School Facility Design, Maintenance and Operations

SchoolFacilities.com Web Site Getting Updates

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Hello all,

If you are wondering why you arrived in the SchoolFacilities.com blog and not the web site it's because we are updating the site today and over the holiday season. No worries, this blog has some great content or if you have a question feel free to call Matt Banes at (714) 442-2757 ext 502.

Happy Holidays

Another Green School Campus Gets Recognition

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:50:00 +0000

This trend is catching on and at iGreenBuild.com we love to read about higher education practicing what they preach about sustainability and green building. Naropa University recycles, uses wind power, uses eco-friendly landscaping practices, offers green transportation for its students and has undergraduate and graduate tracks in environmental studies. The mix of green school facility management and environmentally conscious student life will no doubt produce the type of business leaders and citizens the planet needs for a healthy future. Great work Naropa staff and students!

Princeton Review Recognizes Naropa University's Sustainable Leadership
in 2011 Guide to 311 Green Colleges

BOULDER, Colo. (May 18, 2011) – Naropa University has been recognized by Princeton Review in The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges as one of 308 institutions of higher education in the United States and three in Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation.

The 220-page guide is created in partnership with the United States Green Building Council, an outstanding national nonprofit organization best-known for developing the LEED green building certification program. This past fall, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, and operated.

Naropa University was recognized as an American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory school, which the university joined in 2007. ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate. ACUPCC's mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.

Naropa University's Environmental Sustainability
Naropa University has long been committed to an institution-wide commitment to sustainable environmental practices. Offsetting 100% of its electricity from wind power renewable energy credits, Naropa University is committed to green practices. Naropa University's Zero Waste goal supports the university in being a sustainable system where resources are fully used and waste is reduced to a minimum, with partnerships with Eco-Cycle, on-going educational and community events, composting and weekly trash audits conducted on all Naropa campuses to assess potential waste reduction. Naropa University's other sustainable initiatives include:

Naropa University landscapers utilize environmentally sound practices, creating a campus that is a model of efficiency.
Recognizing the positive ecological, physical and economic benefits of alternative transportation, Naropa University provides all students and staff with an RTD Eco Pass, which offers free access to local and regional RTD buses.
Naropa University also gives Naropa community members and visitors access to Naropa's bike fleet. At present Naropa has 120 bicycles that students have access to for free. Bicycles can be checked out for a month at a time and are maintained by Naropa's Bike Shop.
Naropa students, staff and faculty are encouraged to participate in Boulder Car Share and receive parking and permit discounts as incentives.

With one undergraduate and three graduate study tracks in environmental career paths, Naropa University's environmental stewardship extends beyond the day-to-day approaches, to training the next generation of sustainable leaders.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Building, Community Garden Project Earn Sustainability Awards

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:01:00 +0000

School of Medicine Research Building and student-led community garden initiative will receive awards at conference in July

(May 16, 2011)

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- The University of California, Riverside will receive sustainability awards for its new School of Medicine Research Building and a student-led community garden initiative.

The School of Medicine building will receive the overall sustainable design award and the community garden initiative, Cultivate R-Space, will get the campus-community partnerships awards at the seventh annual Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards competition.

Entries are drawn from public universities and community colleges in California. About 100 were received this year. The awards will be handed out at California Higher Education Sustainability Conference, which is being held July 10 to 14 at California State University, Long Beach.

"This is a great opportunity to shine," said John Cook, UC Riverside's sustainability coordinator. "With this building and this student-led initiative we are doing that."

Cultivate R-Space is working with community-based organizations, including Growcology, a nonprofit in Riverside that creates sustainable programs, and Riverside's Parks and Recreation Department, to identify usable space that will be offered for community gardens. Students and community members will cultivate the gardens in a program they hope will be replicated nationwide.

The initiative had its origins in a student-led seminar developed by Fortino Morales in spring 2010. He created the seminar under the auspices of UC Riverside's Undergraduate Research in the Community program.

Since then, the seminar has been offered several times. The plan is to make it a permanent class. Morales worked with two second-year students, Elizabeth Tizcareno and Cynthia De Leon, who will take over when he graduates in June.

In addition to the award, the initiative received a $10,000 grant in January from Learn & Serve America. Undergraduate Research in the Community program also provided $15,000.

The grant has supported field trips and paid for tools that the 14 students in the seminar this quarter use at the community garden on campus.

The students in the seminar have also been attending every-other-week workshops at Growcology. The workshops, which are also open to community members, aim to teach people how to start community gardens and improve their backyard gardens.

"It's a really cool opportunity to work with a community organization interested in the same issues," Morales said.

The School of Medicine Research Building opened in March. The three-story, 58,000 square foot is designed to meet the LEED Silver standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Recognition of the building is evidence of the strides that UC Riverside is making to achieve a carbon neutral campus," said Don Caskey, UC Riverside campus architect.

The building has cloud cover sensors that activate motorized window shades which deploy during peak sun hours to keep the building cool in Riverside's desert climate. With this system, it's estimated that lighting won't be needed 80 percent of the time.

Through a process called "night flushing," air is filtered into the building at night to cool the concrete structure of the building. The concrete slabs and walls remain cool into the day, limiting the need for air conditioning during summer days when triple-digit temperatures are common.

The goal is to use 60 percent less energy than a typical lab building and 42 percent less than California's Title 24 Energy Code. Within the building, water use is expected to cut by 30 percent. Outside, through water-efficient landscaping, irrigation use is expected to be cut by 50 percent.

The building was designed by SRG Partnership, Inc. and built by Barnhart Balfour Beatty.

This blog post was approved by www.SchoolFacilities, a New Venture Communications web property.

Green School Recognized for Sensible Sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:29:00 +0000

We particularly like the fact that WPI has a comprehensive recycling program on campus. This combined with the living green roof program and the universities decision to switch from oil to gas in its main power plant create a footprint for student learning and energy conservation. LEED is leading the way once again!

Princeton Review Names WPIOne of Nation's Greenest Schools

WORCESTER, Mass. – April 26, 2011 – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review. The nationally known education services company included WPI for a second year in a row in The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges.

Published just in time for the 41^stanniversary of Earth Day (April 22), the Green Guide is based on a survey of hundreds of colleges nationwide. Developed in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the free publication, which was first released last year, is the only comprehensive guidebook focused on institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. The Princeton Review chose the 311 schools included in its new guide based on "Green Rating" scores that it added to the online or annual college guidebook profiles for 703 schools in summer 2010. Only the 311 schools scoring in the 80^thor higher percentile are included in the guide; they are not ranked. For WPI, this recognition highlights the university's many environmental initiatives.

"WPI has a strong commitment to sustainability, and I am proud that the university's many accomplishments in this area have been recognized by The Princeton Review in its annual Green Guide," said WPI President and CEO Dennis Berkey. "This dedication is demonstrated on campus through infrastructure initiatives, educational programs, and campus activities, and even through our dining options. What's more, WPI students apply their skills and knowledge to help the earth and its global community through the hundreds of sustainability-related projects that they complete each year around the world."

A driving force behind the many green initiatives being taken at WPI is the President's Task Force on Sustainability, which promotes a sustainability sensibility in academic, research, and administrative endeavors at WPI. The influence of this task force can be seen throughout all of WPI's campus infrastructure—from energy consumption to ensuring the way the university's new buildings are designed and constructed. Through many initiatives, the university has made concerted, successful efforts to drive home that "sustainability sensibility."

"A green campus can transform the college experience for students through enhanced sustainability education and by creating healthy living and learning environments, all while saving energy, water, and money as part of an institution's bottom line," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair of USGBC.

WPI is no stranger to the USGBC; in February 2007 the Board of Trustees voted to adopt a policy calling for all future buildings on campus to be environmentally friendly and to achieve USGBC LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Most remarkably, East Hall—the newest residence hall at WPI, which sports Worcester's first "living green roof"—has received LEED Gold certification, while the university's admissions building, the Bartlett Center, was the first LEED-certified building in Worcester. Presently, WPI is constructing a state-of-the-art sports and recreation center, whose design boasts many sustainable features that are expected to meet LEED certification.

Other examples of the university's commitment to sustainability can be found in the expansion of the campuses recycling program, which now includes aluminum, glass, and plastic returnable and non-returnable containers, and the use oflocal suppliers in all of its dining facilities, when possible. (Currently, 27 percent of the food WPI serves is locally produced and organic.) The university also provides Fair Trade-certified coffee, cage-free eggs, and sustainable fish species; and the dining halls are trayless. Food scraps are donated to a local hog farm, further reducing waste.

Energy consumption at WPI has decreased over the past few years since the university switched from oil to gas in its main power plant, and has been trimmed even more by the use of timers and an energy management system as well as a substantial reduction of incandescent lighting. The university reduces carbon emissions from transportation by participating in a Colleges of Worcester Consortium bus system and operating a van service for students. WPI partners with Zipcar, an environmentally friendly alternative to keeping a car on campus; a bicycle storage area is included in East Hall.

Academically, WPI offers a bachelor of arts program in environmental and sustainability studies. The major is designed to educate future environmental professionals with the knowledge and skills that will cross boundaries and foster thought leadership in this important area. In addition, WPI offers an environmental engineering major, and the university's commitment to sustainability can be seen in the project work being done by thousands of WPI students and professors at sites around the globe.

