Hot-Applied Waterproofing and Green Roofing Applications
June 8, 2008
What is Hot-Applied Waterproofing and how is it used in the Green Roofing process? Click here to watch an informational video. What does a Green Roof system assembly look like? Click here to watch an informational video.
CertainTeed Enters Emerging Market for Photovoltaic-Integrated …
June 8, 2008
VALLEY FORGE, Pa., March 5 /PRNewswire/ — CertainTeed Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer of interior and exterior building products, announced today it has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with SRS Energy of …
CertainTeed Enters Emerging Market for Photovoltaic–Integrated …
June 8, 2008
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 5, 2008, 1 pm Easter Time – CertainTeed Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer of interior and exterior building products, announced today it has entered into a groundbreaking partnership …
The Ten Greenest Buildings in the World
June 8, 2008
We’re not talking hunter green, sea-foam green or Wint-o-Green Lifesavers, just to be perfectly clear. This green is gray, black, charcoal, red and any other color found in the rainbow. It’s all about sustainability, LEED certification, environmental honors, structures under construction and a little dreaming for the future. And though the title of “Greenest Building of the World,” is based somewhat on a subjective notion, there is much to be said about the following group of buildings. Some for living, some for working and all for taking care of our planet, in one way or another.
Robert Redford Building: NRDC SoCal Headquarters — Santa Monica, CA
The National Resources Defense Council led the charge towards greener living and working in 2003, when they went green in their SoCal headquarters. Named in honor of the man who has offered generous support to the organization for over two decades, Mr. Redford was on hand nearly 5 years ago to cut the ribbon, and welcome another green building into the 21st century. Taking an existing building in downtown Santa Monica, the NRDC could easily see the potential of greening this location due to all that the environment already offered. Sun, fresh ocean breezes and recycled water helped to make this location simplistic, energy and environmentally efficient.
Bank of America Tower — New York City
It’s phenomenal how fast they build these buildings, and to know that it was done with renewable materials in an effort to score as many LEED points as possible… it makes me want to reconsider those mean things I’ve said about Bank of America hiking their interest rates. You can’t win them all, I suppose, but the Bank of America tower presently stands as the only completed, sky-scraping structure that has scored a Platinum U.S. LEED rating.
Clinton Presidential Library — Little Rock, Arkansas
Just down the avenue bearing the name of former President Bill Clinton, kudos to team Clinton for making drastic renovations to a building that was only recently constructed, dedicated and opened in 2004. By creating a roof-top garden to help absorb carbon and implementing the use of recyclables, the building has received the U.S. LEED Platinum rating.
Confederation of Indian Industry’s Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre — Hyderabad, India
Of course your building is going to be a paradigm for green commercial structures when you’re in the business of creating green structures. Earning a prestigious award from the United States Green Building Council, the Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre was named the most “environmentally advanced building in the world.” Being the “center of excellence” for energy efficiency, renewable resources, water consumption, recycling and all things “green” in India, it is potentially one of the most important buildings in operation in the Eastern world. Completed in 2004, they’ve employed the venturi effect in cooling the structure, helping to drastically lower the amounts of energy needed to create a comfortable work environment.
Queens Botanical Garden Visitor and Administration Center — Flushing, NY
Who would have thought that a building in Queens would have become the greenest building in the city? Mayor Bloomberg asked the same question as they cut the ribbon and dedicated the new visitors and information center. Receiving a platinum rating from the EPA, there couldn’t be a more perfect structure to serve as the foundation of this 39 acres of natural beauty, just east of Manhattan. Implementing photo-voltaic panels, the new visitors center is able to produce 20 percent of its own electrical needs.
Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability — Vancouver, British Columbia
Nearing completion, it is anticipated that the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) will be the most “innovative and high performance” green building in North America. Taking the successes of recent architectural designs, CIRS will be capable of 100 percent rain capture and the ability to harvest daylight through exterior transformation. Construction is scheduled to be completed this year.
La Maison du Developpement Durable — Montreal, Quebec
There’s a wall of mystery that is still surrounding this building with its hopeful completion date some time off in 2010. The French name translating to “sustainable development house,” the architects have laid claim to this structure being the greenest building in Canada upon completion. Using both geothermal and thermal accumulators for heating and cooling, recyclables in construction materials, a wall garden for oxygen and air filtration… yeah, there’s a good chance it could become Canada’s most self-sustaining structure.
