California's Orange County is Green

Notice the diversity in the list of green companies being recognized below by OC Metro in Southern California. Firms in the recycling, medical and hospitality markets are included in the top 25 list. Hoag Hospital in Irvine achieved LEED Silver certification – that makes it one of the first of its kind in a long list of hospitals throughout the state working on green building and sustainability initiatives.

Work Green. Build Green. Live Green.
OC METRO's Annual Event Celebrates 25 O.C. Green Companies

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. – OC METRO magazine Publisher, Steve Churm asserts, "Orange County has the big green opportunity to be a major player in this modern-day gold rush."  With an annual industry growth of 5 to 7 percent and 20,000 employed in the County alone, green is clearly the new Orange County lifestyle.  On Wednesday, April 13th, OC METRO Magazine hosted the 2nd Annual Green Team event at Sole Technology honoring twenty-five green companies making a difference in our lives in Orange County.

For four years, OC METRO magazine has annually named the top green companies changing the industry.  This year's twenty-five honorees are making incredible strides to create a more eco-friendly Orange County.  Honorees include Anaheim-based SA Recycling who diverts millions of tons of materials from landfills and even has the ability to recycle 78 percent of a car; Crow Bar & Kitchen in Corona del Mar holds the title of the first green restaurant in Orange County; Hoag Hospital Irvine is one of the first California hospitals to achieve LEED Silver Certification.

The honorees were not the only stars of the night attending the 2nd Annual Green Team Event.  Presenting sponsor, SA Recycling along with GotScrap.com arrived with an iPad contest for the two guests who could estimate the weight and number of crushed cans in a recycled bail.  The contest involved a social media factor by announcing the winners through the Got Scrap? Facebook page with the bail weighing a massive 922 lbs. and containing 24,554 cans.  Sustainability Sponsors Wells Fargo, Waste Management, Brandman University were also in attendance to educate guests on going green in business.

OC METRO echoed the green initiatives of the honorees by taking every possible effort to create an environmentally friendly event. Hosting the event at Sole Technology, an award-winning green building, creating signs on soy paper with soy ink, while making the event program entirely digital are a few examples of how this Green Event became even greener.  For more information, on
OC METRO's Annual Green Team Event, please visit OCMETROgreenteam.com.

The 2011 Green Team honorees are:

•    All Green Electronics Recycling, Tustin
•    Bentley Prince Street, City of Industry
•    Black Flamingo, Laguna Beach
•    Clean Green Technology, Huntington Beach
•    Cox Communications, Rancho Santa Margarita
•    Crow Bar & Kitchen, Corona del Mar
•    CryoPort Inc., Lake Forest
•    Earth Friendly Products, Garden Grove
•    Ecola Termite and Pest Management Company, Brea
•    FlexEnergy, Irvine
•    Goodwill of Orange County, Santa Ana
•    Hoag Hospital Irvine, Irvine
•    Jamboree Housing Corporation, Irvine
•    John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana
•    MUZEO, Anaheim
•    SA Recycling, Anaheim
•    SkyBridgeSolar, Aliso Viejo
•    Sole Technology, Lake Forest
•    Spa Gregories Day Spa & Salon, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita & Del Mar
•    Syspro, Costa Mesa
•    Telogis, Aliso Viejo
•    Thrust Electric Bikes, Santa Ana
•    Village Green Global, Irvine
•    ViridiSTOR Green Box Solution, Tustin
•    Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa


ABOUT OC METRO MAGAZINE
Since 1990, OC METRO has been a respected source for business news and information in Orange County. The print version of OC METRO magazine is published monthly and distributed at more than 1,300 locations throughout Orange County. Combining print and online traffic, OC METRO reaches more than 300,000 business professionals and executives monthly. For more information, visit www.ocmetro.com.

