The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti

Fernando Arias is the Director of Sustainability at Clark Construction Group. The firm has been named as one of the greenest contractors in the US, with a tremendous amount of completed LEED projects. In today's episode, Fernando shares with Charlie Cichetti the story of his colorful childhood that helped shape the sustainability-minded professional that he is now. A Child of Nature Colombia-born, Fernando was surrounded by the fertile land of the City of Eternal Spring. Coffee plantations, flower farms, and a variety of butterflies are among his earliest childhood memories prior to his family's big move to New York. "I've always been immersed and impressed by the abundance of natural and urban ecologies and I learned to respect the natural environment very much." - Fernando Arias His first interests involved tinkering with toys and their machineries, eventually leading him to become part of the military as a tech mechanic, but his career track was never a linear path. Over time, he switched gears. The Greatest Influencer It was when he moved to San Francisco that he met the person who enabled him to change paths. With his talent in collage and 3D art, Fernando was steered into thinking about taking up architecture classes. Fernando's interest in the physics of buildings grew into a fascination with how forces and nature affect the form of buildings. He went abroad and got more immersed in the landscape environment. Integrating Nature in Design A few years down the road, he furthered his studies at Columbia University. Fernando came to a deeper understanding of how various factors come into play to meet the green standards of the built environment. "Thinking about urban systems was not just merely about ways to transportation or energy. It was also about public health and economic drivers in cities and how all of these things work together to prepare cities for challenges." - Fernando Arias To hear more about Fernando's many realizations and the evolution of his career as a LEED specialist, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Fernand Arias: Connect with him on LinkedIn Follow him on Twitter Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Michael Bean, Jr., LEED AP O+M, has always been environmentally aware. His passion for engineering and architecture has opened a lot of doors that advanced his career. Combined with his inherent concern for sustainability, he has managed to affect more people to become fellow stewards of the LEED movement. From HVAC to Property Management Michael worked his way up to where he stands now. He started out as a building mechanic during his early career. He eventually got into a hospital where he was exposed to a wealth of knowledge on building systems. He eventually jumped over to property management involving smaller units, until such time that he was given the opportunity to take on properties with a cumulative area of 200,000 sq. ft. The experience of managing separate buildings joined together was as enriching as it could get. Two Degrees Stronger When he took up the 200K sq. ft. project, Michael was juggling his school work and career. During that time, he was on his way to earning his degree in architectural construction engineering. While it was a challenge, he found it quite valuable. "I was able to leave school and then the next day apply what I've learned, which helped me immensely." - Michael Bean, Jr. An Upgraded Sustainable Mindset Michael has always been an active campaigner for the environment, involved in his community's efforts to mitigate environmental degradation. "I've always been in the awareness level, but sometimes these issues morph into bigger problems." - Michael Bean, Jr. What really sparked sustainability within him is his curiosity for energy engineering. To hear more about Michael's story as a facilities manager, champion for energy conservation, and LEED advocate, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Michael Bean, Jr.: Connect with him on LinkedIn USGBC Profile Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Becca Rushin has been Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility for Jamestown since 2016. Her involvement in sustainability began with being outside a lot as she was growing up, taking a 'Walking the Land' class in college, and getting hooked with environmental literature. She is now as active in the campaign for green building as ever. "Look, I have never heard of this sustainability thing before but it makes a lot of sense… why would we not do things this way?" - Becca Rushin on her life-altering breakthrough Sustainability: The Epiphany Becca grew up in the coast of Georgia, developing her love for travel and the outside world. In college, she took up a class that introduced her to ecology and the environment through a lot of classic reading. It wasn't until after college that she got hold of Cradle-to-Cradle, which brought to the surface the part of her that leaned towards sustainability. With her undergraduate degree in environmental studies, she went on to study in Netherlands to get her MSc in Sustainable Development from Utrecht. Her degree has not only equipped her with the necessary credentials to land jobs befitting her education. She has also put it to use by testifying in defense of environmental policies, the ultimate culmination of her learnings. A Work Smarter, Not Harder Approach Becca thinks that sustainability is a lot simpler than most people would like to think. It's a "work smarter" rather than a "work harder" kind of approach in making our way of life better for the sake of the environment. In fact, no one is exempt from adopting a sustainable manner of living. "I've never seen sustainability as kind of mutually exclusive with a kind of busy, happy, fulfilled life, like the one I grew up living." - Becca Rushin Sustainability can be injected into everything we do. Through lighting, energy, and water conservation, we can all act with added environmental benefits. Like she said, it is silly to not go with such an easy upgrade. The Impactful Duos Becca's career was defined by tandems. During her startup days, a pair of mentors with unique skill sets guided her growth by providing a leash long enough to cut her teeth on everything she needs to learn. Presently, Becca wears two hats, that of sustainability and of corporate social responsibility. It is her belief that both are actually important in achieving a company's shared goals by involving charity and humanity in the process. To hear more about Becca's story of sustainability and social responsibility, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Becca Rushin: LinkedIn Jamestown Profile USGBC Profile Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

