BREAKING NEWS
Building Innovation 2016 Early-Bird Registration Deadline Extended Due to Unexpected Change in Conference Venue
New D.C. Location to be Announced

Building Innovation 2016: Meet the Keynotes

Building Innovation 2016: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fourth Annual Conference & Expo has leaders and innovators addressing industry issues and delivering insights on Achieving a Resilient Future throughout the week. Plan to be there where Science meets Design®, January 11-15, 2016, in Washington, D.C. You’ll hear from expert keynote speakers: Charles W. Steger, PhD, FAIA, President Emeritus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Institute Board member, on the value of including building science as part of the higher education curriculum, as well as the importance of highlighting the application of related standards to the industry’s future professionals; the Honorable Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, Architect of the Capitol and Institute Vice Chair, as he shares his insights into the work currently underway to revitalize the U.S. Capitol and discuss how the various renovation projects will make the edifice more resilient and sustainable for future generations; and Board Chairman James “Tim” T. Ryan, CBO, Chief Executive Office of the International Association of Building Officials and Code Administrator for the city of Overland Park, Kansas, on the importance of leadership and community engagement to achieve resilience goals and highlight ways his jurisdiction has addressed mitigation to reduce the impact of natural disasters such as tornadoes and floods. Find out more about the keynote speaker line up. Registration rates increase on November 15. Register early to save up to $200 off onsite rates. Find out more and register today!

View the full preliminary program. Sign up to receive news and updates. Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor.

Get Published in the Journal
Submit an Abstract for the June 2016 JNIBS

The editors of the Journal of the National Institute of Building Sciences (JNIBS) are beginning the process of compiling articles for the June 2016 edition. The June issue will offer a special focus on building information modeling (BIM). Additional feature stories will spotlight acoustics for schools; codes and standards; facility maintenance and operations; and more. Abstracts are due December 15, 2015. Submit an abstract for the issue. Interested in advertising? View the 2016 JNIBS Media Kit.

Diverse Group of Representatives Testify
at Hearing on Productivity and the Workforce

Sue Klawans (second from left), industry advisor to the Representative Hearing on Productivity and the Workforce, offers some opening remarks to provide context on the opportunity and need for the effort. Presiding Panelists Henry Green (left), Chuck Greco and Dorothy Robyn prepare for the upcoming testimony.

The National Institute of Building Sciences held a Representative Hearing on Productivity and the Workforce Friday, September 25, at the Institute’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. A total of nine speakers representing a broad group of industry organizations testified at the hearing. Industry representatives and media also participated.

The purpose of the hearing, which was sponsored by Autodesk and supported by the International Code Council, was to provide an opportunity for representatives from the planning, design, construction, operations, ownership, finance, insurance, regulatory, manufacturing, academia and other segments of the U.S. building industry to speak about the challenges they face and offer potential solutions. View a list of speakers and the topics of their presentations.

NCGBCS Convenes During ICC Conference

The Institute’s National Council of Governments on Building Codes and Standards (NCGBCS) meets during the International Code Council Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, September 28. The Council members in attendance identified several areas of interest that NCGBCS should consider addressing moving forward, such as highlighting the importance of getting code officials involved in projects earlier in the process; examining the impacts of changes in code adoption cycles; developing messaging about the importance of code officials and code departments in communities; the application of codes in existing buildings; and privatization of code departments. The NCGBCS will convene over the coming months to discuss opportunities to address these important issues and offer recommendations for resolution of the current challenges.

Scientific and Technical Experts Wanted
to Resolve Flood Map Challenges

The National Institute of Building Sciences is seeking qualified scientific and technical professionals from the public, private and academic sectors to serve on Scientific Resolution Panels (SRPs) responsible for recommending to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resolutions to community challenges to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s flood maps.

If approved as SRP cadre members, experts may be called to serve on one to two Panels per year, averaging the equivalent of two to five days’ effort spread over three months. Panels will conduct deliberations via teleconference, with no travel involved. Panel members will be compensated for their services. View the necessary requirements. Fill out an application.

Institute White Paper Spotlights Incentives to Achieve Resilience
Promotes Stakeholder Buy-in for Economic-Based Strategies

The National Institute of Building Sciences, through its Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) and Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE), has released a new white paper to promote the use of private and public incentives to achieve resilience in U.S. communities.

In 2014, the MMC and CFIRE assembled a multi-sector team of experts to look at private/public-sector opportunities to induce corrective action, known as “incentivization.” In the white paper, Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization, the MMC/CFIRE team offers a new approach—one focused on capturing all of the potential incentives provided by the public and private sectors for pre- and post-hazard investment. The team concludes that the most cost-effective manner to achieve resilience is through a holistic and integrated set of public, private and hybrid programs based on capturing opportunities available through mortgages and loans; insurance; finance; tax incentives and credits; grants; regulations; and enhanced building codes and their application. Download Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization.

