Learn the differences between LEED for Schools and other school green building systems. Learn about what our sponsors and supporters are doing to promote green schools and initiatives. Don't listen to rumors or gossip. Find out the facts about LEED commissioning, requirements and costs. Find out how USGBC promotes a holistic approach to green schools and the ways LEED can affect a positive learning environment.

Speakers for this event are:

• USGBC’s LEED for Schools Committee
• Alan Ahrens, Centerpoint Energy
• Hans Ingversen, Houston-Galveston Area Council

Visit the 2007 site at www.wineandfoodweek.com. The 2008 site will be up soon.

You are invited to join us for the third of a series of tours of certified green buildings here in Houston. The tour will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, every 30 minutes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the headquarters of Horizon Wind Energy in downtown Houston. Go to www.houstontx.gov/mayor/leedtour.pdf for more details and a map. We very much welcome your participation in this event and your interest and support for green building efforts across Houston.

Green buildings save owners and users money with greater energy efficiency. They are better for our environment with more re-use of material. Ultimately, they foster a happier and healthier workplace for employees.

To help us along this path, the City of Houston has put together the Mayor's Green Building Advisory Council in partnership with companies that have led the way in green building and achieved certification of their facilities according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating standards. The objective of this group is to share experiences including cost/benefit business cases and key learning with others to help accelerate green building across the city.

Please join us and learn more about this exciting effort.

Thank you,
Mayor Bill White

Last month, about 80 people gathered to hear Ralph DiNola discuss the trends in greening historical buildings and hear case studies of incredibly successful stories in that arena.

This month, Andy Bergman, USGBC-GHAC member and a community leader in the green building industry, will deliver a new presentation he created about Houston trends in LEED-EB.

• Take time to attend and learn how LEED has become a de facto requirement for building new Class A office buildings in Houston and how the application of LEED has diffused the marketplace when compared to other applications that have been adopted.
• Find out about what factors are going to drive future adoption of LEED and what the return of investment is for green existing buildings.
• Study proposed carbon tax legislation and carbon cap and trade. Determine what significant impact these proposals can have on existing buildings.
• Walk away with a snapshot of where market penetration is occurring in LEED-EB and LEED-CI in Houston.

Light appetizers and drinks are provided. Monthly membership meetings are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

Andy Bergman is the vice-president of sales and marketing with Air Zone International, a Houston-based manufacturer of sustainable, ultra-high energy-efficient air handling solutions for the commerical construction industry. He is a LEED AP and a Construction Specification Institute Certified Document Technologist. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Integrated Manufacturing Technologoy from Purdue University. He has considerable experience in speaking and authoring papers on issues regarding sustainable, green buildings and underfloor air technology. Prior to joining AZI, he was in management at McCoy Workplace Solutions and Qualified Specialists Inc.

The Green Brewe, our third monthly membership mixer, continues on the heels of the wildly successful mixer USGBC-GHAC hosted last week at the Continental Club as the kickoff event for Gulf Coast Green. Green Kudos goes to the Special Events/Awards team for their work! Jody Henry, USGBC-GHAC board member, leads this active and busy committee. The event garnered an impressive 400 registrants but estimates are that more than that attended. Keep up the momentum by attending our monthly mixer this week.

Visit with USGBC members. Learn about chapter committees. Sign up for future events. Enjoy networking with Houston's leading green building leaders. This event is generously underwritten by our Annual Sponsors.

The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Houston Chapter, joined by Houston Mayor Bill White, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Houston Chapter, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will celebrate energy efficiency and green buildings in Houston at a luncheon to be held at downtown’s Hilton Americas Hotel. The luncheon will honor outstanding commercial real estate companies in Houston who earned the ENERGY STAR® label in 2007 and those buildings that have achieved LEED certification.

Mayor Bill White will be speaking on the topic: Houston Real Estate Industry Leads the Nation, and Andrew Kitchens of Hines will be speaking on: The Benefits of LEED and Energy Star in Today's Office Buildings. Bill Balleza is the Master of Ceremonies.

For further information contact jzimmermann@gaccsouth.com, visit http://usa.atlanta.ahk.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Dokumente/Events/Green_Initiative_InviteTX.psd.pdf
to view invitation.

You are invited to join us for the second of a series of tours of certified green buildings here in Houston. The tour will take place on Friday, February 29, 2008, every 30 minutes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the headquarters of SpawGlass Corporation in northwest Houston. Go to www.houstontx.gov/mayor/leedtour.pdf for more details and a map. We very much welcome your participation in this event and your interest and support for green building efforts across Houston.

Green buildings save owners and users money with greater energy efficiency. They are better for our environment with more re-use of material. Ultimately, they foster a happier and healthier workplace for employees.

To help us along this path, the City of Houston has put together the Mayor's Green Building Advisory Council in partnership with companies that have led the way in green building and achieved certification of their facilities according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating standards. The objective of this group is to share experiences including cost/benefit business cases and key learning with others to help accelerate green building across the city.

Please join us and learn more about this exciting effort.

The Balcones Chapter of the USGBC invites you to attend a LEED for Homes Technical Review Wednesday, February 27, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Austin, TX. The workshop is certified for CEU credits.

This workshop is a detailed exploration of the LEED for Homes rating system. You'll acquire the basic tools and insights you need to incorporate green building into your work, including examples of successful strategies for each credit.

Who should attend? Industry professionals seeking to increase their understanding of the LEED for Homes Rating System and green building strategies, benefits and resources or seeking LEED Professional Accreditation.

http://chapters.usgbc.org/centraltexas/docs/pdf/Register_LEED_Workshop.pdf *
*Note: If there are any questions regarding online registration, please contact workshop@usgbc.org.

• Bill White - Mayor of Houston
• Larry Heard/Transwestern
• Rives Taylor/Gensler