Environmental Design & Construction articles from March 2001

Environmental Design & Construction archives from March 2001

Carpe diem! (Editor's Note).(now's the time for energy efficiency efforts)(Editorial)
March 1, 2001... Timing is everything. And if ever there was a time to move the market forward for energy efficient, solar and other renewable energy products and services, this is it. Energy efficiency and renewables are a tough sell when energy prices are low...

ANSI approves ASHRAE standard 90.1-1999. (Newsline).(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... ATLANTA, GA -- Standard 90.1, the energy conservation standard published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ...

French utility tests residential fuel cells. (Newsline).(Gaz de France)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CLIFTON, NJ -- Gaz de France, the French national gas utility, has begun a five-month evaluation of residential fuel cells with the installation of an H Power residential cogeneration fuel cell system, powered by natural gas, in a model house....

CFV nixed by local residents. (Newsline).(Canyon Forest Village )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... GRAND CANYON, AZ -- Canyon Forest Village (CFV), a proposed gateway community just outside the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, was rejected by residents of Coconino County in the November 2000 election -- despite a unanimous approval by...

Shea Homes makes solar power standard. (Newsline).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... SAN DIEGO, CA -- Shea Homes San Diego recently introduced what it calls the "High Performance Home." In addition to being up to 38% more efficient than homes built under strict California Title 24 guidelines, the Shea High Performance Home...

Solatube International Inc. (One Liners).(solar-powered attic fan )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Solatube International Inc. has developed a solar-powered attic fan that provides up to 1200-square-feet of circulation coverage and exchanges air at a rate of up 800 cubic feet per minute.

MonierLifetile. (One Liners).(European roof tile ridge vent )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... MonierLifetile has teamed up with one of its parent companies, Lafarge Braas Roofing, to introduce a European roof tile ridge vent to the US market.

Therma-Stor Products. (One Liners).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Therma-Stor Products has introduced an air purifying dehumidifier capable of removing over 17 gallons of water per day (at 80[degrees]F and 60% relative humidity) while using only 12 amps of electricity (120 V).

A forum for solar: ASES, SEIA, IREC and SEPA have teamed with other industry leaders to host a forum dedicated to promoting solar technology. (Association Report).
March 1, 2001... When environmental leaders gather in Washington, DC, April 21-25, it will be the third time that "solar" groups like the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Interstate Renewable Energy...

Specifying for solar energy: the increasing availability of building-integrated photovoltaics presents the specification writer with both opportunities and challenges. (Specifically Speaking).
March 1, 2001... In 1969, The Fifth Dimension had a hit record with the song "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In." Today, with buildings in the US consuming more than one-third of our total energy requirements, the use of better and more efficient energy sources has...

AIA honors Fox & Fowle for Conde Nast Building. (Applause).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... NEW YORK, NY -- The New York State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently honored Fox & Fowle with the Excellence in Design award for the Conde Nast Building at Four Times Square. Chosen from among 69 entries, the Conde...

Ross Architecture wins Green Homes design contest. (Applause).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CHICAGO -- Mayor Richard M. Daley recently announced Ross Architecture as a winner of Green Homes for Chicago, a competition to identify affordable, environmentally friendly housing designs for the city. Ross Architecture's winning design...

Philip K. White & Associates receives AIA Award of Excellence. (Applause).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... HONOLULU, HI -- The Molokai Ranch Lodge, designed by Philip K. White & Associates, recently earned an Award of Excellence in the AIA Honolulu 2000 Design Awards. The project was one of two Awards of Excellence handed out in 2000 by the awards...

Bozzuto Group honored as environmental developer of the year. (Applause).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... GREENBELT, MD -- The Bozzuto Group was honored as the 2000 Environmental Developer of the Year at the annual Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association Environmental Builder and Developer Awards dinner. The award is presented...

Dow and Pacific Woodtech to develop laminated veneer lumber products. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... MIDLAND, MI -- The Dow Chemical Co. and Pacific Woodtech Corp. have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop and subsequently commercialize enhanced laminated veneer lumber (LVL) products for industrial applications. The LVL products will...

IAQ concerns to drive changes in building design. (News).(indoor air quality)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... ROCKVILLE, MD -- A new survey released by the International Center for Toxicology and Medicine indicates that growing public and regulatory concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) will likely lead to significant changes in building design and...

ECW leads daylighting effort for schools. (News).
March 1, 2001... MADISON, WI -- The DOE has awarded The Energy Center of Wisconsin (ECW) a matching grant of $473,000 for a total grant of more than $800,000 to develop daylighting research for schools in Wisconsin, New York, California and Florida. ECW will...

