Workshops for builders address the future of sustainable building

King County GreenTools workshops March 25, 27 in Seattle

Construction professionals looking to the future of sustainable building can learn more about innovations and market trends in building design and green materials at the next King County "GreenTools" workshops, March 25 and 27, in Seattle.

Builders looking for assistance in executing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Built Green Projects can get the answers they need through this workshop series, which continues March 25 with a presentation on where the "green" market is going.

Green-building practices use key resources such as water, land and construction materials much more efficiently than buildings that are built to code, and they are more comfortable for occupants than traditional structures.

"GreenTools seminars can help raise awareness within the professional construction community about green buildings and building materials, because green buildings are healthier for the trades people building them, and for homeowners and their visitors," said King County GreenTools Project Manager Dan Farrell.

"We can be successful in developing these types of projects if we work closely with the contractor community and identify challenges to using new construction methods and technologies," Farrell said.

The workshops are presented by King County in partnership with the Association of General Contractors (AGC) Education Foundation. All workshops will be in the AGC conference center of the AGC Building, 1200 Westlake Ave. N. in Seattle.

Workshops are open to all construction professionals at $50 per session. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Erica Peterson, at 206-812-0806, or visit the AGC Web site at www.agcwa.com/public/education/calendar.asp

Tuesday, March 25, 8-10 a.m.
Beyond "Green" Building: Where the Market is Going
The workshop will be presented by Dan Farrell, project manager and green building specialist with King County’s GreenTools team. Farrell is also a LEED-accredited professional, with more than seven years’ experience in the green building and waste management fields.

The workshop will provide contractors with the latest information on the most resource-efficient building designs in the region. Specific topics will include net-zero energy/carbon-neutral buildings, the "Living Building Challenge," integrated design and contractor involvement.

Thursday, March 27, 8-10 a.m.
Green Materials 101 for LEED and Green Initiatives
This workshop will focus on how the choice of materials contributes to sustainable design, durability, health and efficiencies in any building project. The session will feature a "hands on" sampling of new products in the marketplace, including items manufactured locally by King County LinkUp program members. The workshop is presented by Ann Schuessler, director of Sustainable Building Practices and Patti Southard, project and program manager with King County.

The final workshop in the series is scheduled for May 14 and will cover salvage and deconstruction techniques on demolition projects.