green building, Green Building Certification, green certifications, LEED, SERF, Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities, sustainability

What Wood LEED Do?

May 20, 2013 Joseph Maguire

It seems lawmakers in North Carolina are seeing red over “green” LEED standards for wood.

Since most timber grown in the state does not meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards that LEED requires, builders there are perversely incented to use imported wood in order to obtain LEED certification.

The North Carolina House of Representatives is responding with HB 688 which would prohibit public projects from pursuing a green building certification which, “disadvantages materials of products manufactured or produced in North Carolina.”

SERF believes in local sourcing and holistic, life-cycle analysis (imported wood?) So, to our friends in the Tar Heel state, we encourage you to support your local economy and the environment by growing your own.

Tagged With: American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council, FSC, Green Building Certification, Green buildings, HB 688, LEED, life-cycle analysis, North Carolina, SERF, SFI, Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities, sustainability, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Timber, Wood

Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire: Sustainability Strategies: New Guidelines Make Green Building Certification More Accessible

April 24, 2013 Joseph Maguire

01/13/13- Article. Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire: Sustainability Strategies: New Guidelines Make Green Building Certification More Accessible

Is LEED a Monopoly?

April 19, 2013 Joseph Maguire

Gosh, we sure hope not. We’ve been a little quiet lately as we launched our completely redesigned and enhanced web site this week (www.SERFgreen.org), but the notion of a LEED monopoly is unsettling. After all, SERF, Green Globes ™ and others have invested significant resources to provide cost-effective, accessible alternative green building certifications.

Still, others make the claim of a LEED monopoly quite forcibly—like the Chattanooga Times Free Press recent editorial.

The Times Free Press’ position has some merit when considering government buildings. But as to the private sector—the ones who are spending their own money–we find businesses are very open to a market-friendly alternative to LEED. In fact, we’ve had success with private buildings that are already LEED certified.