Recently in Commercial Remodeling Category

Find more details about these retrofit suggestions at USGBC Checklist for Green Retrofits:

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs

Program your thermostat

Plug air leaks

Tune up your heating and cooling (HVAC) system

Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances

Reduce water use

Switch to green power

Explore solar

Use low-VOC products

Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your house

Use native plantings

Not all solar installations have to be on the rooftop...or even permanent in one place.  Take this new desk design:

The SOLo Lounge Table might change the working habits of teckies. Built into the surface of this roll-around table are solar panels that charge up its internal battery and power your devices. It can connect to a variety of devices and there’s a drawer for storing and charging your gadgets. The SOLo alse features Bluetooth connectivity for system monitoring in addition to the included System Monitor display/device. More info here.

True smart water management technology is the most effective way to achieve LEED certification (by USGBC)  for outdoor water conservation.

Although a wide range of irrigation technologies are marketed as being smart, genuine smart water management systems are differentiated by:

• No people involvement, because all irrigation activity is determined and executed by the system
• Low maintenance costs, unlike systems based on sensors and temperature gauges
• Ideal for both new construction and retrofitting, since they don't require the implantation of sensors, gauges or other in-ground equipment.

Beyond providing a straightforward path to LEED certification for outdoor areas, smart water management technology delivers a full complement of business and environmental benefits.

• Water savings for cost reduction
• Water savings for environmental impact
• Reduced risk by not damaging or creating slippery surfaces on hardscapes.
• Healthier landscape plants with scientifically scheduled watering to protect living assets

According to WeatherTRAK, landscape irrigation systems based on this technology are 30 percent more efficient than traditional low-tech watering systems, speeding payback and eliminating infrastructure investments.

In California, AB 2717 and AB 1881 mandate that new construction include a weather based smart controller by 2012 and that cities/municipalities adopt smart irrigation by 2010.  Other Southeastern states heavily impacted by recent droughts and water shortages are following California's legislative approach.

Dual flush toilets have become standards in Europe and other countries concerned about their water supply.  Unfortunately, water conservation is undervalued in the US.  But that is changing, especially where drought is forcing water outages and increasing rates.  Gerber provides high efficiency toilets, sinks and certified water efficient solutions. 

Gerber offers vitreous china pedestal and drop-in lavatories designed to complement their toilets, bringing together classic looks and powerful technology. The advanced HP2 and XP3 high-performance flushing systems will virtually eliminate the aggravation and cost of warranty callbacks from second-class toilets that clog or require a “double flush.”

Abigail™ faucets, and Viper™ toilets with Gerber's HP2 flushing system, which delivers performance that’s more than double the industry standard! Gerber provides you with the style and quality you need to give homebuyers who are stepping up from their first home the sense that they’ve truly arrived.

Gerber offers water-saving, sensor-operated electronic faucets designed to prevent waste by automatically shutting off water flow. Deckmount choices include gooseneck or crescent spouts, as well as, models
equipped with an in-deck mixer, which permits user control of water temperature.

Ultra Flush® 1.1 gpf toilet models are available to deliver the ultimate in high-efficiency water conservation.
They can flush 1,000 grams of bulk waste while using 30% less water than standard 1.6 gpf toilets. In addition to Ultra Flush 1.1 gpf units, Ultra Dual- Flush™ models are also available, with a dual-action lever that permits 1.6 gpf or high-efficiency 1.1 gpf operation.

Ultra Dual-Flush™ provides professional performance while conserving natural resources. It flushes up to 1,250 grams of bulk waste per 1.6 gallon flush or 1,000 grams per 1.1 gallon flush.  1.1 gallon flush uses 30% les water over conventional 1.6 gallon toilets.  The Pressure-Assist system uses pressure from the incoming supply line to foce 1.6 gallons of work out of 1.1 gallons of water. It installs like standard gravity toilest -- no special connections are required.

Gerber products are sold exclusively to the plumbing professional.

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures corporate offices are located in Woodridge, Illinois.  Gerber has manufacturing facilities in Kokomo, IN, Laredo, TX, Montreal, Canada. Shenzhen, China and Weifang, China.

Gerber

The old fashioned bathroom stool can use up to 3 gallons of water per flush. New toilets use considerably less and the new "dual flush toilet" lets you save the most. The flush button for "light flush" uses lss than a gallon of water, and the heavier flush (for solids) uses about 1.5 gallons. These amounts vary by product and by certification by trusted programs such as EPA's Watersense standard.

Designed in Australia, where water conservation is extremely important, the HET dual flush water-saving toilet uses, at most, 1.6 gallons per flush. “Dual flush” means that this toilet has two different types of flushing. One for liquids (or #1), which is only .8 gallon of water, and one for solids ( like #2, c’mon let’s be grownups about this!), which is only 1.6 gallons of water. At its biggest flush, this water still uses less than the standard new toilets, which use 1.8 gallons of water per flush. That’s up to 50-75% savings!