ABOUT CHURM MEDIA
Churm Media is a leading regional, full-service media company based in
Newport Beach, California. The privately held company publishes 5 niche consumer magazines (OC METRO, OC Family, OC Menus, IE Family and Southland Golf) and 5 interactive Web sites serving readers and advertisers in five Southern California counties — Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino. The company prints and distributes more than 400,000 magazines per month with a total audience — print, online and events — of more than 1.5 million readers/viewers per month. RipeOrange, a full-service marketing, communications and design firm is also owned and operated under Churm Media. For more information visit www.churmmedia.com

ABOUT SOLE TECHNOLOGY
Sole Technology, Inc. is the creator of etnies, Emerica, éS, ThirtyTwo, Altamont and the Sole Technology Institute (STI). Sole Technology is the global supplier of its brands, which are responsible for many of the incredible innovations that have become staples of action sports. As a true industry leader, the company created the STI, the world's first and only biomechanics research organization, to test and develop new technologies to make the highest performing skateboard footwear. An ardent advocate for the environment, Sole Technology has a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2020 and has an environmental affairs department dedicated to turning the company's business practices green.

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

 

 

Green Building Codes for Navajo Nation

Green building, sustainability and the Navajo Nation seem to fit together perfectly. We at iGreenBuild.com are very happy to read and share this news.

First tribal community in the nation adopts international green building code
EPA applauds Kayenta, located on the Navajo Nation
SAN FRANCISCO– Kayenta Township (Ariz.) is the first tribal community in the U.S. to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), a building code designed to reduce the environmental impact of construction projects while keeping safety measures intact and enforceable. 
EPA's Pacific Southwest Green Building Team worked with Kayenta and works with other tribes and federal agencies to support the development of sustainable building codes that meet tribal priorities.  In addition, Kayenta will be working with EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities to pilot community Smart Growth Guidelines for Sustainable Design and Development.
"As one of the first communities to adopt this code, Kayenta Township is forging a path for sustainable development," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.  "Their commitment to green building design will not only protect the public health, but water and energy savings means precious local resources will be preserved."
 "The IGCC is put in place for the community to save on energy costs, encouraging wise use of the water supply, safeguarding the depletion of natural resources, and the energy codes will be used to regulate future development practices," said Philbert Tso, Building Official for the Township.  
KayentaTownship, a political subdivision of the Navajo Nation with about 5,000 residents, is located south of Monument Valley.  Kayenta has been designated as a growth center of the Navajo Nation and hosts restaurants, shops, hotels and other businesses. Kayenta is also the future site of the Northeast Arizona Technical Institute for Vocational Education (N.A.T.I.V.E.) campus. The N.A.T.I.V.E. campus will provide quality career and technical education to tribal students upon its completion in September 2011.  This campus will also be the first project built using the IGCC code.
The IGCC Public Version 2.0, which will be a published as a model code next year, was adopted on a voluntary basis and may be incorporated into the community's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.  Kayenta adopted the code with specific requirements related to protecting greenfields, conservation areas, and agricultural land.

Follow the U.S. EPA's Pacific Southwest region on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EPAregion9and join the LinkedIn group: http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/1823773/
R9 Tribal Green Building Resources http://www.epa.gov/region9/greenbuilding/resources.html
EPA Smart Growth Guidelines http://www.epa.gov/dced/sg_guidelines.htm
Contact: Margot Perez-Sullivan, (415) 947-4149, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

This blog post was approved by http://www.igreenbuild.com/, a New Venture Communications web property.

Top Green Projects Selected by Architects

The American Institute of Architects select the 2011 COTE Top Ten Green Projects 

Projects showcase excellence in sustainable design principles and reduced energy consumption  

For immediate release:
Washington, D.C. – April 14, 2011 –The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.  The projects will be honored at the AIA 2011 National Convention and Design Exposition in New Orleans.

You can see this press release online here: http://www.aia.org/press/releases/AIAB088729

The COTE Top Ten Green Projects program, now in its 15th year, is the profession's best known recognition program for sustainable design excellence.  The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.  They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

The 2011 COTE Top Ten Green Projects jury includes: Joshua W. Aidlin, AIA, Aidlin Darling Design; Mary Guzowski, University of Minnesota School of Architecture; Kevin Kampschroer, General Services Administration, Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings; Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA LEED AP, HOK; Jennifer Sanguinetti, P.E. LEED AP, Smart Buildings & Energy Management, BC Housing; and Lauren Yarmuth, LEED AP, YRG New York.

