MCHENRY, Ill., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessup Manufacturing Company's energy-efficient Glo Brite(R) Eco Exit(TM) signs can help building owners respond to Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman's request for commercial, industrial and institutional building owners to invest in modern lighting systems that reduce energy consumption.

HVAC Company Among First in Nation to Earn Coveted Environmental Designation FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hill York, one of the state’s oldest and largest air conditioning companies, today announced it has been named Florida’s first GreenStar contractor by the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), the industry’s leading national trade association. Only 15 companies in the nation have earned the GreenStar designation, which recognizes an “exceptional commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” according to Barbara A. Dolim, executive director of MSCA, which is based in Rockville, MD. “As a recognized leader in the green movement within our industry, Hill York is dedicated to helping our customers achieve a high level of energy efficiency,” said Thom Brazel, Hill York’s Sarasota-based general manager/west coast operations and an MSCA national board member. “We have invested significant resources in employee training and new technology to support our customers and the communities we serve.” To achieve the coveted GreenStar designation, a contractor must first earn the MSCA Star designation, based on stringent training, certification and safety criteria. Less than one percent of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors nationwide are MSCA Star designees. GreenStar designation is an additional honor, based on dedication to promoting environmental sustainability throughout the entire organization, from employee training and education to the products and services offered to customers. Since introducing air conditioning to Florida in 1936, Hill York has developed innovative and effective heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for a diverse client base. The Fort Lauderdale company recently unveiled its state-of-the-art “HYgreen” solutions to help commercial property owners and managers reduce rising energy costs and improve HVAC system performance in existing and new buildings. “We focus on providing leading-edge ‘green’ technology that helps our customers improve energy practices, offset rising utilities costs and contribute to a healthier indoor environment,” said Jeff Phillabaum, Hill York president.

The Use of iTendant Streamlines Costs and Prepares Buildings for LEED Certification ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SERVIDYNE, INC. (Nasdaq: SERV), has successfully configured and implemented iTendant®, the Company’s Web-based preventive maintenance, energy and rapid response system, throughout Parmenter Realty Partners’ entire portfolio of buildings. Parmenter is a privately held real estate investment, management and development company headquartered in Miami, Fla. Parmenter Realty Partners is a real estate investment, management and development company headquartered in South Florida with regional offices in Dallas and Atlanta. It is actively involved in the expansion of its portfolio in the major markets in this region. Parmenter identifies and acquires underperforming properties that have current or future occupancy issues, expansion potential or require repositioning, such as renovations, upgrading, or new development. Parmenter is using two iTendant modules: the Tenant Service Request module, as well as the Preventive Maintenance module. iTendant was selected as the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for Parmenter’s portfolio of 23 buildings, because of its advanced preventive maintenance capabilities and portfolio-wide reporting features. Further, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ provides approval points when a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is installed and operating. In this case, iTendant is Parmenter’s initial step toward LEED – Existing Building (EB) certification for its properties. “The introduction of iTendant accomplishes two goals for us,” said Darryl W. Parmenter, President and Chief Executive Officer for Parmenter Realty Partners. “First, it enhances our ‘green’ initiative which, in part, is designed to prepare our buildings for LEED-EB certification, and iTendant is a part of the certification process for us. Second, the easy-to-use modules and maintenance support will help us streamline costs as we improve our properties for our tenants.” iTendant further automates reporting between Parmenter’s property management team and its asset managers, and offers a turnkey implementation so that no additional configuration is required. Steve Harrison, Vice President of Facilities at Parmenter Realty Partners and a former president of the Atlanta chapter of BOMA (Building Owners and Managers), said iTendant‘s reporting capability was an immediately visible benefit. “We started using parts of the solution in early September, and both modules were completely implemented in just a few weeks. Servidyne’s team of building engineers, with over 30 years of experience, matched the entire equipment inventory of Parmenter’s portfolio against its proprietary procedure library, and created a robust preventive maintenance management system complete with load leveling schedules. The part that really helps us, as we monitor the progress of properties, is the portfolio reporting feature, because it allows us to benchmark our entire portfolio. This makes it easier for us to enhance tenant satisfaction by setting service standards and extend the life expectancy of our assets.” iTendant creates an easy-to-access, seam-less Web-based environment, where asset managers, property managers, tenants and vendors can all communicate to quickly identify and solve energy and maintenance issues. With the help of the Internet and wireless handheld devices, iTendant enables real-time tracking and management of tenant requests and labor resources. iTendant is customizable, and can be configured to suit virtually any property type.

