Student Housing Agency Mandates Green Standards
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York will mandate that all new state construction and
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Program Encourages Green Thumb at California Schools
SAN FRANCISCO — State legislators approved spending $15 million per year on gardening programs at the state’s more than 6,000
Read moreCollege Presidents Sign up to Fight Global Warming
WASHINGTON — America’s colleges entered the fight against global warming this summer after more than 280 college and university presidents pledged to neutralize campus greenhouse gas emissions.
The presidents of 284 higher-education institutions signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment at a leadership summit in Washington that was organized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and environmental advocacy groups, ecoAmerica and Second Nature.
Read moreGreen Building Movement Grows in Oil-Storied Houston
HOUSTON — The Greater Houston Partnership hosted the first of two symposiums designed to educate business leaders about environmentally sustainable buildings.
GHP — the city’s premiere advocacy group and informational clearinghouse — attracted several hundred business leaders, developers and architects to the event, which featured USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi and Houston Mayor Bill White.
Read moreTexas Medical Center Features State’s Largest Green Roof
WEBSTER, Texas — The Houston metropolitan land market and simple long-run economics pushed Jacob White Construction to develop the three-story East Medical Center project around environmentally sustainable technologies that may win LEED gold certification with the largest living roof in the state, according to officials.
But company president Jeff Mickler also sees the project, which features two 48,000-square-foot medical buildings, as a marketing tool that can differentiate Jacob White in the market.
Read moreWashington Expands Green Building Program
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Monroe Correctional Complex received LEED Silver certification for two new complex facilities, bringing to four the
Read moreTrane to Perform HVAC Upgrades at Southern California University
LOMA LINDA, Calif. — Trane was awarded a $6 million contract to upgrade the HVAC systems at Loma Linda University to help the school increase energy efficiency and meet state regulations for sustainable building.
The school’s two central plants, which serve the campus and the university hospital, have outdated equipment that that fails to meet state standards.
Read moreColorado School District Saves $1.3 Million With Energy Program
LOVELAND, Colo. — Thompson School District saved more than $1.3 million in operating costs during the last three years due to a districtwide energy savings program.
In 2003, Winona Elementary and Turner Middle School entered a three-year energy savings performance contract with Siemens Building Technologies Inc. to increase energy efficiency and lower operations costs. The company benchmarked and tracked energy use at the district’s 35 buildings before implementing energy-efficient improvements at the two schools.
Read moreManagers Association Provides Top 10 Energy-Efficient Strategies
The Building Owners and Managers Association International offers 10 strategies, ranging from simple operational procedures to upgrades, for creating energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
1. Check that Equipment Is Functioning as Designed
Regularly inspect all equipment and controls to ensure they are functioning as designed. Double check energy management system programming to make sure that operations are optimized. One firm corrected an EMS software programming error from “And” to “Or” and saved $3,700 annually.
2.
Read moreTax Credits Proposed for Efficient Buildings
BOSTON — A bill to give tax credits to public, private and commercial buildings that comply with energy-efficient standards is under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature.
The legislation would require the state to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code for new construction and renovation projects. It sets heating standards and minimum energy provisions for residential and commercial buildings. Officials estimate that the standards would increase construction costs by 3 percent, but builders would see savings in energy costs and tax breaks.
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