Environmental Design & Construction articles from August 2008

Environmental Design & Construction archives from August 2008

Air Barrier technology: are you ready for the New Generation?(Liquid Air Barriers)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The New Generation of Liquid Air Barriers: price competitive, more energy efficient, and cut labor costs by over one half. As energy costs continue to rise, the use of air/vapor barriers are more critical in today's design environment. The...

Moisture protection total system approach.
August 1, 2008... VOC and HAP Free Water Base Liquid Air Barrier Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. Introduces TextroFlash Liquid and Textro Flash Liquid VP. Both of these products are VOC-Free (Volatile Organic Compounds) and HAPs-Free (Hazardous Air Pollutants)...

Green-collar jobs in demand.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
August 1, 2008... Do you consider yourself a "green-collar worker"? Wikipedia defines a green-collar worker as one who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, satisfying the demand for green development, often implementing...

Online only at www.edcmag.com.
August 1, 2008... COMMITTED TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH SEMP PROVIDED BY BETTERBRICKS Looking for energy efficiency, one healthcare system tries a Strategic Energy Management Program. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEALTHY...

California adopts nation's first statewide green building code.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Sacramento -- The California Building Standards Commission announced the unanimous adoption of the nation's first statewide green building code. The code is designed to lead to improved energy efficiency and reduced water consumption in all new...

Counties with green building programs have increased almost 500 percent.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Washington, D.C. -- According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), since 2003 the number of counties with green building programs has risen from eight to thirty-nine for an increase of 487.5 percent. In an effort to examine the...

Transforming children's health through the physical environment.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Denver -- Hospital buildings can heal according to a report by the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) produced in partnership with the Center for Health Design. It is the first comprehensive report to...

Hotel chain chooses wind power.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Dallas -- Accor North America announced a new agreement between its Sofitel Hotels and wind energy supplier Community Energy, Inc. to purchase clean, renewable, wind energy for all nine Sofitel locations in the U.S. This purchase of...

Greenguard introduces new certification category.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Atlanta -- In response to increased focus on improved indoor air quality, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) has added the Formaldehyde Emission Reduction Technology category to its certification programs. Unlike other GEI certification...

Autodesk and Bentley to advance AEC software interoperability.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... San Rafael, Calif./Exton, Pa. -- At a joint press conference, Autodesk, Inc. and Bentley Systems, Inc., two leading providers of design and infrastructure software, announced an agreement to expand interoperability between their portfolios of...

Solar Certification program for commercial buildings.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Mountain View, Calif. -- solarX, a company that provides clean solar energy to commercial real estate owners, announced its XFactor Solar Certification program for commercial buildings. As commercial building owners strive to meet growing...

Developer of Green Globes and go green interactive software tools acquired.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., an integrated financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate, announced the acquisition of the environmental consulting firm, ECD Energy, best known as the developer of technology...

Reinventing the patient experience.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... San Francisco, Calif. -- Scheduled for completion in 2011, the new Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) Hospital, United Arab Emirates, is a 360-bed hospital and clinic located on Al Sowa Island, adjacent to the new Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange. ...

Hospital eyes sustainable firsts.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The soon-to-be-built Embassy Medical Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is being designed by the Minneapolis office of Perkins+Will, is looking to achieve a number of sustainable firsts with the first Medical...

DOE launches the EnergySmart Hospitals initiative.(NEWSLINE)
August 1, 2008... Chicago -- David E. Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, launched a new DOE program--called EnergySmart Hospitals--at the American...

New + notable.
August 1, 2008... 1 ENERGY REDUCING SIPS Fife, Wash. -- Premier Building Systems' Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) consist of a layer of expanded polystyrene insulation (EPS) sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board (OSB), Premier's SIPs...

Therapeutic spaces: the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas anticipates growth, featuring unique outdoor spaces and indoor amenities.(SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND THERAPEUTIC SPACES)
August 1, 2008... Ten years after the Children's Hospital of Austin opened in 1988, the hospital set out to expand significantly in order to meet current needs as well as anticipated growth. Owned by Seton Healthcare Network, the hospital was located in downtown...

Surfing the green wave during a recession.(SURVIVING + THRIVING)
August 1, 2008... Lots of people want to know what will happen to the green building movement during the current recession, the housing falloff and the retrenchment in commercial building. Here's my take: the market situation may prove to be the catalyst for...

A new green era of luxury: the world's largest green hotel opens in Las Vegas.
August 1, 2008... The Palazzo took its commitment to the planet to the next level. The eight million-square-foot The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino*, which opened on the Las Vegas Strip (next to the Venetian) in January 2008, was certified by the U.S. Green...

Welcome to indoor air quality: a special section brought to you by GREENGUARD and ED+C.
August 1, 2008... GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), founded in 2001, is an industry-independent, nonprofit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program. The institute's mission is to protect human health and quality of life through...

