MENOMONIE, WI — After a recent steam pipe leak at the University of Wisconsin at Stout's Harvey Hall exposed insulation believed to contain asbestos, officials quickly addressed concerns about proper containment and other safety issues, according to the Dunn County News.
According to the story, the original leak was found November 12 and abatement was performed two days later.
Classes were held in the room on November 16, but a maintenance worker reported that there were additional questionable areas in close proximity to the portion of the ceiling that was abated and that plastic containment was needed, the story stated.
Doug Mell, director of university communications, said: "We were notified by maintenance that there was a potential small problem with a pipe in the ceiling of Harvey Hall. We had two certified asbestos people who went in to inspect the ceiling. They closed the room, sealed the pipe and then reopened the room. The whole system worked the way it was supposed to. Our written policy was followed to the 'T' and that policy is posted on our website."
Dirty Ducts Cleaning was contracted to perform the asbestos abatement, and upon completing the job, performed an indoor air quality test to ensure the building was safe for occupation, the story noted.
According to the article, it is believed that the contractor missed a spot "about the size of a fingernail," and a trained in-house employee abated the area in question.
Click here to read the complete article.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The growth of green roofs begins down on the farm
MD — Since 1998, Emory Knoll Farms has focused solely on growing plants used in green roofs, according to the Capital.
Millions of small sedums, delosperma and nearly 80 other varieties of green roof plants are grown at Emory Knoll Farms and distributed to more than 400 clients each year, the story stated.
According to the story, Emory Knoll Farms has noted a 70 percent increase in sales over the past five years, something owner Ed Snodgrass says reflects a growing national interest in green roofs.
Snodgrass and his business partner, John Shepley, say they take pride not only in their service and quality of plants, but on "being a resource for the green world as a whole," the story noted.
Snodgrass said: "I went broke dairy farming. We couldn't control the pricing. I had a lot of faith that green roofs would happen, but didn't envision it being this successful."
Through connections in the horticulture world and a few horticulture conferences, Snodgrass, who instantly became fascinated by green roofs, began growing a small number of plants that were used in research; the business grew rapidly from there, the story added.
Millions of small sedums, delosperma and nearly 80 other varieties of green roof plants are grown at Emory Knoll Farms and distributed to more than 400 clients each year, the story stated.
According to the story, Emory Knoll Farms has noted a 70 percent increase in sales over the past five years, something owner Ed Snodgrass says reflects a growing national interest in green roofs.
Snodgrass and his business partner, John Shepley, say they take pride not only in their service and quality of plants, but on "being a resource for the green world as a whole," the story noted.
Snodgrass said: "I went broke dairy farming. We couldn't control the pricing. I had a lot of faith that green roofs would happen, but didn't envision it being this successful."
Through connections in the horticulture world and a few horticulture conferences, Snodgrass, who instantly became fascinated by green roofs, began growing a small number of plants that were used in research; the business grew rapidly from there, the story added.
Study notes 90 percent increase in MRSA cases
PRINCETON, NJ — A recent study by the Princeton Environmental Institute, in connection with the ecology and evolutionary biology department at Princeton University, reports that the number of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has increased by more than 90 percent over the last decade, according to the Daily Princetonian.
The study, which focused on the spread of MRSA infections from 1999 through 2005, found that as many as 17,280 people infected with MRSA died in 2005, more than the number of people who died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the same year, the story stated.
Researchers found that the percentage of hospital outpatients who reported community-associated MRSA infections had jumped drastically from about 10 percent to roughly 50 percent between 1999 and 2005, the story noted.
Eili Klein, co-author of the study that was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, said: "Every time somebody uses an antibiotic, that reduces the number of times the antibiotic can ever be used because it's going to create resistance."
According to the story, hospital-associated MRSA infections have been more common than community-associated MRSA infections, prompting the need for more extensive and effective cleaning regimens in health care facilities.
Klein, along with the other co-author, Ramanan Laxminarayan, stress that MRSA should be "considered a national priority for disease control," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The study, which focused on the spread of MRSA infections from 1999 through 2005, found that as many as 17,280 people infected with MRSA died in 2005, more than the number of people who died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the same year, the story stated.
