Thank you Chief Engineers Guild of Minnesota and Macalester College

1. Thank you Chief Engineers Guild of Minnesota and Macalester College

2. Geven Rabe Minnesota Certified Building Official Minnesota Certified Building Official – Accessibility Specialist

3. Certified by the International Code Council (ICC) International Building Code (IBC) International Residential Code (IRC)

4. I am working toward getting certified in the IGCC (International Green Construction Code).

5. I am not LEED Certified. “Leed” is a design standard. As a Building Official I interpret and enforce the building code. I do not design.

6. I have been asked to come here today to talk about….

7. What’s up with all this “Green” Stuff?

8. Everywhere you look these days someone is trying to sell you a product or the idea about building, remodeling or just living more “Green.”

9. According to one study, 82% of consumers surveyed said that they would pay at least 5% more for environmentally friendly products, and 70% reported that their purchasing patterns are influenced by environmental messages and labeling.

10. If you have looked into any of this “Green” stuff you may have came away with the same feelings that I did at first.

11. At first glance it would appear the “Green” they are talking about it this!

12. And, surely I’m not the only one to feel that “Green” is one of the most overused words around today.

13. As a matter of fact, LSSU (Lake Superior State University) in issuing it’s 34th annual List of Words to be Banished, it had “Green” as #1 in 2008.

14. Or how about “Carbon Footprint” or “Carbon Offsetting?” It would seem that leaving a carbon footprint is the new politically incorrect.

15. Even when I spoke with the person who invited me here to speak today I was told of his experience with his city’s inspection department about capturing rain water from the roof to use for lawn irrigation.

16. He was told the water would have to be chlorinated before using it for irrigation.

17. So as you can see, the level of understanding of what is involved with “Green” anything by most people connected to the building industry varies a lot.

18. And, it does not help much when the “water marks” for this “new” movement look like this -

20. While these may be an okay reference for the do-it -yourself home owner, I don’t think this is what professionals should be relying on.

21. It would seem that confusion reins supreme as far as what “Green” is really all about. And what, if anything is being done or required by the “Building Codes” that may already be “Green?”

22. It would seem the place to start is by trying to clarify what “Green” building is all about.

23. It would seem the place to start is by trying to clarify what “Green” building is all about. What are the goals?

24. It would seem the place to start is by trying to clarify what “Green” building is all about. What are the goals? What are the benefits?

25. According to Wikipedia, “Green building” is…the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle.

26. Or, to create buildings that… 1. Provide efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

27. Or, to create buildings that… 1. Provide efficient use of energy, water and other resources. 2. Protect occupant health.

28. Or, to create buildings that… 1. Provide efficient use of energy, water & other resources. 2. Protect occupant health. 3. Reduce waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

29. These all sound like good, achievable goals, wouldn’t you agree?

30. However, is this the only way to create truly “Green” buildings?

31. Or This?

32. NO!

33. Do these look like they could be “Green” buildings?

34. Or these?

35. The reality is they are all “Green.”

36. Some are new while some are remodels.

37. Keep this in mind; a “Green” building does not have to be new or small.

38. Another fact that may help bring this whole thing into perspective is that the “Greenest” building you can have is one that already exists.

39. Another fact that may help bring this whole thing into perspective is that the “Greenest” building you can have is one that already exists. How can this be?

40. Another fact that may help bring this whole thing into perspective is that the “Greenest” building you can have is one that already exists. How can this be? It’s really quite simple.

41. All of the energy used to make and transport the materials used to build it and the waste generated while building it does not have be done all over again.

42. We are a throw-away society. And the construction industry is one of the country's largest contributors to landfills. We throw away something like a “Billion” board feet of usable, structural lumber every year.

43. To give you an idea of how much that is, the average new home built in America today is about 2400 sqft. This amount of lumber that we landfill each year could be used to build 62,000 new homes.

44. Today’s building materials industry is awash in Eco-Labeling. Green Labeled Programs range from easy to get and maintain, to difficult to obtain and stay on.

45. This wide range in labeling programs is confusing to builders, Building Inspectors, the public and I’m sure to this group also.

46. But, understand that “Green” products do not have to be new.

47. There are a multitude of resources out there to find good reusable and surplus building material.

48. So what we need to do is educated ourselves and others as to what this “Green” thing is all about.

49. So what are “Green” products?

50. And, who is looking at these items to determine if they are “Green” or not?