GreenShape LLC is a nationally recognized green building and sustainability consulting firm based in Washington, DC.  We help architects, developers, and the construction industry create high performance green buildings and help building owners and operators to establish sustainability plans and programs for healthy living.

GreenShape is seeking a LEED Accredited Professional with relevant green building experience.  Applicants for the Project Manager position should hold a Bachelor or Masters Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Science or a related field with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.  Candidates must demonstrate working knowledge of the LEED rating system and prior experience documenting a LEED project.   Applicants should have proven management experience and a track record of successfully managing project schedules, scopes, budgets and staff. 

Responsibilities:

The Project Manager reports directly to the Principal.  Responsibilities of this position include:

• Facilitating meetings, sustainability goal-setting workshops and green building charrettes
• Guiding the development of LEED certification strategies
• Managing research on the latest technologies and trends in green building and sustainable practice
• Overseeing or reviewing project specifications and drawings for inclusion of green features and LEED-related requirements
• Providing technical guidance to assist clients in using sustainable materials, technologies and practices
• Advising architectural, engineering and construction teams on the LEED documentation process and reviewing submittals for accuracy and completeness
• Managing the LEED certification process and interactions with the USGBC and GBCI
• Overseeing the developing educational materials to promote sustainable features
• Managing, directing and training technical support staff
• Delivering presentations
• Cultivating client relationships
• Reviewing RFP’s and drafting scopes of work and fee proposals

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent time management, planning, analytic and organization skills
• Strong people skills and a commitment to training and mentoring our clients and support staff
• Skilled at multi-tasking and juggling competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong, concise writer with impeccable editorial skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal communications skills and a friendly, positive disposition
• Resourceful and able to find creative solutions
• Self-directed and able to work well independently and as part of a team
• Detail-oriented and able to effectively manage large amounts of information
• Proficient with Excel, MS Word, and Outlook

GreenShape offers a salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits.  Our office is located in the central business district in Washington, DC, one block from metro red, orange and blue lines at Farragut Square. For more information, visit our web site www.greenshape.com.  

To apply, submit your resume and a letter of interest outlining your relevant experience and career goals to hr@greenshape.com. Please indicate your name and job title (Project Manager) in the subject line of your email. Only candidates that qualify will be contacted.

GreenShape LLC is a nationally recognized green building and sustainability consulting firm based in Washington, DC.  We help architects, developers, and the construction industry create high performance green buildings and help building owners and operators to establish sustainability plans and programs for healthy living.

Qualifications
GreenShape is seeking an experienced marketing professional to support the firm’s business development efforts.  Applicants for the Marketing Specialist position should hold a BS or MS degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Business Administration, Business Management, or related field and demonstrate at least 5 years of relevant experience. Candidates with working knowledge of environmental issues and marketing experience within the building industry are especially encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:
• Performing market research to determine areas of growth, market trends, and alignment with the company’s core capabilities.
• Conducting in-depth marketing intelligence and interpreting results
• Assisting the management team with strategy, decision-making and planning
• Production and delivery of proposals within established deadlines.
• Managing marketing processes workflow, tools and performance reports
• Updating and maintaining contact management/customer relationship management system
• Working with our project team and graphic designer to develop marketing collateral

Skills and Abilities
• Strong time management, planning and organization skills
• Skilled at multi-tasking and juggling competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong, concise writer with impeccable editorial skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal communications skills and a friendly, positive disposition
• Resourceful and able to find creative solutions
• Self-directed and able to work well independently
• Skilled at managing processes and individuals to achieve results
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Familiar with BCM and/or CRM software and potentially WordPress

GreenShape offers a salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits.  Our office is located in the central business district in Washington, DC, one block from metro red, orange and blue lines at Farragut Square. For more information, visit our web site www.greenshape.com.  

To apply, submit your resume and a letter of interest outlining your relevant experience and career goals to hr@greenshape.com. Please indicate your name and job title (Marketing Coordinator) in the subject line of your email. Only candidates that qualify will be contacted.

