Energy
PGE defections actually good for sustainability
Portland Business Journal - by Brian J. Back
When Portland General Electric launched its Green Building Services venture 13 months ago, Portland's eco-conscious elite was declaring the market ripe for sustainable design. Then suddenly last month, word surfaced that GBS' two top dogs, Nathan Good and Jerry Yudelson, had left to pursue other opportunities.
But apparently it wasn't due to a bad economy or bad blood--the changes actually demonstrate that sustainable design is further blossoming, says Good.
"In a nutshell, we both just had great opportunities," Good said recently from his new office at CH2MHill. "The market is just expanding, and there's lots of opportunities for folks like us."
Following months of negotiations that preceded the launch of GBS, Good began work at CH2MHill's Portland office last month. He said CH2MHill's sustainable design talent and in-house resources are both exceptional. Yudelson took a job as marketing director for Interface Engineering.
GBS, meanwhile, has promoted former SERA architect Alan Scott to director of consulting services and Ralph DiNola to senior design consultant. According to peers, Scott and DiNola were instrumental in obtaining the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building certification in the Northwest for Viridian Place, a Lake Oswego office building designed by Thompson Vaivoda & Associates Architects Inc., and in the development of Ecotrust's Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center, the next shoe-in for LEED certification.
Almost like kids waiting for announcements about gold wrappers in Willy Wonka chocolate bars, the Northwest's premier green building enthusiasts have been pining to see who will get the region's first-ever LEED certifications.
LEED is a nationwide program piloted by the U.S. Green Building Council. In environmental design circles, it is generally regarded as the benchmark in energy-efficient green building architecture. Good credits the LEED program as key to the booming regional green-building marketplace, which spans from San Francisco to Vancouver, B.C.
GBS learned last month that the recently built 15,000-square-foot Viridian Place building, home to Neil Kelly Co., Blazer Development and CES NW, took the first prize. According to Tom Kelly, president of sustainably geared Neil Kelly Co., Viridian Place is a close-second to a structure in California that recently became the first LEED-certified building on the West Coast.
"From the beginning, it was a priority to make this building as green as possible, and earning the LEED seal of approval is a real honor," Kelly said.
Erected in Lake Oswego in August 2000, Viridian Place's key green building features include: 71 percent of construction waste diverted from landfills; 40 percent less energy consumption than building code minimums; 20 percent less water consumption than building code minimums; an Energy Star roof membrane; Energy Star Andersen windows made with certified wood; solar-powered parking lights; irrigation-free native landscaping; recycled and locally produced building materials; indoor air quality monitoring; daylighting features; low-toxic paints and adhesives; and bicycle-commuting showers and lockers. Naturally, the building also boasts Neil Kelly cabinets, which use wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Due to its estimated energy savings, the building qualified for an Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit, a grant from the Oregon Office of Energy and financial incentives from PGE. According Yudelson, 10 other local projects are currently being ushered through the LEED certification process. Some of LEED's criteria are mandatory, but most are optional, which allows for design teams to customize projects.
Natural Step, by the Bay
The U.S. chapter of The Natural Step, an international education network linking business with environmental sustainability, announced this week that its 2002 conference will be held May 9 to 12 at San Francisco's Fort Mason Center.
Past national TNS conferences have welcomed a high concentration of Portland business leaders, signaling the city's prominent role in the international sustainability movement. Beaverton-based Nike Inc. will send global sustainability director Heidi Holt and vice president Maria Eitel to speak at the 2002 conference, which is themed "Innovation and Inspiration for Enterprises and Communities."
Other booked speakers include Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, the Swedish oncologist who invented TNS; Suzanne Apple, vice president of community affairs for Home Depot; Pat Gruber, chief technology officer for Cargill Dow; Tim Lankford, president of Asset Management USA; Linda Morse, sustainability development leader for CH2MHill; and Ben Packard, director of environmental affairs for Starbucks. Conference organizers are also trying to confirm Debra Zemke, corporate governance director for Ford Motor Co., and Gordon Radley, president of Lucas Film Ltd.
A briefing on recent developments is expected from TNS pioneers representing Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Sweden.
Following an introduction to TNS and a concentration on strategy and finance, interactive working sessions are planned to foster action. Business and municipal executives are especially encouraged to attend.
The 2001 national conference was held in Portland, and the 2000 conference brought several Portland business leaders to Atlanta.
In addition to being picked as the locale for the 2002 conference, San Francisco is home to TNS' U.S. headquarters.
Contact Brian J. Back at 503-219-3419 or by e-mail at bback@bizjournals.com.
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