FacilityBlog from Today's Facility Manager: The First Facility Management Blog

Kimball Office Recognized By EPA

2008-04-07T15:14:00.004-04:00

The furniture company, in conjunction with its parent company Kimball International, has achieved certification as a SmartWay Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The company’s score meets or exceeds the highest published score in the SmartWay program, and represents the continuously high level of operation by the Kimball fleet, including:
* Saving significant amounts of diesel fuel
* Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 26.3%
* Cutting particulate matter by 22.5%
* Decreasing nitrogen oxides by 26%

“The EPA SmartWay program is a very rigorous evaluation. To accomplish this certification and with such a high score speaks volumes about the hard work and commitment of our logistics team in implementing sustainable practices over the years,” said Jeff Fenwick, vice president/general manager, Kimball Office.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaborative voluntary program between the EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

HOK Employees To Observe Earth Day, Measure Results

2008-04-04T09:27:00.007-04:00

The architectural design firm is asking more than 2,500 of its employees across the globe to alter their transportation, travel and work habits on April 22, to contribute to reducing the firm’s collective environmental impact.

HOK’s “Go Barefoot Day” initiative supports the firm’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from its projects and practice by 50% by 2010. This goal reflects United Nations reports that recognize the role buildings play in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are using Earth Day as a catalyst for making simple behavioral changes that will have a profound impact on our collective carbon footprint,” says HOK sustainable design director Mary Ann Lazarus. “After making this single day commitment, we hope our people are inspired to make permanent, positive changes to their travel and work habits.”

Through a series of online surveys, HOK employees worldwide are reporting their current transportation and office practices and committing to make specific changes on April 22 that will reduce their environmental footprint. These changes may range from taking public transportation or biking to work, to eliminating paper usage, to reducing use of disposable packaging. After Earth Day, the firm will measure the tangible collective impact of the initiative.

As part of the initiative, HOK has developed an educational poster to help employees identify, evaluate, and share potential opportunities for modifying their behavior beyond the norm. These resources include examples of specific actions and their corresponding annual environmental impact. One suggestion is for an employee to turn off their computer overnight, rather than leaving it on; this would save $21 per year per computer and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 pounds, states the poster.

As part of the initiative, HOK also is inviting its clients, partners and local communities to join the firm in going barefoot for the day. “We hope ‘Go Barefoot Day’ builds momentum beyond the walls of HOK and inspires our clients and communities to walk alongside us,” says Lazarus.

Carpet Industry Aims To Increase Its Recycling in UK

2008-04-03T09:40:00.009-04:00

Carpet Recycling UK has been formed as an alliance of carpet manufacturers who want to increase recycling rates. This new initiative was the idea of Kate Atkinson who has had extensive experience in the fledgling carpet recycling industry. Kate is supported by carpet industry veterans Laurance Bird and Bill Tippett bringing broad experience in carpet manufacturing and supply across domestic and commercial end uses. The initiative involves, and looks to be supported by, all sections of the carpet value chain, including recyclers.

The strategy of Carpet Recycling UK is to put the UK carpet industry in a leadership position on recycling of end-of-life carpet. Recent developments in UK mean that the time is ripe for take up and growth of carpet recycling.

Market evaluation has demonstrated that the cost of collecting and sorting residential carpets can be offset by savings in landfill charges. There is already widespread demand amongst local authorities nationwide for this service, especially given the increase in the landfill tax escalator from April 2008.

In the commercial sector there is a growing demand from government and corporate procurement to ensure that end-of-life carpets are recycled and not landfilled. Construction Site Waste Management Plans being implemented from April 2008 are also expected to increase the pressure for recycling carpets and tiles.

To read about carpet recycling news in the U.S., read "Sustainable Carpet" in the March 2008 issue of TFM.

In order to develop a strong carpet recycling industry, Carpet Recycling UK intends to:
* Raise awareness at government level so that appropriate support is available through recycling agencies and regulatory regimes
* Create a database of technical and market information and commissioning research to fill key gaps
* Accredit carpet recyclers according to environmental performance
* Provide a focal point for inquiries from members of the public as well as industry participants about carpet recycling

Membership of Carpet Recycling UK is being led by Founder Members:
(Manufacturers)
Abingdon
Burmatex
Desso
Heckmondwike
InterfaceFLOR
Milliken
Paragon
Penthouse
Ryalux
Quadrant
Scotmat

...with value chain support from:
Allied
Greenback Recycling
Loughton Contracts
Spruce Carpets

Interested parties can contact:
Kate Atkinson
160 High Street
Wootton Bassett
Wiltshire SN4 7BT
Phone: 01793 848110

Global Leaders Responding to Ecosystem Degradation

2008-03-28T11:17:00.003-04:00

Global warming may dominate headlines today. Ecosystem degradation will do so tomorrow. To prepare businesses for this new landscape, three organizations have launched a set of guidelines designed to help companies proactively develop strategies to manage risks and opportunities arising from ecosystem degradation.

The guidelines, called the “Corporate Ecosystem Services Review,” were developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in collaboration with the Meridian Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Five WBCSD members – Akzo Nobel, BC Hydro, Mondi, Rio Tinto, and Syngenta – “road tested” the methodology and provided input to its design.

“The world’s forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems are under tremendous pressure due to climate change, land conversion, and many other factors,” says Jonathan Lash, president, WRI. “As ecosystems degrade, companies will face operational, regulatory, and reputational risks while those that offer solutions may find new business opportunities and new sources of revenue.”

Ecosystems provide companies with a wide variety of benefits or services including freshwater, wood, pollination, climate regulation, and protection from natural hazards, to name a few.

“Ecosystem services are often unacknowledged, yet they underpin many corporate activities,” says John Ehrmann, managing partner of the Meridian Institute. “I am pleased with the feedback from company managers who are finding the guidelines helpful for developing strategies that improve both corporate performance and ecosystem stewardship.”

The road testers found that the guidelines can provide a number of other benefits as well. They can help companies anticipate new markets and government policies that may emerge in response to ecosystem degradation. They can strengthen corporate environmental impact assessments by adding considerations traditional methods may overlook. They also can help companies better manage conflicts over resources, identifying options for better trade-offs between ecosystem services.

“The methodology helped us identify and rank emerging problems, and provided us with a framework for turning risks into opportunities,” says Peter Gardiner, natural resources manager at Mondi, a leading international paper and packaging manufacturer.

