Building Technology
Greenguard introduces formaldehyde standard
ATLANTA –GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) has developed the Formaldehyde Emission Reduction Technology category to its certification programs. Unlike other GEI certification programs, this category certifies a manufacturers’ process/technology, rather than a product.
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC is the first company in this category, with its Caire Technology attaining GREENGUARD Children and Schools CertificationSM. To achieve this certification, Caire Technology met the required standard of reducing formaldehyde levels by 80% or more from a product during the manufacturing process. The finished product also met the overall stringent GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified emissions criteria.
Georgia-Pacific’s patent-pending Caire technology reduces formaldehyde emissions from finished products. It provides an innovative green alternative that is effective, economical, and easy to use. Applied post-manufacture via a variety of customized application methods, Caire is most effective on porous products with a large surface area, such as fiberglass insulation. GP is also testing the technology on ceiling tiles, glass mat, textiles, and air filters. For more information, see www.greenguard.org/Default.aspx?tabid=43&ItemId=457
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Roofing source consolidated
LEESPORT, Penna. – Flex Roofing Systems, a manufacturer and distributor of roofing systems, has consolidated product lines of advanced energy-saving roofing systems as a single source.
These systems include a range of technologies for reflective white ‘cool roofs’, 'green roof' systems (featuring roof-grown vegetation), metal roof retrofit systems, and next-generation photovoltaic (solar) roofing systems. Products can be used on existing buildings and new construction.
Flex products offer significant environmental benefits. The Flex reflective Elvaloy® single-ply and TPO single-ply roofing systems reduce roof temperature during warm weather, which can cut energy/air conditioning costs by an average of 35%. Flex cool roof systems are recognized by the Energy Star program, the U. S. Green Building Council, the Cool Roofing Rating Council, and qualify for LEEDs credits.
For more information, see www.FlexRoofingSystems.com
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Pairing roofs and solar power
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — GE Energy and GAF Materials Corporation (GAF), have formed a strategic alliance to market and develop solar systems and roofing systems for commercial and residential customers.
Customers interested in purchasing a new roof can have a solar system installed at the same time, providing customers with a more convenient solution for their homes and businesses.
GAF is North America's largest manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing, with a network of more than 12,000 contractors, distributors and roofing installers nationwide.
Worldwide demand for reliable, affordable and renewable energy has fueled the solar industry's 40% growth rate since 2005, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Strong growth is expected to continue, putting solar among the fastest growing renewable energy segments in the global power industry.
Further expanding its commitment to the solar energy industry, GE Energy recently increased its equity share in PrimeStar Inc., an emerging solar thin-film technology and manufacturing company. GE Energy is a global leader in supplying technology and services for renewable energy, which will be an integral part of the world energy mix throughout the 21st century. In addition to solar energy, GE's renewable energy portfolio also includes wind power and biomass. For more information on this alliance visit www.gaf.com/solar
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California creates green building database
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The State of California Department of General Services has developed a director to promote greater public awareness about state government's commitment to designing, constructing and operating state-owned buildings that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
The site shows map of California, with flags identifying both existing state-owned facilities, as well as new state construction projects that have achieved, or are currently pursuing, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
In addition, the map identifies state-owned buildings that are undergoing, or are scheduled to undergo, energy efficiency upgrades; a process also referred to as 'retro-commissioning'. The database can be searched by city or county; by state agency (property owner); by LEED certification type (new construction or existing building), or by energy efficiency project. For more information, see www.greenbuildings.dgs.ca.gov/
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Book addresses handling IT data
DUBLIN, Ireland – IT and web based energy information and control systems produce a plethora of information. Web Based Enterprise Energy & Building Automation Systems, from Research & Markets, addresses extracting simple and useful information to determine what actions to take to improve efficiency and productivity of commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities.
The book also provides insight into advanced applications of web based EIS and ECS systems, integration of IT/web based information and control systems with existing BAS systems, commissioning IT/web based systems, measurement and verification of energy saving projects, and monitoring and control of all operations of a facility to integrate the energy related operations of a facility to the business side of the facility-including financial, purchasing, sales, personnel, quality control, manufacturing, and service delivery. To order, see www.researchandmarkets.com
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Take me out to the ballgame
BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox have unveiled solar hot water panels on the roof at Fenway Park, the first Major League Baseball team to do so.
The panels, which will help heat water used throughout the facility, are part of a series of environmentally-sustainable practices that have been implemented at Fenway Park this year. The Red Sox worked on this initiative with National Grid, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The 28 solar panels were installed on the roof of the fifth floor media level, overlooking the ramp and elevator shaft, and are fully operational. This site faces almost directly south, with only a few hours of the winter solstice when the site is shadowed and the solar exposure is highly desirable. This location is also a close proximity to the water heaters in the mechanical room on the roof, and energy captured by the panels can be easily delivered to this equipment.
The energy generated by the panels will replace more than a third of the gas traditionally used for the process of heating water at the park, saving both energy and expense. Fenway's average daily water heating load is approximately 3.1 million BTU. The maximum daily solar panel thermal energy production will be approximately 1.1 million BTU, or 37% of the current load.
According to Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the installation of the panels will also help avoid 18 tons of Carbon Dioxide or CO2 emissions each year. Offsetting 18 tons of CO2 is the environmental equivalent of planting 4.86 acres of trees. For more information, see mlb.mlb.com
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CA creates green code
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The state of California has enacted the nation’s first statewide “green” building code, according to the California Building Standards Commission.
The new standards will result in significant improvements in water usage for both commercial and residential plumbing fixtures and target a 50% landscape water conservation reduction. They also require builders to reduce energy use by 15% more than current standards.
The new code contains standards for healthcare facilities, commercial buildings, and single-family homes. These standards will be updated annually. For more information, see www.scsa.ca.gov/news/pdf/Press_Release_071708.pdf
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CABA offers free rankings
ONTARIO, Canada – The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is offering facilities managers, building designers, owners, and operators to obtain one free building ranking using CABA's Intelligent Building Quotient tool. By completing a short questionnaire, CABA members may test the tool at no charge.
The tool permits people to rate a building's intelligence and provides design guidance to ensure that all relevant issues are considered when making a choice about subsystems and their level of integration. Owners and developers with multiple properties can also use the BIQ tool to assess and compare the building intelligence systems in their portfolio.
Because the assessment is completely online, you can change input up to a year, with an option to extend. This allows users to keep their assessment up-to-date as the building intelligence changes through the project delivery stages as buildings are retrofitted.
Currently, the tool is being used by Honeywell International, Inc. to evaluate the impact of its building automation products. CABA invites you to obtain a free ranking by contacting Brian Daze, CABA's Business Development Manager at daze@caba.org
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