The plight of small businesses during today’s economic climate can be daunting. With the economy still struggling to recover, business owners are watching expenses even more carefully, from the supplies they order to the energy their buildings consume. It isn’t just the big guys who need to cut and trim energy costs.
By John McGrath, Director, International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL)
Asphalt — a word that originates from the Greek word “asphaltos” for secure — is the most recycled material in America, with more than 70 million tons recycled each year.
One recycling method that offers cost savings in addition to its green benefits is full-depth reclamation — FDR — advocated by Ruston Paving Co., Inc.
COSTA MESA, Calif. and ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Marking the possible next wave in green facilities, Hyundai and Volkswagen announced planned and completed green projects — a new facility for Hyundai, and LEED certification for two of Volkswagen’s facilities.
BURBANK, Calif. — Burbank Water and Power and AHBE Landscape Architects have completed the first phase of the state’s first sustainable utility campus.
Leaders of the water and electricity company saw an opportunity to go green when they replaced the power plant and substations on their campus in 2005.
Victoria Arbitrio, PE, SECB, is an Associate Partner with the New York City office of Gilsanz Murray Steficek, a structural engineering and building envelope consulting firm. Ms. Arbitrio is currently a Director for the Applied Technology Council (ATC), and serves on the Metropolitan Region Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC-NY). She is also a Past President of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), and a member of the Structural Engineering Certification Board (SECB).
WASHINGTON — The Sustainable Sites Initiative has certified the first three projects under its new rating system that evaluates the sustainable design, construction and maintenance of built landscapes.
Green building in all U.S. construction sectors will continue its rebound this year as the economy struggles to return to pre-recession levels. While the slowdown in commercial real estate projects and funding has definitely put a crimp in many green building projects, interest does remain high for green school construction.
When Athens’ celebrated Georgia Theatre burned down on June 19, 2009, owner Wilmot Greene took the misfortune as an opportunity to modernize the space, while retaining the theatre’s historic roots.
PULLMAN, Wash. — Amidst a growing trend of LEED certification throughout the hospitality industry, a recent study found that major chain hotels like Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton are significantly ahead of independent hotels in adopting green and sustainable operations.
