Lorax

Do you like ice cream🍦? Do you like learning 🤓 about Building Energy Performance Standards? If your answer is 'yes' then we have the right event for you! Join us for Lorax's September Learning Before Libations focusing on the DC Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). At this in-person happy hour event we will share lessons learned from the current cycle of Washington, DC's implementation of BEPS. Michael Feldman-Wiencek, Green Building + Housing Affordability Program Analyst at the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), will review the DC BEPS program and highlight how building designers and owners can avoid common compliance mistakes. We will also discuss what Maryland building owners can learn from the DC implementation of BEPS as the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act is implemented. The brief presentation will be followed by hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, and an ice cream truck. Register to let us know you will be joining us by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/eKwyEDXt

Tuesday | September 10, 2024 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm | Lorax's Learning Before Libations Please join us for Lorax's DC Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Learning Before Libations. At this in-person happy hour event we will share lessons learned from the current cycle of Washington, DC's implementation of BEPS. Michael Feldman-Wiencek, Green Building + Housing Affordability Program Analyst at the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), will review the DC BEPS program and highlight how building designers and owners can avoid common compliance mistakes. We will also discuss what Maryland building owners can learn from the DC implementation of BEPS as the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act is implemented. The brief presentation will be followed by hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, and an ice cream truck. Register to let us know you will be joining us by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/eKwyEDXt #DCBEPS #LoraxLearning Katie Fink, Michael Sumpter

Please join Julian Frost and the The Congress for the New Urbanism on Saturday, July 27th for a walking tour of Baltimore City's HOPE VI Housing Projects. The tour will focus on the human-scaled and mixed-income neighborhoods of central Baltimore and how the New Urbanist movement exerted influence on the HOPE VI program, introduced by HUD in 1992.

Lorax hosted guest speaker Preston Thomas, Energy Program Manager at Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for our June Learning Before Libations series. Preston spoke on the latest updates to the Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability (MEEHA)-EmPower Program. We learned that the MEEHA Program funds energy efficiency and electrifications measures for affordable housing developments through EmPower (almost $135M in available funding) and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program ($5M in available funding). To support these programs and align financial incentives, Lorax is available for energy efficiency, electrification, auditing, and green building certification services. #LearningBeforeLibations #MEEHA #AffordableHousing

Just last week, our very own Darrell (Brandon) Nott earned his BECxP + CXA+BE credentials, verifying his expert knowledge of design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of building enclosures. As decarbonization becomes more and more of a priority around the country, the focus on building enclosure quality is even more critical. Here's to better supporting our clients in their sustainability and energy efficiency goals through deep knowledge and technical skills in building enclosure science! #EnergyEfficiency #BuildingEnclosures #BECxP #Decarbonization

More to celebrate during our 21st anniversary week! As we expand our Field Services Team, we love to look back at our accomplishments in the world of the Home Innovation Research Labs National Green Building Standard. In May, Tim Barranco as recognized as a 2023 NGBS Green Partner of Excellence... again! Our Field Services team is recognized annually by the Home Innovation Research Labs for their outstanding contributions to advancing green building in our community and their commitment to voluntary, above-code, third-party certification of high-performance homes to the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (#NGBS). Hats off to Lorax's Field Services team! Tim Barranco Michael Sumpter Michael Newman Darrell (Brandon) Nott Hailee Griesmar Callie Simon Benjamin Holland https://lnkd.in/e-azB3SJ

More to celebrate! 🥳 Something new is coming to Lorax VERY soon! 😉 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐈𝐧-𝐔𝐬𝐞 is a comprehensive & holistic environmental assessment method for existing commercial, industrial and residential assets located within the United States. It provides a framework to help owners, managers and occupiers of existing assets to adopt sustainable, cost-effective solutions. https://lnkd.in/eaYDdPBP Why BREEAM In-Use? • Rigorous and credible, yet permits the 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 to assess almost any building, regardless of age, type, or industry sector • Allows review of 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 and 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 independently or together • Works for individual assets and 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 with a focus on performance outcomes • Direct alignment with 33 GRESB indicators, translating to over 100 touchpoints that can guide the collection of science-driven performance data to support improved reporting, regulatory compliance, and broader benchmarking against corporate sustainability goals. • In-Use Residential Plus is accepted by Fannie Mae for their 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 • BREEAM is the 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 science-based suite of validation and certification systems for the sustainable built environment, with over 2MM buildings registered and over 600K certificates issues to date in over 100 countries • …and so much more!   Lorax BREEAM Assessor coming early July / BREEAM AP coming late summer early fall! BRE BREEAM Official #BREEAM #GRESB #Sustainability #BREEAM #ESG #GreenBuilding

