GreenClips.128 09.22.99

GREENING MASTERSPEC MAY INFLUENCE PRACTICES
The growing use of environmentally sound specification and guidance language in the American Institute of Architect's MASTERSPEC may help reduce the negative environmental impact of buildings. Widely used by building design professionals, master specification systems like MASTERSPEC provide generic specifications that can be customized for particular projects. Specification writers at Arcom Master Systems, which produces MASTERSPEC for the AIA, began pursuing green recommendations in 1996. Client demand has been a driver, says Martha Radcliffe, head of Arcom's environmental effort: "We're attempting to concentrate more on greening issues because we have some clients, including the US General Services Administration and the State Department, who are mandated by government to address them. But "so far, Arcom's effort has been sporadic. "No one has done a comprehensive look at all sections," says Radcliffe. One example of MASTERSPEC's greening is the forthcoming Evaluations supplement on site and street furnishings, which references wood products certification and the Forest Stewardship Council. Arcom has historically included energy efficiency in its specifications; currently, they are working with the green labeling organization Green Seal to address energy and environmental issues in chiller selection. Mike King, Arcom's Director of Engineering Specifications, explains that its goal is to provide information that helps design professionals compare different products for a particular application. "We avoid making the value judgment about which product is better," says King. - Environmental Building News, Sep 99, p 3. [Contact: <mradcliffe@arcomnet.com>]

JOINT VENTURE COMPLETES NYLON RECYCLING LOOP
AlliedSignal and DSM Chemicals North America are building a nylon recycling facility that will process 200 million pounds of used carpet annually, creating about 100 million pounds of a recycled polymer that can be used to make new nylon carpets. Each company will own half of the recycled material. AlliedSignal says that the joint venture, Evergreen Nylon Recycling, can make the recycled resin at the same or lower cost than virgin, even with the cost of carpet collection factored in. The recycled polymer could be used to make 100% recycled nylon, but due to limited quantities available, AlliedSignal will mix it with virgin resin to make 25% recycled-content nylon. Although DSM has not yet announced plans for sales of its material, AlliedSignal is publicizing its recycled nylon product under the name Infinity. Mohawk Commercial has committed to using Infinity nylon, and other carpet companies are interested. Rather than setting up its own collection infrastructure, the Evergreen venture will contract with established recyclers to collect and store the carpet until they have enough for a tractor-trailerload shipment to the recycling facility in Augusta, Georgia, which is expected to start operations late in 1999. Carpets produced with Infinity nylon will be available sometime in 2000. Contacts: <heather.sheehan@alliedsignal.com> or<rlawson@dcna.com> - Environmental Building News, Sep 99, p 8. [Full EBN text: <http://www.ebuild.com/Archives/Product_Reviews/Nylon6.html>]

ECOTOURISM PIONEER DEVELOPS FLORIDA RESORT
Stanley Selengut, founder of the environmentally responsible Maho Bay Campground on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, has launched a new eco-resort north of Orlando, Florida. Opened two months ago, the Refuge at Ocklawaha is the result of Selengut's partnership with the Florida Audubon Society, Excel Legacy (a San Diego real estate development company), and the Philadelphia-based Pew Foundation, which provided the initial investment to turn land controlled by the local water management district into a site for "quality ecotourism." The 52-acre site, formerly a family hunting lodge and farm, is now part of a 6,000-acre wetland restoration. According to resort manager Jonnie Williams, "right from the beginning, the big concept was recycling." Existing buildings were renovated, not torn down; screened porches were added to the 11 Cracker-style cottages, and white tin replaced old roofs to better reflect the sun's heat. "It's all very sophisticated and design-oriented, with minimum need for air conditioners, maximum preservation of trees and foliage, using SmartWood and nontoxic furnishings," says Williams. As the resort expands, new cabins will have graywater recycling, solar panels, and other environmentally responsible technology. - In  Business, Jul/Aug 99, p 18, by Jerome Goldstein.  [More: <http://www.flanaturelodge.org/lodge_door.html>]

AIMING AT SMOG, CHICAGO GREENS CITY HALL ROOF
In Chicago, where Mayor Richard M. Daley has a reputation for finding simple ways to improve the city's livability, the roof of City Hall will soon be planted with grass, ivy, and two oak trees. Traditional black roofs absorb sunlight and radiate heat to surrounding air thereby accelerating the creation of ozone, a component of smog. But roof gardens like the one that will top City Hall can help reduce air pollution. "It's funny how people think only people out West, who live in the redwoods, can talk about the environment," Daley says. The garden, expected to cost $750,000, is part of a pilot project conducted by the city, the US Department of Energy, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Funding will come largely from a $25 million-a-year, four-year commitment to conservation programs by Commonwealth Edison, Chicago's major power company. The 11-story City Hall can handle the garden's several hundred-ton weight because it was engineered to accommodate another floor of offices never built. A mirror-image county government building, which is connected to City Hall, will keep its blacktop roof so temperatures and ozone can be compared. Daley acknowledges that most Chicago roofs will remain tree-free, but hopes the project will draw attention to urban heat, encouraging residents to make better choices when they roof their homes and offices. - The Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep 99, by Jon Morgan.  [Contact: <bdaley@ci.chi.il.us>]

NATIONAL SOLAR HOMES TOUR ON OCTOBER 16
On Saturday, October 16, solar homeowners around the US will open their homes to the public during the National Tour of Solar Homes. This annual event, sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society, offers the public an opportunity to visit working solar homes in their own communities. The tours are intended to inspire visitors to incorporate passive solar design, solar water heating, solar electricity, and energy efficiency into their own homes. During last year's tour, 15,000 people in more than 40 states visited solar homes. More: <http://www.ases.org>. - Solar Today, Sep/Oct 99, p 22, by Susan LeFever.

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD LAUNCHES GREEN ARCHITECT WEB PAGES
In September, Architectural Record magazine's web site, <http://www.archrecord.com>, introduced The Green Architect, a section devoted to sustainable design. With both original web-only content and information from the magazine, The Green Architect will look at newly built structures and those on the boards that are designed to respect and enhance the environment. The section will also feature green products based on criteria ranging from durability to recycled content to emissions. -  Architectural Record, Sep 99.

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CALIFORNIA INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD (CIWMB)  California's leading recycling and solid waste management agency is  developing a sustainable building program to lay the groundwork for increased  "green" building construction statewide. Current activities include providing  comments and technical assistance for selected building projects and  developing and distributing educational information. Now available is  "Designing With Vision: A Technical Manual for Material Choices in  Sustainable Construction" downloadable at <http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/FactSheets>. It includes annotated listings  of recycled-content building products, case studies of building projects,  sample contract language, and specifications for recycled-content building  products, strategies for reusing and reducing materials in construction, and managing job site waste. Proposed future activities include a sustainable  building grant program. Sometime this fall an RFP will be issued for the  grant program, once it is Board approved. For more information email Kathy  Frevert: <kfrevert@ciwmb.ca.gov>.

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings DOE's Office of Building Technology, State, and Community Programs (BTS)  plans to award $25,000 each to four minority/Native American colleges for  advanced research on building insulation. The recipients are two  Hispanic-serving institutions, New Mexico State University and Northern New  Mexico Community College, and two Tribal colleges, Dine College in New Mexico  and Oglala Lakota Community College in South Dakota. The institutions will  build test structures using DOE's QuickFill wall technology, which uses  natural or waste materials and inexpensive construction techniques to  insulate the walls of existing house or build walls for new houses. The  technology has the potential to improve the quality of life in the Southwest  and other parts of the U.S. More information on BTS' programs is available  on DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network website  <http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings> or by calling 800.363.3732.

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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER Sustainable design consultant Chris Hammer publishes GreenClips in San Francisco. Ms. Hammer helps her clients with environmentally responsible approaches to urban planning and development, and to building design, construction, and operation. GreenClips is written by Chris Hammer and Jennifer Roberts.

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Copyright 1999 Sustainable Design Resources. All rights reserved. Republishing GreenClips in print or on a web site, in whole or in part, or commercial distribution in any form requires advance permission of the publisher.