SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Big-D Construction is painting the town green, announced today that twenty-two of its employees recently became Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™ Accredited Professionals. These new LEED® accredited professionals raised the company’s total to 30 accredited professionals, ranging from superintendents to vice presidents. "The accreditation of our leaders advances our principle commitment to learn, practice and teach green/sustainable design and construction as a core responsibility," said Forrest McNabb, senior vice president of Big-D Construction. Big-D Construction has completed four LEED® Certified projects to date (25 percent of all LEED® Certified projects in Utah), including its corporate headquarters, which has achieved a LEED® Gold certification and is one of the only LEED® certified buildings in Utah that is also on the historic registry. Additionally, Big-D completed the University of Utah Health Sciences Building, which was the first LEED® certified building for the University of Utah. Big-D is currently working on 11 other projects from pre-construction to construction that are on track for LEED® Certification. Three of these projects are anticipated to be LEED® Platinum, which is the highest LEED® Certification achievable. LEED® Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED® certification process. LEED® Accredited Professionals (LEED® APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED® Rating System. The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED® is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED® gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED® promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Sustainable site development Water savings Energy efficiency Materials selection Indoor environmental quality.

Green Depot Opens Flagship “Green” Living and Building Retail Experience on the Bowery NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Depot – the Brooklyn-based, national supplier of eco-friendly building and living solutions – is transforming the green retail model with its flagship retail store opening Feb. 12 on the Bowery in Manhattan. Located at 222 Bowery between Prince and Spring, the 3,500 square-foot store will debut hundreds of premium products, including a host of private label and exclusive product lines. These new offerings will expand upon the wide range of products already available at the company’s other retail locations - in Brooklyn, Newark, Long Island, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, and online at greendepot.com. Addressing a growing need for affordable, accessible, “green” products, the Bowery opening will also mark the premiere of the company’s proprietary product labeling system, developed to help consumers navigate the changing landscape of green products through the use of a simple icon system. The icon system is designed to clarify how and why a product can claim it is “green”, based upon five simple categories: air quality, conservation, local, energy, and responsibility. With the goal of demystifying green for consumers, the icon system puts a front end on Green Depot’s proprietary product “filter” methodology that ensures even-handed, accurate evaluation of each product carried – developed internally with the support of experts affiliated with the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. This filter sets Green Depot apart from other green building suppliers and retailers in credibility, squarely addressing the issues of “greenwashing” that serve to confuse and mislead consumers. The new store is designed to empower consumers and professionals with the basic tools they need to design and build smart, practical, environmentally friendly spaces. Built with the intention to demonstrate high quality, high-performance green materials in action, the store stands as a living testament to the possibilities for green building and design, and will include: Hundreds of premium products, including high-quality, appealing private label lines developed via local manufacturing partnerships, in categories such as cleaning, baby, and zero-VOC paint. Exclusive artist series featuring limited editions of inspired sustainable design solutions developed by talented home designers. A resource and design center where trained Green Depot staff work with customers to find green building materials that are cost-efficient and easily adaptable into their construction or renovation projects. The first and only zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint bar in New York City. A baby section that empowers new mothers with the basic tools and knowledge to design and build a healthy environment for their children. A “Found” section, where the most innovative new green products will be displayed for purchase, along with select vintage and salvaged items. The store is a renovation of the 1885 Young Men’s Institute, the home of the first YMCA in New York City, the studios of renowned artists Mark Rothko and Fernand Léger, and author William Burroughs. Green Depot enlisted the architecture and design services of Mapos LLC to re-fashion the space and anticipates platinum LEED certification. The building is a defining model for green business and includes: A rejuvenated site in the ground floor of a landmarked Bowery building. Recycled building elements and exposed surfaces from the original historic building, such as glazed ceramic tile on the walls, maple “gymnasium” flooring and iron structural elements at the storefront. Exposed original tile that outlines the location of the YMCA’s original swimming pool, added in 1915. Original wood trim and restored brick that survived a fire. The store experience will merge interactivity with the accessibility and hands-on service of an old-fashioned “local hardware store.” “Our new Bowery flagship store will be a touchstone for connecting consumers with healthy, affordable, energy-efficient products and services,” explained Sarah Beatty, Green Depot founder and president. “Our goal is to make the Green Depot store experience engaging, informative and fun, and empower everyday consumers who are trying to make the smartest choices for themselves and their families.”

Large Number of Older Federal Buildings with Pneumatic Controls Can Now Be Upgraded to Direct Digital Control at 20% of the Cost, and Less Than 20 Minutes per Zone SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cypress Envirosystems, a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY), today announced that the low cost and fast installation of its Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat (WPT) make it ideal for improving the energy efficiency of buildings targeted by the planned federal stimulus program. According to President Obama on January 7, 2009, the stimulus program aims to “save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75% of federal buildings more energy efficient.” However, the majority of these older buildings uses pneumatic HVAC controls, and cannot implement night setback, zone control, occupancy override, auto demand response, or other energy savings strategies requiring modern Direct Digital Control (DDC). Conventional retrofit of pneumatic controls to DDC typically costs over $2,500 per zone and causes significant disruption to building tenants. The long investment payback (usually four to seven years) and the need to wait for tenants to vacate mean that most legacy buildings never upgrade despite compelling energy and productivity savings. The new Cypress Envirosystems WPT accomplishes the same retrofit in less than 20 minutes, for less than 20% of the cost of conventional DDC. This means that retrofits can be performed right away, even while a building is fully occupied, and achieve payback periods of about one year. These are key advantages for stimulus funding eligibility. The WPT is directly compatible with the majority of legacy pneumatic thermostats from Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Robertshaw, and Siemens. It can seamlessly integrate with modern building automation systems from virtually all major vendors via BACnet/IP. Numerous 3rd party systems integrators have successfully implemented the BACnet link including Emcor, ACCO, Johnson Controls, Siemens, RSD-Total Control, Wolf Mechanical, Syserco and others. In addition, the system has completed compatibility testing with utility Auto-Demand Response systems developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories and in use by California utilities to shed electrical load during peak consumption periods. According to Dan Ginn, General Manager of RSD-Total Controls, a distributor and installer for the WPT, “In today’s challenging business environment, this technology can be a savior to help us implement projects that are otherwise economically unfeasible.” “The Wireless Pneumatic Thermostat will help unlock an enormous reservoir of potential energy savings from legacy facilities, including older federal buildings,” said Bien Irace, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Cypress Envirosystems.

AGS meeting will address urban futures Jan. 26-29 ZURICH, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Three factors must be considered to effectively plan for Urban Futures, according to the Alliance for Global Sustainability (AGS). These are cultural patterns, new technologies in buildings and infrastructure, and ecosystems and their relationship to urban areas. The AGS’s meeting, Urban Futures: the Challenge of Sustainability, to be held January 26-29 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology main building in Zurich, will gather academics and business leaders from 39 nations to discuss and plan a research agenda to ensure that our rapidly developing urban regions can be sustainable. By 2050, the world’s urban population is expected to double to 6 billion people, according to the United Nations, with 93% of that growth coming from developing countries. The Alliance for Global Sustainability, an international multi-disciplinary collaboration of four prominent research universities: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Tokyo, Chalmers University of Technology, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), asks, “Can this dramatic demographic change be harnessed to ensure progress towards sustainability?” “If cities are properly managed, they can be transformative arenas in which natural resources are used more efficiently and economically, contributing to a high quality of life for everyone,” said Prof. Peter Edwards, AGS Coordinator at ETH. “Reinventing these rapidly developing cities offers one of the most effective ways to reduce human impact upon the environment and achieve greater sustainability.” Through a series of seminars (http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.agschalmers.se/urbanfutures) around the world, the AGS has been studying the challenges in Urban Futures and identifying mandates for effective planning. Meetings were held in Göteborg, Sweden; Zurich; Cape Town, South Africa; and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The last seminar will be held in Bali in February. The AGS’s annual meeting this week brings together researchers from the four AGS partner universities with corporate and government leaders to discuss ways to ensure our world develops in a sustainable way, using the background from these earlier meetings and building on the factors above. The conference allows participants to share the research and knowledge already out there, creates an agenda for what’s most important to research, and opens dialogue between the public, private and academic sectors that are all needed to create solutions. The conference will include a keynote speech by Lars Reuterswärd, Director of the Global Division of UN-Habitat, on “Sustainable Urban Futures: Challenges and Opportunities for Academia.” More than 25 sessions and workshops will look at questions such as: How can the world's energy architecture be made sustainable on the scale needed?; What can be done to dramatically reduce the energy and resources used by the existing building stock?; and How are the AGS universities harnessing urbanization to ensure progress towards sustainability? ETH is hosting the meeting along with the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability. The complete program is available at www.theags.org. Sustainability, the ability to continue to have a decent standard of living while not using up the raw materials needed to create that standard, is a concept that must be embraced to ensure all of our survival. But it is a complex issue that difficult to study within the boundaries of traditional academic and research fields. The AGS’s structure brings together multiple disciplines and regional knowledge which enables productive interchange.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, global building materials and composite solutions leader Owens Corning , launched a line of uniquely colored, dimensional, premium cool roof shingles which meet California Title 24 Cool Roof and initial ENERGY STAR reflective requirements, and are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. The shingles, which are part of the company's breakthrough Duration(R) Series Shingles with SureNail(R) Technology, also help reduce roof temperatures by up to 10 degrees in warm weather(1), lower energy bills and reduce wear and tear on air conditioners.

Show Visitors Can Save $275 on a Sears Blue Climate Crew Audit While They Learn How to Reduce their Energy Bills Go Green Expo LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attendees of the Go Green Expo, Jan. 24-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, can learn how to make their homes more energy-efficient, cut their utility bills, and save money all at the same time. The Sears Home Energy Audit, introduced in late 2008 to Orange County residents and scheduled to be demonstrated at the L.A. show, uses diagnostic tools to assess a home’s energy-efficiency and comfort and provides a customized strategy for correcting the problems and achieving specific energy- and money-saving results. Sears is the nation’s largest provider of home services, making more than 13 million service calls annually. The company launched its Home Energy Audits in Orange County in late 2008. Sears representatives will be present at the Go Green Expo on Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25, to answer questions and speak about home energy savings concepts and the benefits of an energy audit. As an added bonus, visitors to the Go Green Expo can pay just $275 for the Sears Home Energy Audit and Personalized Report – a 50 percent savings off the $550 regular price. Participants who use Sears to make the recommended improvements to their home can apply that $275 toward the cost of those services that qualify.* The audit cost also includes an onsite retest after home improvements made through Sears to ensure the improvements are delivering results. “Most homeowners want to make their homes more efficient, but assume the process is too complicated and expensive,” explained Elliot Baldini, senior marketing analyst for Sears Home Services. “The Sears Home Energy Audit takes the guesswork out of home energy efficiency by giving homeowners prioritized action steps to maximize their energy- and money-saving results.” A limited number of Sears Home Energy Audits will be given away to Go Green Expo visitors via sweepstakes in the Sears booth (#134) throughout the show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Participants must enter in person at the Sears booth, but don’t need to be present to win. No purchase is necessary. Residents from throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties are eligible for the free assessments. The company expects to service all of Los Angeles in the near future. Part of the Home Performance with Energy Star® program, the Sears Home Energy Audit is a collaborative effort with the California Building Performance Contractors Association and the Building Performance Institute, both of which provided training and certification for the Sears team.

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com Provides the One-Stop Source for Builders, Remodelers, Architects & Homeowners looking for Expert Advice on Green Products, Strategies & Proven Construction Details The International Builders' Show 2009 LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brattleboro, Vermont-based BuildingGreen, LLC, just announced the launch of GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Accessing the nation’s oldest, deepest database of green-building expertise, GreenBuildingAdvisor.com immediately establishes itself as the nation’s foremost web-based source of how to build and remodel green homes. The site is built around nearly 1,000 construction drawings―based on the best of building science—that detail proven ways to achieve impressive energy performance and sustainability in affordable, attractive, healthful homes for a variety of climates. Just as important, the site integrates these proven designs with field tips, notes on building codes, installation videos, qualified green products, detailed real-world examples of green homes, and much more. Two other unique features of GreenBuildingAdvisor.com are the green-product choices and category write ups provided by BuildingGreen’s GreenSpec®—an industry-leading source of unbiased green-product picks for more than a decade—and the contributions of our green-practitioner Advisory Board. The 15 members are some of the leading green professionals in the nation—working builders, remodelers, architects, and engineers—who contribute to the site by blogging, answering questions, and writing articles. GreenBuildingAdvisor.com’s online knowledge suite (a substantial portion of which is offered at no charge) targets residential professionals, including remodelers, builders, and architects; but it is also invaluable for knowledgeable homeowners looking to build or remodel green. The site’s Green Basics section offers an expansive but easy-to-understand encyclopedia of green design and construction that will benefit both professionals and homeowners wanting to increase their knowledge. “Our goal is to provide all the real-world tools—qualified green products, design and construction details, and the practical knowledge of our Green Building Advisors and the site’s community—in one place to anyone who wants to design and build green,” said GreenBuildingAdvisor.com’s Peter Yost. “It’s no longer necessary to search dozens of sources to find the most useful information and up-to-date advice.” GreenBuildingAdvisor.com builds on the decades of experience and depth of the two partner companies that came together to create this resource: 23-year-old BuildingGreen, publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec® product directory and TheTaunton Press, publisher of Fine Homebuilding. Accessing the deep BuildingGreen database, and the 28-year building expertise and graphic presentation resources of Fine Homebuilding, GreenBuildingAdvisor.com is by far the most comprehensive, useful, and easy-to-use online resource serving the residential green design and building community. GreenBuildingAdvisor.com has seven primary components: 1) Green basics: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com offers an expansive, easy-to-understand green-building resource that covers the fundamentals of building green. 2) Green-product guide: The industry’s leading unbiased green-building product directory, GreenSpec®, provides guidance on how to think about product categories from a green perspective as well as how to make product and material choices online through GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, cross-linked to other aspects of the GreenBuildingAdvisor.com site. 3) Construction details: In an industry first, GreenBuildingAdvisor.com offers nearly 1,000 home-construction-detail drawings based on proven principles of building science for all climates and situations. Users can digitally “paste” these files into architectural drawings or print them out for subcontractors. 4) Green-building strategy generator: Users can enter information about a building project, and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com will generate specific “greening” strategies, which are then linked to products and details. 5) In-depth advice: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com is a forum for the exchange of information through blogs, discussions, and Q&A. In addition, the site’s 15 Green Building Advisors—some of the nation’s leading green practitioners—are continuous contributors. The website also links to detailed background information from Fine Homebuilding and Environmental Building News. 6) Code issues: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com will serve as a clearinghouse for information and advice on building codes as they relate to green building. This provides clear, concise advice on dealing with the code-approval process. 7) Real-world examples: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com provides a place to see how green-building practices are being successfully used in homes nationwide, including new construction and remodeling. GreenBuildingAdvisor.com’s free content includes product discussions, case studies, news, blogs, a community forum, and more. Full access to the site, which includes a deeper dive into product choices, construction details, and more, requires membership as a GBA Pro on either a monthly ($15 per month) or annual ($149.99 per year) basis. In addition to online delivery, a monthly print newsletter—GreenBuildingAdvisor.com INSIDER—will be provided to GBA Pro members. “We will encourage folks to read it online,” says managing editor Dan Morrison. “But for GBA Pro members who still want to hold something in their hands, we have made it easy to download and print—or we will mail it.” Martin Holladay, until recently the editor of Energy Design Update, will head up GreenBuildingAdvisor.com INSIDER coverage. At the heart of all these components of GreenBuildingAdvisor.com are the “Green Building Advisors”—15 of the nation’s leading experts on green building, green remodeling, energy efficiency, and building science. This team includes builder John Abrams of South Mountain Company on Martha’s Vineyard; building-science authority Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corp. of Westford, MA; remodeling contractor Eric Doub of Boulder, CO, who specializes in carbon-neutral houses and renewable energy; architect and green-building materials expert Ann Edminster of Pacifica, CA; architect and used building-materials expert Jennifer Corson of Halifax, Nova Scotia; green-remodeling consultant Carl Seville of Decatur, GA; building inspector Lynn Underwood of Norfolk, VA; developer Vernon McKown of Ideal Homes in Norman, OK; remodeling contractor and longtime contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding, Mike Guertin of East Greenwich, RI; and natura-building expert and structural engineer Bruce King of San Rafael, CA. The full list of Advisors can be found at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Alex Wilson, founder and president of BuildingGreen, sums up the need he saw for GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. “Since we launched Environmental Building News nearly 18 years ago, we have covered both residential and commercial green building,” he said. “As the green-building industry has matured, it became clear that we needed to target readers more precisely. With GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, we are doing just that. I’m convinced that the building industry will quickly come to rely on this website as the most trusted, most useful, and most comprehensive resource on residential green building.”

