Archive for the 'going green' Category

Celebrating Toronto’s New Green Roof Law

Published May 29, 2009 going green Leave a Comment
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GRHC

We talked in a recent blog (Roofing Options For Your Construction Project) about some available green roof options for your steel building construction project.

Now, as of May 27th, 2009, the City of Toronto has passed a new green roof by-law with overwhelming support.

“Toronto’s by-law provides a new opportunity to strengthen the emerging practice of integrated green building design,” said, Steven W. Peck, President of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

That’s great news for the climate, for the economy, and for sustainable community development!

In short, the new green roof law consists of:

  • A green roof construction standard
  • A mandatory requirement for green roofs on all classes of new buildings

You can read up on the complete green roof law requirements at the City of Toronto website. While you’re there, check out the accompanying Eco-Roof Incentive Program that’s available for green & cool roofs on certain Toronto commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings.

Earning your green building LEED points

Published May 9, 2009 Norsteel Buildings News , going green 4 Comments
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May09_LEED certificationAre you thinking about a new building and wondering how to make it green? Or have you worked really hard on ensuring your new green building is both cost and energy efficient and now you are done? Congratulations either way!

Do you know you can ensure that you have a sustainable green building and receive the well-deserved recognition of having one by applying for your LEED certification?

What is LEED and why would you want certification you ask? According to the Canadian Green Building Council, LEED has been specifically adapted for Canadian climates and is a third-party certification program. It is an internationally accepted benchmark for sustainable green buildings and development practices that promotes sustainability by scoring and recognizing five different human and environmental health performance areas, specifically:

  • Sustainable site development
  • Water efficiency
  • Energy efficiency
  • Materials selection
  • Indoor environmental quality

The reasons you would go for one of the four levels of LEED certification include gaining recognition for green building efforts, validating achievement through third party review, qualifying for a growing array of government incentives, and contribution to a growing green building knowledge base.
My favorite reason, though, would be the knowledge that I have done everything I can to ensure I have a resource efficient, environmentally friendly building.

Roofing Options for Your Construction Project

Published April 29, 2009 going green 4 Comments
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skylightThis is the third of three blogs discussing your green building from the ground up. Our first blog was about green flooring options, the second was about wall options, and today we will discuss green roofing options. That’s right. You’ve pretty much completed the interior of your project, and made it nice and cozy, so why not let the sunlight in!

When you want to give your building a great new green look, you can either go solar, or, if you’re not quite ready to commit to solar paneling, then you’ll want to think about skylights and other types of natural ventilation specifically selected for steel buildings. There are many choices, so think about including some great skylights to help bring the natural light in. With an easy installation and a maximum light transmission, you will have brightened up even your gloomiest of days.
For natural ventilation, add louver panels, adjustable ridge vents, or mechanical ventilators and you’ll have added low cost aids to control temperature and humidity.

Green Building Inside and Out

Published April 17, 2009 Steel Building Tips , going green 1 Comment
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cork flooring So your green building construction has gone well and you plan to keep your green theme going while you complete the interior of your project. Why not start from the ground up? Here are some great green flooring tips courtesy of National Geographic’s Green Guide.

1. Materials: To be labeled green, flooring products must have minimal impact on the environment and your health, and not contain formaldehyde emitting stains or adhesives. Some great examples of green materials are :

        – Bamboo

        – Cork

        – Concrete

        – Forest Stewardship Council Certified Hardwood, Softwood, Laminates and Reclaimed/Salvaged Lumber

       – Linoleum

       - Recycled Tile and Stone

2. Sealants, Stains and Polishes: Whatever you chose, you will first need to seal your new floor, and then either stain or polish it. Whether sealing or staining, make sure you choose low-VOC, non-formaldehyde sealants and stains made from natural pigments. Later, when polishing your new floor, look for hardwax and natural oil polishes. The National Geographic site lists several approved products in their Wood Finishes Buying Guide.

3. Grouts and Glues: Whether using sealants with grout for tile, or glues for laminates or linoleum, its just as important to look for low VOC, non-toxic products.

