[Chad Weinand]

IMHO, I do not think these are a good solution for the simple fact that, if installed as detailed on the manufacturers website, only the soil is stabilized and not the root structure of the tree.  Therefore, when the wind blows, it causes the tree to rock back and forth, pulling on all of the roots attached to the tree, which means the smallest roots are being dislodged from the main roots.  And since the smaller roots are the most numerous and are the ones doing a lot of the moisture and nutrient uptake for the tree, not having them will cause the tree to be slower to establish or worse, die.  So I am currently rejecting these that were subbed out for the traditional stake and wire method for this reason, contractor subbed them without approving.  I think the legal or dangerous aspect of the stake and wire system is ridiculous, although, supposedly, someone sued WalMart for injuries sustained on their property from traditional tree staking and won.  I would ask what they were doing in the landscape or lawn area and what damage they may have caused there, and I would also say shame on the legal system for setting this precidence.

[Chad Weinand]

No Steve, but from what I do know about SketchUp, I think it would be very difficult to utilize it to model green surfaces. Also, if you were able to accomplish this modeling with SketchUp, it would be difficult for the model to actually show the nuances and subtleties of a golf green.

Just my opinion, and it is an opinion based on very limited SketchUp usage and knowledge. You might want to consider modeling in a more techincal program like AutoCAD Land Develoment or 3D Vis.

[Chad Weinand]

Brian, Matt is 100% correct with his reply. My experiences are mostly the same, but I will say we have been added to engineering teams to pursue projects because I do have the LEED AP tag. Of course, those engineers then went on to write the project approach and left me out of the LEED discussion for hte most part and we have never won a project because of my LEED Accreditation, so it really hasn’t gained us any real projects, just damaged relationships with past engineering firm partners and wasted overhead dollars.

Since I am a LEED Legacy currently under the new v3 (I am a v2 LEED AP), I have not gotten into needing the CEU’s. This has caused me much diliberation on deciding to stay a LEED Legacy (which means you are not up to date on all issues by definition of the new LEED AP+ system) or to go for the LEED AP+ designation to stay current. I can’t hardly see it is worth it to go for the LEED AP+ based on the lack of revenue it brings in, but I don’t want to just let this pass me by. Of course I have 2 years to decide.

Quite a conundrum USGBC had put us in, but of course I expect nothing less from an organization whose complete motivation is from the money they bring in fom their program. It is good and all, but it is a little overbearing with all of the fees and expenses that come with their organization.

anyhow, good luck with your decition!

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