Environmental Design & Construction articles from November 2008

Environmental Design & Construction archives from November 2008

Building large, building green.(WEB TOC)
November 1, 2008... Provided by the City of Calgary 1 One Canadian city is proving that it is possible to build large-scale buildings in a sustainable manner. With its Sustainable Building Policy mandating all new city buildings meet at least LEED Gold and...

An integrated approach.(WEB TOC)(M.A. Mortenson designs home for soldiers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... 2 Close coordination from the onset between the Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Carson personnel, and M.A. Mortenson's design-build team including LEO A DALY has been pivotal to the success of two sustainable projects that will serve as a new...

The case for daytime cleaning.(WEB TOC)
November 1, 2008... 3 A simple but monumental cleaning and maintenance practice adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 Headquarters in Denver has the lights going dark at the end of the work day, shrinking the building's carbon footprint and...

Special delivery.(WEB TOC)
November 1, 2008... Provided by Johnson Controls 4 Usually when the words "government" and "green" appear in the same sentence, our thoughts may turn to higher taxes. But that's not the case in California where the federal government's campaign to go green...

Schools as learning tools.(WEB TOC)
November 1, 2008... By Paul Dibos, AIA Associate, LEED AP, and Peter Winebrenner, AIA, LEED AP [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 5 As the topic of sustainability gains more importance and popularity, people are looking for green features within their everyday...

Extreme power.(WEB TOC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... By Dan Vesey and Rick Hofstetter 6 Home to multiple high-level testing and research facilities, the power management needs of the massive Edwards Air Force Base are not ordinary. Electric utility bills on the compound average about $20...

IAQ by design: air filtration provides best defense.(WEB TOC)
November 1, 2008... By Lon Edelman, CAFS 7 Want superior IAQ? You might just need the right filter. Here's a review of what to look for and how to apply the relevant ASHRAE standard in addition to an overview of common filtration technologies.

Get your game face on!(EDITOR'S NOTE)
November 1, 2008... It's time for Greenbuild, the green building event of the year. The show, in Boston this month, is the place to see and be seen, so get your game face on. For the sixth year, I'm looking forward to some exciting new ideas and products at...

Chicago Federal Building receives LEED certification.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The U.S. General Service Administration's (GSA) Chicago Federal Building has received LEED for Commercial Interiors certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification covers the $67 million renovation of the first...

Collaborative, real-time design at Ecobuild Fall and AEC-ST Fall.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- BIMstorm (BIM=Building Information Modeling) is a real-time, Web-based, 3-D design system that allows for global communication around our built environment. It relies on a platform of Web-enabled software that integrates...

Survey reveals more facility professionals taking strategic approach to Green Practices.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... HOUSTON -- Facility managers are increasingly following a master plan when implementing sustainable practices and are tying their efforts to measurable goals and business strategy, according to the results of a new International Facility...

WaterSense Partners of the Year announced.(NEWS LINE)(Ferguson, Kohler Co. and Timothy Malooly of Shorewood awarded)(Awards list)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) first WaterSense Partners of the Year were recently recognized for "encouraging Americans to tap into their water resources wisely over the last year." The awards were presented Oct. 9,...

LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide now available.(NEWS LINE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide is now available for purchase at the USGBC Store. The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System provides a tool for...

Newell Rubbermaid's global headquarters recognized.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... ATLANTA -- Newell Rubbermaid's new corporate headquarters became the first building in the state of Georgia and the Southeastern U.S. to be recognized for achievements in sustainable design and construction, which were identified using the...

Innovative city hall and Civic Center breaks ground.(NEWS LINE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... VISTA, CALIF. -- Carrier Johnson and CULTURE, a provider of strategic design and green building services, announced the groundbreaking for a municipal building combining community and civic uses. Part city hall, part community facility, and...

Environmentally friendly hospital opens.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... MODESTO, CALIF. -- Kaiser Permanente opened its most environmentally friendly hospital to date, bringing more jobs to the San Joaquin Valley, and expanding Kaiser Permanente's convenient healthcare offerings and sustainable building design, the...

Bentley launches Building Performance Group.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... EXTON, PA. -- Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced the launch of a new group dedicated to helping architects, engineers, construction professionals and owner-operators design, build and operate better-performing, more sustainable buildings....

NCB launches new lending program to finance solar energy systems.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- NCB, a financial services company, launched a new financing program dedicated to arranging innovative loan packages for customers installing solar energy systems nationwide. The newly formed Renewable Energy Department at...

Duro-Last roofing system installed on largest solar electric project in Minnesota.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... SAGINAW, MICH. -- The Duro-Last roofing system has been installed on the Merrick, Inc. building in Vadnais Heights, Minn., the company reports. The project was completed at the end of August 2008 and is the largest solar electric application in...