"Together with the USGBC, we are pleased to make this resource available to all students seeking to attend colleges like Worcester Polytechnic Institute that practice, teach, and support environmentally responsible choices," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's senior vice president and publisher. "We highly recommend the colleges in this book."

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review has been a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals for more than 28 years through college and graduate school test preparation and private tutoring. With more than 165 print and digital publications and a free website (www.PrincetonReview.com), the company provides students and their parents with the resources to research, apply to, prepare for, and learn how to pay for higher education. The Princeton Review partners with schools and guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education. It also owns and operates Penn Foster Education Group, a global leader in online education. Penn Foster provides career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster High School and Penn Foster Career School, which are headquartered in Scranton, Penn.

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,500 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion in U.S. gross domestic product from 2009 to 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, teachers and students. Building in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green buildings has the potential to generate 2.5 million jobs in America.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI was one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. WPI's 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees. WPI's world-class faculty work with students in a number of cutting-edge research areas, leading to breakthroughs and innovations in such fields as biotechnology, fuel cells, information security, materials processing, and nanotechnology. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 25 WPI project centers throughout North America and Central America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

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Contact:Lorraine U. Martinelle, public relations specialist, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 508-831-6425, lurbans@wpi.edu

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com, a New Venture Communications web property.

College Utility Costs Reduced by Milions of Dollars

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:51:00 +0000

The editors at SchoolFacilities.com like to see news about energy efficiency and green building retrofit. This release covers both subjects and can act as a footprint for other universities, k-12 schools and education facilities in the United States and abroad. The expectation to reduce energy and operating expenses by more than $30 million is astounding.

Post your energy saving stories here on the SchoolFacilities.com blog. Thanks.

HONEYWELL AND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

REDUCE CAMPUS UTILITY COSTS AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

First Energy-Efficient Upgrades Completed in Time for Earth Day;

Program to Deliver $30.8 Million in Energy and Operational Savings

MINNEAPOLIS, April 19, 2011 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced it has completed the company’s first energy-efficient building upgrades at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), which will save the school an estimated $620,000 in annual energy costs. The work is part of a multi-phase, $21.7-million energy conservation and infrastructure renewal program that will improve comfort and efficiency in university facilities while cutting utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

All the improvements UWM has asked Honeywell to make are expected to reduce energy and operating expenses by $30.8 million over the next two decades. They will also trim electricity use by more than 10 million kilowatt-hours annually — enough energy to power nearly 940 homes. And they will decrease annual carbon dioxide emissions by an anticipated 31 million pounds as well. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 2,700 cars from the road.

Honeywell is completing the work under three 20-year performance contracts with the university. These contracts allow school officials to pay for the upgrades using the savings they generate, which Honeywell guarantees. As a result, the program won’t increase school budgets or require additional taxpayer dollars.

“Through our Energy Matters program, we demonstrate how progressive partnerships lead to environmental improvements and cost savings that benefit everyone,” said UWM Interim Chancellor Michael R. Lovell. “By working with external partners like Honeywell, we’re making it possible for faculty, staff and students to better understand sustainability and make meaningful reductions in the amount of energy, water and other resources UWM requires to operate each day.”

To kick off the program, Honeywell performed a comprehensive energy audit on campus to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, focusing on the ten facilities with the largest utility bills in particular. The first phase of the program included improvements to five of those buildings and incorporated a variety of conservation measures, such as:

· Updating building controls and HVAC systems to give facility personnel more granular control of comfort and energy consumption;

· Replacing lighting with high-efficiency fixtures and occupancy sensors;

· Weather-stripping, caulking and sealing buildings to reduce the loss of conditioned air;

· And installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures that lower water use and bills.

Honeywell is also helping UWM improve energy awareness with a sustainability dashboard that tracks real-time energy use and carbon dioxide emissions to showcase the impact of the upgrades. The dashboard can be accessed online at http://buildingdashboard.net/uwm. The university will also include a physical display at the Golda Meir Library.

Honeywell recently began construction on a second phase that includes similar upgrades at the five other facilities. The company also started work on a third retrofit project at the University Services Research Building. In addition, UWM and Honeywell are discussing improvements at several on-campus housing facilities and the university data center.

“Colleges and universities are starting to see buildings as much more than shells to hold classes and board students,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “The program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is an example that facility retrofits aren’t just a means to reduce energy and operating costs. They can also positively impact the learning environment and increase sustainability awareness.”

Honeywell provides a broad range of services and technology designed to help colleges and universities reduce utility bills and environmental impact. The company is currently helping schools nationwide improve infrastructure and reduce carbon dioxide emissions with guaranteed energy and operational savings.

About University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee makes its home along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, just a few miles north of the economic and industrial center of Wisconsin. Nearly 31,000 students, 180 majors and degree programs, and a world-class faculty drive UWM's progress as a top research university and engine of economic development for Southeastern Wisconsin and beyond.

About Honeywell

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com, a New Venture Communications web property.

California School Facility Manager Training - Hazardous Waste

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:03:00 +0000

California ScholFacilities.com readers should have a look at this event,
particularly if you manage a college facility.
CALIFORNIA HAZARDOUS WASTE TRAINING COMING IN MAY TO CALIFORNIA
Sacramento, April 5, 2011 – Lion Technology Inc., a nationally renowned regulatory compliance training firm, will present its two-day Hazardous Waste in California workshop series during the month of May. These courses are designed for industry professionals who must assure compliance with California's hazardous waste regulations. The first workshop will be held in San Diego on May 2-3. Subsequent training sessions will be held in Ontario on May 5-6, San Jose on May 9-10, and Sacramento on May 12-13.

This year's workshop will cover requirements of the quadrennial waste minimization report, due September 1, 2011. The workshop will also feature comprehensive coverage of the California Hazardous Waste Regulations (Title 22) including waste identification, management standards for universal wastes, on-site management, manifesting, emergency planning and response, recordkeeping, and the latest legislative initiatives.

Lion Technology Director of Corporate Training, Scott Dunsmore, a national
expert on hazardous waste management, stresses that proper hazardous waste handling, management, and
disposal is critical; especially in light of rising enforcement, which is now $37,500 per day/per
violation. "Regulators have often stated that inadequate training is the root cause of
non-compliance. With a slow economy and budget tightening, the reflex is to skimp on training. However,
with enforcement initiatives on the rise, short cuts on training put you at risk of higher costs down the
road. Adequate training is essential to EHS excellence."

Tuition is $795 per person and group discounts are available. Registration includes all course reference
materials, a networking luncheon, a certificate of achievement, and one year of follow-up support.
Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., and the workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pre-registration is
highly recommended. To register, call (888) 546-6511 or visit us online at www.Lion.com/Title22Training

About Lion Technology
Since 1977, more than 100,000 professionals have relied on Lion Technology
to meet their regulatory compliance training needs. Lion offers comprehensive training and resources
in the area of environmental, hazardous materials/dangerous goods transportation, and workplace health and
safety compliance. Training is offered through nationwide public workshops, live web seminars, online
courses, and on-site programs. Regulatory support services and consulting are provided to assist industry
compliance with Federal and State laws and regulations.
This blog post was approved by http://www.schoolfacilities.com/

School Safety and Security - Window Safety Week

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:38:00 +0000

April 3-9: National Window Safety Week

PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – Whether opened or closed, it’s important that window safety be a top priority for every family in America. During National Window Safety Week, April 3-9, 2011, the experts at Simonton Windows® recommend consumers always observe safe window practices in their homes.

Families with small children should pay special attention to windows and patio doors. Start with practicing home emergency fire drills. Show them the fastest safety route to the outside and make certain children know under what circumstances to use a window to exit a home. Since small children tend to “hide” from fire, make sure they understand how important it is to safely and quickly exit the home should a fire occur.

“If a door is hot to the touch or not safe to exit through during a fire, then both children and adults should exit through an open window,” says Gary Pember, vice president of marketing for Simonton Windows. “Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not to break the window glass. Doing so could cause injury. During family safety drills, show children how to operate windows and how to use chain escape ladders that should be kept in all bedrooms located above ground level. Also establish a designated meeting place for the family outside the home.”

Along with practicing for emergency situations, daily window safety can be achieved by doing the following:

- When windows are opened for ventilation, only open what young children cannot reach, such as the top portion of a Double Hung window.

- Keep furniture (including cribs), or anything children can climb, away from windows.

- Remember the primary purpose of a window screen is to keep insects outside. Never push on screens, as they will not support the weight of a child or family pet.

- Lock windows when not in use to protect against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to open windows.

- Do not paint or nail windows shut. Every window in the home that is designed to be opened should be operational in case of an emergency.

- Refrain from nailing or attaching decorative lights to the interior or exterior of window frames.

- Plant shrubs or grass, and place “soft landscaping” like bark or mulch, directly underneath windows to help lessen the impact should someone accidently fall out of a window.

- Make absolutely sure your home has windows with clear openings that meet egress requirements in the living spaces as required by your state and local building codes. Egress windows provide emergency exits in your home. Make sure your home has the proper amount of egress windows in every room used as a bedroom and on any floor or basement level with habitable living space.

Safely Handling Broken Glass

Whether a stray soft ball or a ladder that slips and goes through a window, it’s important to know in advance how to handle broken window glass safely. Pember offers these important and useful safety tips for handling broken window glass:

Tip #1– Do not pick up broken pieces of glass with your bare hands. Put on heavy leather or safety gloves before handling glass pieces and try to sweep or vacuum up as much of the broken glass as possible without touching it.