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The blueprint of the most pioneering green building in National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and also probably the first of its kind in the world, namely the Education Center for Subtropical Green Buildings (ECSGB) with an alias as “Green Magic School”, was recently approved by the City Urban Planning Committee of Tainan City in November, 2008, and simultaneously awarded by the Architecture and Building Research Institute of the Ministry of the Interior as a “Diamond Level Candidate for Green Building Labeling”. The detailed construction and design layout of this Green Magic School has been also completed on December 17th. Public tender on the construction work of the NCKU ECSGB is expected to be called around January of 2009 with an aim for completion of all construction work by 2010. The NCKU Green Magic School, following the example of Noah's Ark to save the world, has been designed and managed jointly by NCKU Professor Hsien-Te Lin of Architecture Department, and Architect Chao-Yung Shih. They unprecedentedly invited four NCKU faculty members to work on scientific experiments for feasibility of their environmental friendly designs. For example, the building is slated to use “adequate techniques”, instead of “expensive techniques”, to achieve “quadruple benefit” with the challengeable aims to save 40% energy, to conserve 30% water, to reduce 30% carbon emission as well as for a utilization expectancy of one hundred years. According to Professor Lin, the most stunning point of this green building is built with 100% of green construction materials. For example, firstly, the Portland blast-furnace slag cement, donated by China Steel Corp. at Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, can reduce the cement utilization by 30% as well as cut carbon emission by 10%. Furthermore, it can increase the solidity strength of concrete by 40%. Secondly, the light-weight ceramsite made by mud clay dredged from nearby reservoirs can be used for partition walls and ground soils on rooftop garden so that the structural load can be lessened, and the life duration of reservoirs can be extended as well as the water usage of rooftop garden could be significantly reduced because of the intrinsic porous structures in the ceramsite that could retain more water. Furthermore, the electric cords certified with Green Material Label and donated from Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable Co. Ltd. is made exclusively from halogen-free plastic and won’t generate any malignant substances, such as dioxin and halogen during incineration. Environmental friendly carpets and curtains, made from corn and recycled plastic (PET) bottles, respectively, are bestowed by Everest Textile Co. The NCKU Education Center of Subtropical Green Buildings is also a Magic Green School full with healthy concepts. For example, the coatings branded with “Care Milieu” provided from BioSun Technology Co. are bacterium-and-fungus-resistant, anti-fouling and self-cleaning as well as moisture adjustable. Furthermore, water-based wood coatings, donated from YUN CHUN HO International Co., certified with a certificate of healthy building materials label from the Architecture and Building Research Institute of the Ministry of the Interior does not contain any formaldehyde and heavy metals. The bacterium-resistant steel plates, donated from Yieh Phui Enterprise Co. will be adopted in the ventilation system of the air-conditioners to maintain a good quality of healthy air. The Binchoutan (Japanese bamboo charcoal) implanted with silver nanoparticles, bestowed from Lifecharcoal Corp. will be embedded into the double-layer walls in the international conference hall of the Green Magic School to disinfect release and to absorb filthy odors and fatal gases. Notably, all the building materials used in the NCKU Green Magic School are made domestically and inexpensively. All the enterprises taking parts in the establishment of Green Magic School will become the partners of “green technological education” and be displayed inside the “green building museum” in the NCKU Green Magic School. The NCKU Green Magic School is endowed by Chairman of Delta Electronics, Dr. Bruce Cheng’s 100 million NTD donations, approximately 3 million USD and will be built at the NCKU Li-Hsing Campus. The building will have three levels above ground and one level underground, housing an international conference hall and demonstrating the green architectural technology and research.

ATLANTA, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the increased demand for building materials with surface durability, Georgia-Pacific Gypsum introduces the newest addition to the Dens(TM) Brand of fiberglass mat, moisture- and mold-resistant gypsum panels -- DensArmor Plus(R) Impact-Resistant interior panels, which contain an additional embedded fiberglass mesh for superior impact and abuse resistance. It is ideal for construction of high-occupancy buildings, such as offices, hospitals, dormitories and other public buildings.

US Green Building Council’s recognition highlights company’s long-term efforts to address global climate change CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citi, a world leader in financial services, announced today that it has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new office space at the Franklin Center in Chicago. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. The space, which accommodates approximately 100 employees from Citi businesses including Citi Private Bank, Global Wealth Advisory Services, and Markets and Banking, incorporates environmentally friendly features that significantly reduce the company’s environmental footprint. “The small steps Citi takes can have a giant impact when multiplied by our 14,000 facilities, our 350,000 employees, and operations in 100 countries,” said Marty Lippert, Citi’s Chief Operations and Technology Officer. “We’re working to achieve environmental certification for all of our new office buildings, office space and operations centers around the world. We have a companywide goal to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions by 10% by 2011. This project exemplifies our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and efficient, cost-effective business practices.” "We’re proud that this new space is LEED compliant, beautiful, conducive to our business and inviting to our clients,” said Jim Bridgman, Regional Managing Director of Citi Private Bank. “We are thrilled to be in this magnificent building, centrally located in the heart of the Loop, allowing us to meet more easily with our clients and better partner with our other Citi colleagues." Citi has more than 2,500 employees in the Greater Chicago Area and more than 1,000 downtown. The company began a project in 2006 to relocate and consolidate several business units from six leased locations throughout the downtown area into two major buildings – the Franklin Center on West Monroe Street and Citi Center on West Madison. The space in the Franklin Center that achieved LEED Gold certification was part of the first phase of this four-phase project. "Citi is a leader in the fight to slow climate change and reduce energy dependence," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council." While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like Citi are addressing it through local solutions.” Other Citi projects that have received LEED certification include the company’s recently constructed office parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a new 15-story skyscraper in New York City at Two Court Square in Queens, and a new data center in Georgetown, Texas. Citi also was the first company to achieve “LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors pre-certification” through a USGBC Portfolio Program pilot, meaning that new Citibank and CitiFinancial branch offices will all be designed in accordance with a prototype and achieve LEED certification, using the same environmentally friendly features.

