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Join USGBC Texas for a statewide Women in Green (WIG) luncheon on Thursday, August 1, featuring Keynote Speaker Lucia Athens, author of The Sustainability Revolutionists.
This year our Women in Green (WIG) event will be held simultaneously in all five USGBC Texas Regions, connected via webcast to create one big Texas event. In-person gatherings will be held in the following Regions:
Any person who supports and promotes the leadership of women in the field of sustainability is welcome to attend the Women in Green luncheon.
Keynote Speaker:
Lucia Athens, a native Texan, helped to create Austin’s Green Building rating system, which laid the groundwork for the creation of LEED.® She continued her sustainability journey in Seattle, leading the first LEED-based sustainable building policy. As the first Director of Sustainability for the city of Austin, she continued to lead the green revolution, cutting carbon emissions (despite being one of the country’s fastest growing cities) and promoting sustainable development, including the construction of the LEED Platinum certified Austin Central Library. Lucia has been on the board of directors for USGBC, GBCI, and EcoDistricts.
Event Sponsors:
Sponsorships still available for each location! Please let us know if you want to support this great event. Sponsorship Opportunities
Join the USGBC Texas Central Region Council during its Monthly Meetings. The meetings occur on the first Friday of the month at 10:00 AM CT via Zoom. During these meetings, members will be encouraged to engage with the Regional Council and State leadership, learn about current and upcoming (local, state, and national) events, provide input, and ask questions.
For more information on the regional council go here. To view upcoming events go here, and to learn how to get involved go here.
For any questions, email Central Region Chair Ashley Besic at abesic@buildingdecarb.org or Chapter Executive Director Jonathan Kraatz at jonathan@usgbctexas.org.
Resilience in the Face of Climate Challenges: Wildfires, Air Quality, and Water
Friday, August 2, 2024
Virtual Session 12:00 - 1:00 PM
About the Presentation:
Join us for an informative webinar where three local experts will delve into the critical issues of climate change facing Central Texas today. Justice Jones, City of Austin Wildfire Mitigation Officer, will kick off with an in-depth look at the current wildfire situation, prevention strategies, and lessons from recent events. Ramon Zarate, Air Quality Program Specialist at CAPCOG, will address the pressing air quality issues, their health impacts, and mitigation techniques. Finally, Jennifer Walker, Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program, will explore sustainable water management and conservation strategies. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from leading experts and engage in a dynamic discussion on building resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Speakers:
Ramon Zarate is an Air Quality Program Specialist at the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG). Through CAPCOG’s air quality outreach campaign, Air Central Texas, he provides air quality information to the Central Texas public via social media and in-person engagement, collaborating with government entities, non-profits, healthcare providers, and universities. Ramon earned his BA in Resource and Environmental Studies at Texas State University.
Justice Jones is an experienced Community Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Crisis Management, Nonprofit Organizations, Government, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Management. Strong military and protective services professional with a Environmental Resources Management and Cultural Anthropology focused in Environmental Resource Management from The University of Texas at Austin.
Jennifer Walker is the Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation. She focuses on statewide water policy issues with an emphasis on water planning, infrastructure funding, urban water management, and bay and estuary protection. Jennifer is a water resources expert with twenty years of experience helping cities, utilities, and state agencies achieve ambitious water supply management and conservation goals. She has helped develop and inform strategic action by utilizing scientific and technical expertise, engaging stakeholders, and approaching resource management challenges with a solutions-oriented perspective. Jennifer is Chair of Austin’s Water Forward Task Force, a team working to implement Austin’s groundbreaking 100-year water plan that is focused on deploying One Water solutions to meet future water needs. In 2021, she was appointed by the Texas Water Development Board to represent Environmental Interests on the Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council. Jennifer has a BS in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Texas at Austin.
FAMILY FRIENDLY HAPPY HOUR EVENT
Thursday, August 8th at 4:00-7:00 PM
Pinthouse Brewing
2201 E Ben White Blvd
Austin, Texas 78741
About the Event
Central Texas, USGBC Texas will be hosting a family friendly Happy Hour, open to the public. This location has plenty of indoor space where we can stay cool in the AC. This FREE event offers the opportunity to meet and network with people in green careers: architecture, engineering, sustainability, environmental governance professions, and more.
For updates and additional information, please be sure to RSVP.
Parking Instructions
Free parking is available at Pinthouse Brewing.
LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE EXAM PREP COURSE
Saturday, August 10th, 2024 Gensler HoustonVirtual Training 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Free Class
About this Event
For more than 15 years, Gensler has welcomed in thousands of clients, college students, community leaders, building owners and designers to take its free LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Course.