Researchers found that the percentage of hospital outpatients who reported community-associated MRSA infections had jumped drastically from about 10 percent to roughly 50 percent between 1999 and 2005, the story noted.
Eili Klein, co-author of the study that was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, said: "Every time somebody uses an antibiotic, that reduces the number of times the antibiotic can ever be used because it's going to create resistance."
According to the story, hospital-associated MRSA infections have been more common than community-associated MRSA infections, prompting the need for more extensive and effective cleaning regimens in health care facilities.
Klein, along with the other co-author, Ramanan Laxminarayan, stress that MRSA should be "considered a national priority for disease control," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving from Green News 4U
I would like to wish the readers of Green News 4U a Happy Thanksgiving.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global crisis
Recognizing the rapid growth in cases of infection like MRSA and ventilator-associated pneumonia being picked up in hospitals, Kimblery-Clark Healthcare has put together a website called "Not on My Watch" at http://www.haiwatch.com/ to educate patients and healthcare professionals. Their goal is to eliminate these preventable illnesses and their often tragic consequences.
I briefly spoke with Barbra via e-mail and I found this site very useful. I will be pulling some information from this site that will benefit the community. Thanks Again Barbra.
Follow the site here: http://haiwatchnews.com/Crews clean building after four-day student protest
Numerous demonstrators occupied the building for days to protest a 32 percent increase in University of California fees, an increase that was approved to help California's higher education system recoup losses from the recent budget crisis, the story stated.
The cost of the damage and subsequent cleanup remains unknown and it is unlikely that charges will be brought against any of the students involved in the occupation, the story noted.
At least four truckloads of trash and other refuse have been removed from the building, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Bill seeks to limit phosphorus in cleaning products
According to the article, H.R. 3946 would help protect the Great Lakes by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide the U.S. Congress with recommendations on how to address the problem of high levels of phosphorus in the water system.
Though several states have previously instated similar bans with success, many feel that a national phosphorus limit is necessary, the story stated.
Stupak said: "Healthy Great Lakes ecosystems are vital to the economic and cultural well-being of the state of Michigan. As too many nutrients, including phosphorus, are dumped into our waters, the Great Lakes suffer harmful effects such as algae blooms. This legislation ensures a comprehensive plan to address high levels of phosphorus and protect our Great Lakes for generations to come."
The proposed bill would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit cleaning products from containing more than 0.5 percent phosphorus, the story noted.
When too much phosphorus enters the waterways, it causes excessive growth of algae, which, in turn, robs the water of the oxygen aquatic life needs to survive, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The city of Fort St. John adopts LEED-certification mandate
FORT ST. JOHN, BC, Canada — The Fort St. John City Council recently voted to adopt a policy that requires all new city-owned buildings to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, according to the Fort St. John News.
According to the article, the policy does not apply to existing buildings and does not require energy-efficient retrofitting.
The city of Fort St. John left some "wiggle room" in not specifying which level of LEED certification each project must obtain, noting that the higher the certification level, the more it would cost, the story stated.
Council members, who voted unanimously to adopt the policy, claim that, because of the energy efficient nature of LEED-certified buildings, extra construction and certification costs will be recovered within a few years of operation, the story noted.
Little attention has been given to green and sustainable features of municipal buildings in the past, something the city of Fort St. John is changing with this new policy, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
JohnsonDiversey launches infection control website
STURTEVANT, WI — JohnsonDiversey Inc. recently launched www.outbreakcontrol.com, a one-stop resource for managing infection risk in schools, health care settings and other commercial spaces, according to a press release.
According to the release, the website provides comprehensive information regarding infectious diseases as well as best practices to manage outbreaks, reduce risk and minimize the spread of infection.
In addition to prevention tips and disinfection and cleaning procedures, www.outbreakcontrol.com features an interactive, "Ask an Expert" question and answer forum where visitors can have their questions answered by Drs. Dale Grinstead and Jose Ramirez, JohnsonDiversey's infection control experts, the release stated.
JohnsonDiversey President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ed Lonergan said: "The global H1N1 pandemic has raised social and individual consciousness on the importance of visibly maintaining healthy, hygienic public environments. Our understanding of disease, infection and cleaning and hygiene practices needed to minimize their spread makes us uniquely qualified to provide a platform for public awareness and education."
The site will host topic-specific videos to demonstrate the essential elements of infection control and provides links to JohnsonDiversey's infection control information in 14 languages, the release noted.
JohnsonDiversey's infection control team will regularly post the most up-to-date public health information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which will enable visitors to find all updated public health content instantaneously and in one location, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Guide serves as gold standard for pandemic preparedness
After the SARS outbreak, Gray got in touch with members of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA) and formed a group that met monthly for 18 months to prepare the 95-page document now used by building managers worldwide, the story stated.
The guide, which some describe as the gold standard of pandemic planning for commercial buildings in North America, looks at basic issues such as how to maintain contact with tenants and employees, preparing for the possibility of closure, travel policies, education and even rent defaults by tenants in the wake of a pandemic, the story noted.
According to the story, the guide argues that employers have a duty to form a pandemic preparedness plan because legislation requires them to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
Gray said: "We tried to look at everything that could happen. If the cleaning company has a 40 percent absenteeism rate, how are you going to cope with cleaning the premises effectively? Another example might be that some people may not want to take public transit during an outbreak, so they drive in. How do you respond to the need for extra parking spaces? When I finished working on the first manual, I was hoping it would have some value one day. I just didn't think it would be this soon. People thought, well, that's interesting, but I guess it didn't have the kind of relevance and immediacy it has now."
Over the past year, the guide has been fine-tuned with more input from stakeholders including real estate experts, lawyers, insurance and medical experts and scientists, the story added.
To read the complete guide, click here.
The Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel receives GS-33 certification
LOS ANGELES — The Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel recently achieved Silver-level certification from Green Seal Inc. under the Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties (GS-33), according to a press release.
Green steps that the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel has taken include: Minimizing waste and increasing recycling efforts; improving energy efficiency through lighting and equipment upgrades; conserving water with low-flow plumbing fixtures; and using environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products, the release stated.
Cindy Boulton, general manager of the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel, said: "It is an honor to be among the leaders in Los Angeles' hospitality industry making strides in environmental stewardship. We are thrilled to be associated with Green Seal and are very proud to have achieved the Silver certification. Our team understands the duty we have to protect and maintain the beautiful natural resources we've been blessed with, and we take our responsibility very seriously."
The Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel's green team oversees compliance with green initiatives by regularly inspecting each department and monitoring daily business operations, the release noted.
According to the release, an environmental purchasing policy ensures that environmental and life-cycle impacts are considered in making purchasing decisions for the hotel.
While management and staff are proud of their accomplishment, they say this is not the end and they will continue to strive to be more sustainable, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fullmer Construction now has the world's largest LEED-certified distribution facility
The certification makes the facility the world's largest LEED-certified industrial facility and the first LEED-certified project of any kind in Southern California's High Desert region, the release stated.
Jim Fullmer, chief financial officer (CFO) for Fullmer Construction, said: "We are very proud of the LEED Gold-certification for Global Access Lot 1. It's a significant accomplishment and validates all the hard work everyone put into the project. We couldn't be more pleased about the project, the reduced emissions and bottom line savings for our clients and their clients."
The new facility will consume roughly 49 percent less energy than a comparable non-LEED facility, netting about $250,000 a year in energy cost savings, the release noted.
Some of the building's sustainable features include: Reduced-flow, electronic valve restroom fixtures; drought-tolerant landscaping to help the facility curb indoor water waste by about 40 percent and outdoor water waste by over 70 percent; maximization of natural daylight; and energy-efficient lighting, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Custodian fired for making comments on Facebook
Roy Torrez, Jr. was let go after a unanimous vote from the Pemberton Township Schools Board of Education following comments on his personal Facebook page criticizing Pemberton Township's handling of apparent cases of the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus among school faculty members, the story stated.
On October 26, one of his posts read: "Two confirmed cases of faculty members in the school having H1N1 and coming to work anyway? Real (expletive) smart, people. And the administration isn't gonna tell parents about it! Real educated (expletive) here. Already shaping up to be a good week."
An October 28 post read: "Let's hold a huge event here at the school and possibly spread more infection instead of doing the smart thing and canceling it for the greater good and health of the community. Then again, that would just make too much sense."
Torrez said his custodial keys and his identification were confiscated on November 10 and that he was told to stay home pending the school board's hearing, the story noted.
