Posts Tagged 'Norsteel'

4 Reasons Why Prefabricated Buildings are the Way of the Future

Published February 7, 2013 going green 1 Comment
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Time is money. Image Source: Public domain.

There are several reasons why prefabricated construction is the future of the industry. With prefab buildings being a popular choice not only as a commercial building, but also an affordable and sophisticated housing option, there is no doubt that the age of prefabricated construction has just begun.

Still wondering if prefab construction is for you? Let us seal the deal with these four reasons.

1. Prefab buildings are quicker to build.

While regular construction can take months (even years!) to wrap up, prefab buildings take a record time to finish. Consider the world’s tallest prefab building in Brooklyn: the 32-story tower took a record time of 90 days. That is less than a third of a year—you can occupy the building and start reaping your returns right away.

2. Prefab buildings can save a lot of money.

For one, it requires fewer workers. The 32-story tower, in fact, took only 125 workers to work on everything, from the building’s floors and walls to the plumbing and electric lines. With the reduced costs of a prefab building, you have a building that is not only well-built and designed to withstand harsh elements, for a much lower price.

3. Prefab buildings are energy efficient.

The elements of a prefab building are tightly cut, meaning that they fit tightly and allow less room for the escape of energy inside the building. The materials are likewise energy-saving and will therefore reduce maintenance costs.

4. Prefab buildings offer more choices.

Because of the rapid rise of prefabricated buildings, more styles and choices are made available for the layout of your building, be it a commercial building or a house. We, at Norsteel, offer a variety of widths, textures, lengths, that will allow you to customize the perfect prefab building.

Six Ways to Green Your Company

Published January 3, 2013 going green Leave a Comment
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Retrofitted metal roofing. Image: Norsteel Buildings.

Retrofitted metal roofing. Image: Norsteel Buildings.

If you are still in the process of greening your company, where do you start? As a matter of fact, there are several relatively simple steps to do this. Take a look at these six strategies that you can implement in your company right now.

1. Use alternative transportation modes.

Encourage occupants not to use single-occupied vehicles. Companies can provide a shuttle service at key points within the city. By offering transportation for free, your employees will be encouraged not to take their own vehicles and ride the vehicle instead.

2. Provide electric vehicle charging stations.

Make a survey of how many employees in your company are using hybrid vehicles. If you have a sufficient ratio, you might want to put up electric vehicle charging stations that offer free charging.

3. Provide preferred parking spots.

There are two ways to do this. You can either give preferred parking spots for guests, employees, or executives with low-emitting fuel-efficient vehicles or premium parking spaces for those who carpool to your building.

4. Use a closed-loop irrigation system.

You can conserve water not only by reviewing your landscape plan and reducing the amount required for irrigation by as much as 60% but also by having a closed-loop system where the run-off water from roofs, walkways and parking lots will be kept on-site and processed through a natural filtration system. The filtered water will eventually be pumped to a well and used to irrigate the vegetation in the building. It’s not as complex as it sounds, and it’s rather nifty.

5. Install efficient toilets.

Only buy and install efficient toilets that reduce water usage by as much as 35%. While you’re at it, you should also install laboratory sinks aerators.

6. Reduce indoor lighting and replace dark roofs.

Much of the energy-saving also has to do with tweaking certain aspects of your building here and there. Reducing your indoor lighting and making space for natural light is one of the more popular ways. Installing white roofs instead of dark ones will help in absorbing the heat of the sun in the morning and release it at night.

Tallest Prefab Building to be Erected in NYC on December 18, 2012

Published December 13, 2012 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Prefab Towers. Image Credit: SHoP Architects.

Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yard Site is in for a record-breaker, as Forest City Ratner will set up what will be the world’s tallest prefabricated building, as of December 18 at least. The 32-story residential building will be done by the aforementioned date, and will be the first of 15 prefab buildings to be built in the area.

Forest City Ratner will utilize the technology of modular construction, where sections of the building are made separately before being assembled and put together to complete the 32-story structure.

