BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Limba - ECPv6.16.5//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Limba X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://limba.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Limba REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20070311T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20071104T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20080309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20081102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20090308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20091101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20080704T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20080704T000000 DTSTAMP:20080704T040000Z CREATED:20080704T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20080704T040000Z UID:4300-1215129600-1215129600@limba.net SUMMARY:July 4th Happy Birthday America - no LIMBA meeting DESCRIPTION: URL:https://limba.net/calendar/july-4th-happy-birthday-america-no-limba-meeting/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20080711T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20080711T000000 DTSTAMP:20080711T040000Z CREATED:20080711T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20080711T040000Z UID:4302-1215734400-1215734400@limba.net SUMMARY:Marc Herbst\, Exec Dir Long Island Contractors Assoc DESCRIPTION:This morning our speaker was Marc Herbst\, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors Association.  Mark’s backround is deeply rooted in infrastructure technology and is uniquely suited to his position. The contractors that he represents are mostly interested in transportation projects. \nMark made reference to the great empires of the past and the emphasis they had on infrastructure. The Romans were able to build great systems that supported the cities of the empire. These systems were useful in housing\, sanitation\, and defense. America\, and this region in particular\, has stopped building the great infrastructure projects that make living in a region with many people viable. He referred to this allocation of resources as investment. Due to the transit investment of past generations New York City has the most energy efficient transportation  of any state in the union\, but we stopped building these tunnels bridges\, and roads 40 years ago. We forgot what made us successful.  \nWe spoke about the revenue sources for transportation and the shortsightedness of a gas tax "holiday". Without those sources of revenue our situation will be infinitely worse. The first gas tax that was implemented was in the state of Oregon. It was a wildly popular tax because it was dedicated to building modern roads for the newly invented automobile.   \nMr Herbst pointed to other problems we are facing. A few years back we demanded that major construction should be done at night\, which on the surface seems like a reasonable idea. However costs of working nights are much higher than daytime operations. As an example he cited the high lumen lighting stands burn a lot of fuel. The workers are paid a 25% night differential. When paying union rates these costs are substantial. In addition to that the gas tax is a per gallon fee. As people adjust to using less fuel\, revenues drop. All of these factors and some I did not articulate will bankrupt the highway trust fund in one year. Clearly\, this is unacceptable\, and a new commitment to funding projects to make the region and the nation more efficient\, and therefore more competitive with the world will be needed. \nWe spoke briefly about the rail/truck inter modal facilities. The transfer stations will take hundreds of thousands of tractor trailers off the Long Island Expressway and the George Washington bridge\, which is the main conduit for these trucks.  So far they have not been built  because of local opposition and the total lack of leadership on the part of our elected officials. Too bad we can’t hire people in politics with a spine. \nPictured: Bill Miller\, Ernie Fazio\, and Mark Herbst URL:https://limba.net/calendar/marc-herbst-exec-dir-long-island-contractors-assoc/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20080718T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20080718T000000 DTSTAMP:20080718T040000Z CREATED:20080718T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20080718T040000Z UID:4301-1216339200-1216339200@limba.net SUMMARY:Peter Caradonna - Green Architect -at LaQuinta DESCRIPTION:Our speaker this morning was Peter Caradonna. Peter has been an advocate and practicing architect in designing “green buildings” for many years. It appears from the general buzz that someone is listening. While Peter has something of a pioneer\, today there is a proliferation of people who are providers of green technology. \n  \nThe new building materials that are needed are more available\, and people who are designing have sources of supply that either did not exist\, or were expensive and in short supply. Good news for sure\, as we realize our old methods are simply unsustainable. \n  \nPeter pointed out the many benefits beyond the usual metrics of building costs\, and return on investment. The cost of employees is about 91% of most businesses operating expense. The cost of a building to house them is only 6% and the ongoing expense of the building is 2%. Better health and productivity of employees can be gained by putting slightly more into the building\, the small additional investment has