Sustainability


Keeping organized is essential to any successful construction project.

A MasterFormat for Environmental Construction

A coalition of volunteer environmental engineers provided input to update and make this document organizing tool more useful.

Commercial Building Owners Need Access to Financing for Energy Savings Projects

C. David Myers, president of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency, told state leaders that building efficiency projects, which provide guaranteed energy and budget savings, can be achieved with no upfront cost to a government facility.

Top 10 Cities with the Most ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings in 2010

For the past three years, EPA has released an annual list of the top cities in the United States with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings.

Researchers Find Catalyst for Greener Lactic Acid Option

From paint to diapers, manufacturers use acrylic acid from petroleum but now researchers in Asia say they have found a catalyst that can convert lactic acid into acrylic acid more selectively at lower temperatures.

Sims Metal Management Expands into European Recycling

The company purchased Device and egoTrade to further its electronics recycling.

Seven Simple Steps to Go Green on St. Patrick's Day

This year, SCA's Tork® brand is encouraging you to embrace another type of green by giving our planet a bit o' Irish good luck and making more environmentally responsible choices leading up to Earth Day, and beyond.

Hybrid Homes Cut Monthly Energy Expenses By Up to 70 Percent

With oil prices rising again, Blu Homes' highly efficient, innovative, steel-framed homes cost on average 50 to 70 percent less to operate on a monthly basis than conventional homes.

Commerce Department Launches i6 Green Challenge

The federal government will award up to $1 million to each of six teams with the most innovative ideas to drive technology commercialization and entrepreneurship for a green economy ─ as long as Congress appropriates the funding in the 2011 budget.



Nepal's New Eco-World Center For Peace and Unity Opens

On April 4, 2011, Trungram Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Buddhist Master and Harvard Ph.D., will preside over the grand opening of Lumbini Udyana Mahachaitya -- World Center for Peace and Unity, built as part of the international Lumbini Development Project in Nepal.

Metech Recycling Earns e-Stewards Certification

The certification is based on the e-Stewards Standard, which prohibits the export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries, the disposal of toxic waste in solid waste landfills and incinerators, and the use of prison labor in the recycling of electronics.

Energy Star Cement Plant Shares Efficiency Secrets

The Roanoke Cement plant conducts energy audits for its business partners to help them take advantage of cost savings

i-Tree software helps people develop the monetary value of trees.

New Software Puts Environmental Price Tag on Urban Trees

Free i-Tree v.4 software quantifies the benefits of trees in environmental and economic terms.

Engineering Unplugged Set at Old Dominion University

Ed Begley Jr., and John Paul Woodley Jr., are scheduled to speak at the April conference.

April 1 Is Deadline to Nominate WaterSense Partner of the Year

Winners will be announced in October at the WaterSmart Innovations conference in Las Vegas.

West Basin Offers Free Smart Controller to Some Residents

Using grant funding, the municipal water district is working toward Water Reliability 2020 goals.

IEEE 1888 Standard Employs Green IT to Lower Energy

The standard for Ubiquitous Green Community Control Network Protocol is inspired by the desire of Chinese stakeholders to minimize their footprints.

Dow to Invest $100M to Reduce Energy Use, GHG Emissions

Dow business units have submitted around 60 projects, with a net present value totaling more than $500 million, nearly 8 trillion BTUs of energy savings and a reduction of more than 400 thousand metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Aqua-Chem Pilots Removal of Dye from Industrial Wastewater

J&J Industries worked with the company to demonstrate the feasibility of removing chemical additives in large-scale carpet manufacturing so that facilities can reuse the water.

Mandated Change in Light Bulbs to Occur at Year's End

Get ready for some mandated changes in lighting, warns an energy expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Reefs at Risk Revisited

75% of Coral Reefs Threatened, Analysis Finds

The report's authors make multiple recommendations to better protect and manage reefs, including through marine protected areas.