GreenHomeNYC’s Green Careers Transition team is putting together a reading list - check out their previous selections. Continuing the series, GreenHomeNYC volunteer Mary Tchamkina takes a look at books that might help to motivate and guide your career transition.
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Describe your “Eukera!” moment that shaped your decision to pursue environmentally conscious design.
I actually never had one single moment, rather a series of them that had guided the evolution of our firm’s philosophy over the years. Some people pursue environmental design out of moral conviction, others think of it as good business, but we just think of it as good design. Our primary interest has always been good architecture. Good design can be distinguished by its beauty, functionality, and economy; we believe that engagement with the environmental element is just as an important a component as the other three. If we were to omit it, that opportunity for enrichment would be lost.
GreenHomeNYC’s Green Careers Transition team is putting together a reading list - check out their previous selections. Continuing the series, GreenHomeNYC volunteer Mary Tchamkina takes a look at six books on designing in harmony with nature.
Yikes! You are probably wondering what any of these have to do with green buildings! Not to worry!
One Straw Revolution by Masonobu Fukuoka, Gaia’s Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway and Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell each explore in various contexts, the notion of leveraging existing system elements and assets in order to minimize necessary inputs, maximize desired outputs and control or reduce adverse impacts or, in simple English. . .strategies for creating systems that achieve potentially conflicting goals and are also self-maintaining. I would say that accomplishing this is certainly an aspiration of the “high performance” or “green” building.
Sign up now for NESEA Master Workshops this February, coordinated by GreenHomeNYC and NY Designs. Registering online now gives you a 10% discount!
GreenHomeNYC and NY Designs are collaborating to bring three NESEA Master Workshops to La Guardia Community College this February. The workshops will be taught by Marc Rosenbaum. His work has been nationally recognized by ASHRAE, AIA, EEBA, and NESEA. Six AIA credits will be provided per workshop. Each workshop is $250 plus a one time registration fee of $15. A discount is available to NESEA members and CUNY students.
This is the FIRST time these courses are being offered in New York City through NESEA. GreenHomeNYC is NESEA’s NYC chapter.
As part of the GreenHomeNYC Career Transitions group, I have been asked to share my thoughts and recommendations for 5 books on sustainability. I’m also supposed to come up with a theme, like 5 books about suburban homes and how they achieve or fail sustainability, or 5 books on air sealing and high performance structures. But as I was putting together my list, I kept veering away from my self-picked themes. Then I realized that my 5 books might topically be different but they all gave me a simple ah-ha moment. Sometimes it’s not about technical knowledge or high level theorizing but about imagination and curiosity. Before I get all Oprah on you, let’s get to my list.
GreenHomeNYC and NY Designs are collaborating to bring three NESEA Master Workshops to La Guardia Community College this February. The workshops will be taught by Marc Rosenbaum. His work has been nationally recognized by ASHRAE, AIA, EEBA, and NESEA. Six AIA credits will be provided per workshop. Each workshop is $250 plus a one time registration fee of $15. A discount is available to NESEA members and CUNY students.
This is the FIRST time these courses are being offered in New York City through NESEA. GreenHomeNYC is NESEA’s NYC chapter.
Looking to green your career? Whether you are a building industry professional or just someone searching for a more sustainable career path, the following educational opportunities can help you learn more about the theory and practice of green.
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GreenHomeNYC is working on a Fellows Program targeted at professionals transitioning to green(er) careers in the building industry or related disciplines. We would love your feedback as we shape the program for launch. Let us know if this sounds like a program that would be of benefit to you and what else you would like to see part of it.
What
A four month green building immersion program that will enable professionals to redirect their careers into the burgeoning field of “green collar” jobs by giving them a strong foundation in core issues in green building, specific knowledge of basic building energy issues and solutions, and access to a broad network of green building professionals in New York City. Fellows will have the opportunity to do peer-supported learning as well as get plugged into relevant professional networks. The program is anticipated to support Fellows who are “keeping their day job” or participating in internships by holding seminars and tours largely in the evenings. A final project, designed by the Fellow and supported by a Mentor, will be required.
Why
Professionals with a keen interest in green building, whether motivated by environmental concern or entrepreneurial opportunism, do not have any options for a short-term, holistic educational program. They do not want or cannot put their resources into a long-term program such as graduate school. Taking a class or two with a green non-profit or local university is an ad hoc approach that makes it difficult to get both the big picture and technical knowledge without taking several time-consuming semesters of courses. The proposed Fellows Program would offer a four-month, intensive and comprehensive look at green building issues facing New York City. This approach offers flexibility and near-term gain. In addition to the seminars, it offers immediate networking opportunities with instructors, hosts/sponsors, and other Fellows. Because the Fellows are likely to be from diverse backgrounds and professions, networks that might not have been previously tuned in to green building issues will be connected.
Okay, Tell Me More
The Fellows Program will consist of weekly seminars for four months, a Fellows Project, and Volunteer Requirement. Seminars will include directed readings, guest lecturers and panels, and site visits to green material providers and green buildings.
Fellows will work on a Project during the seminar period. Projects might include a business plan, a green material research project, a selection of case studies, etc. and will be supported by an assigned GreenHomeNYC Board or Staff member or a GreenHomeNYC Partner in Practice.
At the conclusion of the four months, Fellows will be required to give back to GreenHomeNYC for a minimum number of hours to meet the Volunteer Requirement. Organizing forums, raising funds, training new volunteers are among the ways a Fellow could give back to GreenHomeNYC.
Internships
GreenHomeNYC will provide support to Fellows looking for internships during the Fellowship program. Internships are not a required part of the progam.
LEED/Other Certifications
GreenHomeNYC will assist interested Fellows in putting together a voluntary LEED exam study group or other accreditations. However, the purpose of the Fellows Program is not necessarily to ready individuals to take certification exams.
If you have comments or questions about the proposed program, contact alison@greenhomenyc.org and check back for more information soon.
Yes there is such a thing! If you are interested in transitioning to a green career or looking to enhance knowledge about all things related to the environment, you can sign up (for free) to be a member of LEEDLoop.
LEEDLoop is an online community and resource guide for green building professionals and students in all fields. It’s a place to network globally with other green building experts in the field, share information, ask questions and obtain answers on LEED related exam questions! LEEDLoop offers a free Book Club to its members and currently reading Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need A Green Revolution - And How it Can Renew America. Be sure to check it out!
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