Torrez said: "I didn't feel like I did anything wrong. I feel like it's a lack of due process. I don't know why the school was looking at my Facebook page anyway. I never received a warning."
Torrez told recently that the reason he was fired is because he was posting comments during work hours by using his cellular telephone, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Window washer survives eight-story fall
Eduardo L. Castillo, whose most severe injury was a broken finger, fell from the eighth story and was slowed down by his rope when he reached the second-floor level, the story stated.
According to the story, Castillo's rope "softened" the impact of his fall into an alleyway between First and Second avenues.
Castillo attended one of Morris Hansen Enterprises' bi-weekly safety-training meetings the morning of his fall as they are required by government safety inspectors, the story noted.
The reason for Castillo's fall is being investigated, and though it was windy on the morning of the incident, it does not appear that weather was a factor in the fall, the story added.
According to the article, Morris Hansen Enterprises has been cited twice this year for safety violations related to fall prevention and penalties totaling $700 were assessed.
Click here to read the complete article.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Rubbermaid receives the 2009 ISSA Best in Customer Service Award
WINCHESTER, VA — Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC recently announced their being awarded the 2009 ISSA Best in Customer Service Award, which was presented at the 2009 ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America Trade Show in Chicago
The ISSA Best in Customer Service Award is presented annually to the exhibitor that exceeds expectations by providing the best one-on-one interaction, innovative product demonstrations and overall customer service experience during the show, the release stated.
Distributors, building service contractors and in-house service providers attending this year's trade show cast their ballots in favor of Rubbermaid Commercial Products in the supplies category of booths 400 square feet or larger, the release noted.
Larry McIsaac, global president of Rubbermaid Commercial Products, said: "This customer service award is a tremendous accomplishment given the quality of competition and individuals participating in the selection process. The award demonstrates the involvement and attention to detail Rubbermaid strives for with its customers in all aspects of our business."
Attendees at the 2009 ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America Trade Show saw the unveiling of a number of products from Rubbermaid Commercial Products and Technical Concepts, the release added.
FEA and the IFMA Foundation release second in Sustainability 'How-To Guide' Series
Written by Maureen Roskoski, Laurie Gilmer, and Greg Hughel, all from FEA, the EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager was created to help facility professionals better understand how to maintain a successful energy management program, the release stated.
The guide highlights essential terms and explains monthly and annual energy consumption within buildings and how this consumption can change over time, the release noted.
Eric Teicholz, executive editor of the Sustainability "How-to Guide" Series, said: "We are very happy with the response received to the first Getting Started guide and look forward to an even greater response to this guide because of the traction received as a result of the initial guide."
To obtain your own copy of the EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager guide, visit FEA's website at www.feapc.com, the release added.
LaGrange College now has a LEED-certified library
LAGRANGE, GA — The Frank and Laura Lewis Library at LaGrange College recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Silver level, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Built by Batson-Cook Construction, the three-story, 45,000-square-foot library is the third library in the state of Georgia and the first outside of the city of Atlanta to earn the LEED distinction, the story stated.
Sustainable aspects of the $15.5 million library include: Low-flow plumbing; abundant natural lighting; energy efficient fixtures; and utilization of recycled materials, the story noted.
While LEED certification costs more on the front end of the project, those who build green reap the benefits later in the more efficient operation of the facility, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Disney ups H1N1 prevention efforts
ORLANDO, FL — In an effort to minimize the spread of the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus, Walt Disney World and Disneyland have installed numerous hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the theme parks, according to the Associated Press.
More than 60 dispensers have been strategically placed in hotel lobbies, character meet-and-greet areas and other venues at the highly frequented parks, the story stated.
Disney has also placed signage throughout the parks reminding patrons to frequently wash their hands, cover their mouths when they cough and other general hygiene reminders, the story noted.
These precautions are the most visible steps taken by Disney since the H1N1 outbreak struck the United States last spring, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article
NBC programming to include pro-environmental messages
According to the story, environmental themes were also added to the scripts of "30 Rock," "The Biggest Loser," "The Office," "Heroes" and "Community."
Several NBC shows have done much to reduce their carbon footprints off-stage, including: Using filtered tap water instead of plastic water bottles; using chemical-free cleaning products; renting hybrid vehicles to transport actors and crew members; and making company facilities more eco-friendly, the story stated.
Jack McBrayer, the actor who portrays Kenneth on "30 Rock," said: "It's something that is relatable and is something that a lot of people are doing. Everybody is on board with greening up the place and being more environmentally-friendly in real life. Every now and then, people need to be reminded of things that can be done."
Examples of the pro-environmental messages include: "30 Rock" corporate boss Jack Donaghy telling the late-night show's staff that it has to cut its carbon footprint by 5 percent; Dwight from "The Office" takes the role of Recyclops; "Heroes" features cast members filling a truck with recyclables and talking about the importance of giving back to the Earth; and in the comedy "Community," the college is renamed Environdale, the story noted.
Click here to read the complete article.
The world's first LEED Platinum-certified hospital
By optimizing energy performance, the Dell Children's Medical Center was able to achieve 14 of the total 17 points available in the Indoor Environmental Quality category, the release stated.
Phil Risner, project manager and building systems network engineer for the Seton Family of Hospitals, said: "We had a vision for LEED Platinum from the outset of this project, as we sought to create the optimum environment for our patients as well as our employees. There was no doubt in our minds that being green had real, positive effects on both the environment and our healthcare delivery capability."
LEED certification standards are difficult to meet for any building, but are especially tough for hospitals because they operate around the clock and use large amounts of energy, the release noted.
Overall, the project earned 54 out of a possible 69 points, meeting requirements for LEED certification for New Construction, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release
'The Rachael Ray Show' selects My Maid Service for cleanup
WILMINGTON, OH — My Maid Service was selected by "The Rachael Ray Show" to provide post-construction cleaning for the Wilmington United Methodist Church's food pantry Your Father's Kitchen following a renovation, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
"The Rachael Ray Show" selected Your Father's Kitchen to be the recipient of its 2009 Thanksgiving community service project that included facility upgrades and a year's stock of food courtesy of the Sara Lee Corporation, the story stated.
According to the story, "The Rachael Ray Show" filmed on location at Your Father's Kitchen November 7 and 8 and the episode is set to air November 25.
Derek Christian, owner of My Maid Service, has been involved with numerous philanthropic causes and was excited to receive the call from "The Rachael Ray Show" producer, the story noted.
Christian said: "We know that Wilmington is going through a tough time right now with the recent closing of DHL. Quite a few families are really struggling right now. This is something we can do to contribute to a worthy cause and I'm more than happy to help out."
My Maid Service is a full-service provider of cleaning tasks, including: Mopping floors; vacuuming; dusting; changing bed linens; cleaning carpets; cleaning windows; and much more, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
USGBC unveils new LEED pilot credits
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently unveiled five new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits that are being investigated in a pilot program currently underway, according to Jetson Green.
The pilot LEED credits include: Life Cycle Assessment of Building Assemblies and Materials; Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) Source Reduction; Medical and Process Equipment Efficiency; Innovative Ventilation; and Preliminary Integrative Project Planning & Design, the story stated.
According to the story, ever since announcing the new LEED Version 3 in 2009, the USGBC has been talking about putting LEED on a regular cycle of refinement and improvement in order to keep it at the forefront of green building.
These new credits will be available as Innovation & Design credits for current projects utilizing the pilot credits and, as speculated, will likely appear as part of the next revision of LEED, the story noted.
It is hoped that these pilot credits will be adopted and will help push the industry in a greener direction in new and important areas relevant to human health and safety, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Green Seal to adopt holistic approach to certification
Building on the development of 30 environmental standards and certification of over 3,500 "green" products and services, Green Seal's pilot program will certify companies as a whole based on their commitment to environmentally-sound business practices and sustainable products, the release stated.
According to the release, recognition of environmental leadership — at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels — will be based on corporate-wide practices and environmental impacts, third-party environmental certification of the company's products and life-cycle assessment of the company's key product lines.
Green Seal will factor in greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, biodiversity impact and labor relations, among other requirements, the release noted.
Arthur Weissman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Green Seal, said: "Today's green-savvy consumers are increasingly wary of corporate greenwashing and are looking for proof that companies and their products are as green as they say they are. Our pilot Company Certification Program makes green corporate claims credible and provides real marketing power as manufacturers brand themselves in a sustainability-minded marketplace."