WELL and Fitwel are two programs gaining momentum in the marketplace for the Wellness Real Estate movement. They've been out for about three and a half years, setting up the standard for advancing health and wellness in today's buildings. Charlie gives us cliff notes on what these programs are, the building types that are easier fits to each program in their current form, and how they can be used as guidelines in their own right. "This is where all the research shows we should be focused on when it comes to health & wellness and what we design, build, and operate." - Charlie Cichetti A Focus on People Both WELL and Fitwel are people-oriented programs that aid in the promotion of policies and designs geared towards healthier workplaces. These standards seek to lower the chances of disengaged workers and discomfort, whether it be at schools, churches, offices, and homes. "How do we have buildings that will actually produce more productivity, less absenteeism, more presentism?" - Charlie Cichetti While they have obvious differences, WELL and Fitwel are actually one and the same in this vision of focusing on the people that will become the dwellers in buildings. WELL Building Standard Designed by Delos, a team led by Paul Scialla, WELL is the brainchild of a group architects and doctors crammed into a room and emerged out of it with the rating system. The program champions for people being more conscious of the air, water, and lighting systems in their buildings, even conversations on nourishment. Ultimately, it seeks for better human resource policies that will set up future occupants and tenants in a great environment. WELL spun off the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the health and wellness counterpart of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in LEED. Both IWBI and Delos are based in New York, the former having remote colleagues from all around the world to keep their policies updated. Fitwel Building Standard The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and General Services Administration (GSA) initiated Fitwel. Administered by the Center for Active Design, it provides guidelines for the design, construction, and operation of healthier buildings. Unlike WELL that is updated by the IWBI and certified by the Green Business Certification Inc.(GBCI), Fitwel is an all-in-one sort. The Center for Active Design keeps it updated and certified. To hear more about the similarities and differences of WELL and Fitwel, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about WELL and Fitwel: WELL Fitwel Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Asa Posner has been in the sustainability realm for ten years. His career began with a curiosity in geology, which eventually led him to take environmental studies courses in college. Along with learning grew his love for the ecosystem, and now he has made it his life mission to make the built environment eco-friendly. "Let's make the built environment better so that it'll have less of an impact on the ecosystem." - Asa Posner Asa Posner - A Not So Forward Path Asa remembers first being exposed to nature when his uncle would take him and his brother hiking. Originally wanting to pursue medicine in college, he enrolled in a geology course thinking it would be nice. Little did he know that this little detour would lead him to a truly different path. Through the mentoring of great geology and paleontology professors who shared the same concern for the environment, Asa's career path was solidified. With his honors thesis, he was able to assess the impact of urbanization on flora and fauna. And while his findings compelled him to stand in line with the picket fence, he realized he wanted to affect change in a different manner. Towards Sustainable Building Sustainability became a buzzword by the turn of the millennium. LEED became a guidepost in different projects in different areas, including building of college classrooms. Asa was in the frontlines of many school construction projects through which he was able to work with engineers and architects. This professional experience helped open his eyes as to how commitment to sustainable building should not end with the completion of a project. Jiving the Dichotomy During his earlier stints in the built environment, Asa's work culminated when the building was built. This puts into perspective where the industry stands in the context of sustainability. "Just because it's designed and built green, doesn't necessarily mean that it operates green, and vice versa." - Asa Posner Asa realizes the need to bridge the gap of this dichotomy. LEED construction rating systems will help rid of this gap. He has been an advocate of the movement ever since. To hear more about how Asa is living and breathing sustainability and LEED, download and listen to the episode! Connect with Asa Posner: Sustainable Investment Group Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Alyson Laura is an all-around Sustainability Maven, who seeks to evolve human success and planetary delight. She is currently the Director of Education for GBES. Her responsibilities include ensuring the highest quality product in their study materials, developing new on-demand webinar content, and staying updated on the latest green building trends and certifications. "Think bigger. Don't just get stuck at what other people are doing or what seems to work, challenge yourself to really