a great return. We now have a body of case study to substantiate that claim. \n  \nIn the classrooms the net effect on student achievement is measurable and dramatic. Controlled testing have shown that properly designed classrooms can increase achievement scores by 20% \n  \nThe United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has set standards for building technology. This is a group that was formed to cross-pollinate the ideas of many innovators as well as to set performance standards. The USGBC has grown its’ membership considerably in recent years and is a nationwide network. The Leadership in Energy Design (LEED) program is their standard. All of the levels exceed local code\, which Peter describes as “just above the level where you may be arrested for doing something illegal”. The lowest LEED designation is no more costly than standard construction. The higher LEED designations are more costly to build\, but there are often tax breaks\, and utility grants\, that mitigate costs. With or without subsidies\, there is still a reasonable rate of return. With the ever-increasing cost of energy\, the case for better\, more efficient design is even more compelling. \n  \nMr. Caraddona went into the peripheral considerations of energy site planning. The “heat island” effects of a paved parking lot\, the planting of trees\, the natural treatment of waste water\, Using recycled products\, avoiding exotic imports\, planting naturally indigenous plants and trees all contribute to the stated goal of sustainability. \n  \nEducational institutions have taken on the responsibility of training the new energy practitioners. In particular is NYIT is forming a national building advisory council. Last year they built an energy efficient home that was deconstructed and reconstructed at an exposition held at the national mall in Washington DC. SUNY at Farmingdale has been training solar installers and adding related course to the curriculum\, and of course\, The Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at SUNY Stony Brook is presently being built. Much of this is happening through cooperation with the congressional office of Steve Israel. \n  \nPeter Caradonna’s understanding of the energy efficiency field and the related field of sustainability is very comprehensive\, and goes far beyond his stated discipline of architecture\, but that makes him more valuable because he sees the nuances that may be missed by another equally talented practitioner. We wish we could have had more time. URL:https://limba.net/calendar/peter-caradonna-green-architect-at-laquinta/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20080725T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20080725T000000 DTSTAMP:20080725T040000Z CREATED:20080725T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20080725T040000Z UID:4305-1216944000-1216944000@limba.net SUMMARY:Sean McGuinness\, Supt. Fire Island Nat. Seashore-Holiday Inn DESCRIPTION:Our speaker this week was Sean McGuinness\, Superintendent of the Fire Island National Seashore (FINS). This national park is like no other\, in that it encompasses whole independent communities. These communities are part of the mainland townships of Brookhaven and Islip\, yet they fall within the boundaries of the national park. FINS works closely with the various communities when they have needs that must be addressed\, but FINS takes a cooperative role rather than a primary role. As a result of this close cooperation with the towns and communities it has a very complicated role.  \nThe Sunken Forest is a part of the park that is accessible to visitors but there are no residential buildings. This very interesting section has a very dense canopy and even on the brightest days it is usually cool and relatively dark on the floor of the forest. There is walkway about 5 feet above the forest floor and visitors are not permitted to get of the walks. The wildlife in this section is very diverse and it is a favorite visiting spot for school outings. \nThere is also a wilderness area that allows no mechanized activity\, even the park service’s own chain saws are not permitted to be used. \nThe park service maintains this facility on minimum funding about $3.5 million per year. Concessions such as the restaurant at Watch Hill and the snack bar at Sailors Haven do contribute to the park’s revenues by paying a percentage of sales to the park as well as maintaining there own infrastructure. \nThe island and the adjacent mainland property in the Mastic area was originally owned by William Floyd\, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The Floyd home is in Mastic and it is also part of the FINS and it is open to the public as well. \nWhen Robert Moses was riding high he was arguably the most powerful man in the tri-state area\, having a mandate to build the region. He built bridges tunnels\, parks and numerous roadways. Some of his accomplishments were admirable\, but when he came to Fire Island he wanted to build a highway down the spine of the island. This would have destroyed the communities\, the Sunken Forest\, and the wilderness area. LIMBA’s founder Paul Townsend objected\, and built a coalition that was able to convince the US Congress to create the park. It was one of the few defeats that Moses was ever dealt. The Fire Island we have today is the result of that good leadership. URL:https://limba.net/calendar/sean-mcguinness-supt-fire-island-nat-seashore-holiday-inn/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR