ENVIRONMENTAL VIEWS

  • From the Heart

    Editor in chief Christina Koch takes a stroll down memory lane.

     

EDITOR'S BOOK SHELF

  • Living Above the Store:

    This book, which challenges the mindset of business as usual, explains how and why to create a sustainable business.

     

CORRESPONDENCE

HAPPENINGS

  • Green Bank Legislation Introduced

    Introduction of the Green Bank Act of 2009, which creates the Green Bank as an independent, tax-exempt, wholly owned corporation of the U.S.

     

  • Boma Challenge Addresses Energy Consumption

    7-Point Challenge aims to reduce commercial buildings’ energy consumption by 30 percent in the next three years.

     

  • Certification Recognizes Individuals

    Certification recognizes those with optimal knowledge of the entire building-commissioning process.

     

  • Program Provides Legal Standard

    Tropical Forest Foundation has instituted a program to assist with independent auditing to confirm tropical-wood products for sale in the U.S. meet legal requirements.

     

  • Chemicals Found in Water

    The Washington, D.C.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released a report that states polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chemicals commonly used in commercial goods as flame retardants since the 1970s, are found in all U.S.

     

  • Initiative Facilitates Financing for Solar Thermal

    EnerWorks has appointed Robert Bender executive vice president.

     

  • AIA Selects Top Green Projects

    The Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment have selected the top 10 examples of architecture and green-design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

     

  • Happenings May/June

    Browse upcoming events about sustainability.

     

ECOCENTRIC

  • Bringing Green Home

    A homeowner converts a shed into a home office in Santa Fe, N.M., and employs many green elements.

     

FEATURE

  • Piece of Mine

    The LEED Platinum Daybreak Corporate Center maximizes daylight, water and energy in a sustainable community development on reclaimed mining land.

     

ECOMMERCIAL

  • A New Order

    With locations across the U.S., fast-food restaurants have great potential to create positive environmental impacts as they enter the green-building arena.

     

DEEP GREEN

  • Shedding Light on Technology

    There are more benefits than drawbacks to these quickly growing lighting technologies.

     

  • A Huff and a Puff

    Continuous air barriers must be designed, constructed and tested to help achieve building energy efficiency.

     

SPECIAL

  • The Green Office Challenge

    Last year, HGA Architects and Engineers, Minneapolis, transformed the iconic First National Bank building in downtown St. Paul, Minn., into a more desirable multi-tenant office building.

     

  • Practicing What They Preach

    Autodesk's Massachusetts office demonstrates usage of BIM and IPD

     

PERSPECTIVES

  • Vini, Vidi, Vegetated

    Steven W. Peck, founder and president of Toronto-based nonprofit association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, shares his thoughts about the benefits of vegetated roofs.

     

ECO-TECH

  • You Have the Floor

    An efficient and effective green-flooring specification system allows you to factor in aesthetic, practical and environmental considerations.

     

INNOVATIONS

  • Flooring Resembles Hardwood

    LG Floors’ NATURELIFE is durable commercial sheet flooring designed to withstand heavy traffic.

     

  • Paints Are Eco-Friendly

    Kelly-Moore Paint Co. Inc. has introduced two zero-VOC, low-odor paint lines. Enviro Coat is a 100 percent acrylic interior paint that can be tinted in myriad custom colors.

     

  • Carpet Contains Sustainable Fiber

    Zeftron nylon and BOLYU Contract have introduced Strut, a commercial broadloom carpet that is manufactured with MBDC Cradle to Cradle-certified Zeftron nylon.

     

  • LED Intensity Can Be Controlled

    The Infrared OSTAR Lighting LED from OSRAM Opto is composed of six thin-film chips and a hemispherical lens, producing 3.5 watts of optical output power.

     

  • Lightweight Concrete for Architectural Panels

    Sonoma Cast Stone has made its Classic Concrete and NuCrete versions of EarthCrete available for architectural-panel applications.

     

  • Commercial Glass Product Has Low SHGC

    AGC Flat Glass North America has made available its Ti-AC 23 low-E, energy-efficient glass product for commercial buildings.

     

  • Pavers Are Rubber and Plastic

    VAST Enterprises LLC has introduced its VAST Permeable Composite Pavers, which consist of 95 percent post-consumer scrap automobile tires and gallon-size plastic containers.

     

  • Wireless System Controls Lighting

    Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.‘s GRAFIK Eye QS Wireless system integrates with Lutron light and shade products for complete light control in a space.

     

  • Wall System Provides Thermal Barrier

    Dow Building Solutions has introduced the THERMAX Wall System for use on commercial steel-stud buildings.

     

  • Urinals Realize Water Savings

    The High-Performance-Composite no-water urinals from Waterless Co. Inc. realize water savings of up to 45,000 gallons (170345 L) per year.

     

  • Lighting Features Recycled Components

    Lightlink Lighting’s Azure Suspension light is made of layers of recycled aluminum plates, azure, and clear acrylic and dichroic film.

     

  • Sensors Provide Energy Savings

    Square D Commercial Grade wall-switch occupancy sensors from Schneider Electric provide energy savings for commercial buildings.

     

  • Siding Has Recycled-paper Base

    KlipTech has introduced EcoClad exterior cladding for commercial and residential applications.

     

  • Harvest Rainwater Easily

    Englert Environmental has unveiled the Englert Rainwater Harvesting System that integrates Englert Inc.’s metal roofing and rainware products with rainwater-harvesting technology.

     

ECO-TOURIST

  • Great Wolf Resorts

    The 11 U.S. Great Wolf Resorts recently achieved Green Seal certification.