This week, Lorax turns 21 years old! 🎉 🥳 🎂 In celebration, this week, we are looking back at our accomplishments, and things we’re excited for in 2024 and beyond! First up: our ENERGY STAR® Partnership! And just what is that, you ask? Per the US EPA Energy Star Partner agreement, this means Lorax has committed to: • 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 energy performance • Develop and implement a 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 to improve energy performance • 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 our team members and the public about our partnership and achievements with 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 As these activities (and more) are so integral to our DNA, this was a no-brainer. We are proud of our partnership with Energy Star and all of the great work we are doing. Here’s just a snipped of our most recent highlights: • Tracked 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and, of those, directly provided benchmarking and data validation services for over 130 buildings in the portfolio of an S&P 500 REIT • Regularly use the “𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫” 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥 to determine target EUIs as a standard part of energy audits -- nearly 20 completed this year • Bookmarked the “Energy Star EUI by Building Type” database to supplement our 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 and proactively inform building owners of projected energy performance on over 40 projects • Incorporate 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 on 99% of our residential projects and include the benefits of the energy efficient appliances into whole building energy models • Currently consulting on the design of 10+ 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐆𝐞𝐧 + DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes projects • Recommends 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 for all Affordable Housing projects to cut down on utility bills • Personnel include three 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 & 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, all of whom are deeply knowledgable on the certification process and implementable energy efficiency strategies And so much more! It’s an exciting time to be driving energy efficiency and decarbonization in the built environment! Our partnership with 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 is the bedrock for our support of these efforts. #sustainability #partnerships #EnergyStar #EnergyStarPartner

Ever wonder what goes into the LEED ID+C certification of a Tenant Improvement project? Learn about the sustainability strategies implemented at FHI 360's DC office from Lorax's Project Manager, Audrey Strawderman, on Thursday, June 27th! This tour will take you behind the scenes of two of the tenant fit-outs at 2101 L St., NW, Washington, DC -- the USGBC Headquarters (Triple Platinum LEED ID+C: CI, WELL and TRUE certified) and the new FHI360 Washington, DC office (LEED ID+C: CI Gold). These facilities are stunning examples of sustainable design with an emphasis on reuse and recycling of construction materials and furniture. https://lnkd.in/ezK3YSmr Speakers and tour guides include: Melanie Mayo-Rodgers, SFP, FMP, Yevgeniya Obukhova, Thomas Kalchik, Sade Dennis, MS, Frank Mobilio, Patrick Kunze, Brittany McNairy, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP, WELL AP, Wes Millar, Sheryl Etelson, Ana Coelho, Cindy Warrick, Jeremiah Watts, Andy Yeh, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Audrey Strawderman U.S. Green Building Council - U.S. Market Insights Capital Chapter of IFMA Mid-Atlantic Chapter - CoreNet Global #LEED #Sustainability #Office #TenantFitout

We look forward to seeing you this afternoon at the U.S. Green Building Council Maryland's Building Transformation Forum: Multifamily and Affordable Housing. Rebecca Gullott, Michael Newman, and Darrell (Brandon) Nott will be there representing Lorax! Meet all of the speakers: Jared Lang, Principal Housing Sustainability Advisors, Keval Thakkar, Principal Hord Coplan Macht, Kia Johnson, Equitable Development Manager 11th Street Bridge Park, Ryan Snow, Regional Director, USGBC, Sade Dennis, MS, Director, USGBC, Karema Enos, Associate Director, LEED Technical Development USGBC, Sabine Rogers, Federal Policy Project Manager, Danilo Pelletiere, GRRP Investment Director US Department of Housing, Arica Young, PhD, LEED AP BD-C, Associate Director Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Jessica Jones, LEED AP, Vice President Margrave Strategies, LLC, Meghan Walsh, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Architect USDA, Malika H. Holmes Deputy Director of Housing and Building Energy Programs Maryland Dept of Housing, DJ Soriano, Lead Associate, Multifamily Fannie Mae, Timothy P. Lattimer, Administrator Office of Community Sustainability Howard County, Chelsea Hayman, Deputy Director, Special Population Programs at Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Ali Semir, CCIM, MRICS, Principal Mosaic Affordable Housing. https://lnkd.in/em37WmF3 Don't miss this opportunity to explore the intersection of housing affordability and environmental sustainability! See you there! #USGBCMaryland #AffordableHousing #BuildingTransformation