A pair of Florida lawmakers is attempting to broaden green building compliance by loosening up reliance on LEED. If the bills are successful, state buildings could rely on lesser-known green certification programs such as Green Globes. Most people are unaware that there is more than one certification program. The United States Green Building Council, which came up with LEED and issues points for certification is not the only player in…
The importance of building green or implementing green initiatives in existing buildings is on everyone’s mind. The top three outcomes building owners want to achieve by going green are: 1) Lowering operating costs (energy savings). 2) Having a healthier indoor environment (indoor air quality). 3) Helping the environment. I’ve written about energy savings, but how does indoor air quality (IAQ) tie into the equation? Energy savings and its effect on…
I don’t often read The New York Times, but when I do, I usually find something interesting like an article that details an innovative way to use bales of hay as a building material. The Big Bad Wolf and The Three Little Pigs come to mind, but in all seriousness using straw and plaster is not a bad way to utilize a renewable building material as long as you build…
There’s a “miracle” product advertised on TV that is a miracle cure-all for leaks and all sorts of water problems. I’m sure you’ve seen it – the one where the pitch man sprays the product over an open screen door that’s placed in the bottom of a boat. Then we see him paddling around like nothing ever happened. If you haven’t seen it, watch below. It’s pretty entertaining. That’s a…
We’re all looking for ways to save money these days, and any savings here and there can help. You’ve probably heard that doing things like switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, shutting down your computer at night, and turning off your modem when not in use can reduce your energy usage. But we thought it might be interesting to compile a list of not-so-well-known tips that might give you some…
Waste is a symptom of an inefficient process. Reducing waste increases efficiency. Increasing efficiency increases profits. Theoretically speaking, it is better to prevent the generation of waste than it is to recycle. You can only recycle waste that you have failed to prevent. So, place your emphasis on reducing waste if you can, then recycle the waste that you must generate. However, there is an old saying, “In theory, practice…