Follow the above tips, and your new green building will be as beautiful inside as it is outside!

Homebuyers Expect Builders to go Green

Published March 3, 2009 Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips , going green 1 Comment
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According to a recent J.D. Power & Associates Survey conducted for EnerQuality Corp, more than 2,000 recent homebuyers in the GTA and Ottawa, virtually 98 percent of buyers expect builders to offer energy efficient features, yet only four of 10 builders are talking about energy efficiency with their buyers. 

Almost half of homebuyers purchased energy efficient features and half of those who didn’t said it was because they were simply not aware of them.  Builders are missing an opportunity to directly address a key concern of our buyers.  73 percent of the survey respondents said energy efficiency is important to them, or that nine out of 10 say they will buy an energy-efficient home next time.  This is an incentive for builders to go green.

While environmental protection, reduced monthly operating expenses and higher resale value remain the key motivating factors for buyers to invest in energy efficiency, almost a third of respondents cited higher quality construction as the most important benefit to them.   The survey also found there is more satisfaction with the design of a new home when energy efficient features have been offered – 828 out of 1,000 on the Builder Rating on Overall Physical Design Index compared to 626 when it’s not offered.

Last year, The Building Industry and Land Development Association started offering courses to builders on how to build more energy-efficient homes, and to builders’ sales personnel on how to sell the benefits of energy-efficient construction.

When it comes to perceptions of certification labels, 58 per cent of respondents thought they were important, with more than three quarters citing proof of energy efficiency as the top reason for wanting a label.  Energy Star for New Homes ranked highest in brand recognition among certification labels; it was cited by 83 per cent of buyers.  As of last fall, there were 265 participating builders.  More than 10,000 Energy Star homes have been enrolled in less than three years since the program started in Ontario.

For more information on the courses mentioned above, you can visit: http://www.bildgta.ca/

For more information on the survey results, you can visit:  http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/345301

New Green Products

Published February 23, 2009 Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News , going green Leave a Comment
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Looking to make your building environmentally friendly, safe and energy-saving?  Take a look at these new products in the market today!

If your looking for a product that is energy-saving and a daylighting system, consider Cambridge Architectural’s Solucent daylighting mesh shading system.  It’s developed to meet the ever-increasing sustainability needs facing architects today but without sacrificing beauty in design.  The system combines the aesthetic of architectural mesh with its shading and daylighting capabilities to create a one-of-a-kind energy and light management solution.  This system reduces solar heat gain by blocking the sun, leading to significant savings on cooling costs!

FreedomGray Copper Roof Drainage Systems from Berger Building Products Inc. is a distinctive gutter system formed from Revere FreadomGray 16-ounce architectural copper sheet coated on both sides with a unique, patented tin-zinc alloy.  FreedomGray offers all the advantages of copper and provides an environmentally safe finish with a soft, naturally weathering earth-tone gray colour.

Green flooring systems created by Vulcraft’s Ecospan give architects the option to go greener by using recycled steel.  The system uses 99 percent recycled material in the joists and 70 percent recycled material in the decking.  The composite design allows for longer span, lightweight shallow joists and offer greater rigidity. 

Fabral’s Solar SSR is a standing-seam metal roof system that harvests energy from the sun.  The Solar SSR, a photovoltaic solar laminate, produces electricity when exposed to sunlight and offers a green solution for metal roofing applications.  Electricity generated by the laminates is fed through the electrical system into the power grid.  The flexibility and durability of these laminates make them ideal for metal roofs, where expansion, contraction and curving are considerations.  The panel/laminate bond has been created to withstand winds up to 160 mph.

An adjustable cladding system that has been created by C.R. Laurence Co. Inc. which is a deluxe wet seal wall panel cladding system that provides the extra strength required when large panels are being used.  The mounting system simplifies design, installation and panel alignment which allow individual panels to be removed without the need of removing surrounding panels to gain access.  Interlocking mounting clips aid in panel-to-panel alignment and at the same time, allow for panel expansion, contraction and seismic movement without buckling or undue stress.  The mounting clips are free to slide along the frame’s length making design and erection of the building’s supporting members a simplified task.  The cladding system can be used for exteriors and interiors.

