News Updates

Green Building Doing Green Things

Green Building Doing Green Things

By Hollie Dugan & Kent Meyn

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new 70,000 square foot four-story Biorenewable Research Laboratory (BRL) was held on September 8, 2008. This marked the first phase of the Biorenewables Complex on the Iowa State University campus. The $24,125,000 LEED Gold building will serve as the headquarters for ISU’s Bioeconomy Institute. “This is an excellent research facility for graduate students,” comments Dennis Kenison, M & E Superintendent for Stahl Construction. The complex will eventually include two additional buildings that will house the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. An open atrium will connect the three buildings. “Research projects that were scattered about the campus are now in one building,” added Kenison.

Click here to read the full story.

Recycling Among ABC of Iowa Members

No Wasted Efforts in Recycling Among ABC Iowa Members

By Shauna Smith

As most contractors know, construction and demolition (C&D) projects produce an excessive amount of waste and unneeded materials left over at a construction, renovation or demolition site. Because of this, ABC Iowa and its members realize the importance of recycling in the construction industry. With the green effort in full swing around the state, many ABC members are increasing recycling as a way to contribute to the effort and promote efficiency, and at the same time, are enhancing their business.

Concrete, wood, drywall, asphalt shingles, asphalt pavement, metal and cardboard make up 70 to 90 percent of discarded material on a construction site. Rather than dumping these items, many companies are finding ways to recycle them into new products or use them in other ways. If all concrete and asphalt generated annually in the U.S. were recycled, it would save an estimated equivalent of 1 billion gallons of gasoline—the same as taking 1 million cars off the road! Most of the energy savings come in the form of decreased natural resource consumption from mining crushed stone and extracting and refining petroleum.

In the past, these discarded materials have been considered a cost of doing business but, along with the obvious benefits to the environment, are now seen as a benefit to a business’s bottom line. The cost of recycling is often lower than landfill disposal and recycling or reusing material onsite also reduces hauling costs.

Recycling is vital to our state’s efforts of increasing sustainable building practices. The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification process requires that construction process earns points for various green practices such as materials usage. Points are given for using recycled materials and recycling the waste produced during construction.

Iowa Leading the Industry
Long before green efforts hit full swing, the Metro Waste Authority in Polk County began managing the community’s landfill. In 1969, state law started requiring all Iowa communities to properly dispose of their solid wasted in a sanitary landfill. Today, Metro Waste Authority is the leader in environmental stewardship and cost-effective waste management, implementing various recycling programs such as Curb It!—the most comprehensive curbside recycling program in the state—the Residential Scrap Tire Program, the Sharps Program, and a Special Waste Assistance Program for commercial/industrial businesses.

Iowa DNR Offers Funding for Recycling Projects
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has many options available for handling C&D debris. Through the DNR’s Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP), C&D debris recycling projects are targets of DNR funds. The DNR supports sustainable and efficient building and is working to reduce the amount of solid waste generated and landfilled in Iowa. The DNR is offering financial assistance through SWAP, a competitive process available on a variety of projects including source reduction, recycling and education. Funds can be used for waste reduction equipment, hauling equipment, and purchase of recycled content products, to name a few. For more information, visit www.iowadnr.gov.

Alternative Recycling
In recent years, Terry Stark of Avant Ministries launched a new alternative fundraising program to turn industrial waste into revenue. Rather than traditional solutions of discarding materials to salvage yards, landfills, equipment brokers and even recyclers, Stark advocates turning unneeded materials into profit. Avant connects businesses with assets to businesses with needs—if a company has excess material, he helps them find someone who has a need for that material. Stark’s work earned Avant Ministries the 2005 Murray J. Fox Recycling Innovation Award. For more information, contact Terry Stark at 515-202-8700.

Become a Certified Green Contractor

Green Contractor Certification

The ABC Green Contractor Certification program is designed to document the merit shop construction community’s efforts to develop a sustainable workplace environment—both on and off the jobsite—as well as recognize ABC member firms that are green industry leaders.

Benefits

Economic and Business Opportunities
Competitive advantage and distinction in the marketplace
Operational cost savings, efficiency and effectiveness
Commitment to the environment, customers, employees and the community

Organizational Enhancement
Increase employee morale, retention and productivity
Protect the health and well-being of employees

Environmental Impact
Reduce pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions
Save energy, water and raw materials

Steps to Certification

Step 1
Comply with all prerequisites; meet 12 of 36 elective items; and fulfill all education and training requirements on application.

Step 2
Submit application, required documentation and application fee to ABC National.

Step 3
ABC National will schedule third-party onsite assessment at applicant's office. Assessor recommends either certification or additional changes (subject to an additional onsite assessment by third party).