Prefabricated buildings are the latest in the construction industry, and at the forefront of this innovation are industry leaders like Norsteel, whose expertise in putting up prefab has made it one of the leaders in the prefab construction industry in Canada.

With modular construction, prefab buildings can be put up in record time, with quality that is as laudable, if not even better than traditional buildings. Moreover, prefab buildings make use of steel—a material that is not only environmentally friendly but also beneficial to building occupants.  The costs of putting up a prefab building are also much lower than traditional buildings—due to the minimized time and construction costs.

The record for the tallest prefabricated building is currently held by a building in Britain—a 25-story tower, which is only 7 stories short of the incoming record holder.

This building, however, will probably not enjoy its status as the tallest prefab building for long, as other prefab buildings much taller than this one are about to be put up, including a Chinese firm that will put up what is claimed to be the tallest prefab building in a record of 90 days.

Energy Management Apps for Your Business Needs

Published September 27, 2012 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Part of owning commercial buildings is finding ways to drive down energy costs. While a green building is a huge step to lowered costs, there is still much that you can do to integrate both environmental performance and energy management in the maintenance of your green buildings. And the best part is that you don not even have to spend much.

Here are three apps, as recommended by Ms. Ashley Halligan, a Property Management Analyst, to attain that much coveted ENERGY STAR score, air quality analysis, and improved overall energy audit.

1. Melon Power

Green app. Image Source: Melon Power.

Whether you are required by state law to measure your ENERGY STAR performance or simply want to assess where you are in terms of your STAR performance, this app will deliver consumption data by having utility companies hosting a Green Button send it over. The app will then deliver the data to the Environmental Portfolio Manager. This app won 2nd for the “Best Overall App” in the Apps for Energy contest of the US Department of Energy. It’s not hard to understand why.

2. HVAC ASHRAE 62.1-2010

Green app. Image Credit: HVAC Ashrae.

This app, designed by Carmel Software Corporation for the Applie iOS ensures that devices complies with heating and air-conditioning standards for indoor air quality of commercial buildings.

That’s right: this app makes sure that the indoor ventiliation is at par with filtration, air cleaning, and ventilation standards.

3. econInsight Mobile Audit

Green app. Image Credit: econInsight Mobile.

This app has features that makes it easy to collect date as an audit of your building’s performance is made—from measurements for control and lighting systems, operation schedules, occupancy, to the motors/drives. You can enter the relevant data manually or through pictures and voice notes.

Once the data is completely entered, the app can provide an analysis and comparisons of how your building performance is. There are also efficiency upgrades and customer proposals offered by the app.

Retrofitting vs. New Construction

Published September 20, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Wrecking ball in use during demolition of the Rockwell Gardens housing project in Chicago, Illinois, February 2006. Image Credit: Paul Goyette via Wikipedia.

The variety of green building options often leads to confusion and unanswered questions. One of those involves a much debated question: retrofitting or new construction? Should building owners retrofit their existing buildings to conform to green building standards? Does it make more sense to tear down an old building and build an entire new green structure?

Of course, the question hardly applies to existing buildings that are beyond saving, so to speak. These buildings could no longer benefit from any retrofitting techniques because any attempt to do so could not possibly counteract the damage it will nevertheless continue to do to the environment.

The controversy has particularly gained traction in the US, with the proposal to demolish the Martin Luther King Elementary School in Massachusetts. Some local residents are opposed to the proposed demolition, saying that it is not “sound” to replace it with a new one.

The proposed new building will be equipped with green whistles and bells, natural daylighting, efficient electrical and mechanical systems, and improved insulation. The goal is to construct a net zero building—far from its current status.

The question has somewhat been answered by a study entitled Preservation Green Lab: National Trust for Historic Preservation, where retrofitted or rehabilitated buildings were compared to new ones that conform to existing green standards. The study made use of the Life Cycle Assessment tool, and found that retrofit buildings are more ecologically friendly than constructing a new one.

On the other hand, most construction firms and building owners put value on “starting over.” Another factor to consider is that most lessees would rather occupy a new building than a retrofitted one.