Once social and environmental impact studies are completed, qualified companies are given a license to use the Green Seal which, in addition to certifying their commitment to the environment for consumers, also provides greenwashing insurance for the business, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Green-Buildings.com launches free LEED-GA practice exam
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Green-Buildings.com announces the availability of its first free practice test for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Green Associate (LEED-GA) exam offered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), according to a press release.
The free practice test, developed by Green-Buildings.com's team of LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED-AP), consists of 50 questions and detailed explanations covering different aspects of green building and LEED, the release stated.
Rob Freeman Jr., LEED-AP and co-founder of Green-Buildings.com, said: "The LEED-GA credential represents potentially the best springboard for new careers in sustainability. It is also a popular starting point for many aspiring LEED-APs. LEED-GA candidates are obviously very excited about this new credential and the potential it holds for future professional and personal growth. We developed our free LEED-GA practice test to provide green building professionals with an affordable way to prepare and to test their knowledge of green building."
LEED professional credentials have become an important part of the growing sustainability industry with over 130,000 professionals becoming LEED-APs since the launch of the LEED credentialing system in 2001, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
JohnsonDiversey commits to threefold reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
STURTEVANT, WI — JohnsonDiversey Inc. recently announced a commitment to triple its reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Climate Savers program, according to a press release.
Study: Green roofs store carbon dioxide
EAST LANSING, MI — A new study performed at Michigan State University (MSU) found that living roofs can store heat-trapping carbon dioxide and prevent it from entering the atmosphere, according to the Lansing State Journal.
The focus of the study that spanned two years was the Detroit metropolitan area, which has between 77 million and 101 million square yards of available rooftop, the story stated.
According to the study, planting green roofs on all available rooftops in Detroit would have the same environmental benefit as removing 10,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from the road or approximately 55,000 tons of carbon.
Twenty plots of plants were placed on MSU's Plant and Soil Sciences Building, and once researchers harvested plant material every other month during growing season, the plants were weighed and their carbon content measured, the story noted.
Kristin Getter, head researcher for the study, said: "This study is the first of its kind. We knew these roofs had benefits, but we didn't know they would be able to store carbon. A traditional roof is not storing any carbon, but a green roof is a brand-new storehouse. We were thinking they probably wouldn't store very much, and it isn't a lot compared to a forest or grassland, but it is more than what a traditional roof would have."
The study's results, which were published in Environmental Science and Technology, found that approximately 13.3 ounces of carbon per square meter was stored throughout the two-year study period, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Ashkin urges support for EPA's DfE program in New York State
According to the release, the draft does not accept the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) program, which continues to develop important tools to help us solve complex problems like childhood asthma and other health and environmental issues.
Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group LLC, is making a personal appeal for those concerned with this issue to send a letter or e-mail to NYSOGS requesting DfE be included in their program no later than Friday, November 20, 2009, the release stated.
Points that Ashkin stresses include: DfE now has a clear and transparent standard and the DfE process is equal and, in some cases, superior to other ecolabels; independent third-parties to do the verification for DfE, eliminating any potential or perceived conflict of interests between the standard setter and the verifier; and DfE now includes very specific product performance requirements that are equal to, if not superior, to other ecolabelling programs, the release noted.
According to Ashkin, the inclusion of DfE would add another compliance path and thus create more competition, which could help reduce the costs for cleaning products for state
E-mail comments should be sent to: nysogsesu@ogs.state.ny.us.
Written comments can be mailed to:
New York State Office of General Services
Environmental Services Unit
39th Floor,Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany , NY 12242
Environmental Services Unit
39th Floor,
Aramark employee admits to Social Security fraud
KANSAS CITY, MO — The former food service director for Aramark Services Inc. at the Richard Bolling Federal Building pled guilty to Social Security fraud, according to the Kansas City infoZine.
Christopher Wenell admitted to recruiting Luis Carreon, an illegal alien from Mexico, to work for Aramark between December 9, 2005, and September 25, 2007, knowing that his Social Security card was false, the story stated.
Wenell, who waived his right to a trial by jury, faces a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000, the story noted.
