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Mage Solar CEO Recognized for Solar Education

Georgia Solar Energy Association honors Joe Thomas for his involvement in solar education and public outreach in the state

Dublin (Georgia), December 08, 2011.—MAGE SOLAR, part of the globally operating MAGE GROUP, announced that CEO and President of MAGE SOLAR USA Joe Thomas was honored with the 2011 Georgia Solar Advocate Award. At the ceremony in Atlanta Thomas was praised as "without doubt one of the most active, most visible, high level executives active for the solar cause in the Peach State."

All year long, the Chief Executive of the Dublin, Georgia, based PV-manufacturer and complete system provider has traveled vigorously to speak at civic forums and engage in dialogues with opinion leaders, communities, and legislators from all over the state. At multiple occasions, Thomas has also hosted open roundtables and solar seminars for the general public at the MAGE SOLAR ACADEMY, an internationally renowned training arena for the PV-industry.

"I consider it a great pleasure and privilege to accept this award," Thomas. "My home state has so much economic potential in store when it comes to energy from the sun, so sharing knowledge about the tremendous opportunities is truly a passion of mine. But I also would like to thank the Georgia Solar Energy Association for their untiring and immensely helpful support in preparing Georgia to become a leader in clean energy."

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MAGE SOLAR – The Sun on Your Side
MAGE SOLAR USA, headquartered in Dublin, Georgia, specializes in complete solar systems and provides high-quality photovoltaic modules, intelligent mounting systems and high-performance brand inverters. As a subsidiary of the international MAGE GROUP, it uses the Group's 35 years of know-how to develop optimally coordinated system solutions. A competent partner network guarantees profitable solar energy systems for customers throughout the Americas and in thirteen more countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

For more information, please visit: www.magesolar.com

Seattle Expands Energy Efficiency Program

City Program Expands, More Buildings to Improve Energy Efficiency

 

Seattle, WA – The City of Seattle is sending letters to the owners of 8,000 buildings this week informing them of its new building energy-efficiency program. The program aims to help building owners and managers reduce their energy costs through benchmarking – or measuring and rating a building’s energy performance. By benchmarking, owners get insight into how their building uses – and wastes – energy and can begin identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency and increase savings.

 

The City’s Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Program is currently underway for nonresidential buildings over 50,000 sq. ft.  This next phase will require nonresidential buildings over 10,000 sq. ft. and multifamily buildings with five or more units to benchmark and report theirenergy performance by April 1, 2012.

 

The City has developed a series of educational materials – including hands-on training workshops, webinars and a step-by-step “How To” guide – to help owners with benchmarking and provide them information on utility energy-saving programs, rebates and other financial incentives to save energy.

 

To make the benchmarking process as seamless as possible, the City has partnered with local utilities to provide owners with the building energy consumption data they need in a convenient format. Using the free online tool, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, owners will be able to easily see their building’s energy performance and how it stacks up against similar buildings. Having this information at their fingertips is the first step towards improving building energy performance and reducing energy costs.

 

“Buildings consume more than 40% of the energy produced in the U.S. but there is a huge opportunity to lower energy costs through better building efficiency”, said Diane Sugimura, Director of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development.  “The City successfully launched the first phase of the Building Energy Benchmarking program earlier this year and we’re excited to begin reaching an even larger pool of buildings.  Helping building owners track their energy use is an important step towards improving building energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, and invigorating the retrofit market to create good local jobs”, she said.

 

This second group of buildings represents a diverse group of building owners and types including offices, schools, restaurants, retail outlets and more.   These properties make up a significant portion of Seattle’s building stock and a great opportunity for increased energy savings.

 

Many owners and managers already familiar with the benchmarking process see it as a good business practice that helps lower operating costs and boost bottom lines. 

 

“The more information and knowledge you have about your building’s energy performance, the more power you have to control it, “ said Lynda Carey, Construction and Asset Manager at Bellwether, an affordable housing organization in Seattle. “For us, benchmarking and making energy-efficiency improvements isn’t just about helping the environment, it is also a good business decision. Our mission is to help families afford more than rent, so the more we can do to lower our energy costs and keep housing affordable, the better.”