CH2M HILL to promote solar energy adoption in 25 American cities.(NEWS LINE)
November 1, 2008... DENVER/SAN DIEGO -- CH2M HILL has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help 25 American cities accelerate the adoption of solar energy. The contract is an important strategic component of The Solar America Initiative, a DOE...

New + notable.(DDP introduces leds)
November 1, 2008... 1 Energy-Efficient Architectural LED Lighting EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. -- DDP has developed a customizable, linear wall wash LED lighting system that combines style with a high-performance design, the company reports. WashGraze features a...

Green by nature: the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, Calif., opens a new building and learning center to LEED Platinum reviews.
November 1, 2008... Nature is essential in unlocking many of the secrets of smart design. The Building and Learning Center at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, Calif., (ENC) is a building that wears its sustainability like a neatly tailored outfit....

Juvenile justice; Government building category (federal, state or local).(2008 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS)
November 1, 2008... The 379,000-square-foot Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center became the first juvenile justice center in the United States to achieve LEED Gold certification. A county ordinance required Alameda County to achieve a minimum of LEED Silver, and...

Living Center: institutional, non-profit, healthcare building category winner.(2008 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS)
November 1, 2008... The Desert Living Center (DLC) & Gardens at the Springs Preserve embodies ED+C's Excellence in Design Awards based on the project's contribution and commitment to sustainability through its demonstrated energy-efficiency approach in the use of...

A crucial tool for the responsible builder: 2008 is a breakout year for FSC in the United States.(SPECIAL SECTION FSC)
November 1, 2008... Green builders across America are increasingly using their purchasing power to encourage forest stewardship. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has emerged as a tool of choice connecting ecologically and socially conscious buyers with forest...

Certified wood connections: the "FSC Office" connects Green Building professionals to FSC-certified products at Greenbuild.(SPECIAL SECTION FSC)
November 1, 2008... The commercial office and tenant improvement sectors of the building industry in North America have witnessed the largest transformation to green design and responsible material use throughout the past 10 years. Forest Products Solutions, a...

FSC Award winner: certified wood contributes to carbon neutral Legacy Center.(SPECIAL SECTION FSC)
November 1, 2008... The Aldo Leopold Foundation, based in Baraboo, Wis., received the third annual Designing & Building with FSC Award for the highly acclaimed Aldo Leopold Legacy Center headquarters building. The Designing & Building with FSC Award recognizes...

Certified Wood Products, Inc.(Information Showcase)
November 1, 2008... CERTIFIED WOOD PRODUCTS, INC. Founded in 1999 Certified Wood Products, Inc. has grown to be one of the largest stocking distributors of FSC-certified forest products in the nation. Having completed hundreds of LEED projects, our values are...

LEED with character.(Information Showcase)
November 1, 2008... LEED WITH CHARACTER The most eco-friendly engineered floor is made right here in the USA in a way that's healthy for you and the planet. Count on our craftsmanship and eclectic inventory of FSC-reclaimed and fresh wood to score points with LEED...

East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc.(Information Showcase)
November 1, 2008... EAST TEAK FINE HARDWOODS, INC. announces the launch of www.certifiedhardwoods.com, dedicated to its eco-friendly line of beautiful and sustainable hardwood products. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now stocking: * FSC Ipe decking *...

New energy works timberframers.(Information Showcase)
November 1, 2008... NEW ENERGY WORKS TIMBERFRAMERS 25 years of sustainable projects with architects, builders, and consumers across the nation. We're inspired by the greater good. By the highly crafted, the well designed. By thoughtful sourcing of materials. By...

Sustainable and affordable: local FSC-certified components contribute to an Eco-Affordable House.(SPECIAL SECTION FSC)(Forest Stewardship Council)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dovetail Partners Inc., based in Minneapolis, earned the 2007 Honorable Mention Designing & Building with FSC Award for the Aitkin House, a single-family home in Aitkin, Minn., that was built as part of its Eco-Affordable Housing program. The...

LEED and the MRc7 Credit: FSC-US weighs in on the Certified Wood Credit.(SPECIAL SECTION FSC)
November 1, 2008... As the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) considers the LEED Green Building Rating System's Certified Wood Credit, also known as Materials and Resources credit 7 (MRc-7), the debate of what constitutes adequate protection of our forests and...

Designing a greener building with BIM: building information modeling and sustainable design analysis.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... Adoption of the LEED standard is growing. With many building owners and operators now requiring that their new building projects achieve LEED certification, it is important for architects to perform faster and more accurate energy analyses in...

The case for modular: an evaluation of factory-build's advantages in the LEED building rating system.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... Because there is a growing awareness of the environmental benefits of modular construction for green building, the Modular Building Institute (www.modular.org) recently commissioned me to provide a report that specifically aligned the modular...

Creating a rustle: why some people just don't like wind.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... Of the clean, renewable sources of energy, wind power is arguably the most maligned. Issues brought up by its critics range from its inconsistency in its output to aesthetics. Promoters of wind power are quick to counter that the costs for...