GreenShape LLC, a nationally recognized green building and sustainability consulting firm based in Washington, DC, is seeking an experienced and motivated professional with relevant green building experience in the field of architecture or engineering to support our expanding green building consulting practice. GreenShape guides building owners, developers, and design and construction teams in the creation of buildings, programs and education for sustainable living. We have helped over 200 project teams set high green building performance goals and create a legacy of excellence through their work.

Qualifications

Applicants for the analyst position should hold a Bachelor or Masters Degree in Engineering, Environmental Studies, Architecture, or a related field. Candidates should have 2 or more years experience with green building strategies and systems, a history of commitment to sustainability, and working knowledge of the LEED rating systems (particularly LEED for Operations & Maintenance). LEED accreditation (LEED AP) or Green Associate status preferred. We are looking for a team-oriented individual with strong professional, organizational and interpersonal skills who communicates well verbally and in writing, is detail-oriented, comfortable using current software technology including MS Excel, capable of organizing large amounts of information and able to maintain a positive, flexible attitude.

Responsibilities

As a GreenShape Sustainability Analyst you will work on multiple public- and private-sector projects including commercial office buildings, schools, multi-unit residential and mixed-use projects, building modernizations, and neighborhood development projects. You will participate in sustainability strategy meetings, assist clients in applying environmentally preferable concepts and technologies to their projects, and support clients in developing programs and policies for sustainable operations. You will support the documentation of our clients’ sustainability-related accomplishments. You may also provide guidance to support our clients as they create drawings and specifications incorporating green building strategies and advise our clients’ construction teams on LEED-related activities.

GreenShape offers a competitive salary (commensurate with experience) and excellent benefits including an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Our office is located in the central business district in Washington, DC, one block from metro red, orange and blue lines at Farragut Square.

To apply, submit your resume and a letter of interest outlining your relevant experience and green building career goals to hr@greenshape.com. Please indicate your name and the position you’re applying for (Sustainability Analyst) in the subject line of your email. NO CALLS PLEASE

The GreenShape team with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and DDOE Director George S. Hawkins

Mayor Fenty distributed the award inside the packed Big Bar Café saying, “The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the very best in sustainable commerce in the District of Columbia. Every day, the winners demonstrate that taking care of the environment makes good business sense.”

The application asked us a simple set of questions, including: What does your organization do to further an environmentally responsible agenda? How does your company contribute to the local economy? What examples of your organization’s work support your claims?

Citing GreenShape’s mission of guiding the green building movement, we provided proof of our  impact with aggregated data pulled from 9 of our 13 LEED certified projects. Our application discussed our role as community educators, Iris Amdur’s contribution to the DC Green Building Act, and our participation in creating the LEED for Schools rating system. We demonstrated how we at GreenShape walk the walk by taking public transit to work, using timers on our outlets, double sided printers, and energy star rated equipment. Read the GreenShape case study.

GreenShape has worked tirelessly to guide businesses, governments, and individuals towards more sustainable practices, and winning an award in recognition of those efforts has motivated us to continue our work and extend our reach.  To us, being green isn’t just a fad or a business decision.  It is a way of life that we embody every day, and we are proud to be able to help DC realize its goal of leading by example.

“So I assume we’ll see you back here next year?” Mayor Fenty asked GreenShape Marketing Coordinator Emmy Schneider as he exited after the ceremony.

We sure hope so!

The Sidwell Friends Middle School is the nation’s first LEED Platinum certified school. GreenShape worked with the Sidwell Friends team to guide the integrative design process and help the owner manifest their Quaker values as educators and stewards of the earth through the project. In addition to the many common-sense practices such as the use of native and adapted plantings, an energy efficient HVAC system, recycled content and low-emitting materials, and construction waste management, the project included a number of signature strategies. Advanced technologies such as a constructed wetland to process wastewater on site, photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, and solar chimneys were employed for environmental and pedagogical purposes.

GreenShape worked with the faculty and staff to embed a sustainable approach to curriculum, operations and maintenance, purchasing and food service campus-wide. We developed a comprehensive building tour which has been used to educate the over 5000 visitors who have already come from around the globe to learn the Sidwell green story.

Awards & Honors

• AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects (2007)

This past Earth Day marked GreenShape’s fifth anniversary.  We couldn’t be happier with the success we’ve helped our clients achieve building green at home and around the globe. The green economy has evolved dramatically since GreenShape was founded in 2004.