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Property & Inland Marine Division of Great American Insurance Group announced the introduction of its Builders’ Risk Green Extension Endorsement. This endorsement has been created for new construction projects that are designed to meet the Leadership in Environmental Energy & Design (LEED) “Certified” Standard, as determined by the U.S. Green Building Council or the Green Building Initiative. According to the 2008 FMI U.S. Construction Overview, more than $21 billion of new non-residential construction will use green building principles in 2008. “With the rise in green building and development projects predicted to increase substantially over the next 5 years we believe this new endorsement will allow Great American to continue to provide a high standard of service to the ever-changing needs of the building industry,” stated Dale Kelley, Divisional President of Great American’s Property & Inland Marine Division. “Our insurance specialists understand the loss exposures and expenses related to LEED certified building projects and believe that this coverage will help builders address these unique risks in their business.” Great American Insurance’s Builders’ Risk Green Extension Endorsement includes: No item limits for lawns, trees and shrubs Additional coverage for: Restoring air quality (in spaces over 25,000 square feet), up to $50,000 Costs associated with building commissioning Fees for re-certification and registration Additional expenses related to public utilities Recycling expense (up to $50,000) Additional time in the “period of delay in completion” when necessary to meet the certification incorporated into the building design (applicable to Soft Costs/Rents coverage).

Live Online Expo & eSummit: January 23, 2009 Noon ET, 11 pm CT, 10 MT, 9am PT Join Us Live Online to Explore New Green Energy Solutions & Energy Saving Ideas with Experts & Colleagues via their Live Webcams Topics Include: Solar, Wind, Geothermal & Hydrogen - Financing Options - Energy Efficiency Tips - Green Building Technology - Civic Energy Policies - Business Solutions & More. Also join the IdeaXchange after the Expo where you can participate in a brainstorming session to help facilitate Green Energy Solutions in cities and business across the country . This eSummit & Online Expo is hosted by the Green Energy Economy Center from Challenge International. Just turn on your computer to hear, view and interact with the presenters. $39 per connection . TO REGISTER OR LEARN MORE go to: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.GreenEnergyEconomyCtr.com

Live Online Expo & eSummit: January 23, 2009 Noon ET, 11 pm CT, 10 MT, 9am PT Join Us Live Online to Explore New Green Energy Solutions & Energy Saving Ideas with Experts & Colleagues via their Live Webcams Topics Include: Solar, Wind, Geothermal & Hydrogen - Financing Options - Energy Efficiency Tips - Green Building Technology - Civic Energy Policies - Business Solutions & More. Also join the IdeaXchange after the Expo where you can participate in a brainstorming session to help facilitate Green Energy Solutions in cities and business across the country . This eSummit & Online Expo is hosted by the Green Energy Economy Center from Challenge International. Just turn on your computer to hear, view and interact with the presenters. $39 per connection . TO REGISTER OR LEARN MORE go to: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.GreenEnergyEconomyCtr.com

18-Year Life, 80% Energy Savings & Wide Beam Coverage That Reduces Fixture Needs Deliver Clear Benefits for Wall Illumination SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guth Lighting’s just-released SUNDOWNER LED family of wall pack fixtures leverages LUXEON Rebel LED technology to provide a never-before-possible 60-degree beam spread in a dark sky housing, improving visibility while also reducing the number of fixtures needed to cover a given wall expanse. Guth’s new LUXEON-based wall packs also extend luminaire life up to seven times, slash energy needs by 80%, support ‘green’ initiatives, and significantly lower the total cost of ownership. The new line consists of five models containing from 4 to 40 LEDs for scenarios ranging from doorway lighting to 20-foot-high mounting applications. Instead of only illuminating the ground like conventional wall packs, the fixtures take advantage of the LUXEON LED’s physical and optical properties to distribute light uniformly over a 60-degree field for partial wall coverage. Benefits include: A 30% reduction in fixturing needs because a single wall pack can light a wider area. Better visibility at wall level, increasing comfort and safety for passersby. Increased efficiency due to use of light traditionally blocked by the dark sky housing.