Convergence of economic crises, environmental sustainability mandates and evolving workplace creates new market need BRAINTREE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planon, a global provider of enterprise real estate and facilities software, has announced Green Workplace Economics™ to meet the demand in the marketplace for ways to drive profit and improve environmental sustainability by smarter utilization of facilities and real estate assets. “Recent enterprise surveys show there is more than 20% hidden waste in physical resources and workforce time spent on workplace-related assets. Buildings create an enormous ecological footprint by consuming more than 45% of commercial energy resources,” said Pierre Guelen, CEO of the Planon Group. “Planon’s Green Workplace Economics™ concept centers on gaining profit through cost savings while simultaneously improving environmental sustainability.” Corporate real estate and facilities managers are under pressure to identify immediate cost savings in the face of a major economic crisis, an enormous environmental challenge and a technological revolution which is leading to a rapid transformation in workplace dynamics. In addition, legislation and corporate social responsibility is driving enterprises to achieve a sustainable reduction of their CO2 footprint. Increasing workforce flexibility requirements represent potential for simultaneously accomplishing both goals. Green Workplace Economics™ addresses the challenge by enabling companies to eliminate waste, align need, and improve agility. Using Planon’s Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) solutions, companies are applying Green Workplace Economics and finding they are able to meet and oftentimes exceed their sustainability objectives while cutting costs. “Corporate real estate managers can improve performance by aligning real estate strategy and operations with financial, operational and environmental goals,” said Jim Nauen, SVP Sales and Marketing for Planon Inc. “Companies are also finding that by effectively managing the increasing workforce flexibility they can create a smarter, more efficient workplace which drives cost reduction and improves the sustainability footprint.” A ‘just in time’ and ‘fit for purpose’ approach to maintenance management enables cost-effective, undisturbed operations, minimizing unplanned downtime and steering effective maintenance. An integrated management solution also effectively renders employee RE, FM and IT services, supporting primary processes and enhancing workforce satisfaction.

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report "Environmentally Responsible Design: Green and Sustainable Design for Interior Designers" to their offering. At last, there's an authoritative guide to help interior designers apply green- building and sustainability applications to their environments. Sustainable Interior Design expertly introduces the principles of environmentally responsible design for interior environments. This useful reference provides beginning designers and experienced professionals alike with a comprehensive survey that coverers everything from theoretical approaches to current practices. It helps designers understand the environmentally responsible approach and make design decisions that are ethical and do not harm the world's environment. Key Topics Covered: PART I: - Environmentally Responsible Interior Design (ERID). - Global Sustainability: The Big Picture. - What is ERID? - Why is ERID important? - Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). - Energy and Water Issues. PART II: - Evaluation of Interior Finishes and Furnishings. - Evaluation Instruments. Certification Programs. - US Green Building Council (USGBC). - ERID Specifications. - Specification of ER Products PART III: Case Studies. Part IV Resources.