The 2009 GreenShape Team

2004: “An energy efficient, environmentally-friendly approach.”

This was the answer to the question people were asking just five years ago, “What is green?” Iris Amdur had been coaching design and construction professionals on green building when LEED was in its infancy. Working with a handful of clients including the General Services Administration, the Louis Dreyfus Property Group and Sidwell Friends School, Iris and these early-adopters of LEED invested much effort educating the public on the benefits of a sustainable approach to building. GreenShape celebrated the LEED Gold certification of the Navy Federal Credit Union in Pensacola that year.

2005: “2% average increase in construction costs for a 30%-35% reduction in utility bills.”

Holly Jamesen Carr joined Iris in furthering GreenShape’s efforts and we promoted the successes of the first LEED-rated buildings. The question on everyone’s mind was, “How much does it cost?” Once savvy executives began to understand that being green was not about hugging trees, but an opportunity to receive significant return on investment, momentum began to slowly build. The LEED Silver certification of the National Association of Realtors Washington, DC Headquarters became a landmark for taxi drivers and set the development community abuzz with talk about green as the Realtors began to share their success.

2006: “Use an integrated approach.”

An interest in green building was growing. Iris Amdur worked on an inter-disciplinary team to advise DC Councilmember Jim Graham on establishing the DC Green Building Act of 2006, which established standards for both public and private development. GSA NCR honored Iris’ work leading an inter-disciplinary coalition for construction waste reduction. The Builders Guide to Reuse and Recycling (www.mwcog.org/buildersrecyclingguide/) was published by the Metropolitan Council of Governments and GreenShape helped the Service Employees International Union and the Society for Neuroscience achieve LEED NC Gold certifications. Former VP Al Gore released his film, An Inconvenient Truth, helping bring climate issues to the forefront of the public eye and the USGBC raised the bar for energy performance in LEED-rated buildings.

2007: “How green is your bag?”

As public awareness increased, green became the new black. GreenShape conducted a charrette-a-day marathon for a two-week period in February as private sector developers reacted to the DC Green Building Act. GreenShape moved to our downtown office and our team was joined by Patrick Tallarico and Whitney Maymon. We helped USGBC launch LEED for Schools that year and celebrated along with Sidwell Friends Middle School, the first LEED Platinum school in the world.

2008: “How can we save more energy and earn more LEED points?”

Gasoline prices rose to an all-time high of $3.31/gallon and suddenly the cost of living in the suburbs no longer made economic sense. Businesses also began to ask how to conserve energy to reduce rising operating expenses. Owners and managers of existing buildings pursued certification under the new LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system.

New talent entering the workforce started asking potential employers about their sustainable commitments. Silver had become the new LEED certification standard in the Washington, DC area, and the competition to reach higher certification targets and attract tenants became fierce. Tenants began to increase the use of LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED CI) and GreenShape celebrated LEED CI certifications of the Union of Concerned Scientists Headquarters and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. 1101 New York Avenue, the National Maritime Center, and a Child Care Center in Ashburn, VA were also certified with our help last year. GreenShape brought Sara Cederberg, Jessica Abralind and Emmy Schneider onto our growing team.

2009: “Where’s the money?”

Despite overall economic downturn, the green building sector continues to be strong. President Obama’s commitment to a green economy and federal stimulus dollars are keeping green building in a growth pattern, and the nation’s focus on resource conservation fits well with a sustainable approach. GSA is slated to get $5.5 billion (20 times their annual budget) in stimulus funds. DC’s “green jobs” focus ties in well with the green building requirements that are now in effect for public buildings in the District of Columbia. State incentives (http://www.dsireusa.org/) for energy efficiency and green building are also available. GreenShape has already celebrated the certification of Sidwell Friends Lower School in April, and eagerly awaits the opportunity to announce other LEED certification awards that are expected soon.

GreenShape owes a huge debt of gratitude to the many people on the 150 project teams we’ve worked side-by-side with these past five years. We thank you for your business and look forward to a continued partnership in raising the bar on sustainable living. Please remember, GreenShape is here to help in any way we can and we welcome and thank you for your referrals.

