There’s a one-day Sustainability Conference currently in the works, coming up in November, taking place at UNF. I was asked to help administer the event, so as details unfold I will let you all know more about it.

Otherwise, I’ve not been able to post so much lately. Thank Goodness Flog, Urban Core, Urbanjacksonville, Jax Green, and Metro Jacksonville have been doing such a good job of keeping up with Sustainability news and views. If I forgot anyone, please forgive me.

There are a number of LEED-registered project in Northeast Florida, ranging from condos and commercial office spaces to all sorts of institutional projects. (JBJ did a list of some of them in the Building Green Issue). LEED currently has standards and certifications for New Construction, Existing Buildings, Commercial Interiors, and Core and Shell. LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development are both in their pilot stage right now. Once those roll out, we should hopefully see master-planned communities embracing sustainable design and the homes and commercial spaces within them… All LEED certified.

How cool. :-)

The North Florida Chapter of the USGBC is actively commiting resources to increasing membership, public advocacy, research and education. All of which will result in great things for Jacksonville environment.

(PS: Regarding the glass… Low emissivity glass controls heat transfer through a window. Dependent upon the regional needs and the direction the windows will face determines the emissivity factor. Basically, if you need to block solar heat transfer from outside coming in, you apply the thin, nearly transparent coating to the outside. If you want to hold the heat in for a colder climate, you apply the coating on the inside. V. awesome stuff and often used in LEED-certified structures.)

Thanks again for the plug. :-)

Groundbreaking for the 640,000-square-foot, 300-unit tower located just feet from the St. Johns River is scheduled for later this year. … Hines expects to receive certification after the building is complete in 2009.