According to the story, Carreon was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to Social Security fraud and identity theft.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of an investigation by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Alternatives to LEED-CI certification
Energy Star, as offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), examines building energy usage and compares that data to national averages to establish a rating, the story stated.
According to the article, the Energy Star rating complements LEED-CI certification as it examines energy usage, a major component of the LEED-CI process.
Green Globes, originally developed in Canada and adapted for the U.S. in 2004, is similar to LEED-CI in that only points applicable to the specific project are taken into consideration; projects are not penalized for not achieving irrelevant points, the story noted.
According to the story, Green Globes differs from LEED-CI because once a building is constructed, a team of third-party assessors — including architects and engineers — walk the building to ensure it meets certification requirements.
The total cost of Green Globe certification for a 15,000-square-foot office building ends up being about $5,000 more than LEED-CI certification, the story added.
Sarah Gudeman, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP), said: "People haven't really heard of [Green Globe]. It's no wonder people lean more towards LEED. The two rating systems aren't supposed to be in competition, but I honestly don't see how they would conceivably fit together [like LEED-CI and Energy Star do]. Still, it's good to know what's out there."
Click here to read the complete article.
Study links restroom cleanliness to norovirus outbreaks
According to the story, the study by scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine, Carney Hospital, the Cambridge Health Alliance and the Tufts University School of Medicine is said to be the first environmental hygiene study aboard cruise ships.
Researchers inspected 273 randomly selected public restrooms aboard various ships and found only 37 percent were cleaned daily, the story stated.
The research, which appears in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, found baby changing tables to be the least cleaned object in cruise ship restrooms, the story noted.
Researchers said they found the thoroughness of cleaning did not differ by cruise line and did not correlate with U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program inspection scores that averaged 97 out of a possible 100 points for the 273 study vessels, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Clorox to eliminate chlorine from its namesake bleach
OAKLAND, CA — The Clorox Company recently announced that it is changing the formulation of its namesake bleach, starting at its Fairfield, California, factory, according to the Associated Press.
Amid growing safety concerns and growing regulatory scrutiny, Clorox will eliminate the use of chlorine so it no longer has to transport the substance used in chemical warfare during World War I to factories across the United States, the story stated.
Clorox spokesman Dan Staublin said: "Our goal is ultimately to eliminate the transportation of chlorine from our U.S. supply chain. By transitioning to a new manufacturing process now, that allows us to stay ahead of regulations and potentially avoid costs. With the regulatory environment we're in now, the transportation of different chemicals is being scrutinized maybe more than ever before."
Clorox plans to switch to high-strength bleach with a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite instead of buying chlorine and making bleach onsite, the story noted.
According to the story, Clorox, which hopes to complete the transition away from chlorine at all of its U.S. factories within the next few years, would not disclose how much it would cost to make the changes, but stressed that consumers won't notice a difference in quality, smell or color.
Environmental watchdog Greenpeace applauded Clorox's decision, calling the move "technically feasible and a smart business decision," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
School goes green with geothermal heat exchange system
SIMSBURY, CT — The new, $34.6 million, 85,000-square-foot Armour Academic Center at the Westminster School features a geothermal heat exchange system that heats and cools the building without using a drop of oil, according to the Hartford Courant.
Seventy-two plastic pipes and related plumbing and pumps circulate 10,000 gallons of a water and propylene glycol mixture through 72 wells drilled 475 feet beneath the Simsbury bedrock.According to the story, the circulating water system takes advantage of the simple principle that, below the frost line, the earth retains a relatively consistent temperature of 55 degrees, the story stated.
In the winter, heat drawn from the relatively warmer circulating water is used to warm the building and in the summer, the relatively cooler water draws away the heat from the building to provide air conditioning, the story noted.
As the story points out, Westminster is so confident of its new geothermal system that it didn't even bother to install a conventional backup boiler.
Edmond Macri, a mechanical contractor who spent five years working with Westminster's building committee to design the system, said: "I know of no other geothermal unit this advanced, anywhere in the country, and yes it's ironic that this benchmark project originated at a private school. At your typical new commercial building, the owners or investors just assign the job out to the architects and engineers and expect it to get done. At Westminster, from the headmaster on down, there was this strong impetus to be a good citizen and reduce the school's carbon footprint by becoming personally involved in the design and construction."