Source:  www.metalarchitecture.com

For more information on green building and products, you can also visit our website!

Environmental Needs Met by Metal Panels

Published February 17, 2009 Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips , going green Leave a Comment
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The 52, 000-square-foot new Natural Sciences Building at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington, features 6,592 square feet of Kalzip TF8OOR on its exterior walls from Kalzip, Michigan City, Indiana.  The three-story building was designed to complement an existing science lab and classroom building on the western edge of the campus.  The Kalzip 0.040-aluminum decor helped fulfill both aesthetic and functional needs.  Kalzip also provided extruded aluminum flashings to colour match the panels.

Ben Dalton of Miller Hull Partnership, Seattle, was the project manager and the firm was architect of record for the project.  The project was completed in October 2008. 

“Our design started with a fiber composite panel that was rather high end,” Dalton said.  “The change to metal was actually a value added decision initiated by the owner.  We chose Kalzip because it was unique and reinforced the linear building elements.  It was something we hadn’t used before and turned out to be less expensive.  The panels were very easy to install and the panel profile does a great job of concealing the fasteners.  We’re very pleased with the result.”

Kalzip’s products provide colour fastness, adhesion and resistance to extreme weather conditions and can be reused or recycled at the end of the building’s life cycle.  Kalzip’s TF8OOR system offers a twin-triangular micro ribbed profile that creates a sleek appearance through the interplay of light and shade to highlight the individuality and character of a building.

The new Natural Sciences building targets LEED Gold certification and sits in a wooded environment.  It provides specialized instruction for geology, physics, anatomy, chemistry and microbiology.  It also helps create a Natural Sciences Complex that is purposely clustered around storm water detention pond, which encourages using the site’s water management as an active educational tool.

For more information on Kalzip products click here.  You can also visit our website for information on walls, roofing, insulated panels and framing.

Source:  http://www.metalarchitecture.com

Largest LEED Platinum Building in Canada

Published February 2, 2009 Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News , going green 1 Comment
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The University of Calgary’s Child Development Centre (CDC) is the largest LEED Platinum building in Canada.  This 125,000-sq.-ft. building has achieved the highest level of sustainability certification a building can reach in North America.  At four storeys, the $23-million facility was designed by Calgary-based Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning and has been certified LEED Platinum by the Canada Green Building Council for its high level of sustainable design and construction features.  The facility focuses on supporting organizations working together for the benefit of children and its vision was to functionally integrate different disciplines of the university’s research departments with Calgary Health Region practitioners within the space.

 

“Achieving Platinum is a huge success for our firm and we are proud to be a part of the movement towards sustainable standards in Alberta and Canada,” says Bill Chomik, principal at Kasian. “We discovered a lot about the level of collaboration that is required for a project of this kind. Every design element incorporated into the facility had to be considered from a complexity of angles — functionality, efficiency, sustainability, budget, and aesthetics.”

 

Photovoltaic arrays are just one of the environmental features of the CDC.  They are capable of producing 65,000 kilowatt hours worth of electricity per year.  This is enough to run six single family homes for a year.

 

Access flooring and moveable walls enable building flexibility so that the spaces can adapt for different uses. High-performance boilers and water-efficient fixtures were utilized, and natural light is present throughout the building to reduce electrical costs and to create an open and pleasant environment for building users.  Zinc cladding was used on the building exterior to increase building durability and decrease the need for maintenance.

As a result of these and other features, energy costs will be reduced by 70 per cent and water use will be reduced by 55 per cent per year.  Additionally, 83 per cent of construction waste from this project was diverted from landfills.