Tip #2 – Never walk in bare feet around broken glass. Put on closed-toe shoes before starting any cleanup efforts involving glass.

Tip #3 – Make certain children and pets are kept outside the area where the broken glass is located before beginning a cleanup project.

Tip #4 – If a window breaks, make sure to check for broken glass inside the home, within the frame of the window and outside the window area on the ground.

Tip #5 – To clean up small particles of glass, use several thicknesses of wet paper towels and then discard safely. Cloth napkins, cloth towels, sponges or ordinary mops should not be used for clean up because they can harbor tiny glass particles.

Tip #6- To dispose of glass, carefully put it in a durable container (such as a sturdy box or plastic container) and label “broken glass.” Do not dispose of glass shards in plastic bags.

Tip #7 – If a window is broken, do not try to “knock out” remaining glass in the frame. Safely remove the loose and fallen pieces of glass and then contact a professional to repair or replace the window.

Tip #8 – Immediately post a warning sign and/or secure the area where there is broken glass until it can be cleaned up successfully.

Tip #9 - If your entire window glass is broken out, cover the window to help prevent additional accidents or inclement weather from coming into the home. Usually you can tape cardboard over the opening or heavy plastic as a temporary fix.

Tip #10 - If the glass in your window gets broken, do not replace it yourself. Some windows have insulating glass units that contain harmless Argon gas that helps increase in the window’s energy efficiency. A replacement unit should be ordered and installed by a professional that perfectly matches the original window.

Celebrating its 65^thyear of quality manufacturing operations in 2011, Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Simonton ranked “Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010, 2009, 2008 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction Study^SM. The company also ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study^SM.

Simonton was also ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best In Class Awards currently administered by LBM Journal Research Institute.

Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver the industry’s shortest, most dependable lead-times. Part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-recognized products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States. Simonton is a founding sponsor of The Weather Museum and a supporter of Homes for Our Troops. For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Media members may visit “media.simonton.com” (use password “media”) for access to hundreds of high resolution images.

SIMONTON ON-LINE NEWS ROOM: http://news.simonton.com/

ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more window safety tips, call 1-800-SIMONTON to request a free copy of the easy-to-read, eight-page booklet, “A few things to think about when thinking about your home.”

If you would rather not receive future communications from Ziprik Consulting, let us know by clicking here.
Ziprik Consulting, 511 Fox Hollow Lane, Mills RIver, NC 28759 United States

This blog post was approved by www.SchoolFacilities.com.

LEED Certification for University of the District of Columbia, Student Center

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:55:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANNON DESIGN AWARDED STUDENT CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

BUFFALO, NY—March 28, 2011—After winning a design competition that studied three proposed sites and schemes, Cannon Design, in association with Marshall Moya Design, was commissioned to provide planning, architectural, interior design, graphics, construction and related services for the facility, the university’s first major building project in more than a quarter-century. Sustainably designed, the 90,000 sf, $35 million project supports the university’s global initiative for sustainable stewardship and will be the third building in the DC area to achieve Platinum LEED certification.

“This highly visible and accessible building will create a new gateway and public face for the university, engage and support students academically and socially, improve student retention, and integrate the campus with the neighborhood to create an urban community,” said Roland G. Lemke, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Cannon Design.

In addition to spaces for student government, campus life, career services and other student support functions, the building includes mixed-use retail, grab-and-go dining services and a bookstore serving both the university and the surrounding residential community. The building will also house a 10,000 sf fitness and wellness center and a conference center and ballroom suitable for use by the wider community.

The University of the District of Columbia, Washington’s only public higher-education institution, was formed in 1977 by the consolidation of three community colleges. Set back from the street, sparsely windowed 1970s-era architecture, the university’s campus is undistinguished. Although the student body has historically consisted of commuting students, a recent initiative to build a residential community on campus has led the university to focus on quality of campus life and on strengthening connection with the local neighborhood, which includes apartment buildings, office buildings and retail. A new student center is a crucial ingredient in this renewal.

Cannon Design is an Ideas Based Practice, ranked among the leading international firms in planning and design for healthcare, research, education, corporate, sports and government clients. At present, the firm employs a staff of over 1,000, delivering services in 17 offices throughout North America, as well as abroad in Shanghai, China, and Mumbai, India.

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com.

Energy Efficiency "Goes to School"

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:51:00 +0000

OHIO SCHOOL WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Energy Shield, Inc. and New Milkovich Middle School Recognized for Excellence in Building Materials

Pontiac, MI (March 29, 2011) Energy Shield, Inc., a small, family-owned company based in Pontiac, Michigan, won top honors for their work on a new, energy-efficient school in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance awarded Energy Shield a prestigious Crystal Sculpture award in the Commercial Wall category. The award recognizes the overall value and quality of the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation Energy Shield installed at the New Milkovich Middle School in Maple Heights, Ohio.

The New Milkovich Middle School was part of $109 million effort started in 2008 to improve all schools throughout the Maple Heights City School District. District administrators chose SPF for the middle school project as part of their sustainability initiative and to reduce annual facility operational costs. “Leaky” buildings are a primary cause of energy loss and a significant contributor to building failure. The Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) has determined that approximately $500 million is spent annually due to premature deterioration of buildings, and most of these expenditures result from a failure in the building enclosure’s air/vapor barrier system. SPF has been recognized by ABAA as the only material that will provide a seamless air/water vapor barrier and at the same time, completely insulate the building perimeter.

Maple Heights Superintendent Charles Keenan, as quoted in the Garfield-Maple Sun, said the building of schools represented an "awesome opportunity" for Maple Heights City School District and a "victory for the children."

The New Milkovich Middle School is a 2-story 130,000 square foot facility that will be LEED registered. Architecture firm Fanning Howey designed the building enclosure to meet stringent ABAA standards to eliminate uncontrolled air flowing in or out of the building. Energy Shield worked closely with construction manager Heery International and masonry subcontractor Crowe Masonry to install the SPF onto the entire 60,000 square feet of perimeter masonry walls. Once applied, the SPF formed a seamless insulated R-14 air barrier totally encapsulating the entire perimeter. ABAA conducted three separate field inspections of the SPF, with only days to spare before the exterior brick building surface was scheduled to be laid.

“This was a challenging project due to the schedule and the strict ABAA requirements,” Dave Fritzinger, President of Energy Shield said. “We were practically joined at the hip with Crowe Masonry, but by working so closely together, the school district got a finished product that will ultimately save them considerable money in operating costs. Plus, the indoor air quality of the new school will be much healthier for the students, teachers and staff.”

About Energy Shield, Inc.

Since 1978, Energy Shield, Inc. has been installing Spray Foam Insulation, Spray Foam Roofing, Roof Coatings and Spray Fiber Insulation in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Energy Shield’s commitment to quality Employees, Materials, Equipment and to its Customers has allowed the company to prosper in a highly competitive market. Energy Shield is a proud member of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance. Visit www.energyshield.net or call 1-800-968-9907 to learn more.

The masonry goes on over the SPF, within just days.

For additional pictures or interviews, please contact Carrie Stallwitz at carrie@witzpr.com

Carrie Stallwitz

carrie@witzpr.com

713-320-8165

www.Twitter.com/witz_pr

New project pics at my blog!

Witz!PR

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This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com.

School & College Building Expo, Chicago, April 12-15, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:47:00 +0000

Brought to you by:

School & College Building Expo, Chicago, April 12-15, 2011

It's the only event that brings together the evolving marketplace of educational institutions, and it is just a few weeks away!

Attend it and learn about sustainable and green building trends. Gain insight into the high performance green schools movement. Be inspired by exciting keynote speakers, and discover the latest products and solutions. Come together with the leading professionals who plan, design, construct, retrofit and manage public and private educational facilities.

School & College Building Expo is also host to the Spring Meeting of AIA's Committee on Architecture for Education, a gathering of the most active thought leaders in educational design.

Early registration discounts ending soon
Save $200 on full conference pass!

Watch the video >

If you would like to sponsor an upcoming Friday's Green Video email click here and request information.

www.iGreenBuild.com

LEED Gold at University of Texas

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:23:00 +0000

NEW STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER OPENS AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Designed by Overland Partners Architects, the student-centric facility is anticipated to be the first LEED Gold building on campus

AUSTIN, TEXAS, March 22, 2011 – The new Student Activity Center (SAC) at the University of Texas campus in Austin is of the students, by the students, and for the students. The SAC is the result of almost 60 years of student lobbying for another dedicated social and cultural center on campus. Located in the heart of the campus, this 149,000 square foot facility is designed to serve as the “campus living room” – it is a place for students “to see and be seen”. The facility should earn a LEED Gold certification, a first for the campus.

Extensive student input and design workshops generated the main project goals, which were easy accessibility, more activity spaces and overall sustainability. Overland Partners Architects of San Antonio, TX and associate architect WTW Architects of Pittsburgh, PA responded with a contemporary building on the East Mall of campus, the primary pedestrian point of entry to the campus. The new SAC is geographically and functionally complementary to the existing student union on the West Mall, and important in serving the growing student body.