The descriptions below give a brief summary of the projects. You can learn more about these projects by clicking on the name of the project/firm name. If you are interested in obtaining high resolution images, please contact Matt Tinder at mtinder@aia.org.

Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
BROOKS + SCARPA (formerly Pugh + Scarpa)
This urban infill, mixed-use, market-rate housing project was designed to incorporate green design as a way of marketing a green lifestyle.  The design maximizes the opportunities of the mild, Southern California climate with a passive cooling strategy.  Together with high-efficiency LED and electric lighting, photo and occupancy sensors, and natural daylighting - energy use was minimized.  100% of the total regularly occupied building area is day lit and can be ventilated with operable windows.  A combination of cool roof covered in solar panels, green roof, and blown-in cellulose insulation complete an efficient building shell exceeding California Title 24 by 47%.

First Unitarian Society Meeting House, Madison, WI
The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.
The 20,000-square-foot addition to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed national historic landmark Meeting House is approximately 40% more efficient than a comparable base case facility. The new building design features recycled-content and locally-sourced materials.  CO2 sensors trigger a ventilation system that provide energy savings when spaces are unoccupied.  91% of regularly occupied areas are daylit though Individual lighting controls are contained in all building areas.  The addition nearly doubles the building footprint but a vegetated roof and a reduction in parking spaces actually increases the percentage of pervious vegetated surface on the property.

Kiowa County K-12 Schools, Greensburg, KS
BNIM Architects
Following the devastating tornado that destroyed their town and schools, USD 422 chose a bold strategy to combine their schools into a single K-12 facility that would align with the town's sustainable comprehensive master plan.  The facilities design optimizes daylighting and natural ventilation in all classrooms, which increases student academic performance/potential and focus.  The site and building design reduce the urban heat island effect on Greensburg through open area allocation and diverse landscaping.  A 50-kilowatt wind turbine provides a portion of the electricity needs while the remaining power is generated at the wind farm located outside of town.

High Tech High Chula Vista, Chula Vista, CA
Studio E Architects
This public charter school serving 550 students in grades 9-12 with an approach rooted in project-based learning uses a building management system which integrates a weather station, and monitors and controls the lighting and mechanical systems of the facilities, in addition to the irrigation and domestic water systems.  This optimizes thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting levels, and conserves energy and water.  The facilities reflect the school's guiding principles of personalization, adult-world connection, and common intellectual mission.  These principles permeate every aspect of life at HTH: the small school and class sizes, the openness and transparency, sustainable design attributes, and showcasing of student work in-progress.

LIVESTRONG Foundation, Austin, TX
Lake|Flato Architects
The adaptive reuse of a 1950's built warehouse transformed the concrete tilt-wall building to provide a multi-functional office space for the staff of 62.  88% of the materials from the demolition of the dilapidated warehouse were recycled and used in the new design.  In order to allow for the most engaging open office environment, the team replaced the roof's center bays with north facing clerestory windows that harvest ample diffused daylight for the core workspace.  No toxic chemicals are used in or around the building in accordance with green housekeeping and landscape procedures adopted by the Foundation.   Achieving LEED Gold certification, the project reflects the LiveStrong mission "to inspire and empower people affected by cancer."

LOTT Clean Water Alliance, Olympia, WA
The Miller | Hull Partnership
While most sewage treatment plants are invisible to their communities and separated by a chain link fence, the LOTT Clean Water Alliance Regional Service Center is a visible and active participant in the public life of Olympia.  Different strategies were utilized to control solar heat gain, improve the energy performance of the building, and introduce daylight and provide views.  Methane generated from the plant's waste treatment process is used in a cogeneration plant to generate electricity and heat.  The heat is used directly in the building through a low temperature water loop connected to water source heat pumps, thus eliminating the need for a boiler, cooling tower, or geothermal field.

