Meet The Trainer: Scott Kelly
Green
building was responsible for keeping Scott Kelly in Philadelphia. Scott
found himself frustrated with the professional resistance to green and
sustainable practices in the Philly region.
He
had packed his bags and was seeking opportunities elsewhere when a
former client called asking him for help on a what he called a “LEEDS”
green office building. What a difference Scott has made in a short time.
Scott
stayed in Philly and launched Re:Vision Architecture, one of the
region's leading lights in green building. Re:Vision works exclusively
on green and sustainable projects with a quarter of its business
focused on educating architects and contractors about sustainable
practices. In 2007, the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute
of Architects named Scott the AIA Philadelphia Architect of the Year.
Scott waxes about greenbuilding in the attached video clip:
http://guerillaeducators.typepad.com/ge/2007/12/sustainable-des.html
The
interview takes place at Aerzen Corporation's iconic new
office/industrial complex in Coatesville, PA. It is the first
industrial application of straw bale design in the United States and
the country's first industrial application of Earth Tubes, as well.
In addition, Scott serves as an instructor for the Green Advantage®
(GA) -Commercial Certification workshops. Scott was an early supporter
of Green Advantage and one of the authors of the commercial curriculum.
Scott has led around 17 GA workshops, preparing close to 1,000 people
for Green Advantage Certification.
Scott stresses the benefits of Green Advantage Certification:
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Green Advantage introduces contractors to new concepts and techniques.
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Green
Advantage helps remove the resistance of contractors to green and
sustainable building and increases contractors' willingness to try it.
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Ultimately,
Green Advantage results in a new skill set and a market advantage for
contractors, important assets in these tough economic times.
Contractors find they are able to beat the competition on bids,
interviews, and end cost. Green Advantage helps them get more jobs.
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Green Advantage saves money by implementing good construction waste protocol, for example.
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Green Advantage gives new meaning to work, helping contractors do better for themselves and their families.
Scott
notes that this last point may bring the relevance of green building
home to some contractors. Green building may help the contractor's
pocketbook and also his or her health. The health impacts of
construction products are as important for workers as they are for the
end user. When discussing PVC welding cement in classes, for example,
Scott is greeted by stories of liver problems among the friends of
workshop participants after a lifetime use of the material. The
importance of integrating green thinking throughout the entire
construction process is emphasized. Contractors come to realize the
need for “green cleaners” to minimize VOC or chemical off-gassing or
toxic residues.
An additional benefit of Green
Advantage is that a contractor can earn an Innovation Credit for LEED
by using GA-Certified staff. Certification offers a cost-effective
alternative to other possible LEED credits, such as measurement and
verification of building systems, and provides a market advantage for
the Certified contractor considering a project bid. Scott points to
Re:Vision Architecture’s role in earning the first LEED Innovation
Credit awarded for GA-Certified professionals at Lake Smetana in Eden
Prairie, Minnesota (see related article about the Bainey Group).
Re:Vision also was involved in the LEED Innovation Credit for use of
GA-certified professionals on the new 82,000 SF, multi-use office and
retail space for Dansko Shoes in West Grove, Pennsylvania. The Dansko
facility achieved LEED-NC Gold Certification.
For
Scott, being a GA trainer helps build a cadre of people who understand
green design and possible partners for future projects. Scott finds
that GA training helps him build relationships with contractors and
subcontractors and vet who he wants working on future jobs.
Contractors aren't the only participants in Scott's trainings of
course. Architects, developers, real estate professionals, engineers,
and building operations and management staff all benefit from Scott's
knowledge of green building principles, practices, and processes. Scott
draws on both his personal passion and his design experience with more
than 60 LEED projects for each training program. Scott also does
individual coaching of design and construction professionals on green
building and LEED. Such coaching often helps change the mindset of
national companies.
Scott emphasizes that this is an “incredibly exciting time to make a
difference” and that Green Advantage is playing a significant role. For
more information, see Re:Vision Architecture’s Web site.
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