Builders, designers offered green training
Imagine someone — a person certified on all things "green" — coming out to your homesite and telling you all the energy-saving things you could put into your house and how long the investment would take to pay off in lower energy bills.
It's happening here, this year.
The National Sustainability Building Advisor Program, a nonprofit organization, is offering a year-long training at the Higher Education Center in Medford, with graduates able to advise designers, builders and remodelers on the latest green and energy-efficient technology.
It meets monthly, on a Friday and Saturday, breaks into "green teams," does research and makes recommendations on the most feasible, efficient and affordable energy-saving devices that can be installed into a home or commercial building, said Shelly Lotz, lead instructor.
Trained in Portland and certified as a Sustainable Building Advisor, Lotz has engaged several regional green builders and other housing folk, already active in the field, including designer Dave Fisse of Medford, Ashland Realtor Don McCoy, Medford architect Jason Zook, Medford contractor Steve Asher, Medford landscape architect Bonnie Bayard and Ashland contractor John Fields.
"It's a chance for people from all walks of life to get experience for going green," said Fred Gant of Earth Advantage, who will be a guest teacher in the program.
Real estate broker and SBA teacher Don McCoy of Exit Realty Group said the program is "very comprehensive, with very knowledgeable speakers" and that graduates will learn the latest green technology and be prepared to participate in green teams on consulting projects for developers, contractors and remodelers.
In addition to the value for the planet, the program will increase values of homes, because of lower utility bills, durability of homes and quality of construction, McCoy noted.
The SBA syllabus is designed for developers, homeowners and design professionals. It includes site design, energy systems, daylighting and lighting, solar technology, green materials and products, indoor environmental quality, water conservation and landscaping, construction methods and LEEDS standards, Lotz said.
Under a green building advisor, all parties to the design, construction and maintenance of the structure are brought into the loop, so they all understand and can input on the green elements, Lotz said. In the normal process, everyone does their segment and rarely talks to other parties, she added.
SBA people can also put their skills to work for their employers in buildings where they work, Lotz noted.
In the past, green features were often prohibitively expensive. But with increased demand, prices are coming down — and will add 10 to 20 percent to a structure's resale value, Lotz said, noting that in five to 10 years, all construction will be sustainable, because of shrinking energy supplies.
Working with SBAs also helps projects meet building codes, because the program always exceeds them, Lotz said.
The program, which costs $2,000, is in its first year and is still seeking qualified guest teachers, said Lotz, who can be reached at 840-9474. Her region includes all Southern Oregon south of Eugene.
There will be informational meetings at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 14 and Jan. 20, at Southern Oregon University's Stevenson Union 319, with nine sessions and an exam going through October. Information is available at www.sustainablelivingprograms.com and www.nasbap.org. Classes start Feb. 20.