Setting a green framework: GREENGUARD certification and LEED Rating System have established standards for Indoor Environmental Quality.
August 1, 2008... Since the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System first emerged in the marketplace during the early part of this century, it has placed a great deal of importance on good indoor air quality. In fact,...

Verification and standards: GREENGUARD tests flooring/surfaces, paint, insulation, furniture, cleaning products and electronic equipment.(GREENGUARD - IAQ)
August 1, 2008... FLOORING/SURFACES Flooring is a forgotten element in the indoor space, and yet it is what everyone walks, stands, sits, wrestles and plays on every minute of every day. All indoor environments use a range of flooring solutions. The...

Addressing green cleaning.(CASE STUDY)
August 1, 2008... The end of the design and construction process of every building is the beginning of its upkeep and maintenance. Once architects, engineers and contractors exit the building, occupants, visitors and yes, pollutants, inhabit the new space. ...

Showroom furniture.(CASE STUDY)
August 1, 2008... When the time came to expand its Ottawa, Ontario, showroom, Teknion needed to look no further than its own manufacturing facilities to provide environmentally friendly furnishings for the space. After all, in 2003, Teknion became the first...

Pharmaceutical applications.(CASE STUDY)
August 1, 2008... For the Biogen Idec project--a pharmaceutical research center in San Diego--McGraw/Balwin Architects specified 2,000 yards of Lonseal's Loneco resilient flooring throughout corridors, break rooms, offices and conference areas. Loneco was...

Manufacturers of certified products.
August 1, 2008... Adhesives/Sealants 3M Company DuPont Henkel Consumer Adhesives iLevel ITW Plexus ITW TACC Laticrete LG Solid Source Macco W.F. Taylor Wilsonart Adhesives Air Filters Freudenberg NW...

Getting it right: to rebuild a New Orleans neighborhood, make it right works with the community and asks Architects to emulate natural systems.(SUSTAINABLE HOME)
August 1, 2008... What does it mean to rebuild in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, a culturally diverse, but physically devastated, economically challenged and flood-prone community? The Make It Right project offers one solution to displaced former residents...

Extra credit: faculty housing at the Cate School in Carpinteria, Calif., has its eyes set on a platinum rating under LEED-H.(SUSTAINABLE HOME)(Hartigan/Foley)(Column)
August 1, 2008... I have to admit: I was late to jump on the green bandwagon. Yes, I recycled aluminum cans growing up, but that was more about saving nickels to support my baseball card hobby than saving the planet. Then a couple of years ago, my boss here at...

Carpet for Commercial Interior applications offers recyclability, style.(CARPETING)
August 1, 2008... Mobile, Ala. -- Masland Contract's Empire and Enterprise are broadloom products made with Zeftron nylon's Enviro6ix certified solution dyed nylon. The Enviro6ix designation guarantees a minimum of 25 percent recycled content in every color, the...

Recycled nylon yarn spun with yarn from hemp for strength, durability.(CARPETING)
August 1, 2008... Industry, Calif. -- Through Bentley Prince Street's carpet reclamation program, ReEntry 2.0 carpet recycling, yarn is created to make Zip Stitch. This recycled nylon yarn is then spun with yarn from hemp, bridging the natural and man-made and...

First in line carpeting.(CARPETING)
August 1, 2008... Calhoun, Ga. -- X-Factor is the first in what Bigelow commercial plans to be a complete line of sensible, yet stylish carpet coordinates. X-Factor is backed by Encycle, Bigelow Commercial's modular backing system that is 100 percent...

Twenty-five percent recycled content available in more than fifty colors.(CARPETING)
August 1, 2008... Atlanta -- INVISTA, the manufacturer of ANTRON carpet fiber, announced the introduction of more than 50 ANTRON Lumena solution-dyed nylon colors with 25 percent pre-consumer recycled content. Additionally, the new recycled content fibers have...

Collections for hospitality spaces bring the outdoors inside.(CARPETING)
August 1, 2008... Dalton, Ga. -- Shaw Hospitality Group has announced its designer partnership with Angela Adams. Featuring signature designs celebrating the inspiring beauty of nature, Adams' sustainable collections, Ocean and Garden, are available in print,...

Composite decking designed to endure environmental conditions.(DECKING, LANDSCAPING, AND OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS)
August 1, 2008... Springdale, Ark. -- Made with 90 percent pre- and post-consumer recycled content, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies' (A.E.R.T.) newest addition to its MoistureShield Decking line--the Juniper Collection--is made using organic cedar....