Masco Home Services to Showcase Its Product-Neutral Green Building Program at IBS 2009 The International Builders' Show 2009 Booth C6343 LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Builders Show (IBS) serves as an annual forum for displaying the latest technologies, products and practices in the building industry, and the 2009 show will be no exception. Masco Home Services, Inc., will showcase its green building initiative, the Environments For Living® Certified Green program, in the Masco-sponsored, state-of-the-art green demonstration home featured in the Professional Builder Show Village. Builders attending the IBS show will be able to tour the two-story, 3,300 sq. ft. Show Village Green Home to learn about advanced construction techniques required by the Environments For Living Certified Green program. And, for the first time ever, all builders and consumers can take a virtual tour of the Show Village Green Home at the Web site www.environmentsforliving.com. Visitors can take an interactive, three-dimensional tour of a virtual replica of the Show Village Green Home, and learn about the many features and benefits of the Environments For Living Certified Green program. Developed with the assistance of leading building science experts, the Environments For Living program was launched in 2001 to assist builders in constructing homes that are more energy efficient, comfortable and durable than conventional code-built homes. It is the only national turnkey program offering a comprehensive suite of services to builders, from building science training to marketing tools. Introduced in 2007, the Environments For Living Certified Green program includes additional requirements in areas such as indoor water efficiency and appliance efficiency, resulting in a comprehensive green building solution and even greater benefits for builders and homeowners. The state-of-the-art Show Village Green Home, built to the specifications of the Environments For Living Certified Green program, demonstrates green building techniques and features products that meet various energy-efficient, water-efficient and low-VOC program requirements. Although the program is product neutral and participating builders may choose any products and materials that meet the requirements, the Show Village Green Home illustrates a wide range of products from companies in the Masco family that satisfy the program’s specifications, along with many others that have joined in contributing building materials, appliances, furnishings and other items. The Environments For Living® Certified Green Program The Environments For Living Certified Green program, the flagship level of the Environments For Living program, assists builders in constructing homes that result in at least a 20-percent reduction in energy use (compared with the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code), a 20-percent reduction in internal water consumption, and a 20-percent reduction in CO2 emissions associated with the home – as compared with conventional code-built homes. Applying the principles of building science, the Environments For Living Certified Green program regards a home as a “system of systems” that work together. As with the original Environments For Living program, the process begins with a pre-construction review of the builder’s plans. Participating builders must meet program requirements that range from framing techniques and insulation systems to ductwork and combustion safety features. The Environments For Living Certified Green program has additional requirements pertaining to indoor water efficiency, appliance efficiency and indoor environmental quality – resulting in homes that are both budget friendly and environmentally friendly. “Green building has never been more at the forefront with both builders and consumers,” said Karen Mendelsohn, vice president of sales and marketing for Masco Corporation. “There are different ways to approach green building, but it must begin with energy efficiency and the science of building a home as a system. No one wants a home that may have green features and recycled content but doesn’t perform very well. Efficient performance and durability are central to our program, and to green building, with building science as the path to get there,” said Mendelsohn. According to Mendelsohn, what also sets the Environments For Living Certified Green program apart is that it’s cost-effective for production builders and includes a complete set of services, from training and education to sales and marketing support. Unlike most green building programs that are based on earning points in various categories, it’s prescriptive and performance-based, resulting in tangible and measurable benefits. The Environments For Living Program Difference At all program levels, builders participating in the Environments For Living program are able to offer their homeowners limited guarantees* on comfort and heating and cooling energy use. If the actual energy used to heat and cool the home exceeds the estimated usage amount on the guarantee, the homeowner will be refunded 100 percent of the cost difference. The comfort guarantee provides that the temperature at the location of the thermostat will not vary more than 3 degrees +/-from the center of any conditioned room for that thermostat zone. To date, more than 100,000 homes have been constructed under the Environments For Living banner, with more than 100,000 limited guarantees issued to homeowners. At all levels of the program, homes built to Environments For Living requirements earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® label, and homes built to the Platinum energy level of the Environments For Living program qualify for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Builders Challenge program. “In addition to environmental responsibility, home buyers today are interested in a wide range of issues, from rising utility costs to indoor environmental quality,” said Mike Humphrey, vice president of operations, David Weekley Homes. “Our participation in the Environments For Living program has reinforced not only our green message but also our quality message. Third-party certification tells the buyer that we’ve gone the extra mile, and the limited guarantees demonstrate this commitment.” The Environments For Living Certified Green Home at the International Builders Show At the 2009 International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, builders, architects and other attendees will have the chance to walk through an Environments For Living Certified Green home and experience the techniques, features and benefits first-hand. As part of the Professional Builder Show Village, the Environments For Living Certified Green home, built by Palm Harbor Homes, will be positioned in the Blue Lot, just outside the Central Hall. Information about the Environments For Living program will also be available in the Masco booth, C6343, or at www.environmentsforliving.com.

TORONTO, Jan. 14 /CNW/ - The American Institute of Architects (AIA) informed AEC Daily that they had won the 2009 AIA/CES Award for Excellence for Internet Platform Providers. The award is extremely competitive and difficult to obtain. AEC Daily was chosen not just for having one outstanding course, but instead, for having an overall program with an exceptional commitment to high quality education. "AEC Daily is proud to be the first winner of the AIA/CES Award for Excellence for Internet Platform Providers," said Jeff Rice, president of AEC Daily. "We were pleased to learn that the AIA had created this brand new award category to recognize the growing importance of online distance learning." 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. "The AIA would like to congratulate AECDaily.com on winning the 2009 CES Award for Excellence as the Internet Platform Provider of the Year. We have seen great dedication, improvement and commitment over the years. We feel that our members will find a consistent level of high quality courses," said Thom Lowther, Senior Director of the AIA/CES. The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architecture profession with over 83,000 members. For over 150 years, members of the AIA have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. High quality and lifelong education for architects is a core value of the AIA and they are always working to improve the industry through training, outreach, advocacy and education. The award will be officially presented at the AIA Provider Conference in Santa Barbara, California on July 8 - 10, 2009.

