Environmental Design & Construction articles from April 2008

Environmental Design & Construction archives from April 2008

Pipe insulation battles mold and moisture to help green education centers.
April 1, 2008... The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that half of U.S. schools have indoor air quality problems, which are blamed for reducing students' performance on mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation and memory. In March 2005, the...

Metal buildings help protect and preserve the built environment.
April 1, 2008... From recycled content to energy efficiency, metal building systems have been addressing responsible environmental practices for decades. With their cost effectiveness and sustainable features, metal building systems will continue to prove their...

Good wood gets better.
April 1, 2008... The green building movement is rightly known for its innovation and dynamism, but the wood products industry is a different animal. For the green building professional, the marriage of salvage/reclaimed/recycled wood and FSC-certified wood...

Making progress with recycling.
April 1, 2008... Increasing the rate at which we make new things from what we have already used requires changes in both perception and behavior. Reducing landfill and reclaiming valuable materials and embedded energy through recycling are crucial environmental...

Stand up in support of Earth Day, every day.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
April 1, 2008... Many of you honor the Earth every day in your personal and professional lives. For the rest of you, the 39th annual Earth Day on April 22, 2008, represents an opportunity to celebrate our planet in an extraordinary way. [ILLUSTRATION...

CMRA release asphalt shingle recycling documents.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Eola, Ill. -- The Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), a 501c3 organization that promotes the recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) materials, has released two documents related to asphalt shingle recycling: A "Best...

Green buildings make for biggest, easiest cuts in North American [CO.sub.2] emissions says report.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Vancouver -- Promoting the green design, construction, renovation and operation of buildings could cut North American greenhouse gas emissions that are fuelling climate change more deeply, quickly and cheaply than any other available measure,...

Beaulieu Commercial adopts 100 percent Green energy.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Adairsville, Ga. -- Beaulieu Commercial has become the first commercial carpet manufacturer to replace 100 percent of the energy used to power its operations with cleaner, sustainable renewable energy, the company reports. Designated as a...

Recyclable plastic bag packaging for North America.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Bethany, Conn. -- LATICRETE International, Inc. has launched a recyclable plastic bag packaging program for all mortars, thin-sets and grouts in the North American market. According to the company, the plastic bag packaging means no more ripped...

Recycling programs collect vinyl flooring from construction sites, old buildings.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Houston -- Houston-based Tarkett Inc. has launched a local pilot program to reuse old vinyl flooring. "If it has been installed in the last 10 years, we might be able to reuse it, depending on the original adhesives," said Diane Martel, vice...

Virginia and South Dakota recognize Green Building Initiative's Green Globes.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Portland, Ore. -- Virginia and South Dakota recently became the thirteenth and fourteenth states in the United States to formally recognize the Green Building Initiative's (GBI) Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system in...

Company seeks to eliminate waste.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Manhattan Beach, Calif. -- Inspired by the Cradle to Cradle design philosophy, ReProduct designs products so that materials can be profitably harnessed again and again in the creation of new products, the company reports. Products, such as...

Construction company and materials supplier launch hospital recycling program.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Milford, Mass. -- Consigli Construction Co., Inc. and Marjam Supply Co. of Boston have partnered for healthcare construction waste recycling at the Milford Regional Medical Center (MRMC). In the midst of several ongoing construction...

Hawaii's largest solar electric system unveiled.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... San Luis Obispo, Calif. -- REC Solar, a rapidly growing provider of residential and commercial solar electric systems, and Mitsubishi Electric have announced the completion of Hawaii's two largest solar installations for the Costco Wholesale...

New programs aimed at latest green trends.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Washington, D.C. -- The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) debuted its new green programs at its 89th Annual Convention in Las Vegas. These new initiatives are efforts designed to help educate and prepare contractors about trends...

Company turns used oil into heat.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Leola, Pa. -- Clean Burn manufactures three types of used-oil furnaces for different sized operations including the Compact Used-Oil Furnace (Model CB-1400), Low Profile Used-Oil Furnaces (Models CB-1750 and CB-2500) and the Large Volume...

Contemporary visual appeal and jobsite recycling at Denver International Airport.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2008... Denver -- Last year, the City of Denver hired Denver architectural firm Wong Strauch Architects to design a new ceiling system to replace its 12-year-old ceiling, which was full of sagging or discolored panels. The architects first considered...

New + Notable.
April 1, 2008... RECYCLABLE BROADLOOM CARPET 1 Dalton, Ga. -- EcoWorx Performance Broadloom carpet from Shaw Contract Group is designed to be a cradle-to-cradle product that is strong, light and recyclable in a closed-loop cycle, the company reports....

Salvaged materials: waste diversion helps projects meet sustainability goals.
April 1, 2008... Construction generates a lot of waste materials. Whether new building construction or tenant improvements, usable building materials are often discarded to accommodate new tastes, manage tight construction schedules, or simply due to lack of...

GreenFormat: CSI developing database of green building products to launch later this year.(STUDIO)
April 1, 2008... For decades, the design and building industries have turned to Master-Format to organize project data for commercial and institutional projects. The format, developed and maintained by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), provides a...