Water-based, blended, polymer-based, high solids sealer for decorative concrete meets EPA regulations.(DECKING, LANDSCAPING, AND OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS)
August 1, 2008... Hampshire, Ill. -- Deck-O-Seal ( a division of W. R. Meadows, Inc.) Deck-O-Grip W/B is a non-yellowing, water-based, blended, polymer-based, high-solids sealer for decorative concrete. According to the company, Deck-O-Grip W/B has been...

100 percent recycled HDPE outdoor furniture resists color fading.(DECKING, LANDSCAPING, AND OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS)
August 1, 2008... Anaheim, Calif. -- Manufacturer of recycled plastic lumber Eagle One's furniture product line is made from 100 percent recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the company reports. The high-density plastic, recycled from milk bottles, is...

FSC-certified hardwood decking.(DECKING, LANDSCAPING, AND OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS)
August 1, 2008... New London, Conn. -- General Woodcraft, Inc., a building specialty company, has announced the availability of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified hardwood decking. According to the company, General Woodcraft's Mataverde FSC Ipe carries...

Fan custom made for commercial spaces.(VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FANS)
August 1, 2008... Lexington, Ky. -- Big Ass Fans' Element fan is custom engineered for large commercial spaces such as shopping malls, office buildings, churches and recreational facilities. According to the company, Element uses an all-new patented 10 airfoil...

Duct sealant earns UL 181B-M and GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification.(VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FANS)
August 1, 2008... Rockland, Mass. -- Miracle-Kingco's (an HVAC brand from adhesives and sealants manufacturer ITW TACC) ULTRASEAL GREEN is a fibrous interior/exterior-grade sealant used for fabricating, sealing and coating air ducts, and is resistant to mold,...

Zero-energy alternative to exhaust fans.(VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FANS)
August 1, 2008... Jacksonville Beach, Fla. -- Made of aluminum and stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance, GreenRoo, an industrial-duty turbine ventilator, is being introduced to the U.S. market by the Moffitt Corporation. Designed and engineered in...

HVLS fan to solve large facility air movement, energy efficiency problems.(VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND FANS)
August 1, 2008... Holliston Mass. -- AirMotion Sciences, Inc.'s line of AltAir High Volume--Low Speed (HVLS) industrial ceiling fans are nine to 15 feet in diameter, have small, highly energy-efficient motors, and are used for cooling, heat de-stratification,...

21st-century schools: school modernization and sustainable design.(STUDIO)
August 1, 2008... AIA POSITION The American Institute of Architects (AIA) believes that education is a top national priority and that a proper built environment is vital to ensure that children have a safe and healthy place to learn. School modernization,...

An ideal climate barrier.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... The R-ETRO System offers building owners a simple yet effective way to attach the best performing insulation product to an existing building. The R-ETRO System is a fast, flexible, non-invasive form of insulation that will add an R-value of...

Protective roof coatings from RoofMart.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... RoofMart International, Inc. manufactures fluid applied, seamless, waterproof protective coatings. Our flagship product family, Garnite Roofing Products, can restore virtually all kinds of existing roof systems. EPDMs can be renewed, metal can...

Interior latex paint.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... For projects requiring immediate occupancy of the space, Harmony Interior Latex is an ideal choice. Harmony is a zero-VOC, low-odor coating that exceeds environmental regulations. It can be applied without concern of the disruptive odor of...

StormChamber.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... StormChamber is an open bottom, HDPE infiltration chamber which functions in both permeable and non-permeable soils for subsurface retention, detention, recharge and reuse of storm water, designed to overcome the deficiencies of other...

Beauty from the earth that's beautiful for the earth.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... Ceramic tile is one of the most versatile, inspiring surface materials. And one of the most eco friendly, too. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tile's raw materials are plentiful clay and water; it's extremely durable and enduring. Tile of Spain...

Taking wind resistance to the top.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... Typar MetroWrap is a commercial building wrap that withstands the pressures above four stories. Advantages such as Type I air resistance, exceptional bulk water holdout and 12-month UV protection make it ideal for multi-family dwellings, light...

Cork collection.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... Our Avant Garde Collection offers both unique and traditional shades and patterns, combined with the easy to install Unilin locking system and featuring the most advanced technology in finish: Greenshield. Comparatively, the finish is four...

Cork Oak Flooring.(information showcase)
August 1, 2008... Amorim, in an exclusive partnership with BASF, announces Acrodur, an eco-friendly acrylic binder for Wicanders Cork Oak Floors. Purely water-based, it contains no solvents and no formaldehyde. A perfect combination between nature and...

Of the Earth: South African lodge uses natural elements to blend seamlessly into the environment.(PARTING SHOT)(Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve)
August 1, 2008... Designed as a termite-like mound furnished by trees uprooted by the 1999 floods and by elephants in South Africa, the Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve was inspired by the "Earth Shelter" architecture of the Middle Ages. Hardly...