GREEN BUILDING NEWS

A new study bolsters the claim that new isn’t always better and that designing for the long-term is truly sustainable design.  Check out the link below.  ~Tina

Building Retrofits: Greener Than New Construction

Energy-efficient retrofits on existing buildings are more eco-friendly than constructing new green buildings, according to a study by the Preservation Green Lab, a sustainability think tank of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Building upgrades generate less waste and have less effect on the environment.  Meanwhile, it would take 80 years for new green buildings to reverse the impact of their construction on the environment, according to this article.

Biometrics: How Closely Can a Building Emulate Nature?

The use of nature as an inspiration has been a driving force for building designers, allowing them to access and harness nature's design strategies.  "Right now, biomimetic innovations have already provided revolutionary ideas for how new buildings are cooled and heated, one of the most energy intensive systems in a structure," Jason Dearen writes in this SmartPlanet blog.  "Unlocking these biological secrets -- how an animal cools itself, such as using its body to absorb water in a hot, arid landscape where life sustaining resources are rare -- has already provided tangible advances in sustainable design."

USGBC/LEED NEWS

The Latest on LEED 2012 

Since 2010, the U.S. Green Building Council has been working on the next iteration of the LEED green-building rating system, dubbed LEED 2012.  Eco-Structure recently spoke with Scot Horst, USGBC senior vice president, LEED, about the last stages of system development.

BOMA, USGBC Update Green Building Report

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International was among 15 partner organizations who joined the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) to announce the release of a report that recommends  nearly three-dozen executive actions across 23 agency programs where the Obama Administration can drive the economic and environmental benefits of green building without new legislation.  To read more, click here.

PRODUCT NEWS

Research on concrete that we have featured in previous editions of Sustainability E-News has come under question.  Read more in the link below.  ~Tina

Wood Industry to Release Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Dwight Yochim with WoodWorks reported, “The forest products industry will be releasing their EPD very soon.”  Follow the news at woodworks.org.

What Is LCA?

This interesting website contains lots of information about LCA, what it is, guidelines, etc. Check it out for yourself. 

MIT's Concrete Research Faces Scrutiny

Some research -- funded by the Ready Mixed Concrete Research and Education Foundation and the Portland Cement Association -- at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Concrete Sustainability Hub is coming under scrutiny.  In particular, an MIT report that suggested a different way to conduct a life-cycle cost analysis of concrete and a letter about fly ash as a "possible game changer" have had an effect in Congress and have some wondering about the intention of the research.  PCA says, "We see that by bringing this research to the table, by bringing it to local state DOTs, our members will have a better chance at gaining market share." Engineering News-Record  (Editor’s note:  this link is available for free only for a limited time)

EDUCATION

The Art of Thermal Mass Modeling for Energy Conservation in Buildings

Leaders in building thermal performance modeling are being brought together to impart their knowledge and experience about the latest trends in building energy performance analysis and modeling at the upcoming American Concrete Institute Spring Convention in Dallas Texas.  The sessions, jointly sponsored by ACI/TMS Committee 122 Energy Efficiency of Concrete and Masonry Systems and ACI Committees 130 Sustainability of Concrete and 236 Material Science of Concrete, begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 19, 2012.  Do not miss the opportunity to gain crucial information about the tools and requirements to better achieve energy conservation in buildings for improved sustainability.  For more information visit: www.concrete.org.

Wisconsin Masonry Alliance Hosts Sustainability Seminars

The Wisconsin Masonry Alliance annouces their 2012 Symposium Series featuring The Masonry Society’s “The Role of Masonry in Sustainable Design” seminar.  Choose your location!  Green Bay on Feb. 14, Wisconsin Dells on Feb. 15, and Waukesha on Feb. 16.  Click Here for More Information and to Register Online! Or Download the Registration Brochure Here.

Sustainability/LEED Focus of ICON and NCMA Education

The Precast Show taking place in Orlando, Fla., March 1-3, 2012 will include ICON EXPO and NCMA CPU education programs.  Sustainability is the focus of several of the education programs, including a session on the Introduction to Green Building and the International Green Building Code.  For a tentative schedule, please click here.

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