To meet the student goal of dedicated activity spaces, the SAC includes a 5,000 square foot ballroom, a 500-seat auditorium, a black box theatre, 12 student conference/meeting rooms, student organization offices, and a student government chamber. The ballroom is already booked for months with events like comedian Zach Braff, a 3-D Gaming tournament, and a concert by Chuck D. and Common. There are also ample group study lounges and informal individual study areas scattered throughout the facility. An indoor food court featuring regional fast food favorites and a coffee bar sits adjacent to more than 46,000 square feet of landscaped outdoor gathering space, substantially increasing the seating and providing an enjoyable dining experience in the moderate Austin climate.

The new SAC has struck a powerful chord at the university in response to project goals.

“I have to say that a mark of any successful building is how it makes one wonder how we managed without it,” Juan González, Vice-President for Student Affairs, said. “It is truly a major enhancement to not only the area, but the whole campus environment. It is especially rewarding to see so many students embrace the facility from the moment we opened the doors.”

The SAC is a modern take on the traditional campus architecture. The simple forms and clean lines of the SAC distinguish it, yet the limestone walls and red tile roofs unify it with the existing campus buildings. Tucked behind a mature oak grove, abundant windows throughout the building bring in ample daylighting and take advantage of the surrounding landscape. There is an accessible rooftop courtyard with an adjacent green roof, and a cistern that collects and recycles rainwater for landscape irrigation.

Renowned international artist James Turrell is designing a skyspace installation for the SAC opening in fall 2012. The enclosed rooftop space will have an opening in the roof surrounded by LED lights that will affect the viewer’s perception of the sky.

The project has only been open since January, yet students are already using every available inch of space. Early student reviews of the SAC are glowing.

“I went to peak at the new structure, and OH MAN. It’s awesome. Though we have the Union, academic center, and library, UT always lacked a central place where students could take a break between places, grab a bite to eat, nap, cram for a test, or hold student org meetings. The SAC provides all of the above and with style,” according to one UT student blog.

###

ABOUT OVERLAND PARTNERS

Overland Partners Architects, founded in 1987 in San Antonio, Texas, is the realization of a vision to bring together a wide range of talents in architecture and planning in order to provide comprehensive design services. Sensitive to the environmental and aesthetic contexts of its projects, the firm strives for a thoughtful integration of technology, art, and craft through highly sustainable solutions. Overland Partners offers its clients the ultimate goal of creating beautiful, functional and enduring designs through a collaborative process that inspires long-term relationships. In addition to the Student Activity Center at the University of Texas the firm is currently working on the university’s new College of Liberal Arts. The firm completed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas in Austin, winner of more than 10 regional and national design awards. Other higher education projects within the firm’s design portfolio include the new Business School Building at Baylor University in Waco, Texas; the new Academic Building at the University of North Texas at Dallas; the new Continuing Education Center at Rice University in Houston; and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www .overlandpartners .com.

Interviews upon request.

high-resolution images available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/40948653@N07/sets/72157626198159557/

Facebook.com/overlandpartners

Twitter.com/OverlandPartner

This blog post was approved by iGreenBuild.com.

2011 School Building Expo

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:19:00 +0000

School Building Expo, Now Co-Located with College Building Expo, Announces 2010 Keynote and Session Line-ups

Event Brings Leading Industry Minds Together to Discuss New Techniques and Trends in Educational Facility Design and Construction

School Building Expo 2010
TRUMBULL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Creating a unique new platform to explore the educational facility design arena, organizers for School Building Expo and College Building Expo have announced the co-location of the two events.

“We brought School Building Expo and College Building Expo together because while each addresses a very niche audience, these audiences also possess vital knowledge and best practices that should definitely be shared. We want our attendees to maximize their efforts and learn from different, yet equally relevant perspectives”

Taking place May 11-13, 2010, at the Navy Pier in Chicago, the joint event between School Building Expo and College Building Expo will include a series of combined and specialized sessions and feature an array of well-respected speakers designed to promote greater education and innovation for the rapidly evolving educational facility design and construction industry.

“We brought School Building Expo and College Building Expo together because while each addresses a very niche audience, these audiences also possess vital knowledge and best practices that should definitely be shared. We want our attendees to maximize their efforts and learn from different, yet equally relevant perspectives,” said Jenabeth Ferguson, Event Director for the event.

Another way show organizers are helping attendees get the most from their experience is by partnering with well-respected organizations in the industry. Again in 2010, School Building Expo and College Building Expo are the official hosts of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) spring meeting, a gathering of the most active thought-leaders in educational facilities design. Additionally, the AIA CAE Awards Program will double as the overall event’s welcoming ceremony.
In addition to hosting an impressive Expo Hall showcasing more than 125 industry-elite exhibitors, School Building Expo and College Building Expo bring together a variety of sessions and keynotes targeting today’s trends and challenges. The first keynote of the conference will be presented by R. Thomas Hille of the American Institute of Architects, and Peter C. Lippman, Educational Resource Planner of JCJ Architecture, called “Designing Learning Environments for the Next Decade and Beyond.” Hille is a practicing architect, designer and writer based in Seattle, Washington. He has a special interest in the design of schools, and is currently writing a book on the subject, entitled MODERN SCHOOLS: A Century of Design for Education. He has designed a number of award-winning schools, including White River High School in Buckley, Washington, winner of CEFPI’s 2005 James D. McConnell Award for Architectural Excellence.

Lippman has extensive experience in empirical research and design that few architects have. He is a Recognized Educational Facility Professional (REFP) by the Council for Educational Facilities Planner International (CEFPI), and an acknowledged thought leader in the field of educational architecture who has written extensively, been cited in various books and journals, and presented his work nationally and internationally. Lippman is also completing a book titled, Evidence Based Design for Schools: A Responsive Design Approach.

The final keynote presentation will be made by Michael McMillan, Author of Paper Airplane: A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box. McMillan’s breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with his story-telling ability, connects with audiences of all ages, leaving them both motivated and committed to embrace a future of endless possibilities. He has a well-deserved reputation for creative thinking and delivering innovative results. McMillan’s award-winning work has been recognized by his peers and almost every major design organization, including AIGA, Communication Arts, Apex, Print magazine, HOW magazine and numerous international associations.

Drawing architects, designers, facility planners, construction directors and executives charged with overseeing construction, development and maintenance of educational facilities across the country, the conference allows attendees to explore green design and sustainability, the business of building educational facilities, design for education and technical issues in facility construction.

Offering the most resources for these audiences, both shows feature conference session tracks designed to provide attendees with the tools needed to succeed in the evolving industry, whether designing schools or higher education facilities. The School Building Expo track introduces various sessions including case studies of innovative thinking in school facility design, new standards of sustainability and new research connecting neuroscience and school design. The College Building Expo track explores how design leads to student success in community colleges, planning campus housing to bring a sense of community for commuter colleges, and furnishing a medical learning facility by integrating teach techniques, among a variety of other topics.

These and other premiere sessions will be presented by a high-caliber group of speakers from institutions and design firms across the country, including: St. John’s University, Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects, Green Building Services, Stonehill & Taylor Architects, Greensleeves, LLC, Eastern Illinois University, HKS, Inc., Newport Collaborative Architects, Princeton Charter School, New York City School Construction Authority, Jackson & Ryan Architects and the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities.

First launched in 2005, School Building Expo / College Building Expo has quickly grown into the premier event serving the design, renovation and construction needs of all school buildings, including K-12, colleges and universities. It is attended by architects, designers, facility planners and managers to discuss and review school design trends, learning environments, building performance and all matters that pertain to creating first-class educational facilities.

For additional information on School Building Expo, visit http://www.schoolbuildingexpo.com/.
For additional information on College Building Expo, visit http://www.collegebuildingexpo.com/.

About JD Events
JD Events is dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities -- all geared toward increasing business transactions in the markets it serves. For more information on JD Events, visit http://www.jdevents.com/ or contact Joel Davis at joel@jdevents.com

Contacts
Vollmer Public Relations
Rupa Patel, 972-488-4790
rupa@vollmerpr.com
or
School Building Expo / College Building Expo
Joelle Coretti, 203-371-6322, ext. 209
joelle@jdevents.com

This blog post was approved by SchoolFacilities.com.

LEED Silver for UC Riverside Research Building

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:47:00 +0000

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- Friday marks the official unveiling of a building at the University of California, Riverside that will not only house the first public medical school in California in more than 40 years but also serve as model for sustainable design.

The three-story, 58,000 square foot School of Medicine Research Building is designed to meet the LEED Silver standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The building has cloud cover sensors that activate motorized shades which deploy during peak sun hours to keep the building cool in Riverside's desert climate. With this system, it's estimated that lighting won't be needed 80 percent of the time.

Also, through a process called "night flushing," air is filtered into the building at night to cool the concrete slab the building sits on. The slab remains cool into the day, limiting the need for air conditioning during summer days when triple-digit temperatures are common.

"The building is smart enough to be run by its own weather station," said Don Caskey, campus architect at UC Riverside.

The goal is to cut energy use to one-third of a typical lab building, Caskey said.

Within the building, water use is expected to cut 30 percent and outside, through water-efficient landscaping, irrigation use is expected to be cut 50 percent.

The building was designed by SRG Partnerships, Inc. and built by Barnhart Balfour Beatty.

University Of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue University Village 204B, Riverside, CA 92521 United States

This blog post approved by www.iGreenBuild.com.

University Tracks Residence Hall Energy Use - and Educates With the Data

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Eastern Mennonite University uses QA Graphics' Dashboard for Sustainable Education

March 16, 2011 – Ankeny, Iowa – Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), a liberal arts Christian college in Harrisonburg, VA, uses QA Graphics'® sustainable education display to show students and visitors the campus' real-time energy use and educate about the new green residence hall.