Remodeling doesn't always mean ripping out walls -- if you think green, you can rip out utility costs!

Green Building and Green Products

The American Institute of Architects
Establishes business standards for and represents professional interests of licensed American architects and allied partners.

ASTM International
Develops technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services used around the world.

Build It Green
Fosters stakeholder collaboration to accelerate adoption of green building practices, policies, and programs throughout California.

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
Provides sustainability criteria and design resources for schools in support of a national green-building rating program for K-12 schools.

Design for the Environment (DfE)

Supports “green chemistry” in the design and manufacture of alternative products and promotes scientifically sound and cost-effective pollution reduction projects.

EPA Product Stewardship Program

Aims to reduce environmental impacts, calling for a shared responsibility among manufacturers, retailers, users and disposers of products.

Ecological Design Institute

Fosters research and education in environmental design that integrates architecture, human and natural ecology in a whole-systems approach.

GreenSpec® Database

Presents green design and construction news with GreenSpec® database of environmentally preferable products selected by BuildingGreen editors.

The Home Depot

Promotes Eco Options labeling to identify products offering a range of certified sustainability benefits to consumers.

The American Indoor Air Quality Council

Educates the public and develops certification programs for the management of indoor air quality.

NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Research Center

Pushes new building technologies into the residential market by providing industry information to clients.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

Presents LEEDS system and promotes sustainable construction of healthy, cost-effective buildings.

UNEP / SETAC Life Cycle Initiative

Develops product life-cycle management framework and tools, including activities and databases of best available methods and information.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC, LEED)
Consensus-based group managing LEED building criteria.

Green Healthcare Standards and Compliance

Health Care Without Harm
Outlines sustainability goals developed by an international coalition to transform the health care sector and prevent harm to public health and the environment.

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
Offers pollution prevention resources and compliance assistance information related to federal and state regulations of hospital wastes.

News and Research on Environmental Quality

California Green Solutions
Broad overview of business to business solutions from companies and organizations providing workplace and community sustainability

Environmental News Network

Selects environmental news reflecting current issues of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Environmental Protection Agency Website

Posts information issued by the EPA, the governmental agency charged with protecting U.S. environmental resources.

Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Pursues analysis and solution of environmental problems and promotes sustainable environmental quality and ecosystem integrity.

Recycling and Reuse of Building Materials

Building Materials Reuse Association

Provides information to facilitate the strategic deconstruction of buildings and the reuse or recycling of recovered building materials.

Construction Materials Trade Association (CMRA)

Promotes safe and economically feasible means of recycling construction and demolition materials used in U.S. buildings.

 

Green building and green workspace strategies include conscious design principles that reduce the load on the environment -- and people's health.  The use of non-polluting materials and manufacturing processes of basic building and manufacturing processes is the foundation of a green building.  How the building itself is constructed is the second step toward lowered lifetime impact through lower energy costs, better ventilation, lower offgassing, etc.  And the furnishings that make the building functional add the final step in the green building process by selecting furnishings that reduce virgin materials use, are high performance and long lasting, and provide ergonomic service to the people using them.

Whether you are building a new facility or retrofitting a building, finding good quality, green building materials is part of the upgrading process...and part of certification programs such as Energy Star, California standards, Federal Environmentally Preferable Purchasing or USGBC's LEED program.

Measuring Environmental Claims with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is one of the leading product and process certification audit providers.  They monitor, measure and certify a wide range of environmental products for industries including

• Food & Agriculture
• Eco Products (Building)
• Forestry
• Fisheries
• Floral

Online SCS Certified Products Database of Eco Building Products

The online product directory of green building products includes  broad categories, sub-categories and product types from more than  one hundred manufacturers  and classified by certification programs and conformance to the  leading  regulatory and  measurement programs. Currently certified products include office furniture systems, components, and seating, building materials, carpet and rug, hard surface flooring, paints, finishes, wood products, and cleaning products, among others.

Categories of eco products include:

• Adhesives/Sealants
• Building and Construction Products
• Flooring
• Furniture
• Home and Garden
• Paint Products
• Paints and Coatings
• Plastics
• Processes
• Reclamation Program
• Rock
• Textiles and Fiber
• Treatment

Certification Programs covered include:

• Biodegradable
• Environmentally Preferable Product
• FloorScore
• Indoor avantage
• indoor Advantage Gold
• No Added Formaldehyde
• No Added Urea Formaldehyde
• Pollution Prevention
• Reclamation Program
• Recycled or Reclaimed Content
• Salvaged Wood
• SCS Sustainable Choice

Conformance list includes:

• CA Section 01350
• CHPS EQ 2.2 (CA Section 01350)
• LEED EQ 4.2 + CHPS EQ 2.2
• LEED EQ 4.3 + CHPS EQ 2.2
• LEED EQ 4.5 (ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Emissions Standards)
• LEED EQ 4.5 +CHPS EQ 2.2 (ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Emissions Standards
• LEED MR 4.1 or 4.2

 

Remodeling battles greenhouse gas and climate change...reusing old structures saves significantly:

Researchers in England found that building a new home emitted four and-a-half times as much carbon dioxide as refurbishing an existing dwelling.