Mondi’s newfound strategies include a number of operational changes that will increase the company’s efficiency in using freshwater, a scarce ecosystem service, and lead to new markets for the company’s byproducts.

“The Corporate Ecosystem Review helped us to better understand how a number of emerging environmental changes are likely to affect our business and how our company might best position itself to respond to these changes,” says Steve Hunt, senior vice president, Asia-Pacific, Eka Chemicals, a division of chemical giant Akzo Nobel.

Some road testers, such as Mondi and BC Hydro, used the guidelines to gain insight into the direct implications that ecosystem trends pose for them. Other road-testers, such as Akzo Nobel and Syngenta, applied the methodology to understand the risks faced by a segment of their customers due to ecosystem degradation and, in turn, discovered opportunities for new products or services that address these risks. The guidelines profile these and other road-test experiences.

“We’re going to be hearing a lot about the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review. A couple dozen more WBCSD members are already taking it up this year,” says Björn Stigson, president of the WBCSD. “Leading companies realize that they need to be prepared for the business challenges posed by ecosystem decline.”

Phasing Out Fluorocarbons

2008-03-27T07:35:00.000-04:00

Experts in the HVAC industry are anticipating increased demand for refrigerant solutions essential to help meet the new, accelerated terms of the Montreal Protocol, which will eventually phase out the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) R-22. “In about 100 weeks, we expect that the HVAC&R industry will experience an increasingly tight supply of R-22, as well as available labor to support the transition to alternatives,” said Diane Iuliano Picho, global business manager, DuPont Refrigerants.

“Implementing immediate reclamation and recovery practices and proactively transitioning to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) alternatives, such as DuPont™ ISCEON® refrigerants, is critical for equipment owners and contractors. Transitioning to alternatives now, rather than retrofitting in an emergency, is environmentally responsible and just makes good business sense.”

DuPont offers the broadest portfolio of cooling technologies designed to lead the industry toward more sustainable environmental and performance solutions. These include DuPont™ ISCEON® refrigerants, a complete family of easy-to-use, non-ozone-depleting HFC retrofit refrigerant blends, and DuPont™ Suva® HFC refrigerants.

In September 2007, the Montreal Protocol was revised to accelerate the phase-out of R-22 and other HCFCs as a means of further protecting the ozone layer. Under the new terms of the Montreal Protocol, developed nations are obligated to meet the accelerated schedule through reduced production and consumption of HCFCs. Within the United States, the HVAC&R industry must attain 75% reduction of HCFCs by 2010 versus the original consumption cap of 65%.

Retrofitting existing equipment now with easy-to-use, cost-effective and non-ozone depleting alternatives, such as DuPont™ ISCEON® refrigerants, is one way equipment owners and contractors can transition away from HCFCs and minimize an anticipated R-22 shortfall or any potential business disruption, including expected labor shortages as the 2010 phase-out deadline approaches. Stepped up efforts to encourage greater participation in R-22 reclamation and recycling is another area of emphasis for the company.

Zeftron Nylon Designates All Products As Enviro6ix

2008-03-20T10:14:00.005-04:00

Zeftron nylon has announced that all new and existing products made with its premium nylon 6 fiber now come standard with the Enviro6ix® designation, which guarantees that all carpet made with Zeftron nylon has a minimum of 25% recycled content.

The Enviro6ix designation is a third party certification guaranteeing a minimum 25% recycled content in every color. It also indicates that carpet can be recycled using Zeftron nylon’s 6ix Again commercial carpet recycling program offering end users an alternative to landfill disposal.

Says Tim Blount, Zeftron nylon’s business leader, “This announcement reinforces our commitment to making an environmentally responsible commercial carpet fiber. The Enviro6ix label gives end users, facility managers, specifiers, and interior designers the assurance that all carpet made with Zeftron nylon has no less than 25 percent recycled content.”

Zeftron nylon is available in hundreds of existing styles through a multitude of mill partner product offerings specific for commercial project installations. Zeftron nylon has been specified in such varied commercial interior spaces as colleges (New York University, Boston University, University of California at Berkley), airports (John F. Kennedy International Airport), and hotels (The New Yorker Hotel).

About Zeftron® Nylon
Zeftron nylon is the brand name for a select offering of nylon 6 commercial carpet yarn systems. These yarn systems have been supplied to carpet manufacturers specializing in carpet for the commercial interiors marketplace for more than 40 years. All carpets manufactured with Zeftron nylon are third-party performance certified and fully warranted for performance, stain release, colorfastness, and static control. Zeftron nylon is a part of Shaw Industries Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company.

Steelcase Building Site Of Exhibit On Sea Life

2008-03-18T10:53:00.003-04:00

The SeaChange Institute, a project of the Ocean Alliance, has mounted an exhibit in the lobby of the Steelcase Building at 4 Columbus Circle in Manhattan that addresses the importance of living sustainably by keeping pollutants out of the seas. The exhibit is underwritten by the Annenberg Foundation.

SeaChange is on display weekdays through May 31st between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 4 Columbus Circle across from the AOL/Time building. The exhibit highlights the problem of the “bioamplification” of heavy metals and other toxins in the fish we eat and what that means both for consumers and for the future of the world’s seafood supply. It visually documents some of the results of a 5½ year scientific voyage around the world by the Ocean Alliance research vessel, Odyssey, to gather the first ever baseline data on levels of synthetic contaminants throughout the world’s oceans.

Dr. Roger Payne, a biologist and founder of Ocean Alliance, explains, “Preliminary results of our research voyage indicate that the world’s oceans are seriously contaminated with a suite of heavy metals as well as by POPs (persistent organic pollutants), including a subset of POPs known as EDCs (endocrine disrupting compounds) that are of particular concern.”

The term “bioamplification” describes the process through which consumption of pollutants in organisms by chains of ocean predators (food chains) causes these toxins to reconcentrate, increasing their concentration by about 10 times in each new predator step in the chain. The SeaChange exhibit shows that the highest concentrations of EDCs are found in the very fish consumers love to eat most, the top predators in this chain.

Payne, who is best known for his discovery (with Scott McVay) that humpback whales sing songs, and for his theory that the sounds of fin and blue whales can be heard across oceans, describes his latest studies of ocean pollutants as “the most important scientific research with which I have ever been involved.”