Sign up Now for November Cybersecurity Workshops
Learn the Techniques to Better Protect Building Control Systems

The National Institute of Building Sciences is sponsoring  introductory and advanced cybersecurity workshops, as well as one focused specifically on improving cybersecurity of Department of Defense (DoD) facilities, all in November. To support DoD facilities-related personnel to better prepare against cyber threats, the Cybersecuring DoD Control Systems Workshop on Monday, November 9, is geared to help professionals involved with implementing cybersecurity in the facility life cycle to learn the best practice techniques to better protect DoD facilities.The Introduction to Cybersecuring Building Control Systems Workshop on Wednesday, November 12 and the Advanced Cybersecuring Building Control Systems Workshop on Thursday, November 13 are geared to help architects, engineers, contractors, owners, facility managers, maintenance engineers, physical security specialists, information assurance professionals—essentially anyone involved with implementing cybersecurity in the facility life cycle—to learn the best practice techniques to better protect their facilities. All cybersecuring workshops are taught by Michael Chipley of The PMC Group LLC, and will take place from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Institute's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Can't make the November dates? Some December dates are also available. Learn more.

One Week Extension for Beyond Green™ Awards
SBIC Will Accept Award Nominations until November 7

One more week remains to submit an entry to highlight those buildings, initiatives and innovations that shape, inform and catalyze the high-performance planning, design, construction and operations processes. The National Institute of Building Sciences Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has extended its Call for Entries for the 2015 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building and Community Awards until November 7, 2015.

Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize a deserving high-performance project, particularly one that addresses resilience. Time is passing quickly so don’t wait. Submit an entry today!

Support the 2016 Race to Zero Student Design Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Race to Zero Student Design Competition (Race to Zero) inspires collegiate students to become the next generation of building science professionals through a design challenge for zero energy ready homes. DOE is looking for industry organizations to help promote the competition, as well as to participate as industry partners. Consider being a sponsor nominate an colleague to be an exemplary juror.

The 2016 Race to Zero has opened registration, and the 2016 Race to Zero Guide is now available. Teams must register by November 12. Learn how to get involved.

Vice Chair of Philly BEC Elevated to Principal of Philadelphia Firm

Cope Linder Architects, LLC, of Philadelphia has promoted senior associate Cheryl A. Smith, AIA, LEED AP, to principal, becoming the first woman on the firm’s six-person leadership team. Smith co-chairs Philadelphia’s Building Enclosure Council (BEC) and serves as the liaison to the BEC National Committee at the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council (BETEC). She is also the co-chair of the BEST Conference Building Enclosure Science & Technology™ (BEST5), which will be held in the City of Brotherly Love in 2018.

DOE BTO Seeks Feedback on Draft Multi-Year Program Plan

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) has released its draft Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP) for public comment. The draft MYPP provides a broad overview of buildings energy use and efficiency opportunities, and the strategies and goals of BTO to substantially accelerate the rate of efficiency improvements in both new and existing residential and commercial buildings over the next five years. The deadline for submitting feedback is November 13, 2015.

BTO is seeking feedback on this plan from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies and other stakeholders, including building owners and operators, and the general public. To guide your responses, BTO has provided a Request for Comments document that contains specific questions. The comments received will be used by BTO to help revise and finalize the MYPP, and help improve the effectiveness of BTO program activities over the period covered by this plan. Download the Multi-Year Program Plan.

Institute Kicks Off Effort to Develop National BIM Guideline for Owners

The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) is kicking off development of a new guideline to help building owners and their design teams utilize building information modeling (BIM) during the building design, construction and operations process and to better support owners’ performance requirements.

The National BIM Guideline for Owners, to be developed under the auspices of NIBS, with the input of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and ASHRAE, will provide uniformity in the delivery of BIM projects to federal, state and local government building owners, as well as institutional and commercial building owners. Read the release.

Oman Ecohouse Design Competition Uses
United States National CAD Standard®

Student teams competing in the Oman Ecohouse Design Competition needed to have their projects comply with Version 6 of the United States National CAD Standard® (NCS). The EcoHouse Design Competition, sponsored by The Research Council (TRC) of Oman, strives to develop the research and innovative thinking skills of Oman’s youth and foster awareness of sustainable social and economic development. The EcoHouse Design Competition is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate eco-friendly houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends consumer appeal and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.