Innovative recycling, impressive rewards: green building initiatives at Harvard lead to a construction materials recycling rate of nearly 100 percent.
April 1, 2008... The Harvard Green Campus Initiative facilitates campus-wide sustainability efforts at Harvard University. As of mid-2007, Harvard reported 20 LEED-registered building projects--both new construction and renovation--along with several completed...

Custom insulation system.(INSULATION)
April 1, 2008... Denver -- Spider, from Johns Manville, is a formaldehyde-free fiberglass insulation that sprays in almost dry, completely filling gaps and voids around electrical fixtures, pipes and other obstructions. Spider insulation will not settle or...

Duct liner achieves GREENGUARD certification.(INSULATION)
April 1, 2008... Valley Forge, Pa. -- CertainTeed Corporation's enhanced surface ToughGard R duct liner has earned GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certification, the company reports. Composed of rotary-type glass fibers, ToughGard R duct liner is primarily used...

Thermally efficienct wall framing.(INSULATION)
April 1, 2008... Northborough, Mass. -- Aspen Aerogels' Spaceloft Insul-Cap is a nanotechnology-based aerogel insulation product that adds R-value to wood- and steel-frame buildings. Spaceloft Insul-Cap is made of a 3/8"-thick strip of flexible aerogel blanket....

Insulated Roof Underlayment.(INSULATION)
April 1, 2008... Tacoma, Wash. -- Insulfoam's R-Tech Fanfold Roof Underlayment is an easy-to-install, high-performance, eco-friendly sheathing insulation designed specifically for roof re-cover applications, the company reports. The polymeric laminate facers...

Polyisocyanurate roof insulation.(INSULATION)
April 1, 2008... Portland, Maine -- Hunter Panels, LLC's H-Shield DWD is an energy-efficient rigid roof insulation panel consisting of closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam core laminated to coated, glass fiber mat facers. H-Shield DWD can be applied directly to...

Ultra-Low flow commercial showerheads.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
April 1, 2008... North Olmsted, Ohio -- Moen, Inc.'s Commercial Division introduced its new Ultra-Low Flow showerheads, in fixed and hand-held models, designed with conservation and durability in mind. The new Ultra-Low Flow showerheads have a flow rate of 1.6...

Battery-powered high-efficiency Urinal system.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
April 1, 2008... Franklin Park, Ill. -- Sloan Valve Company's sensor-operated battery-powered SMOOTH High-Efficiency Urinal utilizes only 1 pint (0.125 gpf/0.5 Lpf) of water to flush. The SMOOTH model is one in a series of new Sloan HEU systems, which combine a...

Light-powered lavatory system.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
April 1, 2008... Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Bradley's light-powered handwashing fixture eliminate expensive batteries and ongoing maintenance, the company reports. Patent-pending ndite technology converts restroom lighting into electricity--no batteries or...

Water-conserving toilet.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
April 1, 2008... Perrysville, Ohio -- Mansfield's Prestigio 4 dual-flush pressure-assisted toilet, for both commercial and residential applications, only uses 1.1 gallons per flush, the company reports. Pressure-assisted toilets use water pressure to compress...

Automation Controller enhances commercial lighting control system.(LIGHTING)
April 1, 2008... Palatine, Ill. -- The Square D Clipsal Pascal Automation Controller from Schneider Electric enhances the capabilities of a Square D Clipsal lighting control system by providing expansive scheduling capability and facilitating operation of...

Lamps and ballast recycling.(LIGHTING)
April 1, 2008... Amsterdam -- As part of its ongoing sustainability program, Philips is working with Earth Protection Services Inc. (EPSI) to offer lamp and ballast recycling through its website, the company reports. EPSI has provided recycling services to...

Colors represented both night and day.(LIGHTING)
April 1, 2008... Cleveland -- Lumination, LLC's Tetra Contour LED Lighting System, the energy-efficient exposed neon replacement product for border and linear lighting applications, now offers retailers, restaurants, hotels and other building owners optional...

Retrofitting dock light.(LIGHTING)
April 1, 2008... Aurora, Ohio -- TCP, Inc.'s LED Dock Light is an energy-saving product that attaches directly to current dock light arms for an easy retrofit, the company reports. Using LED technology, the LED Dock Light features a high-intensity LED with low...

Energy efficiency program for escalators.(ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS)
April 1, 2008... Las Vegas -- Power Efficiency Corporation, a developer of technologies for electric motors focused on energy efficiency, announced that KONE Inc. (www.kone.com) will implement a program using KONE's EcoStart, designed for escalators and moving...

Metal fabric panel solution for elevator applications.(ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS)
April 1, 2008... Cambridge, Md. -- Cambridge Architectural, a manufacturer of architectural mesh systems, offers durable panel solutions for elevator applications with rigid metal fabric patterns, the company reports. Cambridge's Plaza metal fabric pattern,...

Modern, energy-efficient elevators.(ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS)
April 1, 2008... San Antonio -- Unveiled at the historic Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, while cutting electricity consumption in half, KONE Inc.'s ReSolve with Unity Drive Control System enhances service by providing improved passenger handling capacity and...

Premium parking: Santa Monica solar-powered parking structure stops traffic with bold, colorful glass design.
April 1, 2008... What may be viewed as an unlikely candidate for green accolades, a parking structure in Santa Monica, Calif., has pushed the envelope toward sustainability. The Santa Monica Civic Center aboveground parking garage features photovoltaic panels...