Conveniently scheduled on a Saturday morning, the four hour class is administered by Gensler employees who are passionate about sustainability in practice and have previously achieved their LEED GA credentials. The course is open to anyone in the community who is planning to take the LEED Green Associate Version 4 exam and is interested in attaining basic knowledge of green design, construction and operations.
From this course, you will learn how to address fundamental principles of green building, attain a basic knowledge of LEED rating systems and will receive recommended study material to aid in passing the exam. Feel free to also bring any general or specific questions regarding the exam you may have.
Gensler’s LEED GA prep course is offered five times annually, with an additional BD+C and ID+C course option offered during the year also. There is no class attendance limit and anyone 18 or older is able to register for the course. Four AIA Continuing Education Credits are available for session attendees.
South: GREEN COFFEE
Commonwealth Coffeehouse
203 E. Jones Ave., Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78215
8:30 - 9:30 AM
South Texas, USGBC Texas will be hosting Green Coffee Hours each month, open to the public. This FREE event offers the opportunity to meet and network with people in green careers: architecture, engineering, sustainability, environmental governance professions, and more.
7th & Park Coffee
1554 E. 7th Street Brownsville, TX 78520
Thursday, September 5th at 4:00-7:00 PM
2201 E Ben White Blvd.
LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE VIRTUAL PREP COURSE
Kirksey ArchitectureVirtual ClassWednesday, September 11, 2024 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Free Class
In order to achieve truly green projects, everyone on a project team – contractor, engineer, developer, owner, and others – need to understand green building principles. Kirksey Sustainability has developed a rigorous preparatory class focused on the LEED Green Associate exam and has graduated over 2,200 industry partners. Classes are typically taught twice per year.
With the growing influence of environmentally responsible design and construction practices, a knowledge of green building strategies is a valuable asset for anyone associated with the building industry. Kirksey's LEED Green Associate Prep Class is a resource for those who are interested in gaining the LEED Green Associate credential. Kirksey does not offer a LEED AP prep class.
Register Now
Location: Virtual Class - please register for details There is a limit of two class attendances per person. Attendees must be 21 years or older. Kirksey reserves the right to cancel classes up to 48 hours in advance in the event of low registration. Attendees who require special accommodations must notify Kirksey at least two weeks prior to the class.
Class participants are responsible for scheduling their exam date. For more information, visit www.gbci.org.
Link to registration: https://www.kirksey.com/sustainability/leed-classes-signup
GREEN COFFEE HOURThursday, Sept. 26, 20248:30 AM-9:30 AM
Boomtown Coffee
8oo Capitol St., Understory Houston, TX 77002
The Guld Coast Region Council of USGBC-Texas hosts Green Coffee Hours, open to the public. This FREE event offers the opportunity to meet and network with people in green careers: architecture, engineering, sustainability, environmental governance professions, and more. For updates and additional information, please be sure to RSVP.
Green Buildings, Boats and Bats!
Take a tour of downtown Austin's green buildings and sustainable sites the way they're meant to be seen: from the water! We'll tool around Ladybird Lake on giant paddleboards that accommodate up to eight people. Meet us for happy hour before the event at Standard Proof Whiskey Co.
Date: September 26, 2024 Time: 5:00pm Happy Hour
6:15pm Water Safety Briefing
6:30pm Green Buildings Tour
7:45pm Bats Presentation
8:30pm Off the Water
Member Cost: $35 Non-members: $40
Emerging Professionals/Students $25
Never been on a giant paddleboard? They're awesome -- great for parties to stay together and no experience necessary!
Check out this informative video. Read the article about last year's event.
Location/Parking:
Meet at Standard Proof Whiskey: 51 Rainey Street Arrive no later than 6pm and we will walk to the boats from there.
Event Sponsor:
GREEN COFFEE HOUR
Thursday, October 3rd at 8:30 AM-9:30 AM
Easy Tiger North
6406 N I-35 Frontage, Suite1100 Austin, TX 78752
The Central Regional Council of USGBC-Texas hosts Green Coffee Hours each month, open to the public. This FREE event offers the opportunity to meet and network with people in green careers: architecture, engineering, sustainability, environmental governance professions, and more. For updates and additional information, please be sure to RSVP.
Saturday, October 12th, 2024 Gensler HoustonVirtual Training 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Free Class
Thursday, November 7th at 8:30 AM-9:30 AM
USGBC Texas Chapter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 1801 Royal Lane, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75229
Contact us at chapter@usgbctexas.org or at 214-571-9244