The SeaChange exhibit on display at the Steelcase Building summarizes in layman’s language Ocean Alliance’s preliminary research findings on how these pollutants are impacting the seafood chain. Payne and his associates have been analyzing close to one thousand skin samples extracted benignly from sperm whales around the world. When complete, their research will provide the first bioassay—quantitative measurement—to look at pollutant levels and their physiological effects on fish throughout the world’s oceans.

“We want to create awareness in the general public,” Payne said, “that today’s ‘better living through chemistry’ is polluting the fish we eat and, that if it keeps up, humanity will soon lose access to seafood.” The SeaChange exhibit offers some solutions to this serious problem. “We want to arouse exhibit-visitors’ concern about the critical importance of living sustainably, without which, civilization has no long-term future,” explained Payne’s wife and fellow environmental spokesperson Lisa Harrow.

Together, Payne and Harrow—an actress with numerous stage, film, and television credits—also have been sharing their message about the need to protect the planet by living sustainably through their lecture/performance piece, "SeaChange: Reversing the Tide." That piece combines the knowledge of science with the wisdom of poetry—from Shakespeare to Robert Frost to Mary Oliver, and others — to argue compellingly that man’s survival depends on the well being of thousands of other species on this planet.

They hope that the SeaChange exhibit at Steelcase will reach more audiences with their message that most of the problems humanity faces are solvable, that many solutions are simple, and that existing scientific knowledge is strong enough to start implementing the long-term rewards of living sustainably.

Steelcase Featured In Exhibit
Steelcase is represented in the SeaChange exhibit as well. Projected on the lobby wall are quotes from Economicology: The Eleventh Commandment, a book by Peter M. Wege. The former Steelcase board member and son of one of the company founders coined the word “economicology” in the 1990s to define the balance the world must find between “economics” and “ecology.”

“Our lobby exhibitions now and in the past have connected to the community and have been a source of education,” noted Steelcase spokeswoman Jeannie Bochette. “From the moment we opened our space, more than 10 years ago, we have had exhibitions, which change every three months.”

About The Exhibitors
The Ocean Alliance is dedicated to rigorous scientific research in conjunction with global education in order to improve people’s appreciation for, and understanding of the ocean environment and the creatures within it. Their principal focus is on whales and the importance of conserving them.

Since 1967, Ocean Alliance founder Roger Payne, has studied the behavior of whales, leading over 100 expeditions to all oceans and studying every species of baleen whale in the wild. In 2007, Payne—who is knighted in the Netherlands and is a MacArthur Fellow—was awarded the Dawkins Prize for Animal Conservation and Welfare by Balliol College, Oxford University “For outstanding research into the ecology and behavior of animals whose welfare and survival may be endangered by human activities.”

His publications include the book, Among Whales (1995) and three recordings: Songs of the Humpback Whale (1970), Deep Voices (1975), and Whales Alive (1989—works composed by whales but arranged and played by humans). Payne has appeared in many documentary films for television, some of which he wrote and/or presented. He co-wrote and co-directed the IMAX film Whales. An award-winning film about Payne’s work, A Life Among Whales, is currently being screened worldwide.

In addition to writing and performing SeaChange: Reversing the Tide, Lisa Harrow is the author of the environmental handbook What Can I Do? Born in New Zealand, she studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Her resume boasts numerous other stage, film, and television credits, including a number of leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Lisa played the lead in the New York production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit. She won the Australian Oscar for Best Actress for the film The Last Days of Chez Nous, and starred in the film Sunday, which won the Grand Jury Award at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

The couple married their scientific and theatrical talents with their shared environmental interests to create SeaChange: Reversing the Tide, which uses science and poetry to urge Earth’s inhabitants to make sustainable living our primary goal.

Energy Efficient Space Scheduling

2008-03-11T09:23:00.009-04:00

PeopleCube, a provider of on-demand workplace and resource management technology, and Building Sustainability LTD (BSL), a provider of energy efficient building solutions, have announced the integration of PeopleCube's Resource Scheduler intelligent workplace scheduling solution with Building Sustainability's Footprint Tracker energy consumption and carbon emissions tracking application.

This solution enables client companies to monitor and reduce energy consumption based on efficient scheduling and usage of workspace and energy resources, resulting in lower costs for energy (e.g., heating and lighting) and reduced carbon emissions.

PeopleCube's Resource Scheduler solution is an on-demand workplace and resource management application that allows organizations to use space more efficiently, which in turn empowers them to reduce real estate needs/costs and to decrease energy costs as a result of effective resource usage. It includes a wide variety of features and functionality to implement office hoteling/hot desking work environments, schedule conference rooms and services, reserve videoconferencing systems, and report on workspace usage.

Building Sustainability's Footprint Tracker software suite is a management information system that collects all information about the energy usage of a building and its occupiers. It calculates the energy costs and the resulting carbon footprint of the facility, and presents the data in a Web accessible dashboard format. In addition, the Footprint Tracker can be integrated with wearable location badge sensors to allow individuals to manage their use of energy. Individuals can control lighting, HVAC, computers, and other local resources, based on personal profiles and location.

By integrating Footprint Tracker with Resource Scheduler, customers are provided with a cutting edge, intuitive "management dashboard" model that allows organizations to fully understand their energy consumption patterns and clearly demonstrate their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact based on room schedules, occupancy, and the actual location of people.

About Building Sustainability Limited
Building Sustainability Limited (BSL) is a technology company working with the commercial property sector, developers, and occupants to design and implement systems to track and control energy consumption and carbon emissions. BSL is part of the Cordless Group which has a 12 year track record of advising blue chip companies on workplace change. The Cordless Group has offices around the world including London, Stockholm, Sydney and Shanghai.

About PeopleCube
PeopleCube provides intelligent on-demand workplace and resource management solutions that help customers run environmentally friendly, cost-effective workplaces. Through its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA and offices throughout the world, PeopleCube supports 7,500 customers in small, medium, and large enterprises.

EPA Launches "Vision, Mission, and Strategy for Sustainable Ports"

2008-03-10T09:29:00.004-04:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently unveiled a plan of action for working with public port authorities and other interested groups to reduce the environmental impacts of moving goods through ports. The "Vision, Mission, and Strategy for Sustainable Ports" recognizes the steady growth in global maritime commerce and the critical role American ports and related transportation and supply chain partners play in managing the environmental impacts of moving goods across the country.