Puget sound adopts Built Green[TM] program. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... KING COUNTY, WA -- In October, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, in partnership with King County executive Ron Sims and Snohomish County executive Bob Drewel, unveiled the area's new Built Green program. The...

Adam Joseph Lewis Center needs "fine tuning". (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... OBERLIN, OH -- Following five years of design and construction, the dedication this past fall of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College marked the completion of the first stage in the center's life. But...

University of Texas Health Science Center installs PV systems. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... HOUSTON, TX -- The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHHSC) in Houston recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its two newest photovoltaic renewable energy production systems. During the last five years, the UTHHSC campus has...

Playa Vista selects Whirlpool to support Integrated home solutions. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... BENTON HARBOR, MI -- Playa Vista has selected Whirlpool Corp. to be a key supporter of Integrated Home Solutions, including a full line of Internet-enabled appliances and associated services, for its Partnership for Advancing Technology in...

Energy-efficient house receives technology award. (News).
March 1, 2001... GOLDEN, CO -- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has presented an Idaho Springs residence with a first-place Technology Award. Otto Van Geet, the homeowner, works at the U.S. Department of...

Willamette's panel products receive SCS certification. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... PORTLAND, OR -- Willamette Industries has received certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) for its full line of US composite panel products. All particleboard and medium density fiberboard products have been certified for...

First BIPV system installed at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. (News).(building-integrated photovoltaic )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system -- a thin-film PV laminate from United Solar Systems Corp. (USSC) on standard metal roofing -- has been installed in the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's new academic building...

Philadelphia's first green building opens. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Philadelphia's first green building opened in January at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Designed by Susan Maxman & Partners, a Philadelphia-based architecture firm, the Cusano Environmental Education...

AIA COTE, City of Seattle announce Earth day conference. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... SEATTLE, WA -- To observe Earth Day 2001, AIA Seattle Committee on the Environment (COTE), in partnership with the City of Seattle, will sponsor an exhibition of regional green buildings and seminars focusing on the sustainability of building...

Great Lakes bachelor quarters earns Beacon Award. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... WASHINGTON, DC -- The Engineering Field Activity (EFA) Midwest, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), in Great Lakes, IL, recently received a Revolution in Business Affairs Beacon Award for work on the Naval Training Center, Great...

Sustainable textile wins international award. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... NEW YORK, NY -- The Climatex[R] Lifecycle[TM] method of manufacturing a 100% sustainable upholstery fabric in a closed-loop system has been awarded the first prize of 40,000 British pounds (approx. $60,000) in the Design Sense 2000 Awards from...

New website promotes recyclable materials. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... CORAL SPRINGS, FL -- A new website that will provide 24-hour, seven-day worldwide accessibility for recyclable materials has been launched by Recycle Auction Group (RAGauction.com). According to Clifford Salm, founder and CEO of RAGauction.com,...

Solar energy with style: the winning entry in the DOE's Sun Wall competition proves that building-integrated PVs can be both functional and beautiful, maximizing technology and design.
March 1, 2001... An artist can't resist the appeal of a blank canvas, Likewise, when the Department of Energy announced its Sun Wall National Solar Design Competition in March 2000, few architects and designers were able to refuse the allure of creating a solar...

Building biophilia: connecting people to nature in building design; studies show that incorporating the natural environment into buildings can have a positive influence on psychological, physical and social well being.
March 1, 2001... Contrary to Woody Allen's famous quote -- "nature and I are two" -- there is increasing evidence that nature and we are not separate entities. A growing body of scientific research is showing that the human brain and behavior are intricately...

Independent power: promise of fuel cells; the high reliability and efficiency of fuel cells, along with their environmental benefits, are driving the commercialization of this clean, reliable source of power.
March 1, 2001... Imagine putting a clean, reliable source of power into every building. A green and guilt-free way to reduce or eliminate dependence on the grid, with its all too-frequent blackouts, or to provide electricity in places beyond the reach of the...

The integrated PV learning curve: PV technology has come a long way in the last several years, but many architects and designers are discovering that we still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn. (Integrated PV).
March 1, 2001... Within the past several years -- and even just the past several months -- much has changed in the energy marketplace. California is now in jeopardy of losing the battle between growth and power supply, and their situation could soon spread...

Roof tile ridge vent. (Products).
March 1, 2001... IRVINE, CA -- MonierLifetile has teamed up with one of its parent companies, Lafarge Braas Roofing, to introduce a European roof tile ridge vent to the US market. Called Figaroll, the ridge vent is also designed to seal to all roofing tiles,...

