In partnership with the Better Buildings Better Business (B4) conference for residential building professionals, AES will be offering a full day LEED for Homes Workshop on Tues. January 31, 2012 in Schaumburg, IL.

As shown in the photo, this workshop pulled in 20 developers, designers, builders and architects when held on Nov. 11 in Chicago, and now will be offered again for those that were unable to attend.

HOMES 252: Understanding the LEED for Homes Rating System

Course Description:

In today’s business, LEED is the language of green. LEED for Homes is a green rating system for mixed-use multi-family buildings, up to six stories in height, as well as single-family homes. This course provides an introduction to the LEED for Homes rating system and delivery model. The course addresses the intents and requirements of prerequisites and key credits within the rating system while providing real world examples of strategies to meet them. The course also identifies the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and a LEED for Homes project and is designed to prepare the professional to plan for key considerations and requirements for the LEED certification process.

We’ve stripped pricing to the bone to just cover costs and are able to make this available for the special rate of $159.00!

Register Now for just $159!

Learn more about the Better Buildings, Better Business conference!

Early Bird Rate just $299 ends Nov 15!

The residential building and remodeling community in Illinois will have an opportunity to prepare for new energy efficiency standards at the Better Buildings: Better Business Conference®, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2012 in Schaumburg, Ill. As part of the conference, AES will be offering a full-day pre-conference workshop HOMES 252: Understanding LEED for Homes for a special price of just $159!

The conference is being brought to Illinois in response to energy efficiency initiatives that will be affecting the building industry in 2012 and beyond. Under legislation passed in 2007, electric utilities in Illinois must reduce overall electric usage by 2 percent of demand by 2015. These are among the most ambitious energy efficiency standards in the nation.

Similarly, the state’s natural gas utilities are being challenged by law to meet new energy efficiency goals.

In support of these ambitious energy efficiency goals, Illinois utilities are introducing incentive programs that are designed to foster the use of energy efficient products and technologies in residential buildings. Several of the state’s major utilities are co-sponsoring the conference, including Ameren, ComEd, Nicor Gas and People’s Gas / North Shore Gas.

In addition, the State of Illinois will be adopting the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in June 2012. This code is significantly more stringent than the 2009 IECC, requiring more building insulation, a tighter envelope, mandatory whole-house ventilation, tighter ducts, better windows and more efficient lighting.

“Energy efficiency is an emerging area of focus for the residential building community in Illinois,” said Marge Anderson, associate director of the Energy Center University. “There is a significant need for education on all aspects of high performance homes, including reduced energy use, occupant safety and comfort, money-saving measures and issues of sustainability. There are also significant business opportunities for those who get in early on the energy efficiency movement, because they will be ready to provide their customers with appropriate products, services and technologies.”

The Better Buildings: Better Business Conference will feature more than 70 sessions addressing challenges and solutions for the home building and remodeling industry. Attendees will include builders, remodelers, architects, contractors, consultants, multifamily housing owners and managers, HVAC contractors, weatherization specialists and others in the residential building community.

Session tracks will address various aspects of high performance homes, such as indoor air quality, insulation and air sealing, HVAC, weatherization and more. The conference will also incorporate workshop tracks on building science, architecture and design, and business development. A building clinic will offer live demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities. The complete conference program is available at www.betterbuildingsil.org.

On Friday, Nov. 11 the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability is partnering with USGBC Illinois to bring a LEED for Homes workshop to the Chicago area. This is in response to the increasing demand for LEED projects and desire for building professionals to be more educated.

This full-day workshop is also something approved for LEED specific continuing education hours, which would be of interest to any LEED AP’s looking to maintain their credential. It’s also helpful for anyone intending to take the LEED AP + Homes exam. Here are the program details.

Register Now for the Workshop

LEED 252: Understanding LEED for Homes

Course Description:

In today’s business, LEED is the language of green. Make your next project a LEED for Homes project. Learn the intents and requirements of prerequisites and key credits within the LEED for Homes rating system.  Identify the roles and responsibilities of key stake holders, learn the value of green homes, and prepare for key considerations in the LEED^® for Homes certification process.

Course Objectives

* Identify the types of projects which are eligible
* Recognize the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the LEED certification process.
* Recognize goals, intents, and requirements of prerequisites and key credits, and strategies to meet them
* Identify synergies between LEED credits
* Plan for key considerations and requirements for the LEED certification process

Continuing Education: 7 AIA/CES/CoreNet / GBCI credits

When: Friday,  Nov. 11  from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where: Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 350 West Mart Center (2nd Floor), Chicago, IL 60654

Tuition: Just $199 early bird price; $230 after 11/2/11

Register Now for the Workshop

Delta Institute is partnering with local deconstruction professionals to offer deconstruction training for contractors. In this two-week session, learn the basic deconstruction techniques on a residential structure and expand your career opportunities in the emerging deconstruction industry. Five sessions will be available between March and May. For more information or to apply, click here.

Builders of ENERGY STAR for Homes will need to learn more about Energy Star v2.5 going into effect January 1, 2011, as it leads us to v3.0 as well as Energy Star Indoor Air Quality options. Changes are coming – now is the time to learn how those changes impact your building model for 2011. Especially with the integration of ESv3 into the new LEED for Homes 2012 requirements. Read more » »

Good news for those seeking authoritative green building information on a budget – the USGBC has discounted all educational publications by 20% through the end of the month!

If you’ve been thinking about taking the LEED Green Associate exam and want to purchase the USGBC study guide, or you’re embarking on a LEED for Homes project and need a Reference Guide – this is the chance to get one at a great discount!

You’ll receive 20% off any publication or education simply by entering a promotional code at checkout: FALL2010

Details at USGBC.org

It’s no surprise that there are a lot of incentives out there for folks that are doing any remodeling that help encourage green strategies – everything from tax credits, tax deductions, rebates, grants,  municipal incentives, and more!  The USGBC Illinois chapter has been working on pulling much of this information together into an educational seminar that will be held Tuesday, Oct 19 in Chicago’s north suburbs. If you are a builder, designer or remodeler looking to capitalize on green building and better serve your clients, this is the event for you.

Read more » »

For discounted rates to the Greenbuild 2010 Conference and Expo, you must Register by Sept. 17, and take advantage of the 1-day Residential Summit for just $250 ($300 after Sept. 17).

Greenbuild: Residential Summit and More!

The third annual Residential Summit – Thursday, Nov. 18 – headlines Read more » »

We’re fortunate this year to have the world’s premiere conference and expo on green building coming to our backyard from November 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.  Here are some of the residential highlights:

• Main conference and expo
• 1-Day Residential Summit
• Offsite Tours featuring this home and this one,
  and the GreenBuild Legacy LEED home tour.
• Offsite Education sessions
• Pre-conference Workshops (more details below)
  
• Affordable Housing Summit

Note: Early bird registration discounts will end Sept 7! Read more » »

Many LEED for Homes projects use deconstruction. Come to an affordable ($25.00!) full-day workshop that will examine new business and employment opportunities springing up in Northern Illinois and nationally connected with the growing movement toward deconstruction and reuse of building materials.

Building Community Assets through Deconstruction and Material Reuse
9AM – 3 PM on Friday, June 18th, 2010
University Center of Lake County, Grayslake Campus Read more » »