Westminster's geothermal heat exchange system includes a computerized monitoring system that will allow the building's energy use to be monitored and, if necessary, for changes to be programmed into the system, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Hand sanitizers are a viable alternative to soap and water
NOTRE DAME, IN — Experiments by a microbiology class at Saint Mary's College found that alcohol-based gel hand sanitizers are a sufficient hand hygiene substitute when soap and water are not available, according to WSBT-TV.
During the laboratory experiment, the class tested the effectiveness of alcohol-based gel hand sanitizers against bacteria and germs by placing the gel into a tube and adding two kinds of hard-to-kill bacteria, the story stated.
Doctor Kara Eberly, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Saint Mary's College, said: "Within a minute everything is dead, that's it. Alcohol kills everything very rapidly. [Manufacturers] put things in to make it stick to your hands, so it takes a little while to dry. It gives it a long enough time to kill microbes. It works, it really does."
The samples were analyzed to see if the alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer killed 99.9 percent of germs as promised — it did, the story noted.
According to the release, tests conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that some bargain brands, which generally dry out hands more quickly, may not protect as well as name brands because they have lower concentrations of alcohol.
Because all alcohol-based gel hand sanitizers are not created equal, it is important to read labels; Eberly suggests not purchasing a product with less than 50 percent alcohol, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Onondaga County's first LEED Silver-certified structure
MARCELLUS, NY — The Marcellus Free Library recently achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Silver level, making it the first LEED Silver-certified structure in Onondaga County, according to The Post-Standard.
Designed by Lake Architectural and built by MCK Building Associates Inc., the Marcellus Free Library, which has been open for more than one year, came with a price tag of $2.8 million, the story stated.
Sustainable features of the "green" library include: A geothermal heating and cooling system; maximizing natural daylight; artificial lighting controlled by sensors; and furniture and finishes with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the story noted.
LEED-certified buildings, which are more environmentally friendly and cost less to operate than conventional buildings, are rated by a score based on energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources that corresponds to a level of certification, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The LEED Platinum-certified Cincinnati Zoo
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) certification at the Platinum level, according to a press release.
The platinum certification, the highest level offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), makes the Cincinnati Zoo America's greenest animal sanctuary, the release stated.
Sustainable aspects of the neo-Victorian style Historic Vine Street Village include: 10 kilowatt (kW) solar panels that reduce the demand for coal-fired power by 15 percent; geothermal heat pumps that meet all of the heating and cooling demands; a rainwater management system; and low-flow fixtures, the release noted.
Mark Fisher, Cincinnati Zoo senior director of facilities, said: "The Zoo's strong commitment to natural resource conservation starts at the front door. We have been and will continue to aggressively invest in our infrastructure. Building green is the right thing to do for the planet and for the wallet."
Roughly 30 percent of the building materials used in the project were recycled and about 80 percent of construction waste was sent to recycling centers for reuse, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Wyoming Governor says no to green mandates
CHEYENNE, WY — While many other states in the nation are instituting green building programs, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal recently stated that he will not mandate green building codes in his state, according to the New York Times.
In an interview on Monday after he spoke at the Western States Energy and Environment Symposium, Freudenthal ruled out mandates for stricter building efficiency codes or energy standards for appliances, the story stated.
According to the story, Wyoming, which is among the nation's top producers of coal, oil, natural gas and wind power, has consistently finished last in state rankings for energy efficiency.
Freudenthal recently signed a letter to the Department of Energy promising renewed efforts to boost energy efficiency as a condition of receiving certain federal stimulus money from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the story noted.
Freudenthal said: "We're not a state that's going to do building codes. Building codes are local — I mean, they're very aggressive here in Teton County. One of the difficulties we face is that the relatively uncontroversial subject of energy efficiency must first be disentangled from a traditional Wyoming resistance to building codes. For the marginal gain that you would get out of all the blood that you would lose trying to regulate whether or not somebody could buy a non-five-star appliance in Wyoming, it makes no sense. We'll do a lot more good if we set it up so that the utilities can align the pricing right.”
According to the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) database, there are only seven Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified projects in the state of Wyoming.
Freudenthal feels that mandating energy efficiency requirements for the state would require "a significant shift in public opinion in Wyoming" and would not be a smart or logical move, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
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