Building Champion Nominees
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
November 2004

• Jim LaRue *winner*
• Jim LaRue
• Jim LaRue
• Jim LaRue
• Jim LaRue 
• Mike Merle
• Bill Oatey
• Scott Gordon *winner*
• Mark Hoberecht

*winner* Champion: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition *winner*
(Nominated by: Michael W. Challender - Lorain County Chamber of Commerce)
Jim LaRue, Residential Green Building Consultant, Cleveland Green Building Coalition, deserves to receive the Champion of Sustainability award in the Healthy, High Performance Building category. Jim conducts numerous brown bag discussions regarding green building topics at the CGBC. In addition, Jim takes an active position and makes his time available for projects throughout Northeast Ohio. His desire to share his knowledge regarding green building techniques is important in expanding the use of green materials and techniques in the building industry, which is a very difficult industry to make changes.
Jim spent many hours working with the Dream, a partnership of the North coast Building Industries Association (NCBIA), the Lorain County Joint Vocational School (JVS), the Lorain County Commissioners Solid Waste District, the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lorain County Metro Parks. This multi-partner, residential project centered around educating JVS students, the local building industry, and county residents on how to design and build a green home. In fact, JVS students designed and built, with the assistance of NCBIA members, this project home. Jim was instrumental in assuring proper materials were selected in the design, purchased locally, and installed correctly.
Hugely successful, the Dream project went much smoother because of Jims` input and direction. In fact several builders are now constructing homes to Energy Star standards; using recycled carpet, bamboo flooring, low VOC adhesives, and zero VOC paint; and insulating the entire basement wall. As a result, many more new homeowners will benefit from having low energy bills and improved indoor air quality and comfort. In addition, builders learned how to make their homes better than the competition while increasing margins.
Jim LaRue does not receive much recognition for the work he does, however, without his assistance our region would be much less knowledgeable of green building materials and techniques. Therefore, I think Jim LaRue should receive the Healthy, High Performance Building award.

*winner* Champion: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition *winner*
(Nominated by: Nancy King Smith - Nature Center at Shaker Lakes)
Jim LaRue has helped guide the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes through its green building process. Long before we started he volunteered to talk with us about ideas and to present at one of our monthly Environmental Town Halls. During the planning and construction phases we consulted with him about many issues and elements. He painstakingly took nails out of 2X4`s to reuse in this building and other projects. He helped organize the educational plan for our Grand Opening in April 2003 by assisting with the signage throughout the building (which we are still using), leading green building tours and training others to lead them, and helping with our "A Home in Nature: a Guide to Our Green Building" brochure. Post-opening, he has continued to advise and help problem solve with many issues, among them acoustics problems, roof ice jams, rain barrels, lighting, etc.
Jim is totally committed to sustainable building practices and has been selfless in giving of his time and expertise to the Nature Center and many other projects. He is unassuming but is one of Cleveland`s true Sustainability Champions.

*winner* Champion: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition *winner*
(Nominated by: Brian Schneiderman - Self-Help Credit Union)
Jim LaRue is one of Cleveland`s truest Sustainability Champions. His tireless work through the years has paved the way for both personal and systemic changes, particularly as it relates to Healthy and High Performance Buildings. Having worked in the community and economic development field for many years, Jim has earned a reputation in Northeast Ohio for being a technical expert. Thus, when he combines his personal passion and knowledge of how to build smarter, he helps articulate the discussion in a way that drives forward both policy and hands on design. Jim has, for example, led an important effort with the city to incorporate green building design into city code as well as trained the inspectors. Work such as this helps build not just the spirit of healthy and high performance buildings but an institutional base.
At the heart of the matter though, Jim is a "get your hands dirty" type of leader. On a regular basis Jim can be spotted in Cleveland`s neighborhoods working voluntarily with individual homeowners to help them take on both small and large projects that move from theory to action, making families` homes healthier and more efficient. Furthermore, as the Residential Green Building Consultant at the Cleveland Green Building Coalition, Jim shares his also knowledge through a series of workshops to both the converted and, after because of working with Jim, the soon-to-be converted.
And where does he get most of his knowledge? As an entrepreneur, he`s self-made. Jim is President of HouseMender, Inc., a home improvement advisory service that specializes in troubleshooting residential structures for homeowners, contractors, and community development corporations. Most of all though, Jim is a stalwart in the sustainability community whose actions and commitment inspire others to get our hands dirty and make things happen.

*winner* Champion: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition *winner*
(Nominated by: Gary Cole - Wiring Services)
Most people know Jim as the leader of green building in the area. But he is not driven in his life`s work by buildings, but by people.
Jim`s overriding driving force is concern for the ability of people, especially people of lesser means, to have the affordable opportunity of a living space that provides value and comfort and a healthy environment. He dedicates most of his time to learning the latest green building methods and technologies and then passing that information to others in forums such as his GBC `Greening Your Home` series. It is conveyed not as gospel, but for information for evaluation. I have seen him continually reject the high praise that frequently is directed his way. Jim`s selfless way of living is an inspiration to me and many others. At the end of a good life, I would say I will feel the ultimate success if I come close to accomplishing what Jim has given back to the human race in his life. He is an example to what can be.

