By Ted Fischer
November 20, 2006

Boston welcomed the 2006 Brownfield’s conference November 13 to the newly constructed convention center on Boston’s historic waterfront. The meeting covered many topics including an interactive session on green building design and practical project implementation.

Barbara Batshalom of the Green Roundtable was the session’s speaker. Batshalom spoke to attendees about the main focus of her organization including working to effect policy, education and outreach for building owners, developers and city officials. “Our organization even has a 12-18 month boot camp for green project development,” Batshalom said. “You can’t be green if you are not green all of the time. Most companies are just starting to grasp this idea. The best thing to happen to green design is the more recent pitting of mayor versus mayor, mayors seem to enjoy challenging each other for the right to be the greenest city.”

Batshalom went on to tell attendees that things can be done to make developments green. Green can be achieved on all levels. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has made a policy that is the strictest in the country on green buildings and city renovation. No new building in Boston will be built without it being green and all renovations that are done to pre existing structures must also be green.

65.2 percent of all energy consumed in the US is though buildings, according to the US Green Building Council, which is a partner of the Green Roundtable. Batshalom emphasized to attendees that not only are there important health benefits in the construction of green properties, but economic and capital cost benefits as well. Most consumers who live in green buildings or homes can save an average of $450 in energy costs every year. Energy use and air quality are very important factors in the design and construction of tomorrows buildings. Batshalom said, “LEED does not solve design problems in your buildings it only measures how well you have done to make it energy efficient.” She, working alongside the US Green Building Council, wanted attendees to understand that there are many layers to the project and a lot of thought needs to go into design and not just for the project to be green to succeed. For more information on the 2006 Brownfield’s conference in Boston and for a copy of Batshalom’s presentation, visit the website www.brownfields2006.org.

o succeed. For more information on the 2006 Brownfield’s conference in Boston and for a copy of Batshalom’s presentation, visit the website www.brownfields2006.org.