Celebrating 45 Years of Earth Day

The official Earth Day celebration began as a demonstration in the United States on April 22, 1970.  It has grown worldwide and has gotten bigger every year. A few things happening around the globe this Earth Day include:

1. Clean up around the Great Wall of China. Volunteers will be collecting litter left by hikers and campers.
2. Students will plant over a hundred Ghat trees in Dubai.
3. Corporate employees from Tokio Millennium Bermuda will team up with children at a Primary school to plant a butterfly garden, paint an inspiration mural and provide litter clean up.
4. The Rainforest Trust plans to protect 25,000 acres of rainforest in Sumatra to protect the Sumatran Tiger.
5. Bolivia holds a Mother Earth Festival

If there is not an Earth Day activity in your area, here are a few ideas of things that you can do on your own or in your community.

1. Take a hike or go bike riding 
2. Grow a garden
3. Get a home energy audit
4. Donate clothes to charity
5. Write a letter to your senator
6. Volunteer at an environmental organization
7. Go paperless
8. Turn off the tap
9. Recycle
10. Make Earth Day Everyday

These ideas can be enjoyed all year and we hope you celebrate Earth Day today and every day.

Celebrating our Earth Today... and Every Day

Each year on April 22, we celebrate our Earth. At GBA, we believe Earth should be celebrated every day. With winter finally exiting and make way for spring, it's a great time to go outside and enjoy the Earth.

Here are a few ways to celebrate Earth Day:

1. Plant a tree
2. Plant some flowers native to your region
3. Create an organic vegetable garden
4. Conserve water with a rain barrel
5. Have a picnic in the park
6. Visit a nature center in your area
7. Participate in a neighborhood clean-up 
8. Recycle

The ideas can be enjoyed all year and we hope you celebrate Earth Day today and every day.

To find Earth Day events in your area, check out the EPA website.

GBA's Anne Schroer Honored by KSPE as ‘Young Engineer of the Year’



GBA's Anne Schroer receives the "Young Engineer of the Year"

award from KSPE President Glenn Knak, P.E., Lochner, BWR Division.

Congratulations to Anne Schroer, who has been named “Young Engineer of the Year” by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE). The award is given annually to honor a young engineer for engineering achievements, involvement in KSPE, civic and humanitarian activities, and excellence in continuing education.


A civil engineer and member of GBA's Transportation Group, Anne is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2003 and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management in 2010.  As part of the requirements for her Master’s degree, Anne developed the concept of “Sustainable Transportation Optimization,” which uses linear programming to maximize positive sustainable impacts in transportation projects. 

One of Anne's passions is working within the engineering community to help create a more sustainable transportation future. She currently serves as Assistant Chair of GBA’s FocusGreen, a multi-disciplinary team of LEED APs dedicated to achieving sustainability in GBA’s designs and business practices.

Anne also represents the American Public Works Association (APWA) as a member of the 4A Collaborative, a group of planning and design professionals from APWA, APA, ASLA, and AIA committed to promoting sustainability throughout the Kansas City region. In addition, she is a member of the KC Metro Scorecard Subcommittee, which is charged with developing a sustainability scorecard for the Kansas City area. 

Anne's involvement includes membership in the Linking Environmental & Transportation Planning Advisory Group that, through MARC, helped create an action plan and best practices guide for the Kansas City region. The Advisory Group continues to work to develop a clear understanding of what needs to be done to better integrate transportation and environmental planning in the Kansas City region. 

And if all of that isn't enough, Anne completed the Boston Marathon this year in 3 hours, 41 minutes, and 8 seconds (3:41:08), qualifying her for a third consecutive year. That's an amazing average of 8:26 (minutes: seconds) per mile.  Now that's sustainable transportation!     

Uniform Interconnection Standard Needed for Kansas

A recent article in The Kansas City Star got our attention. Written by Steve Everly and entitled "Kansas' potential for new energy is getting lost in the wind," it questions Kansas' commitment to wind energy for “community-scale” applications.

Kansas is second only to Texas in its potential for wind energy. But the state has not adopted interconnection standards that would make it easier for individuals, businesses, and communities to install wind turbines. Other states have already adopted these standards and exceed Kansas in installed wind-generating capacity. 

According to the article "Over the years, a hodgepodge of requirements imposed by utilities has made hooking renewable-energy equipment, such as wind turbines, to the electric grid more difficult and expensive. States interested in boosting renewables have been replacing the mishmash with a simpler, easy-to-understand interconnection standard."

Kansas was headed that way, but the Kansas Corporation Commission's staff recommended that, rather than develop a uniform interconnection standard, the details be left up to each individual utility to determine.