Eastern Mennonite University completed construction of Cedarwood the campus' new environmentally friendly 35,000-square-foot residence hall in 2009. EMU has a number of sustainability initiatives in place throughout campus and when the time came to construct the new residence hall, it was decided to build following the U.S. Green Building Council's® LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building rating system's guidelines. EMU is anticipating LEED Silver certification for Cedarwood. This is the first building on campus anticipating LEED certification. As part of the certification process, EMU collaborated with QA Graphics to develop an Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard® (EEED) to help attain an Innovation in Design education credit.

QA Graphics' Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is an award-winning educational tool used by organizations to inform building occupants and the public about efficient resource use and sustainable building practices. The educational solution is an interactive application designed similar to a website, which students can conveniently view online or on an interactive display located in the residence hall lobby. Here they can learn about the campus' sustainability initiatives by viewing the residence hall's real-time energy use, as well as information about what makes the new building environmentally friendly. Through this education, students and visitors can better understand how they too can be more sustainable and help make the campus more efficient.

"Community education is important to EMU, both because it earns us a LEED credit, but more importantly because we want to share ideas about how to live and build more sustainably," said Andrea Wenger, director of marketing and communications at Eastern Mennonite University. "The dashboard provides a way for visitors to learn about the building as well as students living and visiting there to be aware of how their lifestyles impact the environment. This is a living and learning community...telling the story of Cedarwood's construction and building use fits in with our mission as a university committed to sustainability."

Viewing the display, students and visitors can learn about the many green features that were taken into consideration when building the new residence hall. For example, over 85 percent of Cedarwood's construction waste was sorted and recycled, and some of the green features in the building include natural daylighting, low- flow water fixtures, a bioretention filtration system to manage stormwater runoff, reflective roofing and more. An animated demonstration also illustrates how the solar panels help heat over 50 percent of the building's hot water. Currently, the display provides easy to understand real-time energy use information, with plans to also display real-time solar hot water and water use details.

"The display has potential to be a great learning tool," said Jeremy Good, of information systems at Eastern Mennonite University. "We've made an investment in the back-end infrastructure that allows us to display nearly any building statistic that's monitored around campus. Then some effort is needed to display them in a way that's palatable to the general public, which is where QA Graphics comes in."

QA Graphics' Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard solution is used by universities, schools, restaurants, commercial businesses, government organizations and others. It has been named a 2010 top green building product by Environmental Design + Construction and Sustainable Facility magazines' annual Readers Choice Awards as well as 2010 top 10 green building product by award-winning independent news source Sustainable Industries. The solution can help earn green building certification points, contributing towards satisfying the U.S. Green Building Council's® Innovation in Design Green Education and Innovation in Design School as a Teaching Tool credits under LEED®, and a variety of points under The Green Building Initiative's™ Green Globes® green building rating and assessment system. To learn more, visit www.qagraphics.com/eeed.

About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative graphic development company specializing in the green building industry. The company is an industry leader in the design of award-winning energy education dashboards used to showcase organizations' building performance and sustainable initiatives. QA Graphics also provides comprehensive creative services including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, drafting, web development, virtual tours, multimedia solutions and other interactive content. Visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.

About Eastern Mennonite University
Eastern Mennonite University offers a rich academic experience shaped by faculty with global experience in a progressive Mennonite context. Core values of peacebuilding, creation care, community and service to others are key to all levels of program from traditional undergraduate to graduate programs with international acclaim. People from all faith traditions are welcome in EMU's diverse, caring community where cross-cultural study is emphasized and students enjoy 1:1 mentoring with professors. A seminary and Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, along with graduate programs and a Center for Interfaith Engagement, provide a well-rounded learning community. Read more at www.emu.edu.

This blog post has been approved by www.SchoolFacilities.com

COMPLETED HARPER COLLEGE MASTER PLAN CREATES A ROADMAP FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AND STUDENT SUCCESS

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:57:00 +0000

Access to Services, Student Interaction, and Sustainability are Highlights of Campus Master Plan

March 3, 2011 (New York, NY) Top international design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman is pleased to announce that EE&K, a Perkins Eastman company, has completed the master plan for the William Rainey Harper College campus in Palatine, IL. The plan, completed under the joint venture of EE&K/Graywood, will serve as a roadmap for the community college to provide a 21st century campus that will enhance student success. The plan was presented at the Innovations 2011 Conference in San Diego, CA on February 28.

“21st century community colleges must design campus environments that promote the best use of students’ time and provide numerous opportunities for social and intellectual engagement,” says Sean O’Donnell AIA, LEED AP, principal-in-charge of the project.

Community colleges are playing an increasingly critical role in preparing students of all ages and education levels for a fiercely competitive workforce. In Harper’s case, the master plan calls for a new campus configuration that would establish a more welcoming arrival to the campus. Additionally, access to student services and the importance of student/ faculty interaction are stressed. Accordingly, the master plan creates the new student center as a focal point, which would cluster student services together at the heart of the campus where students, faculty, and staff can interact on a daily basis.

“We are pleased more people than ever are coming to Harper,” says Dr. Kenneth Ender, President of Harper College. He adds, “We want to make sure our facilities can accommodate additional growth and support 21st century learning.”

Developed in close consultation with Harper College key stakeholders, EEK/Graywood’s recommendations go beyond the bounds of a typical master planning effort to address real challenges while linking each recommendation to Harper’s larger goal in becoming a leader in sustainability. The plan recommends making Harper’s campus greener over the next ten years by making the campus more compact, retrofitting buildings to use energy more efficiently, creating a bike trail around the campus, constructing green roofs, and using native landscaping in parking lots to limit water runoff.

About Perkins Eastman

Perkins Eastman is among the top architecture and design firms in the world. The firm prides itself on inventive and compassionate design that enhances the quality of the human experience. Because of its depth and range, Perkins Eastman takes on assignments from niche buildings to complex projects that enrich whole communities. The firm’s practice areas include education, housing, healthcare, senior living, corporate interiors, cultural institutions, public sector facilities, retail, office buildings, and urban design. In 2010, Perkins Eastman announced it would merge with Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects (EE&K), significantly strengthening both practices with an international total of nearly 600 employees. Perkins Eastman provides award-winning design through its domestic offices in New York, NY; Boston, MA; Arlington, VA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Oakland, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Stamford, CT; and internationally in Dubai, UAE; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Mumbai, India; Shanghai, China; and Toronto, Canada.
This message is sent by Perkins Eastman Architects, PC, and/or its Affiliates, and is intended exclusively for the persons to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate any part of this message.

This blog pos was approved by http://www.schoolfacilities.com/.

LEED Silver Certification Awarded to Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:49:00 +0000

West Philadelphia Financial Institution Demonstrates Dedication to Sustainability

February 28, 2011 (Philadelphia, PA) – BLT Architects announced today that the newly designed and constructed Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU) building at 5000 Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been awarded LEED Silver Certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). BLTa’s design has demonstrated dedication to energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

The LEED Green Building Certification program encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable building and development practices through a series of rating systems. Sustainable features of the new PFCU branch include newly-insulated ductwork, automatic temperature controls, building management systems, interior energy-conserving lighting fixtures, and restrooms with efficient low-flow plumbing fixtures.

“We are extremely proud to have contributed to the design of a building that not only fulfills its functional purposes, but does it in a way that contributes to the sustainability of its West Philadelphia neighborhood,” said Michael Prifti, Managing Principal of BLTa. “PFCU’s dedication to being environmentally-friendly was obvious in every stage of design and development, and we are glad they have been recognized for it.”

The new 3,300 square foot PFCU branch sits on a prominent corner in West Philadelphia and features a spacious new interior that includes an entry vestibule, member services area, teller stations, support and back-of-house spaces, and an internet café. Branch patrons can also enjoy selections of vintage photographs from their West Philadelphia community while visiting the location. The facility opened in May 2010.

“It was extremely important for us to place a primary focus on LEED certification when working with BLTa to redesign our new branch. We are especially proud of this honor that validates our commitment to be stewards of the environment,” said James McAneney, President/CEO of Philadelphia Federal Credit Union.

BLTa is celebrating its 50^th year of providing sustainable design services to a wide range of clientele throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding cities, including the LEED Gold Certified renovation of the Strawbridge’s Building at 800 Market Street.

About PFCU

PFCU was founded in 1951 and will celebrate their 60^th anniversary on April 16, 2011. They are currently among the top credit unions in the city, serving the entire Philadelphia and Bloomsburg, PA communities, in addition to the owners, employees and directors of over 400 organizations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. More information can be found at http://www.pfcu.com/ and at http://www.betterthanmybank.com/.

About BLT Architects

BLT Architects is an integrated architectural and interior design firm. Since its founding in 1961, BLTa has developed into a diverse and responsive design practice with offices in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas. The firm has produced a diverse portfolio of hospitality, education, and multi-family residential, mixed-use and retail, and transportation projects. More information can be found at http://www.blta.com/ and http://www.areturnondesign.com/.