Alberici Corporate Headquarters — Overland, Missouri
Give it up for the Show Me State! Having been incorporated for nearly 100 years, the Alberici Corporation constructed their new green headquarters in the early 21st century, seeing completion in 2004. They were the 9th newly constructed building to receive a platinum rating from the United States Green Building Council. Not only did Alberici choose to go green, but they formed Vertegy in the same year, a new company branch focusing on the consultation of building and renovating to green standards.
The Greenest Buildings of the Not-Too-Distant Future
Now for a look into what we all thought the 21st century would consist of — concepts that are not just under consideration, but are actually in the number crunching phase of development. Not only would buildings like the following help to generate more attention for the green movement, but they would simultaneously up the world’s architectural ante.
Residence Antilla — Mumbai, India
I saw a few rooftop gardens during my days in NYC, and that was just as the green surface was beginning to be scratched. Not only was it great to see for the sake of the environment, but it was just awesome to admire in regard to aesthetics. The Residence Antilla will take the whole concept of urban farming and gardening to the next level! This residence will actually serve as a home for Indian property mogul Mukesh Ambani. Could we see “the Donald” follow in these footsteps? This will definitely be a building that will create a big green stir upon completion.
Crystal Island — Moscow, Russia
Will this idea and concept ever come to fruition? Who knows. Bottom line, it looks like something from “The Never-Ending Story,” and the type of building you cartoon-draw as a child, only to be told that such a thing could never be built. Bent on housing a million Moscow residents, this “city within a city” will be built to incredibly high green technology standards.
Matty Byloos writes and manages the Green Blog known as: Easy Ways to Go Green, as well as the Organic Food Blog: Organic Eating Daily
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matty_Byloos
The Green Roof Revolution
June 8, 2008
With global warming and pollution being ever-present topics on the news, it is important for everyone to contribute to making the world a cleaner place. One way to do this is to use ecologically friendly materials when building your home. The wave of the future is green roofing.
A green roof is a roof that is covered with vegetation. Essentially a rooftop garden, green roofs were developed in the 1960s in Germany, and have become quite popular in many European countries. It is only recently however, that green roof technology has begun to catch on in the U.S.
A green roof is excellent for city dwellers who often lack green space such as a yard or a deck. The addition of a green roof can provide a space to express one’s creativity, and bring nature back to the city. In fact, by planting native vegetation, you can invite insects, birds, and butterflies that would otherwise have nowhere else to go. As an added benefit, green rooftops are aesthetically pleasing and offer a visual contrast to the pavement and steel that dominates the cityscape.
The environmental benefits of a green roof are many, and include the reduction of water runoff that occurs with typical homes. A reduction of runoff is good for the entire community, as too much runoff can result in flooding and water contamination. Because green roofs feature soil and plant life, these roofs are able to absorb as much as 75% of falling rainwater. This moisture is then released back into the air through condensation. A typical roof on the other hand is built to be totally waterproof, so every drop of water runs off and drains into the sewers.
Besides reducing water runoff, green roofs are also able to reduce the presence of toxins in the environment. Pollutants in the air and water, as well as carbon dioxide are absorbed by plant life and rendered harmless. These plants also produce oxygen.
Not only are green roofs great for the environment, but they are also an excellent investment. A properly installed green roof can last at least twice as long as typical roofing material, thereby saving you thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs.
Green roofing can also significantly reduce your heating and cooling bills throughout the year. According to a recent study, building a green roof can reduce your heating and cooling needs by 26%. In cities especially, changes need to be made to the way that structures are built. Temperatures in cities are much higher than in surrounding areas because there is such a prevalence of buildings in a small area. These buildings are made with traditional materials, which absorb and then re-direct the sun’s heat. Cities are therefore much hotter than rural areas where there are less structures, and more green space. In order to combat the rising temperatures, some cities are offering incentives to builders to add green roofing to their projects.
If you decide to build a green roof, you need to keep a couple of things in mind. First, there are two types of green roofs. Traditional style roof gardens, which feature large plants or lawns, require a great deal of maintenance. Feeding, watering, and soil care are all necessary to keep this garden in good condition. Extensive roof gardens on the other hand, have only a thin layer of soil, and require very little work to maintain.
Great for the environment, good for your pocket book, and pleasing to the eye, green roofs are a budding trend that can have a positive impact on the environment. Not only that, but a well constructed green roof can increase the value of your home by thousands of dollars.
Doug Jones is an award-winning San Diego REALTOR with a solid reputation for getting results. Learn more about San Diego real estate today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Jones