EPA reports that ocean going ships move more than 99% of U.S. overseas trade (by weight). The top 10 U.S. ports moved a combined total of 23 million cargo containers in 2006. The environmental challenges for ports and their transportation network include reducing air emissions, improving water quality, and protecting the health of communities near port facilities.

The EPA Strategy focuses on six themes:
* Clean Air and Affordable Energy
* Clean and Safe Water
* Healthy Communities and Eco-systems
* Global Environment
* Ports Communications
* Enforcement

There are more than 70 possible actions, including: working with port authorities, their business partners, and other sectors of the transportation industry to quantify and reduce air emissions from all sources along the shipping supply chain; setting up state innovative financing funds to help small owner-operators of diesel equipment finance the upgrading or replacement of older, dirtier engines; and collaborating with the international port community on innovative technologies and development of international standards.

EPA's strategy complements the recent resolution and guiding principles on port sustainability issued by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). EPA programs will work with AAPA, individual port authorities, private port operators, transportation supply and logistics companies, government agencies, states, communities, and other interested groups to promote and implement sustainable practices at ports and their related operations. EPA regions will work collaboratively with individual ports to select (from among the full menu of possible actions in the EPA Strategy) a specific set of activities to work on together. These shared action plans will address the environmental impacts and opportunities for ports in different parts of the country.

To find out more about EPA Strategy for Sustainable Ports and the ports sector, visit: www.epa.gov/sectors/ports/

Cincinnati Opens First New Fire Station In 25 Years

2008-03-07T13:24:00.005-05:00

The facility is the first city government building to be built to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED standards. The new station was dedicated on February 27, with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory; members of City Council; City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr.; neighborhood representatives; and representatives of Congressional delegates noting that the station embodies the City’s commitment to environmental friendliness, customer service delivery, and continued safety.

Fire Station No. 9 is designed from a whole-building approach, which features sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, recycled materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The project has been registered for LEED certification with the USGBC, but has not received certification to date.

Said Mayor Mark Mallory, "Fire Station No. 9 is the City's first environmentally friendly green building. That means its more energy efficient and has lower operating costs.” Cole Russell Architects, the chief architect, worked closely with the firefighters from the station, the community, and City administration in the design of the facility.

The new station, which is three times larger than the previous station is a two-story structure with a total square footage of 15,555 square feet. It houses Engine 9, Squad 9 and Ambulance 9.

The Fire Station will help deliver quality services to the surrounding communities, especially with the addition of the Heavy Rescue and Ambulance units. The new fire station replaces Engine 9’s former fire station, which was built in 1929. The station is equipped with a training area for firefighters so they can practice rescue and emergency response on site. "With this new firehouse, the Cincinnati Fire Department will continue to improve firefighter readiness and be better able to serve the community," said Fire Chief Robert Wright.

Fire Station No. 9 was dedicated in honor of fallen firefighter, Oscar “Ozzie” Armstrong, who died in the line of duty in a residential fire in March of 2003. Armstrong was a member of Engine 9 at the time. Annette Armstrong spoke on behalf of the family saying, “This is a great honor for our family and the memory of Ozzie. This beautiful facility and enhancements throughout the Cincinnati Fire Department are a testament to Ozzie’s legacy.”

Building the Fire Station at this site was made possible through a generous arrangement with the former owner of the Sugar-n-Spice Restaurant, Miles “Mick” Michaelson and his wife.

Live from CeBit: It's FacilityBlog

2008-03-04T08:40:00.003-05:00

Today is the first full day of exhibits and sessions at CeBIT, held at the massive Hannover Trade Fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany. The focus of the show is technology broken down this year into three distinct sections: Public Sector, Business, and Home & Mobile Solutions.

Last night's opening ceremony included words of welcome from some of Europe's top political names--Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy--along with one of the heaviest hitters in the IT game, Steve Ballmer. Educational sessions kicked off today with classes based around the theme, "Improving Life for the Global Village." One interesting keynote on global threats looked at the unsettling question of infrastructure vulnerability. On a lighter note, the session on the IT "hits and flops of the last decade" also looked at some of the possible standards that may make it easier to avoid problems of the past.

As for the exhibits, the Green IT pavilion proved to be an intriguing concept, but there appeared to be a bigger buzz in some of the more consumer oriented exhibits. Perhaps the public isn't quite ready to accept green into its daily technology lifestyle?

More to come!

Home Depot Settles Storm Water Violations

2008-03-03T09:38:00.003-05:00

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that the company has agreed to pay a $1.3 million penalty and implement a nationwide compliance program to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The settlement resolves alleged violations that were discovered at more than 30 construction sites in 28 states where new Home Depot stores were being built.

According to the February 26 release from EPA:

The settlement, joined by the state of Colorado, requires that Home Depot implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to prevent storm water pollution at each new store it builds nationwide. Home Depot must develop improved pollution prevention plans for each site, increase site inspections, and promptly correct any problems at its sites. The company must properly train its construction managers, as well as contractors and their personnel on the federal storm water requirements. Home Depot must also implement a management and internal reporting system to improve oversight of on-the-ground operations and appoint a high-level company official to oversee compliance at all company construction sites.

"EPA requires construction sites to take simple, basic steps to prevent storm water pollution," said Granta Y. Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "We expect a large corporation like Home Depot to comply with the law and protect the waters in the communities it serves."

"Storm water that runs off of large construction sites can carry sediment, debris, and other pollutants into surrounding waterways," said Ronald J. Tenpas, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "This settlement is an important step in protecting the environment around Home Depot's future construction locations."

The government complaint alleged a pattern of violations that EPA discovered through state and federal inspections of construction sites and by reviewing documentation submitted by the company. The alleged violations include not obtaining permits until after construction had begun or failing to obtain the required permits at all. At the sites that had permits, EPA found violations of permit requirements that prevent pollution, such as silt and debris, from getting into storm water runoff. Violations included the failure to maintain adequate plans to prevent storm water pollution, failure to properly place and install fences around project areas to prevent silt from getting into storm water runoff, and failure to install controls at storm drains to prevent soil and sediments from reaching nearby waterways.

The Clean Water Act requires that construction sites have controls in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with storm water into nearby waterways. Each site must have a storm water pollution prevention plan that sets guidelines and best management practices that the company will follow to prevent runoff from being contaminated by pollutants. EPA also requires that all construction projects larger than one acre obtain a federal permit.