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d62049/materials_for_sust) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report "Materials for Sustainable Sites: A Complete Guide to the Evaluation, Selection, and Use of Sustainable Construction Materials" to their offering. This complete guide to the evaluation, selection, and use of sustainable materials in the landscape features strategies to minimize environmental and human health impacts of conventional site construction materials as well as green materials. Providing detailed current information on construction materials for sustainable sites, the book introduces tools, techniques, ideologies and resources for evaluating, sourcing, and specifying sustainable site materials. Chapters cover types of materials, both conventional and emerging green materials, environmental and human health impacts of the material, and detailed strategies to minimize these impacts. Case studies share cost and performance information and lessons learned. Key Topics Covered: Preface. Acknowledgments. Materials for Sustainable Sites Defined. Background: Inputs, Outputs, and Impacts of Construction Materials. Evaluating the Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Materials. Resource Reuse: Designing with and Specifying Reclaimed, Reprocessed, and Recycled-content Materials. Concrete. Earthen Materials. Brick Masonry. Asphalt Pavement. Aggregates and Stone. Wood and Wood Products. Metals. Plastics and Rubber. Biobased Materials, BY RUTH STAFFORD. Appendix A: Embodied Energy and Embodied Carbon of Construction Materials by Weight. Appendix B: Health and Environmental Impacts of Hazardous Air Pollutants and Metals Related to Construction Materials. Index.

Forest Foundation Distributes Green Guide About Renewable Building Product AUBURN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As more people focus on creating ‘green’ buildings, a new guidebook makes the case for the only truly renewable building product: wood. The booklet, The Wood User’s Guide to Green Building, details the important role wood plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, underscores the energy efficiency of wood and shows how well wood rates when compared to other primary building materials. In a time when sustainable practices are becoming more desirable, the booklet outlines the benefits of building with wood, including scientific data that shows how wood outperforms steel and concrete across a range of environmental performance criteria. “Wood is truly the only building material that is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable,” said Robert Mion, marketing director for The Forest Foundation, which is distributing the guide. “This green building guide is an important resource for everyone, particularly as people try to make more environmentally sensitive decisions.” Some facts included in the guide: More wood is grown than harvested every year in California and, contrary to some assumptions, the state has nearly the same amount of forestland as it did 100 years ago. Building wall systems with steel or concrete can increase greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent and 80 percent respectively Not only is wood grown using natural energy from the sun, but more than 60 percent of wood processing is powered by wood-based biofuels, a much cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, replace it with oxygen and store the carbon, helping to fight global warming. Even after trees are harvested, carbon continues to be safely stored in wood products like lumber and furniture for generations. In fact, about half the weight of wood is stored carbon. If from this point forward every new home built in the United States that would normally be framed in wood were instead framed in steel, the difference in energy consumption would be equivalent to operating a fleet of 950,000 SUVs, each driving 20,000 miles annually. A 2005 study by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials found that a wood-framed house outperformed steel and concrete houses across a range of environmental performance criteria. Steel and concrete required far more energy to create and caused more air pollution. The booklet also provides an overview of various green building rating systems and independent sustainable forestry certification programs. Nearly 400 million acres of forestlands in North America are certified as well-managed and sustainable by third-party organizations. The Guide briefly describes some of general characteristics of the many green rating systems in use today. It focuses primarily on the steps California is taking in developing its green building programs, and also addresses the familiar LEED ratings set by the Green Building Council and the Green Globe ratings as developed by the Green Building Initiative. The guide notes the similarities and differences between the programs, particularly with regards to how wood is treated by each. The guide also points out only one popular green rating system, Green Globes, incorporates Life Cycle Assessment, the most rigorous scientific methodology that can be applied to the selection of building materials and assemblies.

Venture between Maguire Aviation, Shangri-La Construction, LP to meet LEED-certified standards LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maguire Aviation and Shangri-La Construction are in negotiations to build Los Angeles’ first “green” jet hangar at Van Nuys Airport, it was announced today. The hangar, designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, is expected to resemble a hangar Shangri-La unveiled this morning at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank at an event attended by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Green hangers not only reduce air and noise pollution, but significantly reduce operating costs for both fixed-based operators and jet companies through the use of solar power and other energy-saving technologies. “Shangri-La Construction focuses on corporate and institutional clients like Maguire Aviation, who want to lower their carbon impact, fight rising energy costs and stabilize economic uncertainties through cost-effective sustainable development,” said Andy Meyers, President, Shangri-La Construction. The Van Nuys project will be the first of what is expected to be a series of collaborations between Maguire Aviation and Shangri-La Construction in building environmentally sustainable projects. “Our mission is to be good neighbors and good citizens in our sustainable development program at Van Nuys Airport. By reducing noise and air pollution at the airport, the community benefits,” said Robert F. Maguire III, chairman of Maguire Aviation. As one of Los Angeles’ most prolific commercial real estate developers, Mr. Maguire has extensive experience developing LEED-certified buildings throughout Southern California. Maguire Aviation currently is the largest landholder and fixed based operator at Van Nuys airport. The company currently leases 59 acres, and plans to invest $250 million in development at the airport.