 

The City is working to ensure that all buildings are benchmarked on an annual basis, and that building energy use information isavailable to potential tenants, buyers and lenders during real estate transactions. That way, building owners, businesses and residents alike canmake more informed and cost-conscious decisions when upgrading, buying or renting property.

 

“The key is education. Once an owner understands how their building is performing and how improving energy efficiency impacts their bottom line and productivity, most jump right in and start making improvements,” said Kevin Dingle, President of Sustaining Structures – a green building consulting company in Seattle.  

 

“Part of managing properties properly is providing as much cash flow to investors as possible. And a big part of that is managing utility costs,” said John Speirs, Senior Vice President at KG Investments – a Seattle-based real estate investment and property management company that regularly benchmarks its properties. “Energy is one of our largest expenses. The lower we can keep our energy costs, the more we can bring to the bottomline, and the better our return on investment. We support the efforts the City is making to expand the use of benchmarking and think it’s a great idea.”

 

For more information about the program, visit the City’s Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Ordinance website: http://seattle.gov/dpd/Energybenchmarkingor email: energybenchmarking@seattle.gov.

 

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FMI Releases Q4 Nonresidential Construction Index

FMI Releases NRCI for the Fourth Quarter 2011
Nonresidential Construction Index—Glacial Growth; No Stimulus in Sight; Affordable Health Care Challenges

NRCI = 50.3

RALEIGH, N.C., November 17, 2011 – FMI (www.fminet.com), the largest provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of its Nonresidential Construction Index report for the fourth quarter of 2011. 

The NRCI slipped from 52.4 to a barely positive 50.3 this quarter. While the stock market continues its gyrations from news surrounding the future of the Euro countries, the NRCI has managed glacial growth, chugging along just above average for the last two years, average being little to no growth. The NRCI dropping to 50.3 this quarter is less a downward trend than a continuation of moderate growth. 

Moderate growth does not mean there are not changes going on in nonresidential construction. In past issues, panelists' expressed views on the increasing use of new methods and technologies like BIM, prefabrication, modularization, integrated project delivery, sustainable construction, as well as improved productivity and business development. Most contractors are better prepared to deal with these challenges than with abrupt changes in the economy. 

Current Issues
Overwhelmingly, NRCI panelists do not expect the American Jobs Act and the related National Infrastructure Bank bill to pass as now proposed. Even with public construction as part of the AJA, few panelists expected that it would significantly increase their backlogs if passed.

This report also looks into a not-so-new problem, how to pay for rising health care insurance costs. The issue is resurfacing due to the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obama Care. Although the majority of NRCI panelists recognize they will have to share the skyrocketing costs of health care with employees, a few say they intend to drop their policies, pay the penalties and let employees fend for themselves. Twenty percent of panelists have yet to fully examine their options.

Bottom line, little to moderate growth for now. However, this doesn't mean there won't be significant changes in how the nonresidential construction industry conducts business over the coming months.

To download a copy of the full report click here. For reprint permission or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact Sarah Vizard Avallone at 919.785.9221 or savallone@fminet.com.

About FMI
FMI is the largest provider of management consulting, investment banking and research to the engineering and construction industry. We work in all segments of the industry providing clients with value-added business solutions, including:

•    Strategy Development
•    Market Research and Business Development
•    Leadership and Talent Development
•    Project and Process Improvement
•    Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Consulting
•    Compensation Data and Consulting

Founded by Dr. Emol A. Fails in 1953, FMI has professionals in offices across the U.S. FMI delivers innovative, customized solutions to contractors; construction materials producers; manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and equipment; owners and developers; engineers and architects; utilities; and construction industry trade associations. FMI is an advisor you can count on to build and maintain a successful business, from your leadership to your site managers. For more information, visit www.fminet.com.