Sidwell Friends School was GreenShape’s first client in April of 2004 when our company opened its doors. GreenShape served as the sustainability consultant to the Sidwell Middle School building which inspired the educational sector and the world with its LEED Platinum certification.

Five years later, GreenShape continues to work closely with Sidwell to support their greening efforts. We are proud to announce that the Lower School addition and renovation in Bethesda, Maryland has been awarded a LEED NC Gold certification from the USGBC.

Many design and construction features contributed to the LEED Gold designation.

Energy

Gym with radiant heated floors

To help promote superior indoor air quality, a green housekeeping plan has been implemented at both Sidwell campuses. GreenSeal certified non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout the buildings. All cleaning staff are trained in proper use and dilution of cleaning products. HEPA vacuums and low-decibel cleaning equipment is also employed.

The project was designed to use 33% less energy than a traditional school by using energy-efficient features including:

• A roof which is 155% more efficient than standard buildings use
• Walls which are 3 times more energy efficient than standard
• Windows providing twice as much insulation value as standard windows.
• Ceiling fans in the gym and classrooms which extend the comfort zone for building occupants in spring and fall and reduce the use of air conditioning.
• Windows, skylights, and clerestories in the gym and classrooms which provide natural light and allow the electric lights to be used less during the school day.
• Water-heated radiant flooring to heat the gym.
• A “central plant” allows a single mechanical heating and cooling system to efficiently serve both the classrooms and gym buildings.

Water

Water use by plumbing fixtures has been reduced by 30% through the use of dual-flush toilets and low-flow lavatories. Dual-flush toilets save water by allowing users to pull up for a half-flush for liquids or push down for a full flush for solids.

Rain Garden

Drought-resistant plant species that are native or adapted the local climate were used in the landscape, eliminating the need to use potable water for irrigation. Rainwater is directed through downspouts into rain gardens using perforated conductor pipes. The rain gardens fill up with water after a rainfall and allow the water to be absorbed back into the earth over time, recharging the water table.

Materials

One of the biggest environmental impacts of construction is often the waste generated during demolition and construction, however, eighty-six percent (86%) of the waste generated during construction of the Lower School buildings was diverted from landfills through reuse or recycling. 1,160 tons of asphalt and concrete were recycled from the project site during demolition. Another 404 tons of waste were recycled during construction of the buildings.

Building materials were selected with the environment in mind. Over 17% of the materials used in construction contained recycled content and over 28% were manufactured within 500 miles of the Bethesda site.

Much of the casework in the buildings was constructed with wheatboard, avoiding binders with added urea formaldehyde and low-emitting paints, adhesives and sealants were used throughout the building

The floors in corridors are covered with linoleum, a durable product made from linseed oil, pine rosin, pine flour, and pigments. These materials are non-toxic, biodegradable, and low-emitting, so, unlike vinyl, manufacturing and disposing of them is not harmful to people or the environment. They are also rapidly renewable, which means they grow back quickly after harvesting, creating a readily available supply and conserving more limited natural resources.

Living Green in a Green School

Classroom

To help promote superior indoor air quality, a green housekeeping plan has been implemented at both Sidwell campuses. GreenSeal certified non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout the buildings. All cleaning staff was trained in proper use and dilution of cleaning products. HEPA vacuums and low-decibel cleaning equipment is also employed.

Sidwell has embedded the institution’s Quaker values of environmental stewardship in campus life and ongoing operations. For example, students at the Lower School are involved in growing vegetables for use by the food service. The Sustainable Food program uses only natural meats, milk, organic whole fruits and vegetables and has eliminated canned and frozen ingredients. Compost bins are used for the composting of vegetable scraps from the Martha’s Table community service vegetable cutting program.

A building tour, brochure and presentations have been developed to allow Sidwell Friends School to share their green building story with others.

GreenShape is proud of Sidwell’s leadership and ongoing commitment to educate the broader community in sustainability and we look forward to a continued partnership.