Just how all of this will progress is uncertain.  According to the article, KCP&L, the state's second largest utility, objects to uniform standards and believes that system requirements should be decided at the utility level. The Kansas Corporation Commission will hold a hearing about interconnection next month.

Although the amount of energy produced by community-scale applications is small compared with utility-scale wind farms, we support a uniform standard that will encourage the use of all kinds of clean, abundant, and renewable energy sources. Wind energy fits that bill and efforts should be made to encourage its use in Kansas.

GBA’s Energy Studio is a collaboration of architects and engineers dedicated to finding solutions for our clients that conserve energy and utilize renewable energy sources.

Photo courtesy of Norther Power Systems, Inc.

KC Business Journal Talks to GBA VP Roy Wilson About LEED Certification in the Current Economy

KC Business Journal staff writer Mark Kind talked with GBA VP Roy Wilson for an article entitled "Cost concerns growing, but LEED is not slowing" that appeared in the February 5 issue of the publication.  How has the recession in the construction industry affected the pursuit of LEED certification?  Roy shared his thoughts along with Bob Berkebile, principal of Kansas City's BNIM Architects, and Bob Courtney, energy manager for the Olathe School District.  

All agree that energy-efficient buildings are the gold standard today, whether LEED is part of the mix or not.  In fact, Roy noted that some states are developing alternative regulations to allow state-owned energy-efficient buildings to avoid the costs associated with LEED verification.  Countney said that he's not sure the district can justify going for an award (LEED certification), and opted out of obtaining LEED certification for three existing schools because of the high cost. He will do the same with another school now under construction. Yet Berkebile noted that while fewer projects are being designed and built because of the recession, the percentage of those seeking LEED certification is growing. 

Commissioning is a well documented, systematic method of assuring that a building’s systems perform according to design standards and meet the needs of the owner and occupant. It is a prerequisite for LEED certification.  Roy noted that commissioning is a critical step, especially for buildings containing critical 24/7 operations. But while many owners elect to have their buildings commissioned, they choose not to seek LEED certification.

As our clients know, we are committed to helping then achieve their goals for sustainability, from small steps that incorporate green materials, principles, and practices,  to helping them earn LEED certification. That's the goal of our FocusGreen Team of LEED Accredited Professionals.

GBA Staffers Help Design Renewable Energy Project Now Providing Power at HMHB Clinic in Haiti

Just a year ago, members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-KC) (http://www.ewb-kc.org/) started work on a renewable energy project in Torbeck, Haiti, in partnership with Healthy Mothers – Healthy Babies (HMHB) (http://www.hm-hb.org/). HMHB operates Maison de Naissance (MN) (http://www.maisondenaissance.org/), a free birthing home in Haiti, near Les Cayes, which had relied on a diesel generator to power lights, fans, and computers. Members of the EWB team designed and built a solar power photovoltaic system that is providing much needed power to the clinic. GBA staffers Keri McGill and Alan Lehman, who were part of the design team, provided updates on the project throughout the year, below.  

For those interested in donating to an organization that is on the ground and poised to assist with immediate relief efforts in and around Port au Prince, Partners in Health (http://www.pih.org/home.html) has been in Haiti for over 20 years and is actually the second largest employer in Haiti. PIH is at the forefront of providing medical care to Haitians and has an earthquake donation link set up on their website. The NY Times blog "The Lede" discusses some of PIH’s recent activities in Haiti [link]. 

Haiti HMHB Project Update – Post Earthquake, January 2010

Members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of EWB designed and installed a solar power photovoltaic system on the clinic’s roof in the Spring of 2009. We are happy to report that the system is working and MN won’t be caught in the diesel shortage. Although MN wasn’t hit directly by the earthquake, they are and will be affected for years to come. Not only does MN anticipate a hearty increase in expenses to maintain even the simplest of operations, there is currently a major urban-rural migration occurring. An influx of people into the rural areas will further tax the availability of materials that have typically been delivered via Port-au-Prince. You can donate directly to the Maison de Naissance Foundation on their website. US Office: 6247 Brookside Boulevard, Suite 224, KCMO.

Haiti HMHB Project Update, June 2009

GBA's Alan Lehman and Keri McGill worked with other members of the Kansas City Professional Chapter of EWB on a renewable energy project for a Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies (HM-HB) birthing clinic near Les Cayes, Haiti. The clinic previously relied on a diesel generator for all of its electricity. Alan and Keri assisted with the design of a solar power photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the facility. An implementation team traveled to Haiti in April and again in May to install the solar panel system.

Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies, January 2009

Local professional members of EWB-KC have started work on a renewable energy project in partnership with Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies (HMHB) for Maison de Naissance (MN), a free birthing home in Haiti. MN is welcoming and friendly – in keeping with the hospitality of a home rather than a medical center which can be culturally intimidating. All services are free, because even the least financial expectation would be a deterrent to preventative care and early treatment of problems.

MN does not have electrical service. HMHB is currently spending $3,000 per month on fuel for a diesel generator to power lights and fans in about 8 rooms. Access to the computers and the internet allows HMHB to provide first world care in the poorest of settings. HMHB can reduce their operating costs through solar power. Members of EWB-KC are currently designing a solar power system for the facility. Members of EWB-KC will also assist in the installation of this project in early 2009.

Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar, Part III - Suzanne Berkey

The exhibit hall was larger than ever this year and I could have spent two solid days visiting all the booths. Two of my favorites dealt with small building details that may often get overlooked in the grand scheme of things. One consisted of light-reflective, prismatic interior window shades that allow diffused light to pass through without the harmful UV rays and heat transmittance. The other incorporated LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology into composite decking to provide lighted walkways and an indication of level changes, such as stairway nosing. Both of these are examples of the exhibited green technologies that go beyond mainstream awareness.

Beyond the educational sessions, exhibit hall, and keynote speaker, the best part of Greenbuild is the congregation of people in an environment that promotes innovation and forward thinking. Average people really do have the power to make positive changes for present and future generations. Possibilities are out there that we cannot even fathom at this time and the excitement about what lies ahead is uplifting and challenging at the same time.

Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar, Part II - Suzanne Berkey

My time in the educational sessions covered a wide array of topics specific to green building practices, the design profession, and federal involvement. Common threads carried through many of the sessions regarding Risk Management about the implementation of LEED into future projects. I felt one particular session classified risk concerns into an order that made the most sense.

Top 5 Risk Concerns
5. Material Substitutions
4. Ongoing Education
3. LEED v3 New Rating System
2. LEED NC vs. EBOM (Disconnect)
1. Guarantee of Building Certification

The recent release of Neighborhood Development was another area I have interest in learning more about. The pilot ND program has just been completed with forty-seven projects now certified and in the final stages. St. Louis Park, MN proves to be an ideal LEED ND project development located at the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and Grand. Mixed-use buildings offer the core components for a sustainable community. What used to be a road flanked on either side by block after block of strip malls and shopping centers now has a better proportion of building density with open green space.
More information can be found http://www.USGBC.org/leed/nd

In one of the off-site educational sessions, I visited a LEED EB building on the campus of General Dynamics C4 Systems. The Director of Facilities Management, Patrick Okamura, informed us of the process they went through internally to apply for LEED EB. Not only did he find a way to renovate an existing building, he also serves on the Sustainability Task Force with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) established in November 2008. He also created a unique relationship with Deborah Schneidermnan and the Interior Design Department at the University of Arizona. This mutually beneficial relationship works toward the goal of achieving environmentally friendly work environments. 
More information can be found http://www.ifmafoundation.org/

Architect Suzanne Berkey Reports: Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar

Greenbuild 2009 drew nearly 28,000 advocates for sustainability to the dessert city of Phoenix, Arizona, November 11-13. The annual conference was hosted within the recently awarded LEED Silver Convention Center located downtown, just steps away from the new light rail system. I used the light rail system the very first day I arrived to travel from Mill Street in Tempe, site of the University of Arizona, all the way downtown. Although the train car I entered contained many passengers, I managed to find a seat and found the system very user friendly. It provided me a different perspective of Phoenix and the surrounding metro area. I took the chartered bus every day to and from the Convention Center, used the recycling stations placed throughout the building, and ate the organic food prepared in mass quantity. Compared to other conferences held across the US, Greenbuild definitely sets a high bar for other's aspirations.

Overall, the conference was a success and I came back to Kansas City empowered and motivated to continue on the track of sustainability in my personal and professional life! In the Opening Keynote held at Chase Field, Al Gore quoted an old African Proverb that states, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." He followed saying, "We have to go a long way, fast." Which means we have to work individually and together to reach our goals and sustain our existence on this Earth.

FocusGreen Submission Wins First Place

GBA's FocusGreen submission won first place in the Kansas City EGB Chapter's 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition. In November, the submission will compete as a national finalist at the Greenbuild Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Team members include: * Suzanne Berkey (Representing the team in Phoenix), Molly Oller, Doug Norman, Amanda Schowengerdt, Megan Walter