For more information, please visit: www.kasian.com

Source: http://www.building.ca

New Building Materials Go Green

Published January 19, 2009 Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News , going green 2 Comments
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The year’s newest home-building technologies are related to green building and reducing the amount of energy that is consumed every day, such as  low-energy choices, including light-emitting diodes and manifold plumbing systems.  Whether residential or commercial and remodeling, they are becoming prevalent in new construction.  The reason for incorporating these new technologies is that consumers recognize that even if there is greater upfront cost, energy efficiency can provide substantial savings in the long run.

Although it is not new, engineered wood is another viable green option for many builders, it offers flexibility (you can get it in greater lengths than natural wood), and is agriculture harvested rather than torn down, says Dana Bres, research engineer for HUD’s Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (PATH).

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) has added five new technologies or materials that are mostly all green-building related to its PATH Technology Inventory.   The five added were as follows:

1. Plastic ductwork systems (sub-slab): Plastic ductwork systems work well in underground applications because they are resistant to rust and other forms of corrosion, according to PATH and its companion site ToolBase Services, a part of the National Association of Home Builders’ Research Center (NAHBRC). These systems are manufactured with either high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When installed properly, they are watertight and airtight and can withstand temperatures up to 150F, according to ToolBase.org.

2. Self-sealing duct components: A recently introduced alternative polypropylene product promises quicker installation and fewer leaks in the forced-air delivery system. This connector includes a double-sided adhesive gasket and nylon draw clips that mechanically hold the take-off collar in place. When installing, remove the gasket paper, press the connector to the duct board or sheet metal trunk line, and pull the four one-way locking nylon draw clips.

3. Whole-house air filtration: This is available in two filtration methods: mechanical or surface media, and electronic.

Electronic air filtration makes use of electrostatic precipitation, which charges particles and pulls them out of the air stream. It can be a one- or two-stage system.

4. ICF roof/deck systems: Insulated concrete forms ( ICFs) for decks are reinforced polystyrene forms that make up the floor or roof assembly when placed and filled with concrete. These forms provide thermal resistance of approximately R-3.8 per inch. After shoring, bracing, and reinforcement are installed, 2- to 4-inch-thick concrete is placed on top of the deck assembly, and may be finished decoratively.

5. Irrigation controllers: There are two types of controllers that have been developed to distribute water only when needed: evapotranspiration (ET) controls, and weather and ET controls. The ET (water loss by evaporation or transpiration, a plant process) controls contain, at the minimum, “program algorithms specific to climate regions that are based primarily on solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity and wind to estimate a plant’s water requirement.” The weather-based controls factor observed climate conditions with the ET algorithms assuring that watering patterns are based on local conditions.

For more information on new building materials & technologies, please visit:  http://www.pathnet.org/ 

Source:  http://www.lowesforpros.com/new-building-materials-and-technologies-go-green

Green Your Gutters

Published January 8, 2009 Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips , going green Leave a Comment
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Having trouble with gutter maintenance? Here are some ways to help with these problems and also make your gutters environmentally friendly.

 

Compost your wet leaves.
All those wet leaves are great fuel for the compost heap. That slimy heap of guck is probably crawling with microbes that can tear through your compost pile. Dry leaves, on the other hand, won’t decompose as fast as, but having gutters full of dry leaves is a fire hazard and that’s worth the work.

 

Attach a rain barrel to your gutters.
I’ve seen a lot of yards with naked dirt exposed near the gutter spout. In the springtime, people sprinkle handful after handful of seeds on that barren, over-watered ground to no avail. Why not get a rain barrel? A rain barrel can store excess rainwater, and it can be used to water the lawn during the dry times. They aren’t eyesores, and with rising water costs, they’re bound to save you money.

 

Put a pipe in your gutter.
You can put special piping inside your gutters. This piping allows your gutters to collect water, but the leaves slip right on down to the ground. You won’t have to clean your gutters again. There is no need to replace your gutter system. They fit in your existing gutters. A company named Rain Tube makes their tubing systems exclusively out of recycled plastic.

 

Source:  http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-gutters.html

 

Looking for tips on Green Building?  Click here to visit our website.

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