Build a Greener Adirondacks

The Build a Greener Adirondacks (BAGA) conference and workshops are held every two years at The Wild Center and provide information for local contractors, builders, code officers and others in the building trade to learn more about how new building technologies and ideas can help erase energy waste for homeowners.
Build a Green Adirondacks Expo logo

Build a Greener Adirondacks

The Build a Greener Adirondacks (BAGA) conference and workshops are held every two years at The Wild Center and provide information for local contractors, builders, code officers and others in the building trade to learn more about how new building technologies and ideas can help erase energy waste for homeowners.

2019 Plenary Sessions

Previously, BAGA has focused on the energy and cost savings of building green. At our last BAGA conference in 2019, The Wild Center shifted the conversation to the qualitative aspects of green building: health, wellness and comfort. Our breakout sessions concentrated on teaching how to market and use social media to attract new customers to your business.

New in 2019, thanks to our partnership with U.S. Green Building Council Upstate, we offered GBCI and AIA continuing education credits.

Featured speakers included Kevin Stack of Northeast Green Building Consulting, who facilitated a conversation on the opportunities and responsibilities builders have in the Adirondacks in meeting the challenges posed by intensifying global environmental change, and Mike Phinney of Phinney Design Group who focused on Health + Wellness of Green Design.

View Plenary Session 1 – Kevin Stack

As a biologist who became a builder over 30 years ago, Kevin Stack has served in many capacities including service on the boards of USGBC and past President of the CNY Homebuilders and Remodelers Association, NEHERS and a founding member of the USGBC NY Upstate Chapter. He built and lives in a 36 year old net-zero-energy house, and in 2012 built the largest LEED Platinum home.

View Plenary Session 2 – Josh Stack

Educated in ecology, evolutionary biology and law at Cornell University, UB and NYU, on construction sites and the Peruvian rain forest, Josh Stack constructs, verifies and consults on healthy & resilient homes and multifamily projects. He counsels clients in using resilience science and adaptive law in practice to enhance the resilience, health and adaptive capacity of buildings and cities. He also teaches ecological performance standards for buildings as an adjunct at SUNY ESF and talks, internationally, on resilience science, biomimicry and how to mutually enhance the health and adaptive capacity of human and natural systems.

View Cradle to Gate: Sourcing Healthy Materials and Products – Mike Phinney

Michael Phinney, Principal at Phinney Design Group is a licensed Architect, AIA Member and LEED Accredited Professional with over 22 years of experience in architectural design and construction observation services. Mike has been the team leader on many environmentally sensitive buildings including the first certified green building in New York State in 2001, the first certified green building in the Adirondack Park in 2008 and the first “Healthy House” in the Northeast in 2004.

2017 BAGA Sessions

Green Building Today

Biologist and builder, Kevin Stack discusses building construction while being in alignment with nature and the environment at the 2017 Building a Greener Adirondacks Conference.

As a biologist who became a builder over 30 years ago, Kevin Stack has served in many capacities including service on the boards of USGBC and past President of the CNY Homebuilders and Remodelers Association, NEHERS and a founding member of the USGBC NY Upstate Chapter. He built and lives in a 36 year old net-zero-energy house, and in 2012 built the largest LEED Platinum home.

Resilience and Living Machines

Josh Stack talks about building in harmony with nature at the 2017 Build a Greener Adirondacks Conference.

Educated in ecology, evolutionary biology and law at Cornell University, UB and NYU, on construction sites and the Peruvian rain forest, Josh Stack constructs, verifies and consults on healthy & resilient homes and multifamily projects. He counsels clients in using resilience science and adaptive law in practice to enhance the resilience, health and adaptive capacity of buildings and cities. He also teaches ecological performance standards for buildings as an adjunct at SUNY ESF and talks, internationally, on resilience science, biomimicry and how to mutually enhance the health and adaptive capacity of human and natural systems.

2014 BAGA Sessions

Green Building Today – Josh Stack

Josh Stack, of Northeast Green Building Consulting, discusses the science of resilience and how it relates to the design and construction of our homes and cities during Build a Greener Adirondacks 2014. A practical, common sense approach for practitioners and the “doers” is strongly emphasized, including place-based tools, metrics and processes.

Green Tech and Materials – Sally Hart

Hear about a home renovation in Saratoga and how material use lessened waste and preserved the home’s charm and historic look.

The Envelope Please – Conrad Metcalfe

Conrad Metcalfe, Executive Director of the Building Performance Contractors Association, talks about the importance of sealing the building envelope for energy efficiency at the 2014 Build a Greener Adirondacks conference.

Your Favorite New Green Technology – Jesse Schwartzberg

This clip demonstrates one of the presentations by attendees themselves on the cool new green options available on the market today. Jesse Schwartzberg shares his experiences with electronic energy use monitors (E-Monitors) and permeable paving systems at a client’s home.

Your Favorite New Green Technology – David Goodman

This clip demonstrates one of the presentations by attendees themselves on the cool new green options available on the market today. David Goodman shares his experiences with wood gasification heat for his home.

Communicating with Clients about Green

With Jesse Schwartzberg, Jen Monroe, Steve Amstutz, and Karen Totino.

This panel discussion offers a range of views on how to discuss green aspects of building projects with clients. An energy efficiency company director, a timber frame home builder, a green product distributor, and a design/architect consultant – all familiar with the Adirondacks – briefly share their experiences to help you get a handle on “communicating about green building” with your own clients.

2011 BAGA Plenary Sessions

Reinventing Homebuilding

Tedd Bensonwood from BensonWood talks during BAGA 2011 about reinventing homebuilding and how they do it differently.

Beyond Super Windows

Can your windows really make that much of a difference? During the 2011 BAGA conference, Robert Clarke talked about high efficiency windows.