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Kaddatz) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:03:00 +0000

First LEED Certified Gold School of Architecture New
By: Jackie Schultz - Monday, July 27, 2009
Source: SchoolFacilities.com

As the first school of architecture in the United States to be certified LEED Gold and the first Pennsylvania State University LEED building, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) is a $20 million project completed in 2005 by Overland Partners architects from San Antonio, Texas, WTW Architects and LaQuatra Bonci landscape architects both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The engineering was performed by Arup, H. F Lenz and Whitney Bailey Cox Magnani. With the purpose of unifying two educational departments at Penn State’s University Park campus, SALA is conceived to embody sustainable design and the collaborative spirit needed for successful professional practice in the future. This 110,000- square foot building houses undergraduate and graduate design studios, faculty offices and research areas, administrative offices , classrooms, library, model shop, design computing labs, model building shop, the Center for Community Design , the Center for Watershed Stewardship , public presentation and gallery space.

The design accommodates the school’s functional requirements in a building that is sculptural, efficient and sustainable. The landscape design uses native planting that requires no landscape watering and integrated storm water management that filters storm water. The building itself addresses its site with two distinct personalities. The northeast façade is contextual, echoing the traditional red brick of surrounding campus structures. The southwest wall consists of flat-seamed, recycled copper. The form and natural patina of this side of the building responds to the organic nature of the adjacent Hort Woods. Exterior sun shading is contoured to each wall orientation to provide glare free day lighting and views that connect occupants to the surrounding landscape. A weather station on the roof monitors wind speed, humidity, temperature and precipitation to signal motorized windows that open automatically for fresh air, reducing the need for air-conditioning. Energy and daylight modeling was used extensively to optimize building envelope design, day lighting, lighting controls and HVAC systems to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Occupancy, daylight and CO2 sensors automatically adjust HVAC systems and lighting to occupant load and available daylight.

The interior spaces are inspiring and collaborative, yet highly functional, durable and practical. The building’s structural steel frame, concrete floors and acoustical metal deck are exposed to eliminate applied finishes and minimize resource use. Natural maple hard wood, Pennsylvania bluestone flooring, brick interior walls and painted drywall accent walls humanize the industrial aesthetic. The building adapts to seasonal variations, provides flexibility in space configurations and accommodates changes in technology through the extensive use of an exposed concrete raised floor panel system with under floor distribution of HVAC, power and data. Interior functions are designed to spill outside in good weather on to terraced class discussion areas, a wooded reading area, a presentation terrace and a construction work yard. The use of low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, as well as ventilated spray-booths for using toxic modeling materials ensures indoor air quality. Certified wood, as well as regionally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials are extensively used.

SALA has been honored with the following awards: AIA Awards of Excellence and Green Building Award Copper in Architecture Award, Brick in Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award and PA Landscape Architects President’s Award.

Greater Gentilly High School: A "Quick Start" for a Strong Future

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Kaddatz) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Sustainable and Secure, New High School Helps Rebuild Hope

Following the destruction of one of the nation’s most devastating storms, New Orleans Public Schools is looking to the completion of the new Greater Gentilly High School as a proud symbol of the community’s tenacity, resilience, and vision for future generations. The new 173,000-square-foot building, which will accommodate up to 800 students, was designed on a demanding fast-track basis and will open in early 2010.

VergesRome Architects and Fanning Howey teamed up to design the new building, which will serve as a magnet school with an academic focus on commercial arts, computer science, entertainment production, and education. A flexible floor plan with retractable walls and highly functional classrooms and laboratories will easily accommodate changes in the curriculum and instructional approaches. A state-of-the-art technology program, supported by Apple Computer and following the model of the Napa, California-based New-Tech Foundation, will support the school’s innovative programs. Every student desk will be equipped with a computer.

Constant Communications

Employing a streamlined “Quick Start” approach, through which the decision-making, procurement, and review processes were thoroughly expedited, the building will be designed and built in less than two years. The Quick Start initiative was introduced by the state-sponsored Louisiana Recovery School District to help jump-start school construction in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and in advance of the release of the city’s School Facilities Master Plan.

A three-day charrette involving several community groups helped launch the design effort for the new high school. The project then moved rapidly from schematics to construction documents. The fast-paced process has required a commitment to careful communications between the project team, New Orleans Public Schools, and the Recovery School District, which also provided oversight and support. In addition to the speedy production of design deliverables, the effort has yielded a comprehensive set of standards that will help guide the future construction of district schools.

A Challenging Site

A difficult site also posed challenges to the design team. The 4.1-acre property had once housed a middle school structure that had been immersed in more than ten feet of water following Hurricane Katrina. The building was razed in order to accommodate the new high school, but several restrictions impeded use of the entire site, including the need to preserve several majestic live oaks on the property. The protection of these botanically and culturally significant specimens, along with the need to meet setback requirements, led the design team to devise a creative strategy for a disaster-resistant, multi-level structure on only 2.5 acres of property.

Protecting the Future

The three-level brick building features a wind- and water-resistant design and reflects meticulous mitigation analysis and planning to prepare for future storms and other potential disaster events. Most of the academic spaces and resources are housed on the two upper levels, with the ground level partially reserved for parking. The building has moisture-resistant finishes, wind-resistant galvanized steel roofing, and hurricane impact-resistant window systems. The high school is designed to LEED®-Silver certification standards, with a goal of reducing energy consumption by at least 30 percent. Two former outdoor swimming pools serve as rainwater cisterns, providing water for site irrigation and to supply the wet cooling tower.

The design team also employed a number of successful strategies to control costs. The building is set to be completed at approximately $5 million under budget.

Texas School District Invests $1.3 Million in High Efficiency Air Conditioning

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:43:00 +0000

TAC Installs New Mechanical Systems, Building Controls

dallas – November 13, 2008 – The Jacksonville Independent School District (JISD) in Jacksonville, Texas, has implemented $1.3 million in facility enhancements designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at Jacksonville Middle School. The Energy Solutions division of TAC, a world leader in energy services, building automation and security, completed the work as a performance contract with the district. Because the project enables the district to reduce its energy consumption, the JISD will receive a $30,000 rebate from the local electric utility.

JISD officials recognized that the 124,000 square-foot Jacksonville Middle School, which serves 672 students in this east Texas community, needed a major renovation. Problems included a failing roof, old mechanical equipment and poor duct work, all of which led to comfort complaints. District officials also desired to maximize energy efficiency within the building since utility costs only seem to be increasing. They selected new air-conditioning units with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) and that offered the best indoor air quality (IAQ) by constantly managing CO₂ and humidity levels.

“We developed a capital improvement project to address the problems at our middle school and to significantly improve learning conditions,” said Troy Parker, director of purchasing for JISD. “To minimize disruption, we had the roof replaced at the same time that the new rooftop air-conditioning units were installed. The entire project was completed over the summer to avoid disrupting our classes this fall.”

Performance contracting offers many long-term benefits for school districts, such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings, which help defray the costs of the facility improvements.

The work had to be done concurrently in order to be completed while the building was unoccupied. This required TAC and the roofing contractor to coordinate closely with each other as they replaced the air-conditioning equipment and installed the new roof respectively.

“These improvements have enhanced the Jacksonville Middle School, and students and staff now enjoy a better learning and working environment,” said Shon Anderson, vice president of TAC Energy Solutions Sales. “The energy savings the district is enjoying will help defray some of the costs of the project, as will the utility rebate. This way, the community gets a better school building but the taxpayers aren’t faced with as large of a construction bill.”

About TAC

TAC is a leading provider of building automation solutions based on Open Integrated Systems for Building IT. TAC's mission is to provide added value through building environment services for indoor climate, security and use of energy, delivered with advanced technology to end users and property owners throughout the world. With over 80 years of experience in the HVAC, building automation and security arenas, TAC employs more than 8,000 people worldwide, with partners and branches in 80 countries. TAC's parent company, Schneider Electric, is the global specialist in energy management with 120,000 employees worldwide and operations in 102 countries.

Construction Complete on Single Building Campus

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:29:00 +0000

Del Sur Elementary's Single Building Design Has Small Footprint, Powerful Punch

(San Diego, CA) September 23, 2008 – NTD Architecture is pleased to announce that construction is complete on Del Sur Elementary School of the Poway Unified School District. Designed as a single building campus, Del Sur achieves an energy efficiency of 40.7% better than California's 2005 Title 24 energy code requirements and has exceeded the requisites to become a Collaborative for High Performance School (CHPS) by 44 points (pending final certification).

Located within Del Sur’s 1,800 acres, Del Sur Elementary School’s sustainable features are in alignment with the concept of the overall community, which boasts the Ranch House as San Diego’s first LEED Platinum building. The 85,259 SF single building school sits on a 10-acre site and cost $29.5 M to construct. It houses 34 teaching stations and is designed to accommodate a student body of 850. Construction began in April of 2007 and will be completed in August of 2008. Del Sur Elementary School was the recipient of a Coalition for Adequate School Housing Award for Design Excellence in 2006.

"We're extremely proud of this design, not only for its substantial energy savings, but also because the campus concept will encourage social interaction among students and teachers," says Richard Nowicki, AIA, Partner of NTD Architecture. “As high performance design becomes requisite in public works, the typology represented by Del Sur is likely to become more common.”

The single building typology also adds to the project’s energy efficiency. Reduced exterior wall and roof areas decrease the amount of heating and cooling needed by the school, resulting in lowered energy costs for the District and an improved physical environment for the building's occupants. A 10,000 SF photovoltaic array installed through SDG&E's Sustainable Communities Program will provide approximately 9.4% of the school's energy and an Energy Management System will monitor the use of lighting, equipment, and HVAC systems. Other sustainable features contributing to the school's CHPS designation include a high-efficiency irrigation system with a satellite controller, shared-use of the multipurpose room and athletic field, and a substantially reduced footprint resulting in a higher pervious site area, enhanced classroom acoustics, and high indoor air quality.