Flex Your Power is the Latest Industry Award Received by E-Mon in 2008 for Its Innovative, Market-Leading Submetering Products LANGHORNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E-Mon, LLC, the electric submetering market leader and manufacturer of the widely installed E-Mon D-Mon® product line, today announced that the company’s Green Class Meter was named an “Innovative Products and Services” category winner in the State of California’s 6th Annual “Flex Your Power” Awards. Initiated in 2001, Flex Your Power is California’s Energy Efficiency Educational Program for highlighting and recognizing organizations, businesses, governmental agencies and other entities that have shown leadership and made exceptional contributions toward saving energy in California. The campaign’s primary funding comes from the Public Goods Charge as approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), as well as contributing munis and partner organizations and companies. Awarded December 15, 2008 in San Francisco, category winners were chosen after careful review by a committee of leading experts from the public and private sectors. Named an “Innovative Products and Services” category winner, the E-Mon D-Mon Green Class submeter was recognized “for developing and/or widely offering new and effective products or services that promote energy efficiency and/or demand response.” In addition to California’s prestigious Flex Your Power award, E-Mon’s submetering products were recognized for excellence in 2008 by members of the technical trade press, including: Buildings Magazine—Editors’ Choice Top Product—Green Class Meter Building Operating Management Magazine—2009 Top Product—Class 2100 Wireless Meter Plant Engineering Magazine—2008 Product of the Year Winner—Class 2100 Wireless Meter Sustainable Facility Magazine—Top Product of 2008—Green Class Meter “We’re honored to be recognized for product excellence by so many important industry venues,” said Don Millstein, president and CEO of E-Mon. “At the macro level, these awards indicate that E-Mon is doing its part to meet the demand for innovative energy monitoring products and services. Backed by almost 30 years of industry experience, E-Mon will continue to develop cost-effective hardware and software solutions in response to evolving energy monitoring and management needs of the global sustainable facility market.”

The International Builders' Show 2009 BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safe ‘N Sound® Emerald™ Door from Masonite® has been selected as one of BuildingGreen’s 2008 Top-10 Green Building Products by the editors of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec®, announced at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild Conference in Boston last month. This seventh annual award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products added to the GreenSpec® Directory during the past year or covered in Environmental Building News. GreenSpec is the leading national directory of green building products that are selected based on environmental criteria developed over the past 15 years. Manufacturers do not pay to be listed in GreenSpec, and neither GreenSpec nor Environmental Building News utilizes corporate funding for advertising, which gives them creditability in being objective while reviewing products. For information on BuildingGreen resources, visit www.BuildingGreen.com. Masonite, the world leader in manufacturing of Interior and Exterior doors, launched the Safe ‘N Sound Emerald at the International Builders Show in Orlando, FL earlier this year, expanding on its founder’s 84 year old vision of environmental stewardship. The unique construction of the Safe ‘N Sound Emerald door, with wheat-straw based DorCor™, features valuable “Green” attributes such as Pre-Consumer Recycled Content, Rapidly Renewable Content, No Added Urea-Formaldehyde, Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, Low VOC Emissions and Environmentally Preferred Products. This potent combination provides architects and other green specifiers a much needed contribution towards the Green Association Certification points required to achieve the certification they are seeking. “We are delighted to be selected for this prestigious honor; this award validates the ‘green’ attributes of the Safe ‘N Sound Emerald door,” says Keith Kometer, Vice President of Product Management. “The announcement of this award is perfect timing as we are preparing to expand our Emerald Series door offering with three exciting new ‘green’ products.” As part of the Company’s growing portfolio of “green” products, the new 1-3/8” Hollow Core Emerald, 1-3/4” Safe ‘N Sound Emerald, and 1-3/4” Safe ‘N Sound Emerald 20-minute Fire Rated interior doors offer more options to meet the growing demand for environmentally responsible building products. “By offering the 1-3/8” Hollow Core Emerald, we are giving our customers the opportunity to be ‘green’ at every price point,” Mr. Kometer adds. The “green” attributes of every Emerald series door will help directly contribute to industry certifications such as USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the NAHB National Green Building Program as well as many individual local and regional environmental building programs. “The best part is that you never have to sacrifice superior quality or aesthetics for environmental stewardship,” continues Kometer. “All of the Emerald Products will maintain Masonite’s same high quality that our customers are accustomed to while being environmentally responsible at the same time.” These new Emerald products will be launched at the 2009 International Builders Show in Las Vegas, NV. Masonite will be displaying the full Emerald Series, please visit us at Booth C6011.

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following more than five months of work, PECO unveiled a completed green roof on top of the company’s headquarter building at 23rd and Market Streets yesterday in Philadelphia. Totaling more than 45,000 square feet, it is the largest green roof ever installed on an existing building in an urban area in Pennsylvania. The vegetative roof consists of a variety of plants ranging from four to eight inches in thickness, 3,000 square feet of pavers, and 470 lineal feet of railing. The roof will help reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing 60 to 70 percent of the approximate 1.5 million gallons of annual rainwater that falls on the Main Office Building. The new roof also will save on heating and cooling costs by reducing the summertime peak roof temperature by 60 to 80 degrees. It also will absorb air pollution, which helps alleviate common respiratory problems. “As a major business in the region and a leading corporation in the energy field, being environmentally responsible is not just a nice thing to do... it is the right thing to do,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president and CEO. “At PECO we are working to become a leading environmental corporation, contributing to local community environmental projects, and helping our customers protect the environment by using energy more efficiently.” This project is part of a more than $15 million initiative at PECO to preserve the environment and help customers become more environmentally responsible as well. Other environmental projects include the opening of PECO’s first ‘green building’, the installation of a new Crown Lights messaging system at the company’s Center City headquarters, upgrades to secure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for many company buildings throughout the region, the increased use of hybrid and biodiesel vehicles, support for community environmental projects, and enhanced tools and programs to help customers use energy more efficiently. These environmental efforts contribute to and support Exelon 2020: A Low-Carbon Roadmap, the comprehensive environmental plan of PECO’s parent company. Exelon 2020 sets the goal of reducing, offsetting or displacing more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2020. The corporation will do this by reducing or offsetting the company’s carbon footprint, helping customers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and providing more low-carbon electricity in the marketplace.