NAPA VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phil Sherburne, a pioneer in modern green development, will open his long-awaited Bardessono hotel, restaurant and spa in California’s famed Napa Valley during the first week of February. The 62-room luxury hotel with its 92-seat restaurant and bar is situated on the Bardessono family farmstead in the heart of historic Yountville. Sherburne, who was hand-picked by the Bardessonos to develop their six-acre property, promised an ecologically-friendly development that would literally “tuck itself” into Yountville’s tiny wine country community. With the help of Seattle architect Ron Mitchell, Sherburne oriented the property’s 540-square-foot guest rooms around a series of four courtyards, giving the property a more compact, intimate feel. Guest parking is contained in an enclosed valet space as there are no vehicular traffic corridors through the project. The property blends itself into the surrounding community through a series of extended community walking paths. All buildings and landscaping were set back 35 feet from nearby Hopper Creek. Landscape design bordering the creek is native and sustainable. The landmark development, which is applying for Platinum LEED certification — the highest and most rigorous form of green development accreditation in the United States — could well be the “greenest” luxury hotel in America today. In the tradition of his other award-winning projects, among them Decatur Island, the property employs a wide range of environmental initiatives, covering everything from material reuse to solar power and geothermal energy to onsite waste management, low water use and LED and fluorescent lighting. The property will obtain approximately half of its electricity need from a 200-kilowatt photovoltaic solar system discreetly mounted and concealed atop the hotel’s flat-topped roofs. To heat and cool guest rooms as well as the property’s domestic water supply, a system of eighty-two 300-foot geothermal wells were drilled to work with a specially developed ground source heat pump system. Structurally as well as aesthetically, the Bardessono makes prodigious use of “up-cycled” materials including recycled steel, green glass tiles as well as fly ash concrete. (Fly ash, a glass-like powder recovered from gases created by coal-fired electric power generation, is a recyclable material often used as a replacement for Portland cement.) Salvaged wood from locally-sourced Monterey Cypress, Walnut, Redwood, Eucalyptus and California Bay Laurel trees is featured throughout the property, used for everything from siding and ceiling beams to furniture and bathroom flooring. Locally quarried Tuffa stone, salvaged and re-cut from the Bardessono family’s original homestead, adorns the hotel’s entry way as well as its reception and dining areas. Low profile as it may appear, the Bardessono was appointed with luxury in mind. A rooftop swimming pool lends rare views of the Stags Leap Palisades and Mayacamas Mountains while offering private poolside cabanas and a pizza oven. Guest rooms feature generous amounts of natural light as well as their own private landscaped courtyard. All rooms are equipped for in-room spa services and some feature both indoor and outdoor showers. A few have outdoor heated tubs. Bed linens, towels and robes are made from locally sourced organic cotton, all of which is green certified. Interior furnishings and features were crafted by a team of artisans selected by Sherburne especially for the Bardessono. A one-time University of Oregon student activist-turned urban policy planner, Sherburne began his career not in private development but public housing. Before that, he lived on his family’s Oregon dairy farm. It is this combined experience that Sherburne carried with him into the development business more than 20 years ago. It is his touchstone for creating developments that balance the interest of the private client with that of the public and nature at large. The Bardessono, Sherburne’s latest effort, follows in this 25-year tradition.

Green.Findanyfloor.Com Sets New Standard For Eco-Friendly Flooring Resources LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FindAnyFloor.com – the largest flooring information resource on the Internet – today launched its environmentally oriented site Green.FindAnyFloor.com. The new site is a comprehensive guide to green flooring for consumers of all knowledge levels. “Green.FindAnyFloor.com is something really special,” said FindAnyFloor.com founder and CEO Damien Patton. “We are known as the Web’s flooring authority and we are also an environmentally conscious company. Building the best website for green flooring on the Internet was a logical and important step for us. And anyone who visits the site will see we’ve achieved our goal.” Green.FindAnyFloor.com employs the same clean layout and logical navigation FindAnyFloor.com, with plenty of helpful linking between the two sites. Site visitors will find detailed information on most floor types that can qualify as green (many sites only look at four or five). There are blogs and articles on green flooring written by flooring experts, information on buying and installing green floors, a section on green flooring accessories, and others on green organizations, certifications and education. As with FindAnyFloor.com, Green.FindAnyFloor.com also has the Live Chat feature with which consumers can ask green flooring questions and get answers in real time. The green site also features the hugely popular Quick Click Floor Estimator™, a cool tool that allows site visitors to calculate flooring areas (square footage), wastage and estimated cost with ease. “The site raises the bar for green flooring and makes a substantive link between our industry and the larger universe of green organizations and information,” said Patton. “The site will be continually added to, and the ‘What’s New’ section will be updated regularly. We will strive to give green floor consumers everything they could possibly need to purchase, install and maintain flooring in an eco-friendly way.”