OS House, Racine, WI
Johnsen Schmaling Architects
Occupying a narrow infill lot in an old city neighborhood at the edge of Lake Michigan, this LEED Platinum home demonstrates how a small residence built with a moderate budget can become a confident, new urban constituent.  The local climate, with its very cold winters and hot, humid summers, required a careful mix of active and passive design strategies to ensure proper interior conditioning.  Taking advantage of the lake breeze and the site's solar exposure, outdoor rooms were created to reduce the house's depth, allowing for maximum natural cross-ventilation and daylight to wash the inside.  The house features a compact structured plumbing system with low-flow fixtures throughout and an on-demand hot water circulating pump, significantly reducing water consumption.

Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
RNL Design
With the goal of creating the largest commercial net-zero energy structure in the country, the building is meant to serve as a blueprint for a net-zero energy future and influence others in the building industry to pursue low energy and net-zero energy performance.  NREL and Department of Energy's goal is to transform innovative research in renewable energy and energy efficiency into market-viable technologies and practices.  Many of the integrated passive design strategies such as daylighting and natural ventilation strongly support both energy and human performance.  An open office plan resulted in a higher density workplace reducing the building footprint per person.

Step Up on 5^th, Santa Monica, CA
BROOKS + SCARPA (formerly Pugh + Scarpa)
This mixed-use project provides 46 studio apartments of permanent affordable housing and supportive services for the homeless and mentally disabled population in the heart of downtown Santa Monica.  The density of the project is 258 dwelling units/acre, which exceeds the average density of the Manhattan borough of New York City by more than 10%.  The building is located in a transit-oriented location with access to community resources and services, providing a healthy living environment for residents and using resources efficiently.  Based on California Title 24-2005 published by USGBC on this building is nearly 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure of this type.

Vancouver Convention Centre West, Vancouver, British Columbia
Design Architect: LMN Architects, Prime Architects: DA/MCM
As the world's first LEED Platinum convention center, this project is designed to bring together the complex ecology, vibrant local culture and urban environment, embellishing their inter-relationships through architectural form and materiality.  The living roof, at 6 acres it is the largest in Canada, hosting some 400,000 indigenous plants.  Free cooling economizers can provide cooling for most of the busy seasons for the convention centre. The heating and cooling is provided by very high efficiency, sea water heat pumps powered by renewable hydro electricity.  The interior is fitted throughout with CO2, VOC, and humidity sensors, which can be monitored in conjunction with airflow, temperature, and lighting controls to optimize air quality on a room-by-room basis.

 About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org

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

City Planners and Urban Trees

U.S. Forest Service Funds Tree Inventory For Urban Planners

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2011– New research funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help city planners make better decisions about their urban trees for a range of benefits, including energy savings and improved access to nature. 

Researchers, led by U.S. Forest Service scientists, will hire field crews to gather information on the condition of forests from approximately 1,000 sites in five western states - Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington - to compile data for a comparative study on the health of trees in urban areas. The result will be a network of permanently located plots in urbanized areas that can be monitored to obtain information on their health and resiliency.

"This project will help city planners improve the quality of life in American cities," said project leader John Mills of the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station's Resource Monitoring and Assessment Program. "Urban trees are the hardest working trees in America – they beautify our neighborhoods and reduce pollution."

This is the first time in the Pacific states that systematic information is being collected on the health of trees in urban areas. Determining the current health and extent of specific urban forests will help forest managers better understand how urban forests adapt to climate change and other issues. Urban trees cool cities, save energy, improve air quality, strengthen local economies, reduce storm water runoff and enliven neighborhoods.

The study supports President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO) by helping planners determine where to establish urban parks and green spaces and how to maintain them. AGO takes as its premise that the protection of our natural heritage is an objective shared by all Americans. Parks and green spaces improve a community's economy, health, quality of life and social cohesion. In cities and towns across the country, parks can generate tourism and recreation dollars and improve investment and renewal. Time spent in nature also improves the emotional and physical well-being of children and adults alike.

