Environmental Design & Construction articles from March 2005

Environmental Design & Construction archives from March 2005

Making a difference, one house at a time.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
March 1, 2005... ED+C and our parent company BNP Media are pleased to announce our support of the Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) and Habitat for Humanity in our home state of Michigan. Detroit is one of two host cities, along with Benton Harbor, Mich., for...

Clinton Presidential Center attains LEED Silver.(NEWSLINE)(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
March 1, 2005... Little Rock, Ark. -- The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park is the first project to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating in the State of Arkansas, and the first presidential library to be...

Cradle-to-cradle material certification system released.(NEWSLINE)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Charlottesville, Va. -- The recently-released C2C Preferred Material certification is a three-tiered approach consisting of Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels to reflect continuing improvement along the cradle-to-cradle trajectory. It is based...

USGBC Board of Directors announces new officers.(NEWSLINE)(United States Green Building Council )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors recently completed elections for its 2005 Executive Committee. Congratulations to Kevin Hydes, KEEN Engineering, chair; Tom Paladino, Paladino and Co., vice-chair; James...

Office Depot nearly doubles environmentally-friendly products in catalog.(NEWSLINE)
March 1, 2005... Delray Beach, Fla. -- Office Depot, Inc. has recently released its 2005 Green Book catalog of environmentally-preferable office products that is also printed on elemental chlorine free, 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper. Sent...

SBIC Board members announced.(NEWSLINE)(Sustainable Buildings Industry Council)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Washington, D.C. -- Scott Sklar, Chairman of the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) Nominations Committee and Board Representative for SEIA, president, The Stella Group, Ltd., recently announced six new members elected to the SBIC...

Poster wins Best in Show at Greenbuild.(NEWSLINE)(Fox & Fowle Architects)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New York, N.Y. -- Fox & Fowle Architects was awarded Best in Show at Greenbuild 2004 for the Gloucester Green submission in the Presented Poster Competition. The award was presented at the U.S. Green Building Council's 2004 Greenbuild...

MTS approves Unified Sustainable Textile Standard.(NEWSLINE)(Market Transformation to Sustainability)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Washington, DC -- The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS) announced its unanimous approval of the Consensus Unified Sustainable Textile Standard 2.0 on January 3, 2005. Milliken's Earth Square Carpet Tiles are an...

Governor Schwarzenegger signs Green Building Initiative.(NEWSLINE)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Sacramento, Calif. -- On Dec. 14, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-20-04 to encourage energy efficiency in state buildings and urged Californians to continue energy conservation efforts. Executive Order S-20-04...

Efficient reversible chiller.(NEW + NOTABLE)
March 1, 2005... 1 Fort Wayne, Ind. -- WaterFurnace International Inc. unveiled a new reversible chiller--the EW Series 360, as the latest water-to-water unit the company manufactures. The EW 360 is suitable for commercial and industrial applications and is...

Green cleaning solutions.(NEW + NOTABLE)
March 1, 2005... 2 Maumee, Ohio -- Spartan Chemical Co.'s Green Solutions Product Line has been created with current and future global environmental concerns in mind. The Green Solutions Product line of worker-safe industrial and institutional cleaners includes...

Recycled roofing materials.(NEW + NOTABLE)
March 1, 2005... 3 Chatham, Ontario -- Wellington Polymer Technology Inc. is currently in the process of increasing production capacity at its Chatham, Ontario (Canada) facility in an attempt to keep up with demand for its Enviroshake brand roofing product, the...

Direct-exchange heat pump.(NEW + NOTABLE)
March 1, 2005... 4 Lakeland, Fla. -- According to experts at ECR Technologies, abundant renewable energy is readily available in the shallow earth. It's more efficient to harvest that energy to heat and cool buildings than to burn fuel to create heat. Higher...

Natural panel system fabrics.(NEW + NOTABLE)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... 5 Minnetonka, Minn. -- Designers and architects have a new tool to make every office feel more natural--panel system fabrics featuring Ingeo fibers. Herman Miller Inc. launched the Kira line of fabrics made with the natural-based fiber made...

