Environmental Design & Construction articles from January 2007

Environmental Design & Construction archives from January 2007

Welcome to 2007!(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... As we ring in the New Year, ED+C magazine has plenty to celebrate in 2007! Some highlights of our upcoming year include: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 12 issues! For the first time, ED+C will be published monthly. Look for a new issue in...

USGBC accredited as ANSI standards developer.(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2007... Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has been accredited as an official Standards Developing Organization by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). USGBC began working with ANSI processes through the...

PV panel output increases 300 percent.(NEW + NOTABLE)
January 1, 2007... Toronto -- Tests with the International Energy Agency Task 35 project document that adding a solar thermal component to a PV array boosts the total solar efficiency to over 50 percent, compared with 10 to 15 percent efficiency for most PV...

Electronic faucets equipped with remote technology.(NEW + NOTABLE)
January 1, 2007... Des Plaines, Ill. -- Chicago Faucets' HyTronic line of sensor-operated faucets features a twin beam system that provides a quick response time while minimizing false activations, the company reports, and can be adjusted to a single beam....

Countertops and surfaces receive c2c certification.(NEW + NOTABLE)
January 1, 2007... New York -- IceStone LLC, a Brooklyn-based company that turns post-consumer recycled glass into highly-durable countertops and surfaces that resemble granite, has earned Cradle to Cradle Silver certification for advanced design of...

Wheat architectural/industrial-grade panels.(NEW + NOTABLE)
January 1, 2007... Mankato, Minn. -- Environ Biocomposites Manufacturing, LLC's (EBM) Biofiber Wheat architectural-grade panels are made from wheat straw, the company reports. The company's Microstrand Wheat industrial grade panels are used as a rapidly renewable...

Recycled Leather Tiles.(NEW + NOTABLE)
January 1, 2007... Getzville, New York -- Ideal for vertical applications, Spinneybeck offers a 100 percent post-industrial and 100 percent post-consumer recyclable product, the company reports. Spinneybeck Recycled Leather is taken from shoe sole scraps, ground...

Public school teaches and inspires: the sustainable learning environment at Hector Garcia Middle School in dallas inspires young people and the community to flourish.(Cover story)
January 1, 2007... "Education is our freedom, and an education should be everybody's business." --Hector P. Garcia I'm frequently asked about the challenges associated with integrating sustainable design principles into our public school projects. Often...

Attending the Sustainable Facilities Summit 2006, La Jolla.(ED+C ON TOUR)(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... ED+C was invited to attend Craig Michaels, Inc.'s (www.craigmichaelsinc.com) Sustainable Facilities Summit 2006, held Aug. 13-15, 2006, at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines resort. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The invitation-only conference...

Greening the cleaning industry: what cleaners have learned from architects and designers.(STUDIO)
January 1, 2007... This has been an extraordinary year for the Green Cleaning Movement, and my industry (the cleaning industry) has good reason to say "thank you" to those of you in the architecture, design and construction community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Sustaining curiosity: straw bale is selected for the Friends Community School in Maryland, scheduled to open this spring.
January 1, 2007... Respect for the environment is one of Friends Community School's (FCS) core values. So when it outgrew its facilities, the school community sought to create a setting in which students could learn about sustainability first-hand. Featuring...

Costs, savings and value; The financial value of green building: this article is the third and final in this series. The first two examined green building benefits, market share, costs and savings.(STUDIO)
January 1, 2007... APPRAISED VALUE AND FINANCIAL LEVERAGE When I talk to people about green building and LEED, cost always comes up. Conversations rarely include dialogue about increasing net operating income, appraised value or financial leverage--even...

EFCO Corporation: LEED certification. Leading role.(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
January 1, 2007... It's a concept that ripples through a project at every stage, at every level, in every direction, creating a fully integrated environmental commitment. It's known as LEED--Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design--a point-based...

Forbo: Forbo introduces the new Marmoleum[R] 2007 collection.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Forbo is delighted to announce the introduction of the new Marmoleum collection in January 2007. Forbo Marmoleum[R] represents a major advance in Forbo's strategy to lead the market with innovative, natural and durable floor coverings for any...

Hohmann & Barnard: masonry and sustainable design/LEED.(spotlight)(Hohmann and Bernard of Illinois L.L.C.)
January 1, 2007... The U.S. Green Building Council defines "sustainable design" as the practices of design and construction that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in six broad categories: 1....

Lutron; Design considerations for light control: a new perspective on k-12 school design.(spotlight)(Lutron Electronics Company Inc.)
January 1, 2007... Planning today's K-12 school building is a challenge. While the building needs to provide an optimum learning environment for students, it also needs to be flexible to meet the needs of the local community. In addition, the building must...

