Tag Archives: leed
In Focus: Green Building Industry Regulation
With the green movement in full effect in the home improvement and building industries, many people are going green without fully understanding the environmentally friendly rules and regulations that are out there. With that in mind, let’s go over a few of the organizations (both government and private) that regulate the standards of what is [...]
3 Examples of Solar as Architectural Design
When people think of solar panels they don’t immediately think of beauty and innovative design. Instead they tend to picture ugly, blocky panels that have been awkwardly placed on the roof of a building. The bad thing about this is that the common perception of solar panels tending to be ugly is in fact a [...]
The World’s Lowest Emissions Building
One of Japan’s largest construction companies is making a bold claim. Shimuzu Corp. believes its new Tokyo headquarters emits less carbon dioxide per square meter than any other building in the world. Thanks to a myriad of energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy installations, the building (pictured below) uses only 38 kilograms per square meter [...]
The Green Grand Canyon
If you have been lucky enough to gaze upon the wonders of the Grand Canyon National Park, you likely remember admiring the varying shades of red, orange, yellow, brown, and even dark purple complementing the meandering Colorado River. But you probably didn’t notice that the Grand Canyon is turning green! Well, in the park’s practices [...]
In Focus: The Greening of American Sports
The multi-billion dollar American sports industry may not be the most polluting industry, but it is among the most visible. With over 60 percent of Americans identifying themselves as sports fans, the greening of the sporting world could serve as model for a wide swath of people. The White House seems to agree. Last week, [...]
In Focus: Green Modular Buildings
Modular buildings are gaining more importance every day because of their various benefits. Cost efficient, time efficient, energy efficient and arguably more durable that their counterparts constructed on site, modular houses are gaining takers steadily. Modular houses are essentially those houses that are built off site. Modules of parts of a house are constructed and [...]
Dr. Pepper Goes LEED Gold Retrofit
Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s Plano, Texas headquarters are now LEED-Gold certified. The extensive renovation will not only cut the building’s operating budget by 25%, but the upfront price of the retrofit will be paid back in under a year. The building has also earned an EPA Energy Star for cutting 3.2 million kWh of energy from 2008-2011. In addition to offices, Dr. [...]
Did Apple Drop the Ball by Leaving EPEAT?
After announcing earlier this week that it would no longer participate in EPEAT environmental certification for its computers, Apple quickly changed its mind. Responding to negative feedback from “many loyal customers,” Apple has rejoined the EPEAT. “We look forward to Apple’s strong and creative thoughts on ongoing standards development,” says EPEAT CEO Robert Frisbee. “The outcome [...]
Apple Withdraws Products from EPEAT Green Certification
Once again, Apple is making headlines for a controversial environmental policy. In late June, the company abruptly withdrew its products from the influential EPEAT green technology certification program. It comes as a shock because Apple was among the companies originally involved in designing the EPEAT rating criteria. EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) reduces the [...]