Topic: findings from cascadia sponsored study:
high performance buildings what is it worth?
Speakers: John Russell, Russell Development Company, Inc;
Brandon Smith, Cascadia Green Building Council

Cascadia is launching a new monthly development finance-focused interest group. The mission of Green Building Interest Group (GBIG) is to develop synergies among lenders, leasing agents, attorneys, appraisers and development professionals who are now working or have an interest in the green building industry. GBIG's monthly meetings will provide a forum for candid discussion of trends in green building and will provide a regular, synergistic forum for networking.

GBIG developed Cascadia's outreach committee. The committee convened a group of lending, leasing and legal professionals to produce a speaker series geared toward the development finance community, on the topic of the barriers and opportunities of green building. This resulted in a three part series called the Integrated Development Process. The three part series was hosted at Portland Development Commission and featured a panel of financial industry experts with some experience in green building projects. This included an attorney, a banker, a general contractor, a developer, a leasing agent, an architect and a sustainability advisor. The series broke down the development process into three parts - pre feasibility, design and construction, and lease up-with a particular focus on the key issues facing development finance, contracts, leasing up at each of these points in the project. GBIG as a monthly networking event will attempt continue to provide opportunity for green building topics to be discussed with focus geared toward the financial feasibility and value proposition.

FEES:
Cascadia Members: FREE
Non-members: $5

_{The Green Building Interest Group (GBIG) meets on the First Wednesday of every month from 7:30 - 9:00 am, and is a forum for candid discussion among lenders, leasing agents, attorneys, appraisers and development professionals who are now working or have an interest in the green building industry. Continental breakfast provided. New attendees are always welcome.}

_{Upcoming GBIG Meeting Dates:}

_{November 4 - Is LEED Worth It?  A Candid Round Table Discussion Among Developers Building Green Projects.}

_{December 2 - Green Leases: How Do Owners and Tenants Share the Benefits of Green Building?}

_{January 6 - LEED for Commercial Interiors - What Are The Benefits and What Does It Entail? A Look at the BOORA Architects Remodel}

_{February 3 - In-Depth Look at Oregon Incentives: Energy Trust of Oregon Business Energy Tax Credits}

_{March 3 - City of Portland Incentives and the PDC Economic Development Strategy Regarding Green Buildings}

_{April 7 - Portland Oregon Sustainability Institute: Results of the Feasibility Study: Implication for Developing Living Buildings}

_{*Due to the holidays this meeting does not fall on the last Tuesday of the month.}

_{For additional information about GBIG, or to suggest future meeting topics, contact:}

_{Sarah Heinicke       sheinicke(at)comcast.net}

_{Faith Graham          fgraham(at)robertskaplan.com}