Urban forests will change as the climate changes -- shifts in species composition, growth rates, mortality and susceptibility to pests are all possible.  Having a baseline of urban forest conditions will help local resource managers and planners understand and articulate the contributions urban forests make, such as carbon sequestration, water retention, energy savings and quality of life for residents. Over the longer term, monitoring will help to determine if and how urban forests are adapting to changing conditions, and could shed some light on potential mitigations.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Forestry, California Polytechnic State University, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Hawaii Urban Forestry Council.

Work on the initial plot installation will continue through 2013, with a large amount of data gathering planned for 2012.

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.  20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202-720-6382 (TDD).

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com

AIA Develops Sustainable Design and Construction Guide

This is a timely release from the American Institute of Architects. I am particularly interested in seeing the content about legislation that directly affects sustainable design and construction for schools and hospitals.

AIA Guide for Sustainable Projects to Provide Design and Construction Industry with Roadmap for Working on Sustainable Projects 

For immediate release:
Washington, DC – April 12, 2011 –The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced that it will release AIA Document D503™-2011, Guide for Sustainable Projects, including Agreement Amendments and Supplementary Conditions("Guide"), in May 2011. The Guide is free and was developed to assist users of AIA Contract Documents in understanding contractual considerations unique to sustainable design and construction projects. The Guide also provides model language that can be used to amend or supplement key AIA Contract Documents in the A201 Family for use in these types of projects. Developed by the AIA's Contract Documents Committee, with input from industry stakeholders, theGuide provides AIA Contract Documents users with a valuable tool for creating versions of AIA standard contract documents for sustainable projects.

You can see this press release online here: http://www.aia.org/press/releases/AIAB088661

"The AIA Contract Documents program continues to revise existing documents and develop new documents and guides, as necessary, to remain current with trends and changes in the industry and law," said Ken Cobleigh, Managing Director and Counsel for AIA Contract Documents content. "The development of theGuide reflects the shifting landscape in the industry and addresses key issues of interest to all parties involved in these types of projects."

The Guide addresses the current state of sustainable design and construction, discussing issues and concepts including:

·         Certification systems, codes and legislation affecting sustainable design and construction projects,

·         Risks and responsibilities faced by owners, contractors and architects on sustainable design and construction projects, and

·         Recommendations for model language to assist the architect in developing a scope of services and to assist all project participants in appropriately allocating risks and responsibilities.

In addition to providing model language that may be used to amend or supplement documents in the AIA Contract Documents A201 Family for design-bid-build projects, the Guide discusses the applicability of key concepts to other delivery models such as design-build, construction management and integrated project delivery.

Because the AIA believes theGuide is an important resource for the design and construction industry, it will be available in May as a free download at www.aia.org/sustainableprojectsguide.

About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com

Content From A Green Building Friend

This video is a must watch for iGreenBuild.com readers involved with residential energy efficiency.


Here's the link to the video:

Earth Advantage's Energy Performance Score The Energy Performance Score (EPS) is a home energy rating system similar to the miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating for the auto industry. Conceptualized by Earth Advantage Institute and supported by funding from the Energy Trust of Oregon, the EPS provides an estimate of actual home energy consumption as well as related carbon emissions, and shows homeowners where they rank in energy use on a regional and national scale. Click Here to watch the video at www.iGreenBuild.com

Ultra-Green Building Visionary Jeffrey Baker Recieves Award

Greetings! We thought you might be interested in the following news from McGraw-Hill Construction and Engineering News-Record (ENR), announcing that Jeffrey M. Baker, environmental engineer and director of laboratory operations for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Golden, Colo., has received the 46th annual Award of Excellence at a black-tie awards gala today in New York City. For more information, view the press release below or contact Lisa Jaycox at +1 212-512-3272 or lisa_jaycox@mcgraw-hill.com or Kathy Malangone at +1 212-904-4376 or Kathy_malangone@mcgraw-hill.com. Thank you for your time. 

For Release: April 7, 2011, 5 p.m.