Improving compliance at construction sites is one of EPA's national enforcement priorities. Construction projects have a high potential for environmental harm because they cover large areas of land and have had a history of noncompliance with environmental regulations. Without onsite controls, runoff from construction sites can flow directly to the nearest waterway and can cause beach closings, swimming and fishing restrictions, and habitat degradation. As storm water flows over construction sites, it can pick up pollutants, including sediment, used oil, pesticides, solvents and other debris. Polluted runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife and can affect drinking water quality.

Today's settlement is the latest in a series of enforcement actions to address storm water violations from construction sites around the country. A similar consent decree was reached with Wal-Mart in 2005 under which Wal-Mart established a comprehensive storm water compliance plan and paid a fine of more than $3 million.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. Home Depot is required to pay the penalty within 30 days of the court's approval of the settlement.

More information on the Home Depot settlement can be found at: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/homedepot1207.html

More information on Clean Water Act enforcement: www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/cwa/index.html

Standard For High Performance Buildings Open For Public Review

2008-02-29T09:02:00.003-05:00

Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is now open for its second public review. Upon approval, the standard will essentially define high performance buildings in code-intended language.

Proposed Standard 189.1 will provide minimum requirements for the design of high performance new commercial buildings and major renovation projects, addressing energy efficiency, a building’s impact on the atmosphere, sustainable sites, water use efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. It is being developed by ASHRAE, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

“This standard is an energy saving stepping stone toward ASHRAE’s goal of net-zero-energy buildings,” says John Hogan, chair of the committee that wrote the standard. “This is a goal that IESNA and the USGBC support as well as partners in this standard’s development. It also gives building owners or jurisdictions that voluntarily choose to adopt the standard a tool for constructing truly high-performing buildings that provide energy-efficient, safe and comfortable environments for occupants.”

By applying the minimum set of prescriptive recommendations, Standard 189.1P leads to site energy savings ranging from 10% to 41% over Standard 90.1-2007, including plug and process loads and all other energy consumption for the building, with an average of 24.9% for all climates.

The proposed standard also provides indoor water savings of 35% for an office building and 26% for a multifamily building.

The indoor air quality criteria have been coordinated with ASHRAE’s IAQ Design Guide (under development), and the commissioning criteria have been more closely aligned with ASHRAE’s commissioning guidelines.

This second public review began February 22, 2008 and ends April 7, 2008. (The first public review of the Standard generated 900 comments.)

Proposed ASHRAE standards, guidelines and addenda to standards are available only during public review periods. To read the draft standard or to comment, interested parties should visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.

Leaders In Rechargeable Battery Recycling Recognized

2008-02-28T10:25:00.008-05:00

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries, has announced the recipients of its 7th annual Recycling Leadership Awards. This year’s participants recognized for their exceptional recycling efforts with RBRC’s Call2RecycleTM program include: the City of Los Angeles; COGERNO (New Brunswick, Canada); Hennepin County (Minnesota); Montgomery County (Maryland); the City of Austin (Texas); and Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune (North Carolina).

The Recycling Leadership Awards recognize RBRC’s community and public program participants for their exceptional efforts in rechargeable battery recycling through the Call2Recycle program. The awards are divided into regional and national categories with four U.S. regional award winners and two national award winners – one from the United States and one from Canada.

“Call2Recycle’s success is very closely related to the success of our community and public recycling partners. RBRC is proud to recognize several outstanding programs that have made significant contributions to the growth of the program,” said Linda Gabor, director of marketing & media relations for RBRC. “We hope that participation among these groups continues to increase and that more local programs will engage their communities through outreach and education on the importance of rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling in helping to protect our environment.”

2007 National Recycling Leadership Awards Recipients
The following groups were nationally recognized participants in the Call2Recycle program:

City of Los Angeles
Since joining the RBRC program in 2005, the City of Los Angeles has collected more than 39,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries through the Call2Recycle program, with more than 15,500 pounds collected in 2006 alone. The City of Los Angeles Department of General Services promotes recycling and waste minimization to all city departments, which encompasses approximately 40,000 employees at more than 400 facilities. Strategically placed RBRC collection boxes in the lobbies of select city buildings make the recycling program accessible to both the general public and city employees. Key to the program’s success are efforts to raise awareness among city employees for the different recycling options available to them, as well as an emphasis on education that includes training sessions for employees and refresher courses for participating city departments.

COGERNO (Commission de gestion enviro ressources du Nord-Ouest); Province of New Brunswick, Canada
Continuous community involvement has helped COGERNO promote the mission and goals of RBRC in Canada and collect more than 2,300 pounds of rechargeable batteries since it enrolled in the program in 2005. The combination of extensive promotion at community events and workshops, school education and the distribution of collection containers at convenient locations across the region has enabled COGERNO to recycle nearly 750 pounds of rechargeable batteries through the RBRC program in 2006. COGERNO’s participation in RBRC has helped enhance the regional waste management recycling strategy, creating added environmental benefits and financial savings to their overall program.

2007 Regional Recycling Leadership Awards Recipients
The following groups were recognized on a regional level for their participation in the Call2Recycle program:

Hennepin County Environmental Services; Minneapolis, MN
As RBRC’s largest community collection program, Hennepin County Environmental Services has been an important driver in rechargeable battery recycling in Minnesota, collecting more than 165,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries since 1994. With more than 22,000 pounds collected in 2006, the efforts of this community are largely successful due to an extensive public outreach and education campaign. Program participation has had a significant impact on the community’s waste stream, with Hennepin County providing battery collection opportunities through county collection sites, curbside collection in the city of Minneapolis, two year-round permanent collection facilities and various event collection opportunities.

Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste – Hazardous Waste Program; Derwood, MD
The Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste joined Call2Recycle in 2003 and has successfully implemented a rechargeable battery collection program at the county’s household hazardous waste stations. These efforts resulted in the collection of more than 6,300 pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2006. The Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services Web site specifically targets consumer batteries and links to RBRC’s Web site so that consumers can return their rechargeable batteries to the most convenient collection locations, as well as through the county’s household hazardous waste stations. RBRC’s free Call2Recycle program results in significant avoided costs for the county.