push that envelope and dream big." - Alyson Laura She was also a Sustainability Consultant for SIG prior to joining GBES. And, she taught in-person exam prep classes all over the United States. Coming from an architectural background, she became captivated by the triple bottom line of the green building movement. She worked as a LEED Reviewer for one of USGBC's veteran review firms, has reviewed hundreds of LEED certification applications, and has worked on dozens of successful LEED Consulting projects. Influence in Sustainability Alyson grew up in Florida, which gave her an advantage in sustainability. The place valued recycling, composting, and rain water catching. There was a lot of support. They were so close to sea level, and so placed a high priority on conserving their environment. Her father was also a civil engineer who worked on conserving the Everglades. Into the Green Building Movement With the rise of technology in the early 2000s, she initially applied to Georgia Tech as a Computer Science major. But she changed her major into Architecture. During which, she was able to spend her entire senior year abroad in Paris, France. "A big part of my education was being on a bicycle in the major city of Paris, seeing recycling bins on the public sidewalks -- just really living and breathing what it means to be in a connected society." - Alyson Laura When she returned home in Atlanta, she challenged herself to live car-free and take advantage of the transits and bicycles. Specializing in LEED It was not easy for Alyson to break into the field of sustainability. There wasn't always a clear path for her to get to where she wanted. She first heard about LEED while working at an architectural firm. "These are the buildings I wanted to be a part of. This is what I want to attach my name to." - Alyson Laura It was the perfect marriage for her and her career. It allowed her to utilize her architectural education and background and to drive towards those that mattered most to her. Her first role in the industry was that of a LEED reviewer. To hear about Alyson Laura and her contributions in making the world a better place with the green building movement, download and listen to the episode! Connect with Alyson Laura: Green Building Education Services Enlightenment Now Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Part of our job here at Green Building Education Services (GBES) is to stay out in front of the green building industry changes and then keep you updated on what you really need to know. LEED is really growing in the internationally. Apart from the United States, which has the highest number of LEED buildings (and professionals), there is rapid LEED growth in China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. Listen to this (short) Green Building Updates for 2018 episode, where we discuss major LEED and WELL updates that are coming our way. "40% of all LEED projects registered to pursue a LEED certification right now are outside the United States." - Charlie Cichetti Greenbuild-Europe Conference 2018 The Green Building Europe Conference recently took place with around 300 LEED professionals in attendance in Berlin, Germany. Greenbuild Conferences will also be held in Mexico, China, India, and the United States this year. A simulcast will be conducted for the events in India and the U.S. Major LEED Updates This year shows an interest in global growth and improvements in data and org platforms. USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam announced a new LEED version. Version 4.1 has already been introduced on the U.S. website and newsletter for the O+M beta first. "LEED goes through major updates every five or so years, but in this case, v4.1 is an incremental upgrade in between a major overhaul of the most popular green building rating system." - Charlie Cichetti Beta Version Now Available LEED v4.1 O+M Beta is now out and available for download at the U.S. Green Building Council website. It does away with certain prerequisites and highlights substantial changes towards more performance and less prescriptive. Keep in mind, this is beta, can be commented on, and will be voted on later. To hear about the Green Building Public Service Announcement, download and listen to the episode! Links for Green Building Public Service Announcement: LEED v4.1 O+M Beta WELL Certified website U.S. Green Building Council Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Stacie Stamper is the Commercial Marketing Associate for CertaPro Painters of Duluth & Norcross. She has a diverse background, but she has always been an advocate for reducing construction's carbon footprint by diverting construction and demolition waste from landfills. "The appreciation for things out in the industry … sitting in warehouses, storage units, garages … the things kept piling up … people didn't want to throw them away, but they didn't know what to do with them." -Stacie Stamper She is the creator of the "Follow the LEEDer initiative." In this initiative she introduces the concept of a 'deconstruction' contractor. This new type of contractor would remove materials for reuse and recycle as opposed to a demolition contractor that removes materials for disposal. With the creation of the Masterformat 2018, recycle and salvage vendors, liquidators, materials brokers, reuse retailers and manufacturers will be able to bid on salvaged waste from construction sites. She volunteers as a Project Manager for the Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity. She has been a board member at Global Paint for Charity since 2012. Stacie received her BS in Computer Science and Computer Technology from Indiana State University. The Ah-Ha Moment It was working with Habitat for Humanity projects where Stacie Stamper became more aware about sustainability and started to understand the importance of conservation. Working there opened Stacie's eyes to the opportunity of reusing materials from a job site. Before that Stacie had an interior design studio. The space this firm occupied was in a 200 year old historic building. Her firm took it, refurbished it, and