Amvic building system: Insulated Concrete Forms.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Amvic Building System is the most innovative manufacturer of high quality Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) in the industry. Amvic ICF features the unique, fully reversible FormLock[TM] interlocking system, which has 1" deep grooves that provide...

SolarWall (Conserval Systems Inc.): solar panels--simply effective.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... SolarWall systems (using the transpired solar collector invented by its president, John Hollick), are the choice of many architects, specifiers and building owners around the world. From a U.S. base camp at the South Pole to a high-rise...

Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.: defining rooftop sustainability.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... In the commercial roofing industry, reflectivity has been the dominant discussion point for several years, and the Duro-Last[R] Cool Zone[R] roofing system has set the standard for single-ply roof reflectivity and the resulting energy savings....

ECOsurfaces: versatility and beauty of rubber flooring bring design elements to life.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... St. Vincent Children's Hospital is more like a playground or a children's museum than a hospital. Located in Indianapolis, Ind., the hospital aspired to create an environment unlike a hospital, but more like a place belonging in a child's...

Fabcon: more than 8,000 projects ago, it started with an idea.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... MORE THAN 8,000 PROJECTS AGO, IT STARTED WITH AN IDEA And, like most good ideas, this one was simple: there's a better way to construct buildings. It was 1970. The potential of SpanDeck technology, which produced uniform 8" thick concrete...

Flexco: Distinct Designs rubber tile and stair treads.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Flexco continues on its evolutionary path of being the best manufacturer of design-oriented flooring products with the introduction of its Distinct Designs brand of rubber tile and stair treads. Distinct Designs will give the individual that is...

Knight-Celotex: hear the SoundStop[R] difference.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... SOUNDSTOP[R] TACKABLE WALL PANELS Knight-Celotex introduces SoundStop[R] Tackable Wall Panels to its successful SoundStop[R] family of high-performing, affordable products. The panels help eliminate distractions with superior sound...

Knight Industries Premium Flooring: quartz tile balances strength and beauty.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Knight Industries Premium Flooring, remains dedicated to quality, durability and maintaining the environment. As the only manufacturer in the United States of quartz flooring, we take pride in producing natural resilient tile that offers long...

The Mohawk Group: the Mohawk Group closes the loop on sustainable carpeting for contract interiors.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... The Mohawk Group remains steadfast in its belief that sustainability is an essential business practice in today's global economy. Committed to maintaining the balance between humanity and nature, The Mohawk Group is leading a steady shift from...

Nora: NORA[R] stars in Reiffton school.(spotlight.)
January 1, 2007... When designer Charlotte Stoudt of Gilbert Architects in Lancaster, Pa., began work on Reiffton School in Exeter Township School District, Reading, Pa., her goal was to design a space that was unique and one that would excite the fifth and sixth...

OneSource Services, Inc.; Green cleaning: the business case.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Green cleaning: A great idea, but how do costs compare to savings? The quick answer: The more you invest now, the more it pays off later. However, don't shy away if you have a low budget. Starting small reaps some immediate benefits. This...

Polyglass: self-adhesive roofing membranes and underlayments based on ADESO technology.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Polyglass[R], a leading manufacturer of self-adhesive roofing membranes and underlayments for low- and steep-slope applications, offers the most technologically advanced manufacturing in the industry. Polyglass was the first manufacturer to...

Special-Lite: top 6 reasons our entrance products are the sustainable choice.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... 1. GREENGUARD Certification ensures better indoor air quality. Exterior doors may not immediately come to mind when considering indoor air quality (IAQ), but one side of every exterior door is inside and can impact IAQ. Special-Lite doors...

Tate Access Floors: quality products for delivering a sustainable advantage.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Tate Access Floors has been the industry leader in raised flooring for over 45 years. Our activities include research and development, manufacturing, sales, and distribution of raised access floors with over 450 million square feet installed....

Tile of Spain: eco-friendly facades.(spotlight)
January 1, 2007... Exterior cladding with performance and looks that are most appealing, ventilated facades from manufacturers in Spain boost a building's energy efficiency. Energy savings of 25-35%, improved indoor air quality and site sustainability prove this...

USGBC: looking ahead to 2007 ...(spotlight)(United States Green Building Council)
January 1, 2007... To support its work to address climate change, USGBC is broadening its educational programs and accelerating the adoption of green building throughout our communities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Education is an integral component of...