City of Austin, Household Hazardous Waste Management Program, Department of Solid Waste Services; Austin, TX
A Call2Recycle participant since 2004, the Austin Department of Solid Waste Services has collected more than 13,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries. The department has a comprehensive education program designed to build and maintain awareness regarding the importance of recycling used rechargeable batteries, as well as the ability to recycle them at either the Household Hazardous Waste recycling center or approximately 30 participating retail locations. In addition, a staff presence at community events such as the Green City Festival and Green Garden Expo, as well as department-sponsored electronics collection events, has helped spread the word about rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling throughout the Austin metro area. These combined efforts resulted in the collection of more than 2,800 pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2006.

Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune Environmental Management Division; Camp Lejeune, NC
Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Management division operates a successful rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program at the base’s hazardous waste facility for naval departments and base residents, which collected more than 5,300 pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2006. Four Environmental Compliance Coordinating Officers help spread awareness of the program throughout the base on a regular basis, and residents are advised to check their belongings for hazardous waste, including rechargeable batteries, when they move on and off the base.

RBRC’s Call2Recycle program is available to communities and public agencies without any associated fees. There are currently more than 6,000 communities and public agencies enrolled in the program in the U.S. and Canada. For more information on implementing a recycling program, contact RBRC toll free at 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.

FRIDAY FUNNY: Drastic Water Conservation Message

2008-02-22T09:01:00.003-05:00

Today's Friday Funny will let facility managers know they are not the only toilet zealots out there. There are drastic ways to call attention to this ongoing facility management nuisance: running toilets and the water they waste.

One water conservation example comes from this past college football season, where Denver Water pulled out all the stops during a rivalry game between Colorado and Colorado State. When a "running toilet" tore across Invesco Field during the fourth quarter of Colorado's 31-28 September overtime victory, physical action in the form of a full body tackle from a security guard forced the toilet "to take one for the team." (Which team? Denver Water, of course!)

Here's footage of the incident, courtesty of YouTube:

Does it really take a toilet storming the field and getting mock-tackled to remind people that running toilets are bad and should be addressed? The answer is obviously "yes" in Denver.

Data Loggers Can Help In Green Roof Evaluation

2008-02-13T09:55:00.009-05:00

Onset Computer Corporation, maker of HOBO® data loggers, has made available a white paper that provides guidance and tips on how data logging weather stations can be used to monitor green roof performance. The document --"Monitoring Green Roof Performance with Weather Stations"-- discusses a range of monitoring applications that can help satisfy requirements for LEED Certification credits, such as stormwater management performance documentation.

Interested parties can access the white paper at www.onsetcomp.com/greenroofs. Basic contact information is required to access the download.

About Onset Computer Corporation
Located in Bourne, MA, Onset as been producing small, inexpensive, battery-powered data loggers and embedded controllers since 1981, and has sold over 1,000,000 loggers that are used throughout the world by over 50,000 customers. The company manufactures a broad range of data logger and weather station products that are used to measure temperature, humidity, light intensity, voltage, and a broad range of other parameters. Onset products are used in a wide range of research, commercial, industrial, and educational applications.

Assistance With LEED Accreditation Offered

2008-02-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

Cleveland, OH-based TES Engineering, a national consulting mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering firm, now offers LEED® Accredited Professionals to assist clients who are seeking certification of projects by the U.S. Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification provides third-party validation of a building’s green features and is recognized in the United States and a number of other countries as the standard for measuring building sustainability.

LEED certification allows building owners to take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives and has fostered higher lease-up rates than conventional buildings in their markets. LEED-certified projects also cost less to operate and maintain; are energy- and water-efficient; are healthier and safer for occupants; and are a physical demonstration of the values of the organizations that own and occupy them.

“More of our clients are making commitments to green building design and are looking for LEED certification,” said Dieter Hausmann, P.E., TES’ director of mechanical engineering and quality assurance. “We’ve always offered guidance in value engineering to offer long-term energy and cost savings, and now we can help our clients earn LEED certification.” Hausmann and John Edwards, P.E., achieved LEED Accredited Professional designations in December, and other TES engineers are pursuing accreditation.

The level of certification a project earns is based on the number of points awarded for satisfying specific green building criteria within six categories; utilizing a LEED Accredited Professional earns one point. TES’ innovative designs and recommendations to reduce energy usage, control temperature and lighting, and improve indoor air quality can earn additional points for projects, as well—often without added costs or identifying means of offsetting expenses with savings in other areas.

TES creates designs with buildable documents and “thinks like an owner” to save money for clients and provide value. The Firm has developed an industry specialization in retail, optimizing its activities to keep fees down and services up, with a proven track record in helping clients increase funds from operations and speed initiation of rent. TES also has broad MEP design expertise in areas such as commercial office space, senior living, grocery, restaurant, and light industrial.

Haworth's Showroom In India Earns LEED-CI Gold

2008-02-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

The designer and manufacturer of office furniture and adaptable workspaces recently announced that its Pune, India showroom has achieved LEED Gold for Commercial Interiors (CI) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This Haworth showroom is the second building in India to receive LEED for Commercial Interiors (CI) Gold honors.

The 7,880 square foot facility earned high marks in key LEED environmental categories including water efficiency, sustainable sites, and innovation and design. In particular, the building has reduced potable water use by more than 40% from a calculated baseline design—a major consideration in Pune’s seasonably dry climate. The showroom also earned a LEED innovation credit for its waste water collection system, which is reused for irrigation on site.

“Our Pune showroom LEED certification confirms that our commitment to sustainability is universal yet tailored to each specific site,” said Franco Bianchi, Haworth President & CEO. “It is important for us to serve our customers effectively in this part of the world, yet we need to do so with as light an environmental footprint as possible. Pune shows we are dedicated to ‘walking the talk’ in North America and beyond.”

Haworth has committed to building its facilities to LEED standards at the Gold level or higher for its showrooms and business offices, at Silver and above for manufacturing facilities, and/or to the applicable local green building standard worldwide.

Haworth’s Pune facility includes a manufacturing plant as well as the showroom. Although not registered for LEED certification, the plant’s design and construction reflect green building principles related to energy efficiency and improved air quality. The building features natural light through the extensive use of skylights.

Green power is used throughout the entire 50,000 square foot showroom and manufacturing facility through Haworth’s purchase of renewable energy credits. The company also provides a bus system that transports 66% of its employees to and from work. Bike racks and changing rooms are available for those who prefer “personal pedal power.”