At Norsteel, we believe in cost-efficiency and the merits of either side. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to retrofit or construct a new building altogether, such as occupancy, costs, and environmental impact. Would you rather have your existing building retrofitted or demolished altogether to pave the way for a new one?

Green Occupancy Equals to Higher Rents and Lower Vacancy Rates

Published September 12, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Tenants. Image Source: Premier Real Estate.

Does green occupancy really translate to higher rents and lower vacancy rates? This was a question that CBRE brokerage in San Diego looked into. CBRE investigated green buildings that have either a LEED certification or a Energy Star ratings. LEED Certification is a program certified by the US Green Building Council, where Energy Star ratings are rated by the US Energy Department.

The survey found that as of June 2012, green buildings were only 11.7% vacant. On the other hand, non-green buildings had an overall vacancy of 15.7%. The lease rates were also higher for green buildings, with an average of $2.42 US per square foot per month. Non-green buildings had an average of $2.04 US per square foot rate.

According to CBRE, “Green buildings continue to outperform non-green buildings in the San Diego market.” Majority if not all green buildings are also classified as Class and B—which are buildings that charge higher rent and are known to have the best amenities and are found in the best locations.

For Class A and B non-green buildings, there was only an 18-cent gap in the charges. That is a very small amount, considering the benefits that occupants stand to gain by renting in a Class A and B green building that is only 18 cents more expensive. Occupants of green buildings also enjoy their buildings more, as these buildings are more energy-efficient and have better amenities such as gyms and cafes.

Green buildings in San Diego are also gaining traction, as 18.3 million square feet out of 67.1 million square feet are considered green. Landlords have made it a point to upgrade their buildings with energy-efficient systems not just to provide comfort to tenants but also to lower operating costs in the long run.

More importantly, tenants are starting to demand green buildings. Norsteel understands just how valuable being part of the green movement is to both tenants and landlords.

The Benefits of Steel

Published September 5, 2012 going green , Norsteel Buildings News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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At Norsteel, we pride ourselves for choosing only high quality steel that provides value, versatility and speed. There is no doubt about it: steel remains the best material for construction in the battleground of green buildings. There are several reasons why steel makes for the best green buildings:

1. Longevity

Steel manufacturers produce steel from metal by the tons on a daily basis and is even recyclable. Steel can essentially be remolded and reused. Its completely recyclable content means that it produces less waste compared to, say, wood. Steel can be renewed infinitely; as  a matter of fact, more steel is recycled daily than any other material such as paper, plastic or glass.

2. Construction speed

Steel is easy to handle and requires less space than buildings made of wood or concrete and can be constructed rapidly. Construction workers can quickly put together built-in panels without need of power tools. All materials, to note, are made of recyclable products. Norsteel is particularly an expert at prefabricated buildings that not only take fast to build but also perfectly fit to specifications.

3. Energy saver

In terms of saving energy, steel buildings are capable of delivering optimum results. Steel buildings have insulation within its steel walls and can easily include energy saving windows and doors, and solar energy powered units. In terms of heat reduction, the walls and roofing of steel buildings reflect the heat, thus ensuring that the interior is well-insulated.

4. Durability

In terms of durability, steel buildings don not require as much maintenance and repair as other types of buildings. With drywall mounted on the framing, the building endures less structural damage over time. Also, steel buildings are flexible and strong in comparison to concrete or wood. For example, it is resistant to rot and mold.

Building Owners Increasing Green Building Practices

Published August 15, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Green Building. Image Source: Green Construction.

A recent report by the US Green Building Council showed that building owners are increasingly utilizing environment-friendly and energy-efficient green building practices. As a matter of fact, the movement has been so expansive that it has started to include entire communities.

The total footprint area of commercial projects that have been certified under the LEED program has reached 2 billion square feet. The growth has been so staggering that an additional 7 billion square feet across the globe is currently underway.

Some of the most popular practices include the installation of energy-efficient heat and water systems, drought-resistant landscaping, and solar panels. These are most common features among older buildings to be upgraded.