They also found that the carbon dioxide emitted as a result of the construction of a new building - from quarrying, brick making and so on - accounted for nearly three times more of a building's lifetime emissions than had been supposed.

Previously the amount of energy involved in the construction of a home had been assumed to represent 10 per cent of the energy used over the lifetime of a building.

In fact, energy involved in construction added up to nearly 30 per cent of the emissions over the lifetime of the building, according to the report "New Tricks with Old Bricks; how reusing old buildings can cut carbon emissions."  Telegraph, UK

So you can feel better about remodeling an old building than about building a new one.  Another benefit of remodeling old structures is reduction in urban sprawl.  When new wilderness or agricultural lands are transformed into suburban housing, we lose many additional benfits of nature's natural systems:  plants (especially native plants) provide air filtration, water capture and replenishment of aquafers and water tables, wildlife habitat, cooling of the earth, and natural processing of waste -- from animal carbon dioxide to poop :-)  Nature works hard for us and we can return the favor by reusing what we have already taken out of the natural system instead of adding to the concrete jungle.

Moisture condensation occurs in both winter and summer. The following factors increase the probability of condensation:

• Homes that are ineffectively insulated and are not sealed against air infiltration in cold climates can result in major moisture problems.
• Cool interior surfaces such as pipes, windows, tile floors, and metal appliances; air conditioner coils with poor outside drainage; masonry or concrete surfaces; toilet tanks; and, in the winter, outside walls and ceilings can result in moisture buildup from condensation. If the temperature of an interior surface is low enough to reach the dew point, moisture in the air will condense on it and enhance the growth of mold.
• Dehumidifiers used in regions where outside humidity levels are normally 80% or higher have a moisture-collecting tank that should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. It is best if dehumidifiers have a drain line continuously discharging directly to the outside or into a properly plumbed trap. This is also true in climates where air conditioning units are used on a full-time or seasonal basis. Their cooling pans provide an excellent environment for the growth of allergenic or pathogenic organisms.
• Moisture removed from clothing by clothes driers ends up in the dryer vent if it is clogged by lint or improperly configured. Moisture buildup in this vent can result in mold growth and, if leakage occurs, damage to the structure of the home. The vent over the cooking area of the kitchen also should be checked routinely for moisture or grease buildup.

Roof
The control of moisture in a home is of paramount importance. It is no surprise that moisture control begins with the design and integrity of the roof. As in nearly all construction materials, tradeoffs must be made in terms of cost, thermal efficiency, and longevity. However, all roofs have two things in common: the need to shed moisture and protect the interior from the environment.

Insulation
A house must be able to breathe; therefore, air must not be trapped inside, but must be allowed to exit the home with its moisture. Moisture buildup in the home will lead to both mold and bacteria growth.

Siding
Good siding should be attractive, durable, insect- and vermin-resistant, waterproof, and capable of holding a weather-resistant coating. Fire-resistant siding and roofing are important in many areas where wildfires are common and are required by many local building codes.  Wall surfacing can include choices as diverse as fiber cement, bricks, stucco, vinyl, asbestos (beware of contamination), and metal.

RESOURCE: Center for Disease Control provides an online book with many building guidelines to prevent health problems.

The building industry is increasingly focused on making its buildings greener, which includes using healthier, less polluting and more resource-efficient practices.

Quality of the air and environment inside buildings is based on pollutant concentrations and conditions that can affect the health, comfort and performance of occupants -- including temperature, relative humidity, light, sound and other factors. Good IEQ is an essential component of any building, especially a green building.

Creating a better indoor environment can help building owners, managers, occupants, architects and builders to minimize or eliminate the negative health effects, liability, bad publicity, and costly renovations and repairs often associated with IEQ problems.

Improving IEQ involves designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining buildings in ways that reduce pollution sources and remove indoor pollutants while ensuring that fresh air is continually supplied and properly circulated.

EPA’s Indoor Environments program promotes the use of integrated, whole building approaches to protect occupant health while saving energy and money. The program focuses on major building types including offices and institutional buildings, schools, homes, as well as major cross-cutting indoor air quality issues like mold and moisture. EPA offers resources from informational pamphlets to interactive CD-ROMs on how everyone from builders to homeowners can improve their indoor environment.

Call EPA's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-438-4318. Or visit EPA's list of free publications at epa.gov/iaq/pubs

EPA Green Indoor Environments