Environmentally focused cement programs reduce environmental footprint.(CONCRETE)
January 1, 2007... Dundee, Mich. -- Holcim's Envirocore product line is manufactured to meet applicable quality requirements and may be used in many of the portland cement concrete applications currently in use, the company reports. Holcim produces cement, an...

Precast concrete wall panels are durable, lightweight.(CONCRETE)
January 1, 2007... Savage, Minn. -- Available in a range of thicknesses from 8" to 12" and widths up to 12', Fabcon's VersaCore Plus precast wall panels provide thermal efficiency, structural integrity and design flexibility, the company reports. The VersaCore...

LS products seal, harden and densify concrete.(CONCRETE)
January 1, 2007... Lawrence, Kan. -- Prosoco's Consolideck LS (lithium silicate) and Consolideck LS Guard liquid floor hardeners seal, harden and densify concrete by penetrating and reacting to create insoluble calcium silicate hydrate within the concrete pores,...

One-way concrete floor and Roof System enables increased shoring spans.(CONCRETE)
January 1, 2007... Toronto -- Amvic Building System's AmDeck Floor & Roof System is suited for use with Insulated concrete Form (ICF) construction, but can be used independently with other wall systems, the company reports. According to the company, one-way...

Structural autoclaved aerated concrete blocks and panels provide structure, benefits.(CONCRETE)
January 1, 2007... Haines City, Fla. -- AERCON autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) provides structure, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation and can also be the finished material for residential or commercial buildings, the company reports. AAC brings the...

K-12 school HVAC system saves on electrical costs.(HVAC)
January 1, 2007... Denver -- Designed specifically for the K-12 academic environment, Trane's 15 SEER Precedent packaged rooftop gas/electric air conditioning system with a Tracker control system for system-wide control and monitoring saves a minimum of 15...

Water-to-water heat pumps use waste heat to cut costs.(HVAC)
January 1, 2007... York, Pa. -- York water-to-water heat pumps from Johnson Controls improve the energy utilization of HVAC systems by reclaiming heat that would otherwise be discarded, the company reports. A high coefficient-of-performance (COP) ensures...

Packaged rooftop units designed to achieve low lifecycle cost.(HVAC)
January 1, 2007... Richardson, Texas -- Equipped with R-22 or R-410A refrigerant, Lennox's L Series (LG, LC, LH) rooftop units are available in 3 to 30-ton sizes, offering a SEER rating of up to 13.25, the company reports, and are ENERGY STAR-qualified and ASHRAE...

Low differential pressure transducer.(HVAC)
January 1, 2007... Boxborough, Mass. -- Setra Systems, Inc.'s Model 260, "One Size Fits All" low differential pressure transducer offers user selectable pressure ranges and analog outputs, a standard LCD, and AC/DC excitation on voltage output operation....

Rubber flooring aids in healthcare design.(FLOORING)
January 1, 2007... Lawrence, Mass. -- noraplan environ-care is a PVC-free commercial rubber floor covering that features slip resistance in compliance with ASTM D 2047 guidelines, the company reports. The floor covering is made of high-quality rubber, mineral...

Linoleum floor covering made with natural, raw materials.(FLOORING)
January 1, 2007... Hazleton, Pa. -- Forbo's Marmoleum is a linoleum floor covering made from all natural and renewable raw materials including linseed oil, rosin, limestone, wood flour, jute and pigments. According to the company, the ingredients are mixed,...

Mats and flooring Product Guide for commercial, industrial and sports facilities.(FLOORING)(Buyers guide)
January 1, 2007... Stoughton, Mass. -- The matsinc. Product Guide provides functional, aesthetic, and environmentally friendly floor coverings including foot grilles, modular tiles, roll goods, mats and runners, anti-fatigue mats, logo mats, sports flooring and...

High-performance floors for healthcare and educational environments.(FLOORING)
January 1, 2007... Atlanta -- Ideally suited for healthcare, education and office spaces, Amtico International's Stratica Eco-Polymeric is a non-PVC, eco-polymeric, high-performance chlorine-free flooring. According to the company, Stratica floors reduce foot...

Encycle: backing system for sustainable modular carpeting is engineered for the environment.(product profile)
January 1, 2007... A long-standing manufacturer of sustainable commercial carpeting, The Mohawk Group remains steadfast in its belief that sustainability is an essential business practice in today's global economy. In a significant step to helping further reduce...

Excellence in Design Awards.(MARKETPLACE)(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... 2007 ED+C EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARD SUBMISSION FORM ONLINE Environmental Design + Construction magazine seeking project entries for the Fifth Annual Excellence Design Awards. Buildings must clearly demonstrate commitment to green building...