Lessons learned: discover the fundamental criteria for successful college and university LEED projects.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... Heapy Engineering has been involved in more than 100 LEED projects to date, with a good portion of them on college and university campuses. Our higher education projects are located on some of the finest campuses in the country including: The...

The move toward sustainability: five steps advocate the process for sustainable change.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... "Green is mainstream." Organizations that led the way are celebrating success. The world has changed to sustainability. If the measure of success is headlines, minutes on the evening news, and column inches in opinion-making magazines and...

Lead by example: the American Institute of Architects wants to see all new federal buildings go green.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... AIA Position The American Institute of Architects (AIA) believes that governmental policies, programs and incentives should encourage energy efficiency, especially as it relates to the built environment. The AIA believes that Congress...

Earning an A+ rating: Odyssey Charter School demonstrates why sustainable architecture is critical to high-performance learning environments.(CASE STUDY)
November 1, 2008... Charter schools provide parents another choice for schooling in the public sector of state schools. They provide alternative teaching methods and opportunities that transcend the typical state curriculum. These alternatives engage and stimulate...

Nurture by nature; Georgia Power cares for children and the environment.(CASE STUDY)
November 1, 2008... Georgia Power firmly believes in the importance of being a good steward of the environment. During the late 1970s, the Atlanta-based utility commissioned a new headquarters facility that would set the standards in energy efficiency and...

Commitment to energy efficiency + sustainability: attention to details, large and small, adds up to LEED-EB and energy star certification for Owens Corning's World Headquarters.(CASE STUDY)(Company overview)
November 1, 2008... Owens Corning's World Headquarters facility exemplifies the company's mission statement: Greening our products; greening our processes, accelerating the pace of energy efficiency in the built environment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From...

Eyeing the future: Gallaudet University's new visu-centric facility promotes communication.(CASE STUDY)
November 1, 2008... College-bound students across the nation know Gallaudet University is the place to see and be seen. After all, the Washington, D.C. -based institution was founded to serve deaf and hard of hearing students who learn and communicate more...

A true work of art: an art gallery transformation makes sustainability cool and comfortable by using energy-efficient products and a "Big" fan.(CASE STUDY)
November 1, 2008... One of Los Angeles' trendiest art galleries is now also the greenest. The nonprofit Pharmaka gallery, housed in an historic building in downtown L.A., has recently undergone a sustainable transformation thanks to Richard Byrd of the eco-luxury...

Green has gone to the dogs: the built environment is considered while designing several animal shelters.(CASE STUDY)
November 1, 2008... In animal shelters that were built for unwanted dogs and cats, things like energy efficiency, water use and air filtration were not priorities. But that's all changing as shelters go green. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Tompkins County...

Sensible upgrade: a post-war home in a dense neighborhood is given a sustainable makeover while maintaining its initial charm.(Park Estates, Long Beach, California)
November 1, 2008... Drive through any large town in America and chances are you will stumble across a neighborhood of modest, nondescript, post-war homes most likely designed to be easily constructed anywhere, in any climate, and to be sold to anyone who could...

Moisture issues in courthouses: insufficient or incorrect design details may open the door to moisture intrusion.(STUDIO)
November 1, 2008... Courthouses are unusual in that they are typically unique architectural statements conveying the stature of the judicial entity they represent. As such, they commonly experience moisture problems due to the complexity of the building envelope...

Benefits of BIM: Army Corps of Engineers drawn to customer-friendly design program.(STUDIO)(Building Information Modeling)
November 1, 2008... After the bombing campaign ceased in Kosovo in 1999, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was called upon to design and build both Camp Bondsteel and Camp Monteith in Kosovo from the ground up. David Rackmales, a structural engineer with the...

Greenbuild products.(PRODUCT FOCUS)
November 1, 2008... The following products will be on display at the Greenbuild Expo, Nov. 19-21, 2008, in Boston. Windows Further Reduce Costs SUNNYVALE, CALIF. -- ThermaProof super-insulating windows from Serious Materials can reduce heating and cooling...

Resilient and Rubber flooring.(PRODUCT FOCUS)
November 1, 2008... Specially-designed resilient vinyl flooring CHICAGO -- Gerflor's newest resilient vinyl flooring product, Taraflex Futsal, features up to 43 percent recycled material content, is 100 percent recyclable at the end of its lifespan and can...

The suite life.(PARTING SHOT)(Lexus Hybrid Living Suites)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Geared for eco-conscious visitors, the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus partnered for two Lexus Hybrid Living Suites, one at The Fairmont San Francisco and the other at The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Designed by eco-designer Kelly LaPlante,...

Green product buzz guide.(GREEN BUILD)
November 1, 2008... ATAS International, Inc. The InSpire Wall System utilizes precision perforated metal panels that are mounted several inches from the building's outer wall. The solar preheated air at the surface is "transpired" into the wall cavity via...