the creativity with reusing materials was born through this experience. The Recycling Challenge Some states have not figured out how to recycle used materials like paint although some states have a system in place that pays for itself. In California, paint is taxed by the gallon as a service charge and this pays for the recycling program. By paying up front, people are able to return the unused paint "free of charge" to have it recycled. "My day job filters into my passion project which is 'To rally the industry and bring people into the movement who can identify where the materials are. Then, we can engage before construction starts and have time to manage and plan the diversion.'" - Stacie Stamper Expanding Recycle and Salvage Codes Inviting the procurement vendors to the table is the biggest change the industry is facing. If these vendors knew all materials were available prior to starting the project, they could come in and bid like contractors. Re-education is needed in the our industry to work with the construction industry. "The word for 2018 is collaboration … it's not just one industry that needs to take responsibility" - Stacie Stamper Stacie shares an example of how as a painting contractor, she was able to reuse store fixtures marked for garbage and instead found a way to have this "waste" be reused to serve multiple purposes. At Habitat Restore the materials were sold to generate proceeds for families in need and as a contractor Stacie earned a tax receipt for the donation and reduced her waste disposal fees. To hear about Stacie Stamper and how he is making with her "Follow the LEEDer initiative," download and listen to the episode! Connect with Stacie Stamper: Follow the LEEDer Program Stacie on LinkedIn CertaPro Painters Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

At the age of 25, Davis Richardson already accomplished much in his life. He is the Founder, Brand Manager, and Design Director of Nomad Design-Build. Recently, he published a book called Going Tiny: Failure + Opportunity in the Future of Affordable Housing. "The fact that it's been on tv shows means that people are looking for it. We should move forward, so that we won't miss an opportunity to live greener and more affordably. There are also design opportunities that we can maximize." - Davis Richardson on tiny houses Passion in Baseball and Design Before attending the University of Texas, Davis attended the College of Charleston to study Historic Preservation and Community planning. He went on the receive his BA in Interior Design from Harding University. He was a student athlete, and was named 1st-Team Capital One Academic All-American in 2015 when he played baseball for the Harding Bisons. Pursuit in Architecture Davis is currently a M.Arch Candidate studying at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. His career goal is to become a licensed architect. Sustainability was a big part of his education. "This is a major issue that we have to deal with, and architecture has the opportunity to make a big difference." - Davis Richardson Mentors from the Community Davis sincerely appreciates his mentors. His first mentor was Greg of Smith Dalia Architects in Atlanta. He honest feedback and encouragements ushered him forward in his career. "You can't be afraid to ask. You have to know that what you are asking [involves] someone's time. " - Davis Richardson on having a mentor Another mentor was his college professor in the interior design program. She made him think closely about design and also encouraged him in his pursuit. Nowadays, social media have made it easier to learn from others and get involved in the community. To hear about Davis Richardson and how he is making a difference with affordable housing, download and listen to the episode! Connect with Davis Richardson: Davis' official website LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Michael Deane is Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Turner Construction Company. He is a LEED BD+C Accredited Professional, and a LEED Fellow. His responsibilities include developing and implementing sustainable policies and procedures for Turner's national and international operations, green building training, operational oversight and sales. "Focus on the middle distance to see what's coming down the road, so you can say to people, 'Hey, this is going to be important, this can help us build better buildings, this can help our clients.'" - Michael Deane Start in Green Building Michael received his BA in History from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He also has an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. "All those early years and those that I was interested in came back and preservation seem to be that put all of the pieces together." - Michael Deane The path led him to work as the Project Manager at the NYC Cultural Preservation Unit. He worked closely with theatres as well as a public library. His career in a construction company later introduced him to green building. Active LEED Fellow Michael served for three years from 2012 to 2015 in the Federal GSA Green Building Committee as a member. "It was a recognition of a commitment and of a certain level of achievement." - Michael Deane on getting the LEED Certification At present, he is part of the Board of Directors of the Recycling Certification and of the Board of Governors of the Design Futures Council Institute. He was named a LEED Fellow in 2013 -- the most prestigious designation of LEED Professional. Green Building Track Record Now with more than 28 years of experience in construction management, Michael has worked with a wider array of clientele. It includes K-12 schools, cultural institutions and hospitality. He also served on the USGBC National Board of Directors from 2005 through 2008 and is a founding board member and past chair of the USGBC New York Chapter. To hear about Michael Deane and his insights in the green building movement, download and listen to this episode! Connect with Michael Deane: Turner Construction Company Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!