News and Articles on Sustainable Construction & Retrofits

University of Florida Football Complex Uses 25% Less Energy Than Similar Buildings

February 9, 2010 by Paul Nastu

Architect Al Oberlander with RDG Planning & Design talks about the sustainable aspects of the University of Florida’s new Heavener Football Complex. The building was the first athletic facility in the nation to be certified LEED platinum. It uses 25 percent less energy than other buildings of its size, Oberlanders ... Read more »

Holiday Inn Express, Bardessono Boast Energy Efficiency, Renewables

February 8, 2010 by Gina Roos

Two more hotels — the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe and Bardessono — can add their brands to the roster of environmentally-friendly lodging as more consumers and companies consider the environmental impact of their travel. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) says its newly opened Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe ... Read more »

Smucker DC Generates 94% of Own Energy

February 3, 2010February 3, 2010 by Paul Nastu

Smucker Natural Foods’ new Chico, Calif., distribution center generates 94 percent of its own energy. The 157,000 square foot warehouse, which recently earned LEED Gold status, has two solar arrays, as well as methane turbines and natural gas microturbines. The two solar arrays provide about 450 kilowatts of electricity, and ... Read more »

Horizon at Playa Vista to Power 70% of Building’s Core and Shell with Renewable Energy

February 2, 2010 by Gina Roos

Horizon at Playa Vista, a new 466,000-square foot urban office development in the Los Angeles area, plans to use renewable energy sources to power 70 percent of the building’s core and shell electricity needs, which will be minimized by the use of high-efficiency windows and reduced lighting density. The development ... Read more »

NRG Striving to be First Net-Zero U.S. Manufacturing Site

January 27, 2010 by Paul Nastu

NRG Systems expects to use on-site renewable energy for all its electricity needs at its Hinesburg, Vermont, manufacturing campus. The achievement may make that the first such net-zero U.S. manufacturing site, according to a press release. NRG recently added a 140-kilowatt solar tracking system adjacent to the site. It also ... Read more »

United Natural Foods DC Takes Energy Efficiency to the Hilt

January 26, 2010 by Paul Nastu

The Chesterfield, N.H., distribution center of United Natural Foods has incorporated a variety of energy saving features, helping place it among the top 25 percent most efficient buildings in its category. The DC uses motion-activated T8 fluorescent lighting in the main warehouse and motion-activated T-5 lighting in the repack and ... Read more »

CA’s Sonoma County Requires Water-efficient Landscaping

January 19, 2010 by Paul Nastu

New or revised landscaping at commercial buildings in California’s Sonoma County will have to adhere to strict new water efficiency rules, reports the North Bay Business Journal. The rules, which also apply to homes, took effect Jan. 15. Commercial and industrial buildings, wineries and other businesses making landscaping additions larger ... Read more »

National Grid HQ Gets LEED Platinum

January 15, 2010January 14, 2010 by Paul Nastu

With rooftop solar, energy efficient lighting and water conservation in place, National Grid has achieved LEED Platinum designation for its corporate office in Waltham, Mass. The 312,000 square foot building, which was completed in May of 2009, earned LEED Platinum for Core and Shell Construction, as well as Commercial Interiors, ... Read more »

Miami’s Wachovia Financial Tower Gets LEED Gold

January 14, 2010December 14, 2010 by Paul Nastu

The 55-story Wachovia Financial Tower in Miami has earned LEED Gold certification, while the Martin Horn office building in Madison, Va., also has achieved LEED certification. The Wachovia Financial Tower is the tallest office building in downtown Miami, and one of the top-10 office towers in America, as judged by ... Read more »

CA Approves Stringent Statewide Building Code

January 14, 2010 by Gina Roos

California approved the most stringent, environmentally-friendly building code in the United States that will apply to new commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, shopping malls and homes, reports USA Today. The new code, which won a unanimous vote by the California Building Standards Commission, will take effect in January 2011. The new ... Read more »

McD’s, KFC, BK Pondering Solar Thermal HVAC Systems

January 12, 2010January 12, 2010 by Gina Roos

Restaurant chains such as McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King may be considering new solar thermal powered dehumidifier HVAC systems. DCA Systems Inc. says it was approached by the above companies and others including hotel chains, extended care facilities and government agencies for the system, according to a press release. The ... Read more »

Minnesota Twins Hit Home Run with Water Sustainability

January 12, 2010January 12, 2010 by Paul Nastu

Aiming to set a news standard for water use in professional sports facilities, the Minnesota Twins will use a rainwater recycling system that should help reduce the need for municipal water by 50 percent. The rainwater recycling project, which is being donated by Pentar Inc., will capture and purify water ... Read more »

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