CHARLESTOWN, Mass., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeGreen is the first residential design firm to give away designs. Rather than charging for house plans, FreeGreen uses product placements to transfer the cost of plans from consumers to product vendors and service providers

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced that its “Green” retail store prototype has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC’s LEED system is widely recognized as the benchmark for green building design, construction, operations and maintenance. Office Depot received the Gold Rating for the Company’s Store Prototype as well as for its first “Green” retail store in Austin, Texas which opened during the summer of 2008. The Office Depot Austin store was the first location the Company constructed following its environmentally preferable prototype design or master set of drawings. The prototype, which will be utilized for future stores where Office Depot manages the new construction process from the ground up, has now been recognized with Gold Certification, obtaining one of the highest levels of environmental sustainability. “Office Depot has demonstrated leadership and creativity in the approach they have taken to incorporate sustainable practices into their buildings,” said Doug Gatlin, Vice President of Market Development, U.S. Green Building Council. “We are eager to see Office Depot continue to build state-of-the-art retail environments.” “We went for Gold and we were successful in accomplishing it,” said Ed Costa, Vice President of Construction for Office Depot. “Achieving LEED Gold Certification for our Austin store and prototype will make the certification process simpler and more efficient for future LEED Certified stores. As a result, we will be able to scale the operational efficiency that LEED certification enables across our store footprint at a more rapid pace.” A USGBC member since 2007, Office Depot was in the first group of organizations to participate in the LEED Portfolio Program pilot, and the only office products company. USGBC’s Portfolio Program pilot includes 14 retailers as well as a few participants from a variety of other industries. It involves implementing a new volume certification process, integrating LEED attributes into a prototype design, and then applying the prototype design across multiple buildings. Office Depot’s LEED Gold Certified store and prototype feature a number of green building dimensions and attributes, including but not limited to: 37 percent energy cost savings compared to code; Photovoltaic solar panels that offset 11 percent of the building’s total annual energy costs; Energy efficient T5 lighting throughout the store; Low-flow plumbing fixtures and dual-flush toilets to reduce building’s water use by 40 percent; Reflective white roof with solar reflectance index of 96 and white concrete pavement to reduce the urban heat island effect; Preferred parking for low-emitting, fuel efficient vehicles and carpool/vanpool; Recycling program for collection of corrugated cardboard, paper, plastics, ink/toner cartridges and technology; 83 percent of the generated construction waste has been diverted from landfill and 25 percent of the total materials cost is made up of recycled content; Active solar tracking skylights by Ciralight provide daylighting for over 75 percent of the store; Finish materials, including adhesives and sealants, carpet, paints, and composite wood are specified with low-VOC requirements; and a Comprehensive Green Education program, including green signage throughout the store and employee training. “Buildings contribute to over 40 percent of global carbon emissions,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, Director of Environmental Strategy for Office Depot. “By obtaining LEED Gold Certification for our store prototype, we have embedded low-carbon principles into our most material source of carbon - our retail stores. We are very proud of this accomplishment and the commitment demonstrated by Office Depot’s construction team. We are excited to continue to lead the office products industry with our global environmental strategy to increasingly buy green, be green and sell green.” For more information on Office Depot’s “Green” certified store prototype, please visit http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment/build-green.asp. About the LEED Rating System The USGBC’s LEED rating system has four levels of certification: LEED Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. A LEED Certified project is one that has been registered, reviewed and verified by the USGBC as a building that is on a sustainable site, is energy and water-efficient, uses less materials and resources and maintains a high level of indoor environmental air quality.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced its Lone Star campus in Austin, TX has achieved a gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. Based on current certified projects, this is the largest gold certified LEED® commercial building in Texas. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The gold rating is the second highest rating obtainable in the system, and recognizes performance in dozens of design metrics including site selection and organized around six key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and innovative design. “From the inception of the Lone Star project, AMD sought to set the standard for responsible development, and this award recognizes AMD’s Austin campus as one of the greenest corporate facilities in the U.S.,” said Allyson Peerman, vice president, Public Affairs, AMD. “Earning LEED gold certification not only demonstrates AMD’s leadership in green building and green energy practices, but also highlights our commitment to our employees and the communities where we conduct business.” The Lone Star campus, which is home to AMD’s business operations and the Austin design engineering center, was designed and constructed by a diverse team of internationally recognized architects, engineers, ecologists and sustainability experts. The site development plan for the 58-acre, 870,000 square foot campus was based on three key tenets: limit site impact, protect water quality, and use innovative sustainable design. Some of the sustainable design elements include: Energy Use: Powered 100% by Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® electricity, which comes from clean, renewable energy sources such as wind power Rainwater collection: Designed with a 1.2 million gallon capacity rainwater collection system, which is designed to provide water for the buildings’ cooling towers and irrigation Construction materials: Incorporated more than 20% of construction materials based on recycled content, and with more than 20% of locally sourced construction materials 100% Native Landscaping: AMD partnered with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to salvage the native trees, shrubs and grasses within the footprint of the campus, and replant them following construction. AMD has a long history of environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility. Among other awards, AMD was recognized in 2008 as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the World by Innovest Strategic Advisors.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jonathan S. Gelman, a shareholder with the international law firm Greenberg Traurig PA, has been designated as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED® AP) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED® Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. As a LEED AP, Gelman will be able to advise clients on the rapidly emerging incentive-based and mandatory regulatory requirements pertaining to green building and assist in evaluating and navigating the LEED certification process. Greenberg Traurig has 10 lawyers and one land use planner who are LEED APs. Gelman is based in the Fort Lauderdale office. He has over 15 years of national experience representing developers, investors, institutions and retailers in a wide variety of real estate and general business matters, and focuses his practice on the purchase, sale, development, leasing and financing of commercial properties, including shopping centers, restaurants, office buildings, hotels, and warehouses. Gelman, who received his J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law, assists clients who recognize the significance of “green” building trends and sustainability on the future of development, construction, and other industries. He works closely with the firm’s other LEED APs to counsel clients with their sustainability initiatives.