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Taeyang Electronic Co., LTD, a global manufacturer of outdoor lighting, announced today that they have developed a new road lighting product called ‘ECOWOOD’, an environmental-friendly road lighting based on its design from wood grain and patterns. Taeyang’s newest invention, ECOWOOD, is manufactured through a complex process. It begins with procreating the steel or aluminum body several times in order to coat it with polyurethane. After powder-coating process with polyurethane, the road lighting is then refined in 200°C oven. Finally, a film is compressed to the body to form wood grain and patterns on its surface using vacuum and then the body is heated in 200°C oven for 20 minutes. Jointly developed with an Italian lighting company, this latest manufacturing technique provides ECOWOOD with an excellent protection against the exposure under ultraviolet rays, acid rain, sulfurous acid gas, and salinity. As a result, the frame of ECOWOOD stays firm for more than 10 years and provides a great durability, saving the maintenance cost of the road lighting after the installation. ECOWOOD also has the flexibility of applying variety of colors and patterns, including the natural wood grain and pattern for environment-friendly presentation. In addition, ECOWOOD doesn’t require any welding thanks to its prefabricated assembly, which makes ECOWOOD much simpler to build and repair the parts of the road lamp instantly. Myung Rye Lee, CEO of Taeyang Electronic, said, “For the safety under the sunlight, we have run an outdoors explosion test for ECOWOOD with the state government of Florida. ECOWOOD passed all the safety regulation stated by the state of Florida, proving the safety of our product.”

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Michael Schwartz, an Eco-Solutionist for Waste Management, Inc.’s Green Squad unit, attended the Greenbuild Conference and Expo in Boston a couple of weeks ago, his goal was to see if aluminum could help the movie industry go greener. He didn’t expect to also win an Apple iMac encased in recyclable aluminum. But he did. Schwartz was one of hundreds of visitors who stopped at the Alcoa booth to discuss aluminum as a green building material. While there, he correctly guessed the number of crushed aluminum cans in a giant recycling bale placed inside the Alcoa booth. Schwartz won an Apple gift certificate for a 20-inch iMac. “This is a fantastic way to kick off the holiday season. I am thrilled,” said 25-year-old Schwartz, who lives in San Diego. Schwartz has already checked out the local Apple store to pick out his prize. “Now I won’t need to take my laptop home from work every day,” he said. Schwartz works for Green Squad LLC, a division of Waste Management, North America’s leading provider of environmental and waste services. As an Eco-Solutionist, Schwartz works with customers to develop and implement resource management programs ranging from waste minimization strategies to energy efficiency projects and other process improvements. “I’m particularly interested in using aluminum as a reusable building material in movie production, so that we can improve the labor efficiency of construction and demolition of each set as well as significantly reduce the amount of wood wasted each time a set is torn down. A specialized aluminum construction kit would be light, strong and modular, which may make it a great fit for this application. In addition, the materials used to build the ‘rig’ could be recycled before and after the studio puts them on the big screen, which creates economic and environmental benefits up and downstream from Hollywood. I think that sends the right signal for our cause,” Schwartz said. In the meantime, Schwartz is busy setting up his new iMac in his home office.

Company Files International Patent for BioBacksheet™ SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSolar, Inc. (OTCBB:BSRC), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells, announced today that it has filed for worldwide patent protection of its proprietary BioBacksheet™. BioBacksheet is the world’s first solar cell backsheet made from renewable plant based materials, rather than expensive and environmentally unfriendly petroleum-based alternatives currently in use. “With the solar industry growing globally, we are committed to ensuring the long-term interests of the company and its shareholders by protecting our intellectual property worldwide,” said Dr. David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. Dr. Stanley B. Levy, CTO of BioSolar, a distinguished technologist with over a dozen patents issued or pending in the U.S. and internationally to his name, led the development of BioBacksheet as the key inventor. Prior to joining BioSolar, Dr. Levy enjoyed a long career at Dupont™ working with many of its premiere petroleum plastic films including Teflon®, Mylar® and Kapton® that are used as solar module components today. He is an active member of the solar industry including being on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Thin Film PV Module Reliability Team. Patent protection has been sought through the World Intellectual Property Organization with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) to ensure full protection outside of the U.S. on the BioBacksheet technology. The PCT has been ratified by most of the industrialized countries in the world, including the United States, most of Europe, Russia and the former Soviet Republics, Japan, China, Korea and India. The announcement follows the company’s October announcement that it had filed a comprehensive patent, expected to give BioSolar full protection on the novel inventions and processes behind its BioBacksheet technology in the United States. The BioBacksheet continues to receive attention from the media, both domestically and abroad. Most recently, BioSolar was featured in European Plastics News; CarbonFree News, a UK-based renewable energy publication; PV-Tech, the new media platform of Photovoltaics International; and AZoCleantech, the leading online science, engineering and medical publisher in Australia.