Engineering News-Record Presents Award of Excellence to Ultra-Green Building Visionary Jeffrey M. Baker

New York, NY – April 7, 2011– Engineering News-Record (ENR), McGraw-Hill Construction’s industry-leading publication and website and part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), today announced that Jeffrey M. Baker, environmental engineer and director of laboratory operations for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Golden, Colo., has received the 46th annual Award of Excellence, its highest honor. Mr. Baker received the award in front of 1,000 peers today at a black-tie awards gala in New York City. He was among ENR’s Top 25 Newsmakers of 2011, who were also honored for industry-impacting achievements last year.

The editors of ENR selected Mr. Baker as this year’s Award of Excellence winner for creating a model for affordable, ultra-green buildings that can be replicated anywhere and for triggering a transformation in how the nation can maximize energy performance through sustainable design.

“Mr. Baker’s tenacity and drive for energy efficiency led him on a crusade to build a living laboratory for research into sustainable commercial buildings. It took 12 years of swimming upstream, but his dream was fully realized last June, when the Department of Energy’s Research Support Facility in Golden, Colo. opened,” said Janice L. Tuchman, editor-in-chief of ENR. “ENR is thrilled to honor his work through the Award of Excellence. Our future is brighter thanks to his contributions.”

This innovative DOE facility is on course to become the nation’s largest net-zero energy-use building. Using proven systems and standard materials, the structure slashed energy use by half compared to new code-complying buildings without adding cost. DOE is replicating its design and construction on three other agency building projects, and it is spreading elsewhere in the federal government. 

Jeffrey M. Baker’s story will be featured in the April 11 issue of ENR. For more details on the Top 25 Newsmakers, visit http://enr.construction.com/people/awards/2011/0112-Top25Newsmakers.asp

Sponsors of the 46th Annual Award of Excellence include AECOM, The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), CMAA, CMiC, EarthCam, FIGG, HDR Inc., Hill International, Houlihan Lokey, MBP (McDonough, Bolyard, Peck), Parsons, Shaw Group, Inc., and United Rentals, Inc.

About McGraw-Hill Construction:
McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the construction industry. For more than a century, it has remained North America’s leading provider of project and product information, plans and specifications, and industry news, trends and forecasts. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers in the global construction industry through Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record, GreenSource, and SNAP. To learn more, visit www.construction.com or follow @mhconstruction on Twitter.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global financial information and education company that helps professionals and students succeed in the Knowledge Economy. Leading brands include Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2010 were $6.2 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Lisa Jaycox, Manager, External Communications,
The McGraw-Hill Companies Information & Media, +1 212-512-3272, lisa_jaycox@mcgraw-hill.com

Kathy Malangone, Senior Director, Marketing Communications,
McGraw-Hill Construction, +1 212-904-4376, kathy_malangone@mcgraw-hill.com

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com

Tips for Urban Tree Growth - White Paper

Dear iGreenBuild.com readers,

With Spring comes rain…. and this white paper on the lifecycle costs and benefits of enabling long-term urban tree growth.

The paper, entitled "Lifecycle Cost Analysis: Investment vs. Returns for Healthy Urban Trees," has been provided by Deep Root Partners and The Kestrel Design Group. The white paper offers effective stormwater and urban forest planning strategies to ensure the community is getting the most from its investment.

As a tree matures, the environmental benefits it provides increase exponentially. The average tree in urban environments dies within 13 years due to insufficient soil volumes for root growth. Consequently, they are never able to make a significant ecological contribution to their community, and are replaced constantly. This white paper provides information and tips for gaining more value on long-term urban tree investments and benefits. 

Feel free to utilize the information. If you would like to talk with the researchers or learn more about the sponsoring companies, please contact me.

Thank you for your interest,

Julie Metea

On behalf of Deep Root Partners

313-320-3937 cell 

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com

Fast Food Goes Green

This is a very promising story about McDonald’s going green. I like the concept of making fast food chains super energy efficient if nothing else! If we are going to enjoy the mostly unhealthy food at least we can feel socially responsible knowing that it was marketed and prepared in a sustainable way.

QA Graphics Helps Green McDonald’s Tell its Story

April 6, 2011 – Ankeny, Iowa – Owners of the latest green McDonald’s® located in Riverside, California, are using an interactive display created by QA Graphics® to show customers why the new restaurant is sustainable and energy efficient. 