Awards & Honors

• AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects (2007)

Iris Amdur, Photo by Nancy Libson

Iris Amdur has guided building owners, design and construction teams in the creation of buildings, programs and education for sustainable living for over nineteen years, helping her clients to achieve their green building goals by serving as a process manager, coach and technical resource. Under her guidance, Ms. Amdur’s clients have successfully achieved LEED certification at the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

Iris Amdur served as a subject matter expert for the development of the DC Green Building Act of 2006 under Councilmember Graham. She received a mayoral appointment to the DC Building Code Advisory Committee. Ms. Amdur founded the National Capitol Region Construction Materials Recovery Coalition for which she won a GSA NCR Environmental Stewardship Award in April 2006 and helped the US Consulate Compound in Mumbai, India to garner a sustainability award from the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations.

Ms. Amdur served as Vice Chair of the USGBC Formal Education Committee until 2008 and was contracted to help the USGBC roll out the LEED for Schools green building rating system. She holds a BFA and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Iris Amdur is a frequent presenter at the USGBC GreenBuild Conference and the National Association of Independent Schools Conference. She was featured as a keynote speaker at NeoCon East and has been a repeat guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on 88.5 WAMU radio.

LEED Version 3 is a package that consists of:

• The LEED 2009 rating system
• A new version of LEED Online
• The new GBCI Certification Model

Also covered in our write-up are:

• The LEED 2009 Rating System Timeline
• LEED Credentials

Feel free to contact us if you have additional questions about pursuing LEED certification under this new version.

LEED 2009 Rating System

LEED 2009 is the new version of these LEED rating systems:

• New Construction
• Core & Shell
• Schools
• Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance
• Commercial Interiors
• LEED Retail – launching April 27th, 2009.
• LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood development do not have LEED 2009 versions.

The credit requirements in LEED 2009 for the most part have not been changed, but the point values have. All rating systems are on a 100 point scale (plus 10 bonus points for regionalization and innovation) Significantly more emphasis and point weighting has been placed on the Energy Efficiency category.

See below for a timeline and summary of how the new rating system might affect your green building project. To learn more, a recent in-depth webinar detailing LEED 2009 has been recorded and is available online to USGBC members.

New Version of LEED Online

Only projects registered under Version 3 will be able to use the new version of LEED Online which is touted to be faster (let’s hope!) than the current version. The new version of LEED Online will include:

• A sort feature that will allow team members on multiple projects to easily compare projects
• A mid-review clarification page is a new exciting feature that allows the LEED reviewer to contact the project team for minor clarifications.
• Also, there will be built in checks into the new LEED Online version to ensure basic project data is entered consistently throughout the documentation of the project’s pursued credits.

Register for an in depth webinar on the new version of LEED Online offered by the USGBC on May 5th, 2009.

GBCI Certification Model

Project certification will be administered by the USGBC’s sister organization, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) to expand capacity and speed up the certification process.

LEED 2009 Rating System Timeline

If you have not yet registered your project with the USGBC…
You have until June 26th, 2009 to register your project under the current rating system. If you register by June 26th you will have the choice to later switch to 2009, but you must do so by December 31st 2009 to avoid paying an additional registration fee. Only projects originally registered under LEED 2009 can use the updated version of LEED Online.

If you have a registered project with the USGBC…
If you are happy with your current rating system, you’re all set! If you choose to transition to LEED 2009, you can do so on the LEED V3 launch date, April 27th, 2009 and you have until December 31st, 2009 to transition to V3 without paying an additional registration fee. Only projects originally registered under LEED 2009 can use the updated version of LEED Online.

LEED Credentials

Current LEED APs will have two years to complete 30 hours of continuing education in order to maintain their LEED AP designation. A recent in-depth webinar detailing LEED 2009 has been recorded and is available online to USGBC members.

For more details go to http://www.usgbc.org/leed2009.

Rendering courtesy of City of Norfolk.

GreenShape is providing a full range of sustainability support for the design and construction of the 450,000 sf Westin Hotel and Conference Center in Norfolk, VA. We are supporting the architect, Jonathan Nehmer & Associates, and the owners as they pursue certification under the USGBC LEED green building rating system. GreenShape has supported the development of sustainability goals for the project and is working with the design team to ensure that these strategies are incorporated into the design. This project is one of a number of Westin properties that is in the process of achieving LEED certification.