Firms’ Director of Sustainable Design Lends His Expertise to Sustainable & Smart Conference FREEHOLD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cubellis, an international architecture, interior design and engineering firm, is pleased to announce that Steve Leone, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Director of Sustainable Design, has been selected to participate as a speaker at Ecobuild, Sustainable, Green and High Performance Solutions for the Built Environment 2008, to be held December 8 -11 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. The 2008 Conference and exhibit will focus on the shared goal of designing and constructing a better built environment, by learning to harness the latest in technology, products, and proven strategies to improve future projects. Steve, the recipient of the M.V.P. Speakers Award in 2006 – 2007 from the New Jersey Chapter of the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) speakers bureau, will present a seminar titled Sustainable Design is Good Design and Good Business on Wednesday, December 10, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Attendees will learn first-hand how the implementation of systems and strategies that are clearly guided by suitability, durability, budget and common sense, make clients more successful on a number of different levels. Learn to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement solutions that are effective, economical, and environmentally responsible, acting in the best interest of the organizations business model. "This is a timely discussion addressing how the economic downturn, the new administration’s agenda, and consumer interest create a perfect storm for green business prospects,” notes Steve. “I look forward to a discussion that offers attendees insight into how conservation and cost stabilization are key to repositioning portfolios, how to align with bourgeoning markets in carbon trading, and how Green Collar Jobs are on meteoric rise.”

AEC Daily is proud to be the first winner of the AIA CES Award for Excellence for Internet Platform Providers. The prize is awarded by the AIA jury to a continuing education provider who has demonstrated a strong overall commitment to quality programming and delivery. The judging process is very thorough. Rather than focusing on individual achievements, it evaluates an organization in 6 major areas: 1) Leadership commitment and support, 2) Planning and analysis, 3) Design and implementation, 4) Resources and records, 5) Evaluation and improvement, and 6) Provider-specific, partnership, and alliances.

WILTON, Conn., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Davis Marcus Partners, one of New England's leading real estate development companies, today announced the completion of its new, three-story 81,950 square foot, Class A green office building located at 60 Danbury Road, Wilton, set within the 33-acre, 500,000 square foot, Class A Wilton Corporate Park campus.

HVAC&R Industry Professionals Recognize Self-powered Wireless Controls as Means to Energy Conservation COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EnOcean and Echoflex Solutions were jointly recognized by AHR Expo and its co-sponsors, ASHRAE and AHRI, with an honourable mention in the “Green Building” category of the 2009 AHR Expo Innovation Awards competition. A panel of industry professionals, selected for their knowledge and expertise in HVAC&R, selected the kit as a solution for retro-fitting energy inefficient buildings with simple controls for conserving energy. The Hotel Room Retro-fit kit features a self-powered wireless hotel key card switch. The self-powered switch generates its own power each time a hotel key card is inserted into or removed from its dock. When a guest enters a room, the guest inserts the key card into a docking station. After the key card is inserted, a radio signal is transmitted to a controller that subsequently “energizes” the hotel room. When the key card is removed from its dock, another signal is sent that activates a time delay before disabling or setting back power-consuming amenities (lights, HVAC, etc.). On the receiving end of the system, integrators have two options - a line-powered thermostat or a plug-in PTAC controller. By reducing the amount of energy exhausted heating and cooling unoccupied rooms; hotel owners can reduce energy consumption up to 40 percent by integrated the controls featured in the retro-fit kit. When factoring lower power bills, hotel owners can recoup initial installation costs in less than two years (time is dependent upon variables such as energy costs, building location, etc.). Architects and contractors can now modernize a hotel without running wires to the controls. No special wiring or networking expertise is required. The switch is easily programmed to the controller and the time delay can be adjusted in 30, 60, 90 and 120 second increments. The in-line wireless thermostat uses existing wires to enable energy conservation in hotels. Once installed, the thermostat can easily be programmed to push hotel rooms into “unoccupied mode” when guests leave the room. The plug-in PTAC controller is even simpler to install. The installer plugs the receiver into the wall and then the PTAC unit into the receiver.

SEAL BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers & Merchants Bank (www.fmb.com) today announced the opening of a 60,000 square-foot Customer Care Center in Seal Beach that brings technological innovations coupled with an eco-friendly environment to the Bank. The new center, with approximately 150 employees who previously worked at separate F&M facilities, has state-of-the-art features that enhance F&M’s online outreach and expands individual and corporate banking services. “We are very excited about our new Customer Care Center for several reasons,” said Daniel Walker, president and chairman of the board at Farmers & Merchants Bank. “First, bringing these F&M team members together to work under the same roof provides efficiency that is good for the Bank, its employees and its customers. “Second, the eco-friendly environment allows us to put into action our belief in green practices and sustainability. And third, during these troubling times in the banking world, we are pleased we can bring even more confidence to our customers through this new Customer Care Center.” The new facility provides a new cash center that enables bulk handling of currency and coin in a concentrated facility. There is a central support center for corporate cash management, audit and credit review, credit card and merchant card services, and warehousing and distribution. Other bank support teams now housed at the Customer Care Center include branch telephone and online services, data and systems support, and the bank’s learning and employee development department. In addition to the Customer Care Center’s innovative technology, Walker worked with Interior Office Solutions to create an environmentally friendly workplace with increased sustainability. The building includes modular walls, a feature that reduces landfill waste, and TecCrete raised floors that allow for “under floor” airflow management. Instead of heating or cooling 100 percent of the air in the building, air is released from the floor, managing temperatures through individual swirl diffusers, and using less energy and ductwork than traditional HVAC systems. “F&M is absolutely walking the sustainability walk,” said Jackie McGrath, business development manager at Interior Office Solutions. “These green implementations are a testament to their belief that sustainability in the workplace is not just a matter of common sense, but of corporate responsibility.” Other eco-friendly initiatives in the Customer Care Center include furniture made with materials from managed forests, the utilization of soy ink, and a comprehensive recycling program. According to McGrath, F&M meets all of the qualifications to be LEED certified. “Our company culture has always been to lead by example. Farmers & Merchants is a bank first, but social and environmental accountability are an important aspect of serving both our clients, employees and our community,” said Daniel Walker.