The Riverside McDonald’s is the fourth McDonald’s restaurant in the U.S. to seek LEED® certification. This restaurant is one of nine owned and operated by Tom and Candace Spiel of McSpi, Inc. The restaurant reopened its doors in October, replacing the original McDonald’s of 44 years. It’s anticipated that the restaurant will achieve LEED® Gold status within the next year as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s® (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Retail New Construction. 

“We were inspired to rebuild our original restaurant according to the USGBC’s LEED-Gold standard to encourage and educate our customers on the importance of environmental sustainability,” said Tom Spiel, McDonald's owner/operator.   “For us, this is a way to give back to our community,” he adds.  “We hope that what we learn from this restaurant can be utilized to build more efficient and environmentally friendly restaurants in the future, which will then benefit more communities.” 

As part of this certification, the Spiels looked to QA Graphics® for a fun and interactive way for their customers and team members to learn about the sustainable initiatives that make this McDonald’s restaurant ‘green’.  QA Graphics, a Midwest creative firm, provided their Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard®, which is anticipated to help attain the Innovation in Design green education credit.   The
Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is an interactive application similar to a website, used to display real-time energy efficiency information and educate about sustainable initiatives. 

“We were impressed with the solution QA Graphics provided, including the ability to link the display to our solar photovoltaic array and provide real-time data of the energy generated from the solar array,” said Candace Spiel, McDonald's owner/operator.

As customers walk into the lobby of the McDonald’s they see the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard displayed on a 42-inch LCD touchscreen, which they can interact with to learn more about the sustainable features used in the construction of the restaurant.  A virtual tour provides a 3D view of the outside of the restaurant, and then takes viewers inside, moving through the dining area, restrooms and back to the outside of the restaurant.   During the tour, different icons can be selected to learn about the sustainable features implemented at the restaurant.

For example, visitors can see that there are photovoltaic panels located on the carports outside, and watch a demonstration to understand how the photovoltaic system works.  Real-time data is also provided to show how much energy is being output by the system.   Other demos explain how Solatubes, solar hot water panels and porous pavers function at the restaurant. Also shown is education about the LED lighting and signage, recycled glass tile, EcoResin panels and rapidly renewable bamboo used throughout the dining area, as well as explaining what materials are made from recycled items, like  the countertops, floor tiles, and ceiling tiles. 

The reaction at the restaurant has been well received.  “From small children to senior citizens, this interactive display is used frequently,” said Candace Spiel, McDonald’s owner/operator. “Because it is easy to use and navigate, whatever the level of our customers’ computer skills, they are able to use the display to learn more about this McDonald’s and how they can be green in their personal lives.” 

When visitors have learned about the different sustainable features, they can test their ‘green’ knowledge with a quiz.  Information for the local community is also provided, including a weather forecast and local maps identifying area schools, bus routes, bike paths and the Metro Rail. The Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard application for this McDonald’s can be viewed online at www.greenmcdonalds.com.    

This is the second McDonald’s that QA Graphics has worked with to help engage restaurant patrons and educate about the restaurant’s sustainable features. The Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is also utilized by the third U.S. LEED-certified McDonald’s in Cary, North Carolina.  QA Graphics’ solution has been named a 2010 top green building product by Environmental Design + Construction and Sustainable Facility magazines’ annual Readers Choice Awards as well as a 2010 top 10 green building product by award-winning independent news source Sustainable Industries. Learn more at 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, virtual tours, multimedia solutions and other interactive content. Visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more. 