*winner* Champion: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition *winner*
(Nominated by: Deirdre McDonnell - Atlas Architectural Services/Small Planet Design)

Jim LaRue, or "LaRue" as he is better known, is indeed a champion in many respects. How best to describe Jim than through the building specifications that he has worked so hard to transform:
Division 1 General Requirements - In Cleveland, Jim is THE Champion of Sustainable Green Building.
Division 2 Sitework - Jim is older then dirt. (Just kidding.)
Division 3 Concrete - Jim is the foundation that the rest of us are to build upon.
Division 4 Masonry - Jim, like a stone arch, is of the most honest form.
Division 5 Metals - Let`s face it, Jim is a stud.
Division 6 Woods and Plastics - Jim is FSC, "Forever Sustainable Champion".
Division 7 Thermal and Moisture Protection - Jim`s humor is dry, though at times makes one hard to breathe.
Division 8 Doors and Windows - Jim so clearly explains information one is able to see for oneself.
Division 9 Finishes - Jim, no he is far from finished.
Division 10 Specialties - Jim is definitely one of a kind.
Division 11 Equipment - Jim is equipped to handle whatever challenge comes his way.
Division 12 Furnishings - Jim is happy to sit down with anyone at anytime to talk the talk.
Division 13 Special Construction - Jim was born and then Mother Nature broke the mold.
Division 14 Conveying Systems - Jim raises everything and everyone he works with to new levels.
Division 15 Mechanical/Plumbing - Jim is often full of hot air. (Again, just kidding.)
Division 16 Electrical/Energy - Jim brings new energy to every situation, every project.
In short, I think Jim LaRue should receive the Healthy, High Performance Building award.

Champion: Mike Merle - Ray Fogg Building Methods, Inc.
(Nominated by: Bill Oatey - Oatey Company)
Mike Merle from Fogg comes to mind as a Sustainability Champion. He was continually supportive and a leader in our efforts for the new Oatey Cleveland distribution facility to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Enviromental Design) standards set by the Green Building Council. Our facility will be awarded a Silver LEED rating and is the first such distribution facility in the country. This means that our building will: reduce the impacts of natural resources consumption, reduce operational costs, enhance associate comfort and health, and minimize strain on local infrastructures. Mike helped us analyze and choose the viable triple bottom line green building aspects of our new facility. For examples building materials with high recycled content are reducing the impact on the environment from reduced extraction and processing of virgin materials. More than 50% of our construction waste was diverted from landfill disposal. Large quantities of demolished concrete, scrap steel, cardboard, paper and wood were redirected back to the manufacturing process. Mike`s ingenuity and efforts on this project will continue to positively influence other high performance building projects in Northeast Ohio.

Champion: Bill Oatey - Oatey Company
(Nominated by: Andrew J. Kundmueller - Day & Nite Solar Lite)
It is with great pleasure that I nominate Mr. Bill Oatey of the Oatey Company as a Champion of Sustainability for the Buildings Award. Bill is truly a leader and innovator by demanding GREEN "common sense" building components for his companies new state of the art Distribution Center.
Bill took a building design that was totally conventional in design and budget and began asking questions. Even long after the beginning stages, when most building owners would have just said "its to late to change" he turned the project from "status quo" into the countries first LEED certified distribution center. He truly ventured into the non-conformity zone because of his passion and commitment to sustainable building practices. In so doing, he has changed the mindset of numerous contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, engineers and designers to better understand the true meaning of the phrase "status quo" which is latin for "the mess we are in". Leaders, or in this sense, champions challenge the "mess we are in" with solutions that answer the call.
By building his companies new LEED state of the art distribution center in the city he loves and respects, he showed that corporate responsibility begins with leadership that walks the walk and talks the talk. We are truly blessed to have a champion leader like Bill Oatey in our local community to inspire, motivate and champion the process of a sustainable world. Now that is impact worthy of a true Champion of Sustainability!

*winner* Champion: Scott Gordon - Rosby Resource Recovery *winner*
(Nominated by: Jim LaRue - HouseMender, Inc /Cleveland Green Building Coalition)
If you decide to embark on a new career focusing on sustainability, choosing to take on the entrenched practices of the building industry is hard. One of the largest contributors to landfills is construction materials, both demolition and new construction waste. Scott chose to join Rosby`s and help them develop a new way to address this waste issue. His goal is to recycle as much of the construction waste that comes to their site as possible. He is working at this on two fronts: sorting and recycling what comes to their site and teaching builders and contractors how to reduce their waste and effectively gather any waste they generate. The dumpsters he provides symbolize a sustainable solution, not a sustainable problem.
Scott is our champion, not because he has fully succeeded in his mission, but because he continues to struggle through all the issues that must be addressed if handling of waste is to be sustainable financially as well as practically. Though builders in this ecoregion don`t know it yet, Scott is becoming their champion as well.

Champion: Mark Hoberecht - Harvest Build Associates, Inc.
(Nominated by: Gary Cole - Wiring Services)
For years Mark Hoberecht has devoted all his after work energy to developing a straw bale construction business. Though his 9-5 is still fuel cell engineering for NASA, he has totally dedicated himself to learning all aspects of natural homebuilding, with the main focus on strawbale. He has a couple of strawbale construction projects right now that have broken into the commercial realm. His science knowledge is applied daily to the advancement of building science that translates into durable and high performing buildings. He also lives in a sustainable manner in many ways.