Del Sur Elementary School leans on the forefront of innovative design and technology. Classrooms are equipped with Audio/Visual systems, including a centralized A/V switching system with stereo amplification, LCD projector, electronic marker board, DVD/VCR, docucams, and Audio Reinforcement Input, ensuring that students will have the tools necessary to prepare them for a future in the 21^st Century.

A weeklong collaborative planning process initiated in the early stages of the design process determined that stakeholders and community members alike envisioned a school that focused on the community, learning, and energy efficiency. Including district facility members, teachers, faculty, parents, and students in the planning process ensured that goals from across the spectrum were established and realized.

The team assigned to Del Sur Elementary includes NTD Architecture for Architecture, MEP Engineering, and Interior Design, Edge Development as the General Contractor, Masson & Associates for Civil Engineering, Johnson Consulting Engineers for Low Voltage/Technology, KNA Consulting Engineers for Structural Engineering, and Nowell & Associates for Landscape Architecture. NTD's Education Funding Services Division assisted the District with obtaining funding for Del Sur from the State of California in the amount of $13,054,447.00.

NTD Architecture is dedicated to client satisfaction through process improvement. The award-winning design firm specializes in architecture for healthcare and education facilities and provides integrated services of architecture, engineering, and interior design. NTD office locations include San Diego, Los Angeles, Visalia, Salinas, and Auburn, California, and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Please visit ntd.com to learn more about NTD’s projects and delsurliving.com for the community of Del Sur.

Los Angeles Southwest College Gets 'Extreme Makeover'

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:58:00 +0000

More than $200 Million in Bond Construction Projects Gives
Los Angeles Southwest College 'Extreme Makeover'

Dramatic transformation provides College with more than 300,000 square feet in new and renovated facilities; adding more resources for skills-based careers and education for students in South Los Angeles

September 17, 2008 (LOS ANGELES) - Dr. Jack E. Daniels III, president of Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC), announced yesterday at a media and community breakfast held at the College that the campus has been dramatically transformed by the Los Angeles Community College District's (LACCD) Bond Construction Program. Today, the campus is celebrating a virtual makeover with new ultra-modern facilities - like "smart" classrooms and solar powered buildings – that are serving more than 7,500 students. The new state-of-the-art buildings offer more services to help students transition into four-year institutions or skills-based careers. Additionally, the 64-acre campus now boasts approximately 370,029 square feet of new and renovated structures.

Los Angeles Southwest College began its $204 million construction efforts in 2002. Projects included replacing temporary structures, upgrading several facilities, and building nine major educational and support structures. Campus enhancements also include major landscape and open space improvements to support student interaction for an increased sense of community.

The College's 41 projects, funded through Propositions A and AA, were approved by L.A. voters in 2001 and 2003 as part of the LACCD’s mission to renovate and modernize its nine campuses across L.A. County. Six major projects are currently underway at Southwest College, including a new Student Services Activity Center and an Athletic Stadium and Field House, which will help boost student access to education throughout the region. The campus opened its doors in 1967 with 600 students thanks to a handful of community activists seeking better educational opportunities for their children. More than four decades later, it continues to serve as a beacon of hope for the community.

"Southwest College exemplifies our commitment to building stronger educational facilities through the Bond Program and it has produced spectacular results as a pilot campus for our Design-Build efforts," said Larry H. Eisenberg, executive director, Facilities Planning and Development for LACCD. "We recognize the progress Southwest College has made through the bond program and we celebrate its many achievements with rebuilding the campus."

Other construction projects include new and enhanced "green" certified facilities for academic, athletic and student support service. These new developments will accommodate the current population of 7,500 students as well as the 12,000 students projected for future enrollment.

Beyond the addition of new buildings and top-tier technology, however, the transformation of Los Angeles Southwest College is also a platform to provide underserved communities with higher education in skilled occupations that will directly impact the area. The new facilities offer more quality resources, like a Child Development Center and Education Complex that offers teacher-training programs and safe care for the children of student-parents. In addition, students learning through Southwest's “smart" classrooms gain valuable skills in the latest technology to become more employable in today’s modern marketplace.

Dr. Daniels stated, "Thanks to the Bond Program, we now have an environment for learning and providing the community with a college they can be proud of. "Our students will be better served through the education and training they receive here at Southwest, thereby improving their potential future and helping make the campus a model college for years to come."

By using an innovative construction delivery method termed Design-Build, eight of Southwest College’s major projects have made unprecedented progress. Unlike the traditional method, whereby owners contract with separate companies to handle each aspect of design and construction, Design-Build entails contracting with only one team for the entire building process for a fixed price. The practice is designed as a best-value method.

"In order to maximize taxpayer dollars for construction, we utilized the Design-Build approach to bundle projects and build them almost concurrently," said LASC's construction management team, Director Ed Bilezikjian and Assistant Director George Snead of Construction Controls Group. "With our goal to reduce costs and expedite projects, the Design-Build approach offered advantages that led to the College's building success."

The Los Angeles Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the country, is in the midst of a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its nine colleges. LACCD has contracted 72 percent of professional services and the construction program's work to date ($693 million as of July 2008 of bond funds) to local, small, emerging and disabled-veteran enterprise businesses. Companies interested in participating in this $2.2 billion renovation and modernization program are encouraged to visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org and click on “Contracting & Bidding Site.”

Honeywell Helps California Schools Soak up the Sun

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:28:00 +0000

HONEYWELL HELPS CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
SOAK UP THE SUN, CUT UTILITY BILLS

Solar Power Agreements Allow Dixon, Riverdale and Other Districts
to Reduce Carbon Emissions While Saving Millions

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 2, 2008 – The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the nation’s schools spend an average of $175 per student on energy costs — a figure that continues to rise every year. Overall, utility bills are the second largest expense behind personnel costs.

At the same time, there is a growing awareness across the country about environmental impact and the effects of global warming. And many schools are looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions and serve as models of energy conservation.

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) is helping school districts in California address both concerns through an innovative solar program. The company today announced that Dixon Unified School District and Riverdale Joint Unified School District in central California have awarded Honeywell solar projects expected to drive more than $1 million in energy savings for each district over the next 20 years. Under the agreements, Honeywell will install solar panels at several facilities and sell the electricity the panels produce to the districts. The projects require no upfront investment from the districts, which are able to buy renewable energy at a price below their current utility rates.

In Dixon, Honeywell will install a SunSeeker^™ ground-mounted photovoltaic solar array from Thompson Technology Industries at the district’s new high school. The array will use single-axis tracking technology to automatically orient the panels to the sun’s position in the sky, improving the electrical output of the system. The system is expected to generate more than 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually — enough energy to power 120 homes per year and supply more than 80 percent of the electricity for the school.

“The combination of financial and environmental benefits made the solar project with Honeywell a sound decision,” said Dixon Unified School District superintendent Roger Halberg. “The new high school will serve the district for a long time. And the solar installation will help ensure it is as carbon neutral as possible.”

Honeywell will install similar technology at Riverdale High School and Fipps Primary School in Riverdale. These arrays are expected to generate nearly 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which will cover more than 60 percent of the district’s total electricity load.

“The fact that going green also provided a financial advantage was very attractive to us,” said Elaine Cash, superintendent of Riverdale Joint Unified School District. “This solar project with Honeywell will maximize our budget resources while maintaining clean, sustainable schools.”

Honeywell also has implemented solar projects for Pleasanton Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area and Poway Unified School District in San Diego. It estimates that if only 20 percent of California districts installed similar solar technology, the state could reduce conventional electricity consumption in schools by 6 to 9 percent.

Collectively, the company’s solar work for schools in California is expected to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4.3 million pounds and nitrous oxide emissions by nearly 4,000 pounds. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 460 cars from the road or planting 575 acres of trees.

In addition to reducing costs and emissions, the solar arrays at all four districts are expected to serve as an educational tool that faculty can use to teach students about energy conservation and alternative energy sources. Through Web-based portals, teachers and students will be able to see the real-time electrical output from the solar technology and learn how the systems operate.

“Honeywell is helping these school districts identify the most appropriate renewable energy technology to meet their unique requirements, and doing it in a way that is line with their budgets,” said Kent Anson, vice president of global energy for Honeywell Building Solutions. “In addition to helping the schools with rising energy costs, the solar arrays also will provide students a solid educational tool for years to come.”

Honeywell will work with SPG Solar, Inc. to install the panels, and expects to begin providing electricity to the Dixon and Riverdale districts by year’s end. The work will partially be funded by solar rebates offered through the California Solar Initiative, a program aimed at moving the state toward a cleaner energy future through implementation of solar systems.

Honeywell International is a $38 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

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Santa Ana Unified School District to Install Rapid Responder Crisis Management System

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Santa Ana Unified School District to Install Rapid Responder

Crisis Management System to Protect Students and Staff

Award-winning emergency preparedness solution will provide school security and first responders
with instant access to critical campus information during emergencies

SANTA ANA, CA –August 26, 2008 – The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) will announce at its August 26, 2008, Board of Education meeting the installation of the state-of-the-art Rapid Responder® crisis management system to protect its students and staff during emergencies. Police, fire and other first responders will be able to use the online solution to instantly access critical facility information such as floor plans, 360 degree imagery, hazardous materials quantities and locations and evacuation routes for all of the district's 78 elementary, middle, high school and administrative buildings. The Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at 1601 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, Ca., 92701.