“During the site’s construction phase Haworth worked with India-based architects, designers and building contractors,” explained Mitch Boucher, Haworth project manager. “We used regionally sourced materials and diverted 95% of our construction waste from landfill. The Gold LEED certification we were able to achieve for this project honors our Pune employees and everyone associated with this effort.”

A major industrial center of 4.5 million people, Pune is located in southwest central India approximately 93 miles southeast of Mumbai, formerly Bombay. Pune is home to numerous software and IT companies as well as a growing automotive industry that is earning it a reputation as “the Detroit of India.”

Presently, Haworth is also renovating its Holland, MI corporate headquarters to LEED for New Construction (NC) Gold specifications. Haworth showrooms in Chicago and Los Angeles are LEED-CI Gold certified, while company showrooms in Dallas, Washington, D.C., New York and Toronto are LEED-CI registered.

First LEED Gold Building In Latin America

2008-01-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

The HSBC Bank Headquarters Tower located in Mexico City has become the first project in Latin America to achieve the level of LEED Gold status. Global architectural firm, HOK, designed the changes implemented at the building to achieve the LEED designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

With headquarters in London, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. When HSBC merged with another local bank (Bital) in 2002, the company purchased the new Torre Angel building on the Paseo de la Reforma – Mexico City’s main thoroughfare – for its consolidated Mexican headquarters. Gisca, a developer in Mexico, awarded HOK the contract to redesign the building façade and public spaces, and HOK also designed the building interiors. (The project previously earned the 2007 National Interiors Award and the top award for Corporate Interior Design from the Mexican Interior Design Association.)

This project served as a pilot for HSBC as its Corporate Real Estate group began to rethink the company’s global workplace standards. HOK helped HSBC study ways to increase the density of its Mexican headquarters building. Strategies developed for a 100-person pilot group include implementing alternative ways of working such as telecommuting, hoteling and space-sharing.

Several sustainable strategies helped the project achieve LEED Gold status:
* Daylight is accessible to as many building occupants as possible through an efficient open office plan.
* A 4,000 square-foot green roof reduces stormwater runoff, filters pollutants and CO2 out of the air, and reduces the urban heat island effect.
* An onsite graywater treatment plant sends treated water to water closets and chillers and collects storm water for irrigation.
* The team selected low-VOC carpeting and used GreenGuard certified furniture from Knoll, Herman Miller and Haworth.
* Public transportation is a convenient for occupants because of the site’s close proximity to several bus stops and a public transit station.
* The facility offers bike racks for employees on the ground level, and several local materials and resources were used during construction.

“We hope this project serves as an example for greening the community and encouraging the Mexican government to offer more incentives for creating environmentally friendly buildings,” HOK Project Manager Javier Presas. “The project already has created more interest among developers, clients and architects in Mexico.”

HSBC is the first major bank to go carbon neutral worldwide. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings and communities are responsible for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere.

HSBC Mexico represents HOK’s 22nd project to earn LEED recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Fireplace Emissions Certification Program Launched

2008-01-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

Intertek has launched a new certification program for low emissions manufactured fireplaces. Through the program, wood burning fireplaces will be tested and certified to the requirements of ASTM E2558, “Standard Test Method for Determining Particulate Matter Emissions from Fires in Low Mass Wood-Burning Fireplaces”. Manufacturers will now have access to an independent test lab to demonstrate the effectiveness of low emissions fireplaces.

“This program will help manufacturers designing and launching low emissions fireplaces to validate the environmental benefit of their products,” said Jeff Turcotte, vice president, Intertek. “What’s more, manufacturers can use this certification as a competitive tool to differentiate their product to consumers and retailers alike.”

Regulatory authorities throughout North America can look to ASTM E2558 compliance for assurance that these low emissions products perform to the required performance criteria.

Within the next two years, states throughout the U.S. must demonstrate to the EPA that they are taking steps to become compliant with environmental regulations such as EPA PM 2.5. To ensure compliance, authorities are expected to specify product emissions limits significantly below the historical levels of 10 to 20 grams per kilogram of wood burned by “old technology” fireplaces. Early adopters that introduce ASTM E2558 compliant products will see that certifying lower emission performance will be a valuable tool in building business, gaining market share, and creating consumer preference.

FRIDAY FUNNY: Who Gives a Dam?

2008-01-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

You think you have problems with building permits and bureaucracy? Imagine what this poor guy thought when he received this strange letter from the State of Michigan. This is an actual exchange that took place back in 1997 between the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and a man named Stephen Tvedten, whose neighbors noticed flooding on his property and traced it back to a dam on Tvedten's stream. This guy's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter. (Verified on Snopes.)

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023-1 T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued.

Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations.

We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted.

The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1996. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative Land and Water Management Division

Here is the response:

Dear Mr. Price:
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County

Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response.

First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize, their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no dam way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.

My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said dam representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names. If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter-being unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda rights first.

As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy, or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green, and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem: bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten

It turns out the letter was sent before an inspection of the dams took place by the DEC. The department eventually dropped its investigation and decided not to pursue its case against the beavers.

Many thanks to Jeff Crane for sending this Friday Funny suggestion.

Ferrum College Creating Scholarship Fund With Help Of Roofing Materials Supplier

2008-01-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

West Development Group, a LaGrange, OH manufacturer and service provider of silicone and polyurethane foam roofing systems, made the initial contribution to the “Scientia Terrae Causa” (Knowledge for the Earth) Environmental Science Scholarship Fund and will donate a percentage of all future sales of its environmental products, such as its solvent-free silicone roof coating, to the fund. Ferrum College is a four-year college located in Ferrum, VA.

Working to further the scholarship fund, Ferrum College is engaging with other national corporate and foundation partners to establish the scholarship fund for high school students planning to pursue studies in environmental science at Ferrum. The college’s Environmental Science Program is the second-oldest academic program in the nation devoted to training environmental scientists. Only Stanford University has a longer history in this discipline.

“This scholarship fund is ideal for future students of Ferrum, current students, and the environment,” explained Dr. Lee King, vice president for institutional advancement at Ferrum College. “First, it will provide financial help for high school students considering a career in environmental science. Second, it will help current Ferrum students gain practical experience because our Environmental Department will select research opportunities that provide learning opportunities for students, as well as application benefits for our scholarship fund partners.”