The green building trend has been beneficial among professionals in the industry as well. Engineers and architects have been working to produce the most cutting-edge breakthroughs in the green building industry. As a matter of fact, the US Green Building Council estimates that the demand for green buildings has created roughly 8 million jobs from 2009 to 2012. As for its contribution to the country’s GDP, the green building industry is accountable for around $554 billion worth of contribution.

Aside from the increased demand for professions in the industry, the rise of green buildings has also created a revitalized attraction for tenants. Because of the known benefits of a green working space to employees, companies produce happier and better motivated employees.  Multiple studies have shown that green buildings positively affect the reduction of asthma, depression, stress, and absenteeism.

With the inclusion of the newest designation of the US Green Building Council, the LEED for Neighborhood Development, the green development has become even stronger. The LEED for Neighborhood Development has received as much as a $500,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

What Are Green Buildings?

Published August 9, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Question Mark. Image Source: Buildapedia.

What are green buildings? Construction firms and building owners throw the word “green building” around a lot, but do they really understand what they are referring to? Here we talk about green buildings and their different nuances.

Green buildings are structures that adhere to the principles of environmental responsibility and are known for its efficiency in consumption of resources throughout its life-cycle. There are five salient features of green buildings.

1. Efficiency on the construction phase: This refers to practices that were employed during the construction of the building such as efficient waste management, employment of techniques to reduce pollution levels and prevent soil erosion, reduction of noise and light pollution and use of eco-friendly techniques.

2. Interior design: The promotion of health and wellness of people occupants and inhabitants is the primary concern of this feature. This is done by optimizing water quality and indoor air, thermal comfort, optimum lighting design, and acoustics.

3. Energy and water efficiency. Construction firms must employ or at least be aware of energy efficiency techniques such as zero carbon technologies, energy efficient building systems, and energy sub-metering. As for water efficient, lead detection, recycling, and consumption reduction must be part of the building design.

4. Selection of materials. The green building must be built from materials that are responsibly sourced and are durable.

5. Innovation. One of the challenges of putting up a green building is making sure that it is innovative both in design and performance.

Two buildings that are commonly associated with green buildings are energy efficient buildings and sustainable buildings. While energy efficient buildings reduce electricity and fuel consumption in operation, sustainable buildings are able to create its own energy and water resources. Sustainable buildings usually employ methods to recycle waste water, organic waste and solid waste into resources.

Energy efficient buildings, sustainable buildings and green buildings—all these are part of the domain of expertise of Norsteel, a premier green building company.

Simple Steps for Greening the Workplace

Published July 18, 2012 going green 1 Comment
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Recycling Bin. Image Source: Public domain.

Here at Norsteel, we believe that green buildings are a work in progress. While we take an active part in establishing or putting up the building in the first place, ensuring that the building lives up to green living standards is up to the building owner. For commercial building owners or office spaces, there are a few simple changes that can be done in order to meet this standard:

1. Bring your own cup. Instead of providing disposable paper and plastic cups beside the coffee maker or the water dispense, encourage the employees to bring their own cups. By bringing their own mugs, water bottle, or container, a lot of unnecessary paper and plastic will be saved.

2. Go for a paperless workplace. Instead of printing copies of reports and presentations, it is a better idea to just email or share them through a projector. If you are willing to go the extra mile, providing tablets for viewing is a great idea.

3. Change your lighting. If it is bright enough outside, you can turn of the office lighting for a while and go for natural lighting from the windows. Just make sure the windows are UV-protected in the first place—that is a matter Norsteel can help you with.

4. Recycle. Start a company-wide initiative to encourage employees to recycle. Provide incentives that will help your employees take recycling and segregating seriously. Educate them about its direct benefits to them. If you do this, the chances are that they will bring the same habit home.

5. Unplug when unused. Before leaving the workplace, remind the employees to turn off their PCs, the AC unit, the heating unit, and practically anything that consumes electricity.

Evidently, these are simple steps that can be done, as long as green building owners are serious about continuing sustainable use of their green (Norsteel) buildings.

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