Developers of commercial buildings would have to abide by a new set of rules to get LEED certification under changes being considered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The new rules would streamline the process for achieving LEED certification and put greater emphasis on saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
Proposed standard ups green ante.
ASHRAE Standard 189P (Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) has been proposed to drive green building into mainstream building practices. It will apply to newcommercial buildings and major renovation projects ...
Free Cash For Your Green Building, According To SourceCorp.
High energy costs, an unprecedented level of government mandates for green building, heightened demand for green construction, and improvements and better pricing for environmentally sustainable materials have many building owners, architects, and facility managers considering significant updates to save cash.
Even paint goes 'green'
The battle to reduce the carbon footprint of homes has focused mostly on better insulation, more energy-efficient appliances and higher SEER ratings for heating and air-conditioning units – all designed to save electricity and water. Now add new paints to improve indoor air quality as a major player in the green movement.
Office Paper Recycling
One of the easiest ways that we can make a difference in the environment is to recycle the paper that is generated in an office setting. Most people don’t give a second thought to the amount of paper that is folded, crumpled up, torn apart and thrown into wastepaper baskets on a daily basis. White office paper is one of the most recyclable products which retains a high value and can be used in tissues, stationary, magazine and new office paper. Glossy and other colored paper carries less value when recycled but can be used as packing material and other products. One of the most common re-useable items is cardboard boxes. Offices deal with hundreds of card board boxes each year and by setting up a section in the back office of warehouse to allow employees to take boxes for mailing and packing can be a huge money saver and is giving new life to many products that would normally just be tossed away to pile up in landfills.An important part recycling is not just sending used copy and newspaper to a recycling facility but purchasing recycled products as well. Without the demand for recycled products there is so no need for the supply. The cost of purchasing copy paper, stationary, paper towels and tissue that are made with high contents of recycled materials can be a minimal increase compared to the benefits to our environment. Many of the warehouse and office supply stores are offering their own brands of green products at reduced or comparable costs.
Creating an Recycling Friendly Environment
We all know that breaking habits are hard. Most of us grew up in generations that did not have the concerns for the environment that are stressed in today’s society and re-training ourselves is tough enough, much less a whole office of people. It is important to take the steps necessary to ensure that a greener office is not just implemented but also maintained. Here are a few tips from GreenBiz to help get an office recycling effort off the ground.- Keep it simple. The fewer changes people must make in their daily routines to recycle, the greater the chances for success.
- Get top management support. It's critical that everyone know who's backing recycling efforts. Get the CEO, COO, or CFO involved in announcing the program and rallying support.
- Provide sufficient instructions. Label bins or collection boxes with clear information about what to put in – and what to keep out. Refer to specific company forms and documents by name and number, if necessary (e.g., "Put Req. Form 3503 here.").
- Monitor and follow up. Use surveys, interviews, and inspections to see how the system is working. Spot-check recycling bins and trash cans to see if people are following directions about what to put where.
- Seek feedback. Have someone available to answer employee questions. Ask employees their ideas on how to make the system easier to use.
- Measure. Keep track of where paper is going: how much of what kinds of paper are being purchased, discarded, and recycled. That will help you establish recycling goals and track their progress.
- Keep building awareness. Market recycling programs through newsletters, posters, e-mail, and company meetings. Let everyone know how the program is going, including how much trash is being saved – or could be saved – from landfills.
- Reward and recognize. Give prizes – or at least recognition – to individuals and departments doing a good job. Consider offering incentives and motivators, such as prizes or special events, for exemplary recycling efforts.
- Involve your waste hauler. Many firms have in-house expertise they can lend to help set up, maintain, or improve a program. Make such services-including monitoring, measuring, and reporting-part of the negotiations for your waste-hauling contract.
- Don't rest on your laurels. Keep in mind that even the most successful recycling programs need continuous improvement, fresh thinking, and periodic overhauling.
Teaching the Younger Generations
Though, children today are savvy recyclers who are continually reminding the older generations, what to throw away and in which bin, they still need to develop the habit. The best way to ensure the success of recycling is to incorporate in the home as well as the workplace. All you need is a few extra garage cans and drying rack, there are many different ones available that can be extremely discreet. Remember to always wash out items before throwing them away and drying them helps to keep the bins bacteria free. Most large cities have adopted recycling programs that come right to your door to pick up items but for those that don’t there is a recycling center right around the corner. Check with your local waste disposal company, or visit RecyclingCenters, to find the center closest to you.Need a fun rainy day activity? Why not make your own recycled paper? Kids will have fun learning about the paper recycling process and then will have tons of cool paper to make cards and other projects with. Check out this website for instructions and materials.