Step 4
ABC National Green Building Committee reviews application and assessment report for certification worthiness.

Click below for the application
www.greenconstructionatwork.com/Files/Certification_Samples/ABC%20Green%

Visit www.greenconstructionatwork.com/Tools_Resources/Green_Contractor_Certification/Application.aspx  for more information.

Click here to read the full story.

Going Green at Work

Going Green at Work: An Action Plan

By Jim Holland and Chris Howard

Business owners don’t have to build a giant windmill outside of their offices to participate in the green revolution. Little steps can make a big difference. For example, if every person replaced a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb this week, collectively more than $3 billion in electricity bills would be saved and 50 billion fewer tons of coal would be used.

During the last 10 years, some of the country’s top companies have enacted green initiatives. Scores of Fortune 500 companies saved billions of dollars with creative methods for reducing their carbon footprints. The common thread in each company was turning good ideas into action, with steps as simple as remembering to turn off the lights or as complex as engineering a green roof to combat a building’s heat island effect. The important thing to remember is that all employers, regardless of size, can take action.

Set Up an Energy Audit
First, business owners should call their local electric utility company and request an energy audit. Most electric utility companies offer energy auditing services in which a trained professional systematically evaluates the company’s energy usage and offers suggestions on how to cut costs and increase efficiency. Among the areas evaluated are lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, water and motor systems.

Additionally, be on the lookout for incentives the utility company might provide to make hiring an energy auditor more attractive. Some utility companies offer a rebate on audit costs for companies that implement one of the auditor’s recommendations. Contractors purchasing energy-efficient equipment also may qualify for additional rebates under the local utility company’s incentives.

Utilize Free Government Resources
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides numerous free resources for companies trying to reduce their environmental impact. The EPA’s EnergyStar program, for example, helps entities meet their green goals. Visit www.energystar.gov for step-by-step instructions on assessing corporate energy management. The website also offers a checklist for green building designs, tips for reducing energy consumption and extensive training materials.

In addition, business owners should pay attention to products with an EnergyStar logo when making a purchasing decision. This logo indicates the product:
reduces energy use by 10 percent to 75 percent without compromising quality;
produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, reducing fossil fuel consumption;
yields a significant return on investment; and
has an extended product life requiring less maintenance.
EnergyStar certifies windows, roofing products, commercial HVAC systems, vending machines, computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, refrigerators, and many other common business purchases.

Avoid Wasting Electricity
One of the easiest ways a contractor can decrease energy consumption is by eliminating wasteful electricity use. When buying products such as appliances or office equipment, ensure they have power-saving features. Use power strips to control equipment that is plugged in, but not being used. Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Install motion sensors and timers on lights.

Also, consider purchasing electricity from energy companies that use renewable sources such as wind, solar or biomass. (Visit www.epa.gov/greenbuilding for a listing of participating energy companies.)

Reduce Water Consumption
Reducing water consumption is another environmentally friendly practice that does not take a big bite out of a firm’s bottom line; in fact, it can add to it. It’s not necessary to immediately replace all office faucets, toilets, urinals and other plumbing mechanisms. However, when it comes time to replace these items, select more efficient models. Inefficient toilets are the leading contributor to the waste of water in the United States.

Recycle
Many employees would like to see their employer endorse a recycling policy. In the construction industry, companies can take advantage of recycled industrial materials, including coal combustion products, foundry sand and demolition debris. In addition to industrial materials, contractors can reduce, reuse and recycle office supplies, appliances, electronics and other items commonly used in the workplace.

Proper use and disposal of toxic materials is equally important. Moreover, ensuring a high level of indoor air quality provides employees with a workspace that promotes their health, increases their productivity and protects the building.

As corporate green initiatives take off, the company’s reputation improves and morale generally rises. Many companies form committees, or “green teams,” to improve environmental stewardship. Most employers find employees want to get involved when their efforts improve the environment as well as the company’s bottom line.


Jim Holland and Chris Howard are attorneys in the Kansas City, Mo., office of Fisher & Phillips LLP. For more information, call (816) 842-8770 or email jholland@laborlawyers.com or crhoward@laborlawyers.com.

Reprinted with permission from Construction Executive, May 2009, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors Services Corp. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

The Staying Power of Green:

In the course of history, both short-lived fads and more lasting innovations emerge. Green building is beginning to look a lot like the latter, which implies commercial and industrial builders that embrace sustainability are likely to enjoy more rapid growth in market share than their traditional building counterparts for years to come.
Click here to read the full story.

Paperless Technology Helps Estimating Go Green:

Although construction historically has been a paper-driven industry, newly developed technologies are helping contractors move toward electronic workflow. Construction estimating is no exception.
Click here to read the full story.