Old Computers Will Be Recycled

"Silicon Valley" Requires e-Stewards Certified Recyclers for Electronics Recycling Events

 

Residents Can Be Sure Their Old Computers Will Be Responsibly Recycled

 

(Seattle, Washington; San Jose, California -- June 27, 2011)  In a four-to-one vote on June 21, the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance requiring that all electronic waste (or e-waste) collected at recycling events taking place in the unincorporated county be processed by e-Stewards® certified recyclers.

 

The county becomes the first in the nation to assure its citizens that electronics dropped off at any collection event will be handled responsibly, and only by those recyclers that have achieved the highest standard in the industry.

 

“Many County residents drop off their e-waste at private recycling drives organized by schools and charities,” said Supervisor Liz Kniss, District 5, who initiated the ordinance. “These residents believe that they are doing the right thing by recycling their e-waste. However, there is no way for residents to be sure that their e-waste will be ultimately recycled in a safe and globally responsible manner unless it goes to an e-Stewards recycler.” Kniss added, “I’m proud that Santa Clara County is the first government in the nation to take this step.”

 

Under the new law, collectors may only deliver e-waste to e-Stewards certified recyclers, and recyclers must be e-Stewards certified to accept e-waste collected from unincorporated Santa Clara County.

 

E-Stewards electronics recyclers undergo a professional audit each year to guarantee they will not export hazardous wastes to developing countries, nor dump such wastes into municipal landfills, nor use prison labor for managing such wastes. E-Stewards recyclers also ensure that private data is kept secure, and that their operations protect both workers and the environment everywhere.

 

The e-Stewards Certification was created by the Basel Action Network (BAN) in conjunction with advisors from the electronic recycling industry, occupational health experts and certification specialists. The accredited certification program is supported by the EPA, and is endorsed by Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, as well as 68 other environmental organizations.

 

“Sadly not all of those companies that call themselves responsible recyclers are truly responsible and many are not recyclers at all, but are just exporters," said Jim Puckett, the director and founder of the Basel Action Network (BAN). "We have been to the techno-trash dumping grounds of Africa and Asia and seen the children being poisoned. This is why we created the e-Stewards Certification in the first place. We are extremely gratified that local governments like Santa Clara, are making good use of this tool to screen out the unscrupulous and award only those businesses that will do the right thing.”

More information:

 

E-waste reports, films and photos – www.ban.org and www.ban.org/photogallery/index.html
 

For more information on the e-Stewards Initiative: www.e-Stewards.org 

 

Affordable Green Housing from Habitat

Habitat for Humanity has been involved in so many good causes globally. This is another example and timely as the U.S. housing market needs some good news and affordable, energy efficient green homes for buyers at all economic levels. I enjoyed the video lined below.


Here's the link to the article:

Habitat for Humanity: Making Sustainability Accessible The global non-governmental, non-profit organization that's headquartered in Americus, Georgia, has built and rehabilitated over 400,000 homes since it was founded in 1976. Habitat reaches out to those who can't afford a house on the standard market and the beneficiaries of the Habitat program collaborate with volunteers to build or rehabilitate a home. Click Here to view the detail.

LEED Certified Paint Plant Opens in Arizona

Dunn-Edwards Opens the World's First LEED-Certified* Paint Manufacturing Facility

PHOENIX, Ariz. – (June 1, 2011) Dunn-Edwards, the Southwest's leading manufacturer of premium paints, announces the opening of the world's first LEED-certified* paint manufacturing facility.  Located in Phoenix, the 336,000-sq.-ft. facility was custom designed to be the greenest and most efficient in the coatings industry.  This ultra-modern building encompasses manufacturing, product development, quality control laboratories, a distribution center, retail outlet and office space.  

"We have incorporated innovative, energy-efficient equipment and protocols, such as unique dust collection systems that capture and recycle particulates, and novel wastewater recycling techniques.  Our systems are classified as ultra-low discharge, meaning that waste generation is greatly minimized," said Karl Altergott, president.  

Dunn-Edwards is considered one of the most environmentally-friendly paint manufacturers and an industry leader in eco-efficient principles – all part of its Greener by Design philosophy. For example, throughout its operations the company focuses on initiatives such as energy efficiency, waste minimization, recycling, emissions reduction, and health and safety protection.   "So, not only are we manufacturing paint that is more eco-friendly, we have taken great steps to conserve energy and material resources, and to reduce waste in our physical environment," said Altergott.

