“Leading Edge Sustainable Stadium Design” Panel Discussion

Ecoimpact partner, Summer Minchew, will present on a panel discussing Leading Edge Sustainable Stadium Design. The event will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, on January 8th 2019. For more information visit event sponsor Excel Dryer registration page. Ecoimpact is proud to have served as LEED consultant for several sports venues including LEED Gold certified Audi Field, home of DC United, designed by Populous and Michael Marshall Design and the Washington DC Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards practice facility, designed by Rossetti and Michael Marshall Design.

Event Recap by event sponsor Excel Dryer: “Our primary goal in hosting Leading Edge Sustainable Stadium Design was to bring together design professionals as well as friends and partners in an open dialogue, under one roof, to discuss trends and best practices in sustainable design and operations, and to encourage all in attendance to become more aware and engaged in sustainability initiatives. We believe that our diverse and dynamic group of panelists provided in-depth insight, as well as actionable and practical tools to implement.”

Think Globally, Act Personally

This Earth Day we encourage you to start a new tradition: set an Earth Day Resolution. Similar to the time we spend every December 31st searching our souls for ways improve ourselves in the New Year, this Earth Day we challenge everyone to start thinking about ways that our personal actions can positively impact the environmental movement.

Much like the popular New Year’s Resolutions including exercising a little more or spending more time with family and friends, we acknowledge that some resolutions are easier to keep than others. Here are some great ideas generated by Ecoimpact partners and staff to get you thinking about easy ways to think globally and act personally this Earth Day and every day:

Reduce:

• Bring your own shopping bags to the grocery store. If you are like us, sometimes you forget to grab your reusable bags so keep some in the trunk of your car or hang them by your front door.

• Reduce food waste. Food waste is the third largest contributor to GHG emissions. Consider composting food scraps in a home composter and try shopping for small amounts of produce twice a week to reduce spoilage.

• Cut down on your meat consumption. Livestock rearing is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Start with “meatless Monday” if you are new to the vegetarian concept. Someday you may find yourself eating “meat free most days.”

Vote with your dollars:

• Buy more organic foods. Buying organic food supports a heathier lifestyle and a healthier food economy. Check out lists of which conventional produce contains the most pesticides and replace those with organic as a place to start.

• Consider purchasing household items from companies who are certified B corporations. Buy Fair Trade. Look for the FSC label on paper and wood products.

• Send a regular donation to an environmental group whose sustainability goals align with yours.

• Switch out chemical cleaners and sprays at home. Research alternatives to chemical cleaners and make your own using things like baking soda and vinegar whenever possible.

Enjoy nature and encourage natural habitats:

• Consider planting bee and butterfly friendly flowers this spring. Plant a tree near your house. Reduce irrigation needs at home by reducing turf grass area and selecting native or adaptive species for your region.

• Volunteer with a local organization for a creek or urban clean up.

Know the Issues and Advocate:

• The averages temperatures of the Earth and its oceans are rising.

• Glaciers are shrinking and sea levels are rising.

• Oceans are more acidic due to the emission of more harmful gases in the atmosphere, causing changes in the chemical composition of water.

• Learn the issues, study the research and take a stance against the climate change deniers.

• Vote with our Planet’s future in mind.

Small changes can make a big difference. From all of us at Ecoimpact, let’s make every day Earth Day!

Ecoimpact Delivers: Unitarian Universalist Association Headquarters awarded LEED ID+C Platinum Certification.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Boston based Unitarian Universalist Association Headquarters Relocation project LEED ID+C Platinum Certification on December 2, 2014. 

Ecoimpact’s Summer Minchew served as LEED Project Administrator to guide sustainability decisions and ensure positive outcomes. The project team included architect Goody Clancy, MEP engineers Cosentini Associates, general contractor Shawmut Design and Construction, and commissioning team ICO Energy.

The UUA project boasts over 30% reduction in tenant water use and more than a 35% reduction in connected lighting power consumption. Recycling strategies diverted over 90% of construction waste from the landfill. Using more than 20% of materials manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of Boston earned recognition for exemplary performance. 

“This was an ideal project,” said Minchew. “The entire team was intensely committed to providing a high level of design coupled with environmental and wellness strategies that reflect the mission of UUA.”

Read more UUA’s new HQ gets top green building designation.