This blog post was approved by www.iGreenBuild.com

 

Brick as a Sustainable Building Material

Brick is a very sustainable building material and with the amount of brick found in demolition it is easily recycled and reused for new projects. The people an firms being honored in the event below have completed some very green building projects worth plenty of press!
BrickStainable Award Winners Honored During Ceremony at National Building Museum
Cambridge Professor Alan Short delivers "world tour" keynote address
ROCKVILLE, MD—April 6, 2011— Innovative thinkers from across the globe gathered in Washington, DC to recognize the winners of the 2^nd Annual BrickStainable International Design Competition.
Competition winners created sustainable architectural designs using brick as the primary material. Potomac Valley Brick hosted the Awards Ceremony at the National Building Museum, an apropos location, given it is constructed with over 15 million bricks. Among nearly 200 guests included representatives from the EPA Energy Star Program, Integrated Environmental Solutions, Enterprise Green Communities, and the Brick Industry Association.
The night's festivities included a Keynote Address delivered by one of the industry's foremost minds on sustainable heavy construction, University of Cambridge Professor of Architecture, Alan Short, MA DipArch RIBA FRSA. Short took the audience on a riveting world tour of buildings his firm, Short & Associations, have designed that maintain a temperate interior atmosphere using minimal or no mechanical systems.  They've worked in various climates, from the desert of Malta to the fluctuating hot and cold of Chicago.
Video presentation clips from the jury deliberation revealed a little bit about why the four jurors selected each winning entry as the winners were called to the stage to receive with their awards.
The BrickStainable Competition was broken into two categories, integrated building design, where entrants were tasked with creating a sustainable building in an urban Baltimore setting, and technical design, where entrants explored specific aspects and assemblies of a brick.  Winners in the two categories include:
Integrated Building Design Grand Prize
·         Jamillah Muhammad, Ronald Moore, Dindo Mabana, Tou Boran Pek, Kathleen Stover, Boryana Fileva, a team from Perkowitz & Ruth in Virginia (USA) for Net Zero in Baltimore

Integrated Building Design Honorable Mentions
·         Robert Kane, a student in San Casciano (Italy) for in BRICK, of BRICK, for BRICK, & by BRICK
·         Heather Santos and Jillian Schroettinger, students at Cal Poly Pomona in California (USA) for MassEnergy Science Center
·         Shane Valentine, a student at University of Texas San Antonio, Texas (USA) for Cultivating Energy

Technical Design Grand Prize
·         Jason Vollen and Kelly Winn, of CASE New York (USA) for EcoCeramic Masonry Systems

Technical Design Honorable Mentions
·         Rizal Muslimin, a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Massachusetts (USA) for BrickBead
·         Jason Vollen, Kelly Winn and Ted Ngai, of CASE New York (USA) for Climate Camouflage
Potomac Valley Brick's President and BrickStainable Founder, Alan Richardson spoke of the global attention the competition has received, citing the 21,000 website visits from 128 countries.

"We set out to achieve greater awareness of the role brick can play in the green movement and with the support of our growing list of sponsors and endorsers it's starting to happen in a big way. This year total registrations were from 62 countries."

The Competition also offset carbon emissions through the Enterprise Green Communities, who attended the event and spoke about its efforts to provide affordable green housing through its carbon offset fund.  To see all of the winning designs, visit http://www.brickstainable.com/. 

About BrickStainable
BrickStainable is a design competition seeking integrative design solutions that promote the use of clay brick to achieve sustainability goals. The competition explores the potential of brick construction in the creation of energy efficient building and challenges designers to maximize the physical characteristics of brick. The competition was created by Potomac Valley Brick in 2009. It is sponsored by Belden, Boral, Carolina Ceramics, Cloud Ceramics, Continental Brick, Endicott Clay, Essroc Italcementi Group, Genco Masonry, Hanson, Hohmann and Barnard, Hyload, Integrated Environmental Solutions, KaRon Masonry, Lehigh-Heidelberg Cement Group, LF Jennings, Mason Contractors Association of America, Masonry Institute of Maryland, Merritt Construction Services, Mortar Net, Owens-Corning, Pavestone, Palmetto Brick Company, Redland Brick, Riverside Brick, Taylor Clay Products, Triangle Brick, United Masonry, Wells & Associates, and York Building Products. More information is available at http://www.brickstainable.com/ and on Twitter @pvbrick.
This release is available at www.BrickStainable.com/press-room.
Photo Caption:  Alan Richardson, president of Potomac Valley Brick & Supply, gives opening remarks to the BrickStainable Awards Program attendees.
This blog post was approved by http://www.igreenbuild.com/