Recyclable chairs and barstools.(NEW + NOTABLE)
March 1, 2005... 6 Atlanta -- Sandler Seating offers IBIS steel-framed stacking chairs and both fixed and revolving barstools. The IBIS is named for the one-part design that resembles a bird in flight. Seats are constructed from a technologically-advanced...

Green by selection: environmental responsibility continues to be an increasing focus in wallcovering selections.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... For the last couple of years, each and every design trade show has had its green section. Where "green" exhibitors were once the exception, they have now become the expectation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Today's green programs have a big...

Paint and coating selection: environmental and substrate considerations.(STUDIO)
March 1, 2005... Today, coatings chemists are continually being challenged to meet the rapidly changing needs of the construction coatings industry. A number of factors have come into play that impact coatings formulations: volatile organic compounds (VOC),...

What is ENERGY STAR?(ENERGY STAR)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, last year alone,...

ENERGY STAR qualified products.(ENERGY STAR)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Products in more than 40 categories are eligible for the ENERGY STAR label, including: * Appliances (washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, refrigerators, air conditioners); * Heating and Cooling (air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat...

Once again Lennox has earned the ENERGY STAR[R] manufacturer partner of the year award.(Advertisement)
March 1, 2005... FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Lennox for going above and beyond to protect the environment with energy-efficient products. In fact, Lennox is the only HVAC company to ever earn the award,...

ENERGY STAR: a progress report in energy efficiency and residential building.(ENERGY STAR)
March 1, 2005... Last year, ED+C featured a comprehensive section entitled "ENERGY STAR: A Lesson in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Initiatives," which focused on several outstanding efficiency case studies from the commercial sector. This article turns...

Green Building Guidelines aimed at mainstream housing.(NEWSLINE at home)
March 1, 2005... Washington, D.C. -- Voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines designed to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream of the housing marketplace were introduced on Jan. 13 during the International...

ICF homes in Yellowstone receive LEED certification.(NEWSLINE at home)(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)(insulating concrete forms)
March 1, 2005... Yellowstone National Park, Mo. -- Nestled in Yellowstone National Park, Xanterra Parks & Resorts completed two single-family residential homes for use by park employees. Culminating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)...

Earthcraft demonstration home on tour.(NEWSLINE at home)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Atlanta -- SawHorse Inc., a renovation contractor based in Atlanta, is preparing a demonstration EarthCraft House Renovation project which will be on tour for a "behind the walls" viewing while under construction at the National Green Building...

Energy department will enforce 13 SEER air conditioner standard.(NEWSLINE at home)(seasonal energy efficiency rating )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Washington, D.C. -- The Department of Energy (DOE) will enforce a 13 seasonal energy efficiency rating or "SEER" standard for residential central air conditioners. This standard, which will apply to central air conditioners starting in January...

Construction begins on New York green tower.(NEWSLINE at home)
March 1, 2005... Garden City, N.Y. -- New York's newest green residential tower is now under construction in lower Manhattan's Battery Park City. The building is being developed by the Albanese Organization in partnership with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance...

C2C winners announced.(C2C UPDATE)
March 1, 2005... Architects, students, and university teams enthusiastically accepted the invitation to design the most innovative and affordable housing solutions possible. Submissions were expected to respect the character of Roanoke's core neighborhoods, be...

Efficient SIPS and ICF System.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 1 Blissfield, Mich. -- Insulspan Incorporated announces the integration of the Advantage ICF System product line with their Insulspan structural insulated panels. Through this integration of the two products they are offering the new...

Certified wood veneer-faced panels.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 2 Capon Bridge, W.V. -- The S.J. Morse Co. provides an alternative to solid wood with architectural wood veneer-faced panels for projects requiring custom-made plywood such as cabinets, wall panels and ceilings. Product selections include six...

Tankless water heater.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 3 Irvine, Calif. -- Takagi unveiled the newest addition to their product line, the T-H1. The T-H1 differs from its predecessors by employing a pre-heating system and a built-in neutralizer system. The pre-heating system employs dual heat...