The system and installation are being funded by a $709,810 Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Grant SAUSD received from the U.S. Department of Education in 2007. SAUSD is the largest district in Southern California to install the Rapid Responder crisis management system. Eleven school districts in Northern and Southern California are currently using Rapid Responder to protect their campuses.

Rapid Responder from Prepared Response Inc. will provide school security and first responders with campus information allowing them to respond faster, in a more coordinated manner with other agencies, and with enhanced situational awareness to better protect both students and staff during emergencies. Rapid Responder has been used during a campus shooting, bomb threats, lockdowns and other emergency situations on school campuses throughout the country.

"Deployment of the Rapid Responder emergency management system is a step forward in ensuring that our schools and staff members are becoming better equipped to protect our students in the event of an emergency," said Superintendent Jane Russo. "The fact that we are partnering with the police and fire agencies is another positive in reaching a common goal," Russo said. "We thank all our supporters, especially our elected officials who rallied behind us in seeking the School Readiness Grant that makes this all possible."

"Prepared Response is pleased to work with the Santa Ana Unified School District and local first responders to further improve the district's response to emergencies." said Jim Finnell, president and CEO of Prepared Response Inc. "Rapid Responder was used during a school shooting in Washington state to help first responders contain a gunman in 12 minutes and evacuate 2,000 students in 20 minutes. Rapid Responder is a tool that can be used to help protect students during any emergency that may occur on campus. "

Rapid Responder is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SAFETY Act as a "Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology." Rapid Responder is being used in 12 states with over 5,000 end users including more than 500 public safety agencies and 275 school districts. This system, endorsed by the National Sheriffs' Association, was recognized in the Harvard/Noblis Innovations Award in Homeland Security that was presented to the State of Washington in September 2007 and was selected for the 2006 National Homeland Defense Foundation's Innovations in Homeland Security award.

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About Santa Ana Unified School District

Santa Ana Unified serves approximately 54,000 diverse students in grades K-12 and employs over 6,000 educators and staff members representing 63 dynamic school sites throughout the eclectic and vibrant Santa Ana community. Contact us at 714-558-5555, or pioinfo@sausd.us. For more information about our schools, visit www.sausd.us.

About Prepared Response, Inc.

Prepared Response Inc. develops crisis management planning and response systems that enable police, fire, and other emergency responders to save lives and mitigate property damage. The company's flagship product, Rapid Responder, runs on laptop computers and allows first responders to instantly access more than 300 site-specific data points, including tactical plans, site and floor plans, aerial and geospatial imagery, interior and exterior photos, staging areas, hazardous materials locations, utility shut-offs, and evacuation routes for virtually any facility. Rapid Responder has received Certification status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under The SAFETY Act. The Rapid Responder system protects more than 12,000 facilities and is currently deployed in educational facilities, public buildings, critical infrastructure, and private facilities across the U.S.

The privately held company, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, was formed in September 2000. Additional information can be found at www.preparedresponse.com or by calling 1-800-705-1856.

FW: 21 New Seminole County Classrooms Installed

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:44:00 +0000

NEWS -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Aug. 13, 2008

CONTACTS:    Royal Concrete Concepts
John Albert, Vice President                          Wendy Elwell, Director of Marketing
561-689-5395 x 3007, 561-719-6628           941-544-4940

21 New Classrooms Installed at Seminole Schools Over Summer Break

LAKE MARY, Fla. - An innovation in concrete construction methods is creating greener schools with more hurricane protection and they go up so fast that entire schools can be built during a summer break.

Royal Concrete Concepts (RCC), a manufacturer of patented pre-fabricated concrete buildings, worked for Seminole Schools to remove 11 portables and then build 21 brand new state-of-the-art classrooms for five elementary schools. Bentley, Hamilton, Spring Lake and Keeth elementary schools each received an additional four classrooms while Partin Elementary received five all between June 16 and Aug. 11.

"We offer a need not currently met in the marketplace for sustainable, economical buildings designed and built in one-third the time," said John Albert, Vice President of RCC. He explained, "These buildings last twice as long at an overall lower cost."

The classrooms were made at RCC's assembly line in Okeechobee and then trucked 95% complete, including electrical wiring, plumbing and interior finishes such as white boards, tile floors and cabinets, to the schools. The RCC process is an inherently more sustainable approach to making buildings because the process is more precise and less wasteful than traditional brick-and-mortar construction. The buildings withstand Category 5 hurricane winds. The buildings save school districts 20 percent to 30 percent in initial costs, and have minimal maintenance bills and lower energy usage. They are all extremely quiet; mold, mildew and termite resistant; and fire resistant.

"The number of green buildings is expected to increase rapidly in the coming decades," according to Paul Nutcher, an expert in the LEED green rating systems. "As green buildings become the minimum standard in local building codes, companies such as RCC already using this approach are ahead of the game."

Wally Sanger, President and owner of Royal Concrete Concepts said, "With today's limited budgets and environment focus, school boards must be prudent with their constituents' money and good stewards of the earth. We believe applying the Henry Ford principles to building schools helps school districts achieve these goals."

For photos of classroom construction, contact thomas@greenappleconsult.com

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New Child Development Center For L.A. Valley College

noreply@blogger.com (An Interested Reader) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:13:00 +0000

New $11.2 Million Child Development Center at L.A. Valley College Will Provide Modern Learning Facilities for 'Little Ones'

June 27, 2008 (LOS ANGELES) - The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees (BOT) recently awarded a $11.2 million construction contract to authorize building efforts for Los Angeles Valley College's new Child Development Center (CDC). The College's CDC represents the District's sixth center across LACCD in the development, planning or building phase. There are currently three projects under construction at Los Angeles Trade Technical, Los Angeles City and Los Angeles Mission colleges, with two additional contracts in place for both Los Angeles Harbor and Pierce College. The CDC at Los Angeles Southwest College was completed in 2007. The District's child development centers are devoted to early childcare facilities for children and serve as a teacher-training model for students in the Child Development department.

"Our child development centers impact our overall objective to assist students by providing affordable childcare, while serving as a teacher-training facility," said Nancy Pearlman, LACCD BOT. "As a result, our students get an early childhood education for their children and the chance to focus on securing their own educational goals for brighter career options."

PW Construction will provide general construction services for the project at a cost of $11,164,500. The scope of work will consist of the demolition of the current center and new construction activity for a 25,900 sq. ft., one-story facility. The center will be a licensed childcare facility, and will provide developmentally appropriate programs for the kindergarten to grade-school children of Valley College students, staff, faculty and the community.

The contract is the result of a formal competitive bidding process, and the District estimates that the contract will generate approximately 111 local construction jobs.

The Los Angeles Community College District, the largest community college districts in the country, is in the midst of a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its nine colleges. LACCD has contracted 77 percent of professional services and the construction program's work to date ($579,472,835 as of September 2007) to local, small, emerging and disabled-veteran enterprise businesses. Companies interested in participating in this $2.2 billion renovation and modernization program are encouraged to visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org and click on “Contracting & Bidding Site.”

School Facility Design, Maintenance and Operations

SchoolFacilities.com Web Site Getting Updates

Another Green School Campus Gets Recognition

Building, Community Garden Project Earn Sustainability Awards

Green School Recognized for Sensible Sustainability

College Utility Costs Reduced by Milions of Dollars

HONEYWELL AND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

REDUCE CAMPUS UTILITY COSTS AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

First Energy-Efficient Upgrades Completed in Time for Earth Day;

Program to Deliver $30.8 Million in Energy and Operational Savings

California School Facility Manager Training - Hazardous Waste

School Safety and Security - Window Safety Week

LEED Certification for University of the District of Columbia, Student Center

CANNON DESIGN AWARDED STUDENT CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Energy Efficiency "Goes to School"

School & College Building Expo, Chicago, April 12-15, 2011

LEED Gold at University of Texas

2011 School Building Expo

LEED Silver for UC Riverside Research Building

University Tracks Residence Hall Energy Use - and Educates With the Data

COMPLETED HARPER COLLEGE MASTER PLAN CREATES A ROADMAP FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AND STUDENT SUCCESS

LEED Silver Certification Awarded to Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

Greater Gentilly High School: A "Quick Start" for a Strong Future

Texas School District Invests $1.3 Million in High Efficiency Air Conditioning

Construction Complete on Single Building Campus

Del Sur Elementary's Single Building Design Has Small Footprint, Powerful Punch

Los Angeles Southwest College Gets 'Extreme Makeover'

Honeywell Helps California Schools Soak up the Sun

HONEYWELL HELPS CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS SOAK UP THE SUN, CUT UTILITY BILLS

Solar Power Agreements Allow Dixon, Riverdale and Other Districts to Reduce Carbon Emissions While Saving Millions

Santa Ana Unified School District to Install Rapid Responder Crisis Management System

FW: 21 New Seminole County Classrooms Installed

New Child Development Center For L.A. Valley College

HONEYWELL HELPS CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
SOAK UP THE SUN, CUT UTILITY BILLS

Solar Power Agreements Allow Dixon, Riverdale and Other Districts
to Reduce Carbon Emissions While Saving Millions