Even small changes can add up to big eco-savings.  The company eliminated cardboard boxes for packaging one-gallon containers and now use heat shrink wrap.  Dunn-Edwards is the only paint plant in the United States using heat shrink wrap.  This amounts to a reduction of cardboard consumption by one million boxes, which equates to approximately 250 tons of cardboard per year.

Altergott reports that energy calculations on the new plant show a 50 percent reduction over its two existing operations; one was first built in the mid-1950s and the other in the mid-1970s.   "Our innovative automation at the new plant is one of the most comprehensive systems in the industry and light years beyond what we had at the older facilities," he explained.  "We are so much more efficient -- saving time, money and resources.  Increased automation has reduced the physical demands of workers, and thus potential injuries."

With more than 50 percent more space than our two former plants combined, this new plant meets Dunn-Edwards' needs for long-term growth and has room to expand another 40,000 sq. ft.  

"Dunn-Edwards is investing in its future in Phoenix by adding more than $40 million in capital investments and creating approximately 120 much-needed new jobs," said Mayor Phil Gordon.  "By working together on this project, the end result is a growing Phoenix economy with new jobs."

Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, added, "Dunn-Edwards joins several new companies focused on green and sustainable solutions that have chosen Arizona because of its emerging reputation in this sector.  The City of Phoenix and the Arizona Commerce Authority provided strong leadership in supporting Dunn-Edwards' efforts to expand to Greater Phoenix, and we welcome them to our pro-business environment."

An official grand opening will be held Friday, June 3, 2011.  A ribbon cutting ceremony with local officials, including Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, begins at 11 a.m., followed by plant tours and lunch. (NOTE: Event is for invited guests and media only.) The plant is located at 520 S. 67th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, 85043.  For more information about Dunn-Edwards, visit www.dunnedwards.com

*LEED certification pending; estimated late summer with a Gold Award


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NOTE: Photos and video are available


About Dunn-Edwards Paints
Dunn-Edwards has produced and sold premium paint products for 85 years throughout the Southwest.  Operating 109 stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, Dunn-Edwards is one of the nation's largest independent manufacturers and distributors of architectural paints and painting supplies.  Based in Southern California, the company is composed of approximately 1,500 employees.  dunnedwards.com

Media Contact:
Judy Lynes                        
310/752-4400 ext. 124
judy@thephelpsgroup.com  

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

Green Supers Graduate From NYC Program

A thousand New York City building superintendents and resident managers have officially become green experts, the largest property services union in the country announced Monday. At an event held at SEIU Local 32BJ's lower Manhattan headquarters, the group became the first to graduate from the 32BJ-Thomas Shortman Green Supers training program.

The Green Supers program is a 40-hour class that provides building service workers with state-of-the-art practices in energy-efficient operations. It trains workers to identify and address energy waste, create a green operating plan and perform cost-benefit analysis for building owners and managers.

The labor-management program, approved by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Building Performance Institute, was expanded courtesy of a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Another 1,000 supers are currently enrolled in the program.

"Green Supers is a win-win for building owners, residents and tenants, and just about everyone," said Mike Fishman, president of 32BJ, in a statement. “It's the type of program we need to turn the Big Apple green and other cities, too. And that's why it should be expanded to more building workers—here in New York and in cities across the country.”

Read More

Another Green School Campus Gets Recognition

This trend is catching on and at iGreenBuild.com we love to read about higher education practicing what they preach about sustainability and green building. Naropa University recycles, uses wind power, uses eco-friendly landscaping practices, offers green transportation for its students and has undergraduate and graduate tracks in environmental studies. The mix of green school facility management and environmentally conscious student life will no doubt produce the type of business leaders and citizens the planet needs for a healthy future. Great work Naropa staff and students!
Princeton Review Recognizes Naropa University's Sustainable Leadership
in 2011 Guide to 311 Green Colleges  
BOULDER, Colo. (May 18, 2011) – Naropa University has been recognized by Princeton Review in The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges as one of 308 institutions of higher education in the United States and three in Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. 
The 220-page guide is created in partnership with the United States Green Building Council, an outstanding national nonprofit organization best-known for developing the LEED green building certification program. This past fall, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, and operated.
Naropa University was recognized as an American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory school, which the university joined in 2007. ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.