Fentress Architects, Selected to Modernize Los Angeles International Airport, Has Designed Some of the Best Airports in the World DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fentress Architects has been announced as design architect for the new world-class facilities at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Curtis W. Fentress, founder of Fentress Architects, has earned international recognition for designing some of the world’s finest airport terminals. These include Incheon International Airport in South Korea (the first airport ever to earn “Best Airport in the World” for three consecutive years, 2005 – 2007, by the Airport Council International’s Quality Passenger Survey), and Denver International Airport in Colorado (named “Best Airport in North America” three consecutive years, 2005 – 2007, by Business Traveler Magazine). As the gateway between the U.S. and the fast-growing Asia Pacific region, LAX has served millions of international travelers who have experienced the inconvenience of the outdated facilities at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The Fentress design will provide travelers a modernized terminal and concourse that will dramatically improve passenger experience. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa described the design concepts by Fentress Architects as “spectacular,” “embodying the character of Los Angeles and creating a remarkable sense of place. It is unmistakably L.A.” “Los Angeles is one of the world’s centers of entertainment, fashion and international trade,” said Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, Lead Designer. “The airport is the first and last impression travelers have of this great city. Los Angeles deserves a world-class airport that is recognized as a landmark worldwide. This modernized airport will change LAX into L.A. WOW.” Inspired by the Pacific Ocean, the dynamic design concepts capture the city’s sense of place with rooftops flowing as waves breaking on the shore. The design unifies the airport with a cohesive theme honoring the distinctive arched structure built during the Jet Age of LAX in 1961. Two parabolic arches, forming a pedestrian bridge, are incorporated into the design concept. Fentress Architects’ design concept is environmentally responsible, and will serve travelers today while honoring the needs and concerns of future generations. The modernization addresses the airport’s goal for a "greener" LAX and its intention to apply for the highest level of LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

MCHENRY, Ill., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessup Manufacturing Company's Glo Brite(R) Eco Exit(TM) safety signs have received a 2009 Top Products Award from Building Operating Management magazine. The award recognizes the most popular manufacturers and suppliers of the year based on inquiries from building and facility executives about products that appeared on the FacilitiesNet.com website.

YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chiyoda Corporation (TOKYO:6366)(ISIN:JP3528600004), Japan’s leading engineering and construction firm, has been awarded a contract by Tokuyama Corporation (Head Office: Shibuya, Tokyo, President: Shigeaki Nakahara) for the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of a polycrystalline silicon plant in Malaysia. The FEED work is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2009. 1. Client: Tokuyama Corporation 2. Contract Details: FEED work for a polycrystalline silicon plant (annual production scale of 3,000 tons) 3. Planned Construction Site: Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia 4. Completion Date: First half of 2009 Chiyoda will undertake the FEED work for the polycrystalline silicon plant (annual production scale 3,000 tons; expected to commence operations in 2012) that Tokuyama Corporation is planning to build in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The polycrystalline silicon manufactured will be used as raw material for semiconductors and solar cells. This is the first overseas production base to be constructed by Tokuyama Corporation, one of the world’s leading polycrystalline silicon manufacturers, and Chiyoda Corporation has been involved in the project from the master plan preparation stage. Chiyoda will execute the FEED work making use of the expertise of its local subsidiary Chiyoda Malaysia Sdn. Bdn. Chiyoda has a solid record in the field of non-hydrocarbons, and has established a support system that makes use of the local expertise of its overseas group companies, in line with the increase in overseas plant construction by domestic clients in recent years. We will fulfill the expectations of our client, who has selected us as a partner, and through the execution of FEED work aim to continue working with the client to achieve its plans for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and other work. Together with Chiyoda Malaysia, Chiyoda aims to secure new EPC contracts and provide a variety of plant lifecycle engineering services* following construction, including operation and maintenance. *Plant lifecycle engineering: a client-centered business model that involves providing services throughout the entire plant lifecycle, from business planning and plant construction, operation, maintenance, modification and expansion, and decommissioning. Chiyoda Corporation, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, provides services in the field of EPC for gas processing, oil refineries and other hydrocarbon processing and industrial plant projects, particularly in Gas Value Chain areas, on a global basis including the Middle East, Russia, Africa and Southeast Asia. For over 60 years, Chiyoda has constantly leveraged its extensive experience and a far-reaching global network to give it an unrivaled advantage.