Through its admission office, Ferrum College will actively recruit additional students into its Environmental Sciences Program and help West Development Group, along with its funding partners, market the “Scientia Terrae Causa” Environmental Science Scholarship Fund to high school students.

To help further develop the next generation of environmental scientists, WDG is encouraging its business and research partners to contribute to the scholarship fund. Huntsman, a manufacturer of polyurethanes and specialties, based in The Woodlands, TX, is the first company to contribute to the fund.

“Every time we install a roof using environmental products from our total silicone roof system, our customer benefits with a quality, cost-competitive roof,” said Richard West, owner of West Development Group. “Better yet, WDG contributes to the Ferrum College scholarship fund. We’re committed to better roofs, a cleaner planet, and providing financial assistance to young people who want to pursue a career in environmental sciences.”

City Resolves To Rebuild To Highest LEED Standard

2008-01-03T09:28:00.001-05:00

The City Council of Greensburg, KS recently passed a resolution that it will certify all city owned buildings LEED Platinum. It is the first U.S. city to pass such a resolution.

LEED Platinum is the highest rating a building can achieve under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Greensburg, KS, devastated by a massive tornado on May 4, 2007, has focused its recovery on rebuilding as a model green community. On December 17, 2007, the City Council adopted a resolution that all city buildings greater than 4,000 square feet will be certified LEED Platinum and be required to reduce energy use by 42% over current building code requirements.

"The city of Greensburg has taken the extraordinary step of committing to rebuild their community to a new vision, not settling for simply recreating what had gone before," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of the USGBC. "By committing to a recovery plan based on green building, the community's leadership has set a path that will result in a healthier, more livable city for its citizens, turning a crisis into an opportunity that is an example for us all."

Following the Council's historic vote, City Administrator Steve Hewitt said, "I am so excited about being the first city in the U.S. to adopt this system for a town. I am ecstatic about this commitment and what it is telling the world about our town's character and where we are headed."

Mayor John Janssen said, "This is just another important step in our recovery and our intentions to come back as one of the greenest towns in America."

BNIM Architects of Kansas City, Missouri, worked with the city to draft the resolution and to educate the community on the benefits of LEED Platinum certification. The firm is also developing a comprehensive master plan to rebuild Greensburg based around the principles of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

"BNIM is pleased to help Greensburg achieve its goal of rebuilding in a sustainable, energy efficient manner that will result in significant operational savings for years to come," said Stephen Hardy, associate of BNIM Architects and project leader for the Greensburg comprehensive master plan. "This is a landmark resolution for Greensburg and makes the city a model for communities across the nation.”

Local, state, and national organizations and agencies have been instrumental in promoting green building best practices for Greensburg and helping the community plan for future generations. The green rebuilding effort has support from Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its subcontractors are providing technical assistance on all aspects of energy use and building design in Greensburg.

The town and its citizens have undertaken a number of programs and projects that have already positioned this rural community as an innovator with an ambitious vision for the future. As part of the town's "Green Initiative," 10 commercial and public buildings in Greensburg have already committed to being LEED certified. The USGBC notes that this number is especially impressive given the fact that only six buildings currently have received LEED certification in the entire state of Kansas and that this small rural community had a population of only about 1,400 before the tornado.

For more information on Greensburg’s sustainable rebuilding initiative, visit www.bnim.com/greensburg.

Trendway Achieves SCS Certification

2008-01-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

The company, located in Holland, MI, recently announced that all of its systems and moveable wall products have achieved SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) Indoor Advantage.

“We have always sought the most environmentally safe method of manufacture and operation,” said Bill Bundy, Trendway president. “We also encourage design features in our products that lessen the overall use of resources. This most recent recognition with an SCS Indoor Advantage continues this tradition.

“This certification is in keeping with the increased interest in LEED projects,” continued Bundy. “More and more buildings and interiors projects are being built or renovated to comply with energy and environmental design issues, and Trendway is pleased to be in the forefront of the contract furniture industry in providing products that meet these rigorous standards.”

The certification demonstrates conformance with the emissions standards of BIFMA, Indoor Air Quality emissions criteria for building LEED products, environmental labeling and declaration requirements, and FTC guidelines for the use of environmental marketing claims.
SCS Indoor Advantage certification is administered by the independent third-party certifier SCS of Emeryville, CA. The certification relies on data collected through environmental chamber testing, which allows manufacturers to examine a product’s individual components to aid in further product development.

Beside SCS approval of its Contrada Panel Systems and Standard Work Surfaces and TrendWall Moveable Walls and Doors, Trendway has received SCS Indoor Advantage certification for its Choices filing and storage, Intrinsic filing and storage, C-Ped storage pedestals, and Choices panel system.

“We will continue to work towards the goal of making 100% of our product Air Quality certified,” says Bundy.

Record Snow in New Hampshire!!

2008-01-01T12:17:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

It might be an "inconvenient truth" for global warming hysteria preachers like Al Gore but it's perfect timing for the primaries! Today the Associated Press is reporting that the National Weather Service recorded 44.5" of December snow in New Hampshire -- the most snow they've received (in December) in over 100 years! The prior record of 43" was set in 1876.

See the attached link to WCAX TV for the official story: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=7560925&nav=menu183_17_14

But don't expect to see this as a feature story in the "big media". Odds are this will be treated sort of like the super-quiet 2007 and 2006 hurricane seasons that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Did you notice? If you manage facilities in Florida or other states along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts (and handle property insurance invoices), the silence was probably deafening.

Perhaps natural climate cycles (that began even prior to the first SUV) are shifting once again and a degree of sanity & objectivity will return to climatology & meteorology. Perhaps in 10 years we'll look back and laugh at the Nobel nincompoops that validated a theory that can't be tested or proven. Maybe John Q. Public will finally appreciate the complicated physical, chemical and biological variables in Earth's atmosphere and the limits of our current knowledge.

This might be a real stretch -- especially considering abundant evidence of scientific ignorance -- but perhaps we can once again consider climatology & meteorology as sciences (i.e. hypothesis derived from investigation, facts & the scientific method) instead of religion (i.e. acceptance based on tenets of faith). If you live in New Hampshire, send Pastor Al Gore a photo of your facility -- beautifully draped in white -- and a bill for the palm trees you planted based on his sermons.

If you disagree, please share your thoughts! A respectful e-joust / debate may convince one of us we're wrong!

Poor Richard