ACUPCC's mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.
Naropa University's Environmental Sustainability
Naropa University has long been committed to an institution-wide commitment to sustainable environmental practices. Offsetting 100% of its electricity from wind power renewable energy credits, Naropa University is committed to green practices. Naropa University's Zero Waste goal supports the university in being a sustainable system where resources are fully used and waste is reduced to a minimum, with partnerships with Eco-Cycle, on-going educational and community events, composting and weekly trash audits conducted on all Naropa campuses to assess potential waste reduction. Naropa University's other sustainable initiatives include:

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

With one undergraduate and three graduate study tracks in environmental career paths, Naropa University's environmental stewardship extends beyond the day-to-day approaches, to training the next generation of sustainable leaders.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Local Leaders in Sustainability Report Released

ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA is proud to join The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in unveiling Local Leaders in Sustainability: A Special Report from Sundance, which outlines a five-point national action plan that local governments can utilize as a framework to develop and implement green schools initiatives. The report findings were unveiled today at the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans and USGBC’s Annual Government Summit in Washington, D.C. The findings stem from insightful discussions during the Greening of America’s Schools Summit, held at the Redford Center in Sundance, Utah. “The Greening of Americas Schools Summit marked an important first step in realizing that the environmental quality of our schools is essential to our future and long-term well-being,” said Martin J. Chávez, Executive Director, ICLEI USA and three-term mayor of Albuquerque, NM. “As a result, Mayors and Superintendents came together to chart a new course toward healthy, sustainable schools where our children can grow and excel. We must now put this blueprint into action so that every child in America can attend a green school.” The major steps outlined in the five-point plan include tangible action steps and are based on the conversations that took place at Sundance and successful green schools initiatives from across the United States and include: 1) Connect with the green schools movement; 2) Engage stakeholders and raise awareness; 3) Build community support and capacity; 4) Make it happen: benchmarking, policy and financing and; 5) Celebrate success. “Through the greening of America’s schools, we have the chance to improve the health and education of our children, inspire future leaders and create a stronger America,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “Sundance was just the beginning. This comprehensive blueprint provides local policy makers and community members ways in which they too can accelerate green schools in their areas.” The report also provides a comprehensive review of the benefits of green schools; a summary of local, state and federal policy solutions, leadership profiles of green school advocates, and case studies from both large cities and small communities. Together, these resources serve as a roadmap on the journey to green schools. “This report should serve as a guidepost for many communities throughout the country that are looking for ways to implement green initiatives but fear the expense involved,” said AIA President Clark Manus, FAIA. “In reality, the average school is 42 years old, and energy inefficiencies cost it approximately $100,000 a year, money that could be better spent on teachers, education materials, books or computers.” The Greening of America’s Schools Summit, held in November 2010 at the Redford Center in Sundance, Utah, brought together leading mayors from across the nation and their respective schools superintendents for an insightful discussion on the importance of a greener environment and educational performance. ICLEI USA partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Redford Center, founded by Robert Redford to convene this impressive gathering of local government leaders and educators. The report can be downloaded free-of-charge from centerforgreenschools.org/actionplan. About ICLEI USA - ICLEI USA is a non-profit membership association of local governments working to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and tangible improvements in local sustainability. ICLEI USA supports its more than 600 member local governments by providing networking opportunities, tools, resources, and programmatic support focused on climate protection and sustainable development. More information at www.icleiusa.org About the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council - The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is how USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From the kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing researching in a lab, the Center provides the resources and support to elevate dialogue, accelerate policy and institute innovation toward green schools and campuses. Thanks in part to generous support from founding sponsor United Technologies Corporation, the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play. More information at www.centerforgreenschools.org 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