Air purifying dehumidifier. (Products).
March 1, 2001... MADISON, WI -- Therma-Stor Products has introduced the Ultra-Aire Model 150-H air purifying dehumidifier. The product provides three key components of healthy air: fresh air ventilation, particulate filtration and humidity control. At the heart...

Stratica flooring. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Thanks to its construction and incredibly tough wear layer, Amtico's Stratica has been proven to be extremely durable. Since no dressing is required, life-cycle maintenance costs are very low. Stones, terrazzos, marbles and 18 realistic woods...

Recycled roofing products. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... EcoStar, Inc., a leading manufacturer of recycled roofing products, is proud to introduce its newest recycled roofing product, Celestial Slate Tile. Celestial Slate offers the same outstanding benefits as EcoStar's Majestic Slate Tile, with the...

Marmoleum linoleum. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Forbo is the world leader in linoleum, and Marmoleum global 1 is a truly global collection. The extensive range of colors is inspired by the diversity of nature and cultures around the globe. Marmoleum is at the heart of Forbo's range of...

Preserve pressure-treated lumber. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Arsenic- and chromium-free Preserve pressure treated lumber from Chemical Specialties Inc. offers specifiers and builders a range of environmentally advanced, decay- and termite-resistant wood products for their design and construction...

Ecologically sound wood products. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... EcoTimber is a leading supplier of flooring, decking and other wood products from ecologically sound sources. EcoTimber specializes in woods that come from forests that are certified well-managed according to the stringent social and...

River-Recovered wood. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Goodwin Heart Pine is known worldwide for its River Recovered Heart Pine and Heart Cypress Durable, beautiful and timeless, these antique woods are 100% heart, the highest grading in the industry. From the elegant Signature[TM] to rustic Legacy...

Earth-friendly Wallcoverings. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Innovations in Wallcoverings, long a design leader in the wallcoverings industry, introduces the latest additions to the Innvironments collection of earth-friendly wallcoverings. The newest products include more colors for our award-winning...

FineWood residential flooring. (Residential: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... FineWood[R], PermaGrain's premium residential flooring, currently features five species of North American hardwoods that proudly carry the seal of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSG). This ensures that the wood in the product originates from...

Solar air heating system. (Solar: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The West Metro K-12 School in Downtown Minneapolis is one of over a dozen schools that have recently gone solar with the simple, yet elegant SOLARWALL[R] system for heating ventilation air. 60 to 70% of a schools heating costs are for mandated...

Plug-N-Play PV connectors. (Solar: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Multi-Contact USA supplies the only UL recognized "Plug-N-Play" photovoltaic connector system for solar applications. The system is completely touch-proof and UV/weather resistant and features the patented Multilam contact interface. PV...

Innovative Solar designs. (Solar: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The 'Solar Cube," a dynamic 13-story sculpture with a 20 kW PV array, towers over nearby 1-5, attracting visitors to the Discovery Center in Santa Ana, Calif. The electricity created by it is used in the Center, with excess power fed to the...

Insulated, laminated PV systems. (Solar: Advertorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Viracon, a leader in glass technology, is known for its acoustical, hurricane-resistant, insulating, laminated, silkscreened and spandrel glass and high-performance coatings. Now Viracon and its parent company, Apogee, are pursing the next...

Solar-powered attic fan. (Products).
March 1, 2001... VISTA, CA -- Solatube International Inc. offers the new Solar Star[R], a solar-powered attic fan. Unlike typical, non-motorized roof ventilators available in home-improvement stores, which depend on breezes to function, Solar Star operates...

Dust mite inhibitor. (Products).
March 1, 2001... LAGRANGE, GA -- Interface has introduced Smite, a product designed to protect flooring products from dust mites. A special form of the insect control agent Pemethrin, Smite has been proven to reduce the occurrence of dust mites in carpet by as...

Stormwater treatment system. (Products).
March 1, 2001... PORTLAND, OR -- Stormwater Management Inc. has introduced the StormGate Separator [TM], an offline sedimentation chamber that allows for the settling of solids and the separation of free oils and greases commonly found in stormwater runoff. The...

Termite-resistant ICFs. (Products).
March 1, 2001... ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- American Polysteel has licensed the patented termite-resistant technology, Perform Guard, from AFM Corporation, becoming the first major insulating concrete form (ICF) block manufacturer in the industry to incorporate this...

Ceiling-mount ventilating fan. (Products).
March 1, 2001... SECAUCUS, NJ -- Panasonic offers a new two-speed ceiling-mount ventilating fan, Model FV11VQD2. The fan requires a low input wattage and features a long motor life. With high and low speed controls, the fan can provide both "spot" ventilation...