Survey: Is "green" part of your renovation projects?

Tight money and even tighter credit have taken their toll on new commercial construction. Usually, during times such as this, we see growth in the renovation market. Indications are that the desire to cut energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and create "greener" building operations will enhance renovation activities. Is this happening? What are you experiencing? Please take a moment to answer our five-question survey on this subject. Click here to give us your feedback

Ilumisys joins partnership for eco-friendly LEDs

Ilumisys Inc., Troy, MI, developer and producer of solid-state lighting technology, is partnering with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), Ann Arbor, MI, in conjunction with a U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE), Washington, grant for product life-cycle design for solid-state lighting. The purpose of the DOE grant of more than $590,000 is to develop a sustainable design and manufacturing strategy that addresses product use, recycling, and disposal scenarios for LED-based lighting.
   "NCMS has been successfully commercializing and standardizing innovative technology for decades," said Rick Jarman, president and CEO of NCMS. "This partnership with Ilumisys will strengthen the growing solid-state lighting industry both in Michigan and nationwide."
   Another goal of the partnership is to collaborate on applied research and development activities involving implementing sustainable design practices into LED lighting products. Support activities include program technical and management services, including leveraging other programs within the DOE to complement existing efforts. "Many companies are beginning to design and manufacture solid-state lighting, but there is no acknowledged set of best practices for lamp and luminaire design," said Dave Simon, president of Ilumisys. "We are going to take a very systems-level approach to help guide product decisions such as material selection, fastening methods, and manufacturing methods to help ensure that finished products using LED technology have a truly beneficial effect on carbon footprint and other environmental issues," Simon added.

Mickey D's goes platinum

McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, IL, celebrated Earth Day by announcing that its global headquarters building has been awarded one LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington. Worldwide, fewer than 210 building projects have achieved the LEED Platinum certification, the highest certification level.

The McDonald's Corp. headquarters is the proud holder of LEED Platinum certification.

   McDonald’s global headquarters building was built in 1988, starting with a vision to construct an incomparable sustainable building. Many of the original features, including an open-office environment, with generous access to daylight; space and land-saving underground parking; and landscaping with native plants, contributed to the certification.
   "We are very proud of this achievement. By working through the LEED certification process, we were able to document that an environmentally-friendly workplace can be cost effective. The benefits associated with this effort are ongoing, with positive impacts on our employees, our budgets, and the environment. This third-party certification by the U.S. Green Building Council was a great validation for our workplace sustainability efforts," declared Joseph Endress, vice-president, Facilities and Systems.
   Here are some of the facility features that contributed to the certification:

• The office layout and building design allow natural daylight penetration and exterior views of the wooded campus.
• Low-mercury, energy-efficient interior lighting is used throughout the building.
• Exterior lighting has been designed to minimize light pollution.
• Enhanced metering is used to monitor building system efficiencies.
• Building HVAC equipment uses non-CFC (ozone protecting) refrigerants.
• 45% of the total building energy consumption is procured from offsite renewable energy sources (solar/wind).
• The building has earned an EPA Energy Star score of 92, and has been an Energy Star recipient for two years.
• During 2008, there was an 8.3% (1.2M kWhr) reduction in electrical consumption for the facility. This can be attributed to positive occupant behaviors, building re-commissioning, and sound operating practices.
• Approximately 130 tons of commingled occupant waste is recycled annually.
• Fry oil from the McDonald’s restaurant located inside the headquarters building is recycled to make bio-diesel fuel to power a transportation shuttle to other nearby McDonald’s buildings.
• More than 90% of office paper/equipment, furnishings, furniture, and building materials are classified as “sustainable purchases.”

Summit to focus on energy savings

Energy Summit 2009 will be held June 25 at Grand Valley State Univ., Grand Rapids, MI. Speakers will include Doug Kemp, director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington; Christopher Russel, author of "Industrial Energy Harvest;" and Marty Kushler, program director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington. Conference tracks include Industrial Manufacturing, Facilities, Management, Renewable/Alternative Energy, and Financial Incentives. Additional details and registration information are available at www.energysummitonline.com. Energy and sustainability are driving forces in today's commercial-building construction, whether it's new construction or renovation. This event can help you make informed energy decisions.

INVISTA website aids school carpet selection

INVISTA, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of Antron carpet fiber, has established a website designed to help school facility managers identify and specify carpet for school renovations, as they look to use funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  On the website, users will find tools to aid in the selection of carpets that help meet sustainable and high-performance school criteria.
   Antron.net/recovery provides schools with access to:

• high-performance carpet specifications
• tools that demonstrate the cost effectiveness of carpet selections over time
• understanding potential points that can be earned for sustainability programs

Antron carpet-fiber consultants are available to help schools evaluate their needs and select the right carpet for their installation from more than 800 carpet styles available from 20 commercial carpet mills.

Lafarge opens landfill gas supply for its Sugar Creek plant

Lafarge North America Inc., Herndon, VA, the largest supplier of cement products in the U.S. and Canada, now uses landfill gas to replace as much as 20% of its coal use at its cement plant in Sugar Creek, MO. The project uses 2,400 ft.³/min. of gas collected from landfills located near MO-291 highway and Courtney Rd. Landfill gas, which is about 50% methane, is produced from the natural decomposition of landfill waste. The project was done in cooperation with Waste Management Inc., Houston, and Republic Services Inc., Phoenix.
   Representing a nearly $2-million investment, the landfill gas system removes moisture from the gas, measures its volume and heat value, and transports it through 6,500 ft. of piping under MO-291, under Courtney Rd., and into the plant.
   "Using landfill gas is positive for the environment, for the community, and for Waste Management and Republic Services," said Jarrod Huntley, Lafarge plant manager. "What was once wasted will now reduce our emissions, reduce local truck traffic, and provide economic benefit to us all. The plant already uses non-recyclable shredded paper, plastics, textiles, and rubber as fuel. Along with landfill gas, we're proud to report that our renewable fuels use has increased from 7% last year to nearly 30% of the total energy needed to produce high-quality cements used in the central Midwest," added Huntley.
   "Waste Management pioneered landfill gas to energy technology over two decades ago, and we operate more of these facilities than any other company in North America," said Kent Harrell, area vice president for Waste Management. "As the largest operator of landfills, we understand how landfills operate and how best to leverage this valuable resource. Our goal is to put a project like this at every landfill we own."

Sto earns ISO 14001 certification

Sto Corp., Atlanta, manufacturer of cladding, coating, and restoration systems, has been awarded the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System certification for all North American Sto Corp. locations. The certification was granted by SGS North America, Rutherford, NJ, the world's largest control and inspection company.
   The ISO 14001:2004 international standard provides a model for streamlining environmental management and guidelines to ensure environmental issues are considered within decision-making practices. Sto Corp. attained the accreditation after a series of audits at its manufacturing facilities in North America and the corporate headquarters in Atlanta. Locations will be assessed annually to ensure continued development of the environmental-management system (EMS) that was established to earn this certification.
   "Sto's motto for more than 50 years has been ‘Building with conscience,'" stated David Boivin, president and CEO of Sto Corp. "This means that our guiding force in the design and manufacture of quality products is the impact that we make by our operations, services, and products. Simply, this means doing the right thing for our customers, employees, communities, stake holders, and the environment."
   Since the EMS system was implemented, the company has realized a huge reduction in materials sent to landfill through company-wide recycling programs, including paper and cardboard recycling. Other areas of improvement include reduction of electricity use in all facilities, waste water reduction and recycling in its manufacturing processes, and a program for airborne particulate capture and exposure reduction.

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