Gray solar collector.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 4 Clearwater Fla. -- Heliocol is proud to debut gray solar swimming pool collectors. The high performance gray collector features a patented individual tube design that eliminates wind load, hoses and straps. The design allows for full flow...

Sound-deadening fiberboard.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 5 Northfield, Ill. -- SoundStop, manufactured by Knight-Celotex, LLC, is a high performance, low cost, easy-to-install, environmentally friendly sound-deadening solution that can be installed along with drywall in walls and ceilings. SoundStop...

Home awareness system.(NEW + NOTABLE at home)
March 1, 2005... 6 Cleveland, Ohio -- Eaton Corp. has developed Home Heartbeat, a home awareness system that enables consumers to monitor and receive updates on a broad range of household devices and systems. The wireless, plug-and-use system enables consumers...

Exterior coatings.
March 1, 2005... Architectural coatings are used in almost every aspect of the building industry--inside on walls (see pages 24-28), floors and furniture; outside on roofs, windows and decks. The National Paint and Coatings Association defines a coating as a...

Green edge: the green imperative.(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
March 1, 2005... "To tear at the web in such a massive way with so little regard for our own future is a kind of collective insanity that is suicidal." --David Suzuki In the last few years, green building has grown into its own "industry" replete with...

Caulking Compound.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... AFM Safecoat Multi-Purpose Caulking Compound provides a water resistant, flexible, easy-to-install, non-sag sealant with excellent adhesion. Resin-rich formula affords maximum bond strength, uses no formaldehyde or other toxic preservatives,...

Cool roofing system.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... The Duro-Last[R] Cool Zone[R] roofing system reflects up to 87% of the sun's energy--delivering real cost savings. Easily installed without disruption to school operations, the Cool Zone roofing system is also leak-proof, resistant to...

New color blends.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring has introduced five new color blends under its popular ECOnights color line. Made from the highest quality recycled rubber, like all ECOsurfaces products, the new designs feature colorful medium and jumbo-sized...

Waterfree urinals.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Research from UCLA, Oregon State Parks, University of Arizona, the German government, and Virginia Tech confirms why waterfree urinals have been rated the best available choice for efficiency by the Federal Energy Management Program. Studies...

New linoleum collection.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Forbo has been making natural linoleum floor covering for over a century. Forbo is now introducing the most complete linoleum collection to date: Marmoleum global 2--a striking collection complete in design, color and performance, with a new...

PVC-free fabrics.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... GreenScreen[R] fabrics from Hunter Douglas Contract represent the first line of PVC-free fabrics designed specifically for solar control systems. GreenScreen[R] fabrics are available in five levels of openness (blackout, 3%, 5%, 10% and 25%)...

Porous paving.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Grasspave2, from Invisible Structures, Inc., is the industry leader in porous paving. A beautiful way to reinforce turf for parking lots, driveways, access roads, and firelanes. Grasspave2 is environmentally friendly and provides a natural...

FSC Lumber and Plywood.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... When it comes to FSC, you can have it all. Panel Source offers you its renowned brands of Pyroblock and PureKor, but now its expanded line of FSC framing timbers, FSC Formply & now FSC Pressure Treated and or FSC Fire Retardant Lumber and...

Re-New Wood Inc.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Wood Shake Alternative Eco-shake is a 100 percent recycled sustainable material with the look of wood shake and a solid 50-year warranty. The product is fire retardant (Class A) and meets or exceeds some of the nation's toughest specs for...

ICF systems.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Reward Wall Systems' ICFs produce sustainable buildings that are energy efficient and durable. The recyclable forms cause little waste and no CFCs or HCFCs are generated during manufacture. Reward ICFs provide a quiet, clean interior...

Aluminum finish.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Natura[TM] is a new aluminum finish, from Vistawall, that looks like wood. Close-up you notice the intricate grain pattern and the warmth of wood. The design is applied directly to the metal and baked to be durable and virtually...

