:task groups (leader)

Seminars ( Kara Strong) - Each monthly COTEdc meeting highlights a different aspect of green design and construction. Last year featured topics as diverse as sustainable forestry, green building efforts, and solar energy. Currently scheduled for this year are seminars in salvaging and re-using construction materials, greening specifications, and installing vegetative roofs.

Solar Decathlon (Hal Bolton) - The Solar Decathlon brings 18 college and university teams from around the globe to the National Mall in a competion to design and build houses that demonstrate the advantages of a solar lifestyle. The students will show us how we can live with abundance and comfort in beautiful, energy-efficient, completely solar-powered homes. COTEdc will be assisting the teams, wherever needed, once they arrive in DC this October.

Website ( Kara Strong) -2003 marked the launch of the COTEdc website. This year we hope to continue expanding the content by updating our activities and including the monthly meeting minutes. We also intend to add recommendations for green books.

House of Cards Game (Elizabeth Floyd) -Every fall, COTEdc participates in the Festival of the Building Arts hosted by the National Building Museum. Over the last two years, we have developed a game to teach kids and their parents about a variety of green building materials and ways to integrate environmental concepts into home construction. This year we would like to produce a version of the game that can be distributed through Washington Architecture Foundation's Architecture in the Schools program.

Public Relations (Rick Harlan Schneider) -Taking advantage of our location in the nation's capital, COTEdc seeks to connect with local and national leaders in order to increase green building awareness beyond the construction community. In addition, COTEdc will work with other environmental groups to help lend support to environmentally friendly legislation. A large first step in this process will be inviting leaders throughout the DC community to our next Summer Solstice Party.

Summer Solstice Party (Greg Ciotti) - COTEdc sponsors an annual summer party at the time of the summer solstice. In past years, attendees primarily consisted of members of the green construction community. This year, we are fortunate to host the solstice party in the US Botanical Gardens. We intend to use this opportunity to invite Congressional members and their staff as well as members of the DC Council and mayoral staff. This free event is scheduled for June 2 2nd.

Greening AIA/DC (Rick Harlan Schneider)