Structural Insulated Panels with Urethane or EPS foam cores.(PRODUCT + LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2005... Winter Panel is a manufacturer of Structural Insulated Panels (S.I.P.S.). Our panels are available with Urethane or E.P.S. foam cores. Both foam cores are environmentally friendly (zero ozone depletion), with pentane as the blowing agent. Full...

Light-powered faucet.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
March 1, 2005... Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Bradley Corp. introduces its new light-powered hand-washing fixture. The patent-pending "ndite" technology converts restroom lighting to energy, which activates the flow of water to Bradley's Express SS and MG series...

Waterfree Urinals.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
March 1, 2005... Franklin Park, Ill. -- Sloan Valve Co. has added touch-free Waterfree Urinals to its family of water conservation solutions. The Waterfree Urinals are environmentally friendly and cost efficient: each unit can potentially save hundreds of...

Dual Flush Toilet.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
March 1, 2005... Perrysville, Ohio -- Mansfield Plumbing introduces its new line of Ecoquantum Dual Flush High Efficiency Toilets. Mansfield has created a pressure-assisted dual flush toilet, which promotes improved water conservation. EcoQuantum toilets may...

Urinal cartridges.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
March 1, 2005... Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Falcon Waterfree Technologies introduces its new urinal cartridges. The updated design features a special shield that regulates flow, resulting in more durable cartridge life. The proprietary cartridge is hygienic,...

Hydropower sensor flush valves.(PLUMBING FIXTURES)
March 1, 2005... Morrow, Ga. -- TOTO USA introduces sensor-operated flush valves for toilets and urinals, whose power source is completely self-sufficient. Chrome fittings generate their own power each time water spins a small internal turbine when the unit is...

Inline Bathroom Exhaust Kits.(AIR MOVEMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2005... Sarasota, Fla. -- Fantech introduces a new line of Dual-Port Inline Bathroom Exhaust Kits that allow builders to ventilate several areas of a bath with one remote mounted fan. The Fantech inline fan is mounted in the attic while small ports or...

Bath fan and light.(AIR MOVEMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2005... Hartford, Wis. -- Broan introduces the new QT Series of ventilation products featuring fan and light combinations for the bathroom. Blending into the ceiling, these fans exhaust 80 to 150 CFM, and are nearly silent at 0.4-1.4 Sones. A...

Effective fan.(AIR MOVEMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2005... Lexington, Ky. -- Big Ass Fans has developed the Powerfoil, a new high-volume/low-speed fan. The Powerfoil provides 35 percent more cubic feet per minute and is maximized to operate at lower rpm's than most fans. The Powerfoil can destratify...

Central Vacuum System.(AIR MOVEMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2005... Webster City, Iowa -- Beam's Electrolux Afuera Central Vacuum System offers a combination of dust emission control and sustained soil removal capability. Equipped with a permanent HEPA filter, its 520 air-watt motor delivers more cleaning power...

Solar-powered attic fan.(AIR MOVEMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS)
March 1, 2005... Vista, Calif. -- Solatube International Inc. introduces its redesigned and expanded Solar Star line of solar-powered attic ventilation products. The new line provides more versatile design, maximized performance, and installation options, the...

Mold-resistant wallboard.(DRYWALL AND GYPSUM)
March 1, 2005... Atlanta, Ga. -- G-P Gypsum introduces enhanced DensArmor Plus, the company's moisture and mold-resistant paperless interior wallboard. Enhanced DensArmor Plus panels feature a new glass mat facing that finishes like paper-faced wallboard. The...

Interior wall panels.(DRYWALL AND GYPSUM)
March 1, 2005... Chicago, Ill. -- USG introduces Fiberock AquaTough Interior Panels, engineered to provide increased resistance to both mold and moisture. The panels are designed to be installed and finished like traditional wallboard, and they feature a smooth...

Drywall recycling.(DRYWALL AND GYPSUM)
March 1, 2005... Eola, Ill. -- The Construction Materials Recycling Association announces the opening of its newest Web site, www.drywallrecycling.org, an information resource on how to recycle gypsum wallboard from the construction and demolition waste stream....