OAK BROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--What do a tenor who raises orchids, a one-time rug weaver, and a custom motorcycle builder have in common? They are three of the 40 brightest stars of America’s $538 billion commercial design and construction industry —- and they're all under age 40. These 40 have been chosen by the editors of Building Design+Construction magazine (www.BDCnetwork.com) from among 208 finalists in the publication’s fourth annual “40 under 40” competition. All 40 excel in their professional roles as architects, engineers, contractors, and real estate executives. They contribute time to their communities and professional societies. And they all have “secret lives.” The orchid-raising tenor? That’s Sanford E. Garner, 39, COO of A2SO4, Indianapolis, president-elect of the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and vice president-elect of the National Organization of Minority Architects board of directors. The former rug weaver? Claire Bonham-Carter, 38, director of sustainable development with AECOM, Los Angeles. The chopper builder? Nicholas D. Kasik, 39, a senior project manager with P1 Group, Las Vegas, who manages $20 million a year in mechanical construction projects. They and their 37 counterparts are active in their professions and in their communities. As a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Newport News, Va., architect Holly Williams Leppo, 34, a VP with SMB&R, Camp Hill, Pa., redesigned the organization’s home floor plans. Paul Edward Kouri, 34, an architect with PSA-Dewberry, Peoria, Ill., has been mayor of his village, Metamora, Ill., since 2005, when he was swept into office with 74% of the vote. Jamie Blosser, 39, an architect with Atkin Olshin Schade Architects, Santa Fe, N.M., founded a community garden and educates Native American builders on sustainable design. (Her secret life? She played in an all-girl punk band in high school.) And the youngest member of this elite group, electrical engineer Carlton A. Getz, 31, with Spectrum Engineers, Salt Lake City, has awarded scholarships to seven architectural engineering students at his alma mater, Kansas State University.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A series of three panel discussions sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements and Island Press will bring together experts from the financial, real estate, architecture, preservation, planning, and policy worlds to discuss how to create a future that is environmentally, financially, and socially sound. The panels will cover “how policy influences development,” “how we regulate development,” and “how we finance development.” The Obama administration faces serious challenges (such as the current infrastructure crisis including the first ever bankruptcy of the Federal Highway Trust Fund) as well as tremendous opportunities to help shape our mobility and housing options. What does the change of administration mean to how our cities will develop? The first panel – How Policy Influences Development – will tackle this question and others. Visionary developer and author of The Option of Urbanism Christopher B. Leinberger and Trust for Architectural Easements president Steven L. McClain will participate in each panel of the series. Heather Boyer, Island Press Senior Editor, will be the moderator for the first panel. The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. Island Press was established in 1984 to stimulate, shape and communicate the ideas that are essential for solving environmental problems.

Multi-Faceted Gypsum Products Meet Industry’s Most Stringent Indoor Air Quality Standards CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Gypsum, one of the world’s leading gypsum board manufacturers based in Charlotte, N.C., today announced its complete line of XP® interior gypsum products has achieved GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® status and GREENGUARD Children & SchoolsSM Certification. Research indicates American adults spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, and that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. XP products that have received GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification include Gold Bond® BRAND Hi-Abuse® XP®, Hi-Impact® XP® and XP® Gypsum Board. “The XP product family, easily identified by its signature purple color, provides the building and design communities everything they need for innovative, sustainable design in gypsum systems,” said John Mixson, National Gypsum’s director of marketing. “In addition to offering multi-faceted performance in the form of abuse- and impact-resistance and industry-leading mold-resistance, our XP products now have the added benefit of achieving the highest indoor air quality standards.” The GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM is an industry independent, third-party program that has been certifying products for low non-toxic emissions since 2001. To achieve GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified status, National Gypsum’s products passed rigorous sample testing and review of the manufacturing processes to meet strict standards set by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) – a globally recognized leader in indoor air quality – to determine their impact on indoor air pollution. To achieve GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification, the XP product family met even more stringent emissions limits that take into account the added sensitivity of children and adults with compromised immune systems. "The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute applauds National Gypsum on its continued commitment to furthering our mission of improving indoor air quality,” said Dr. Marilyn Black, Founder of GEI. "Products such as the XP interior gypsum line are certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute so consumers and members of the building industry alike can be assured that the products which they are buying are healthy for their indoor environments." National Gypsum’s XP products feature Sporgard™, a combination of mold inhibitors offering the most advanced technology to actively combat mold. Sporgard comes from Syngenta, a world leader in mold control. Sporgard is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.

New Competitively Priced Low-Profile LED Light Source is Ideal for Use in Architectural, Decorative, Garden and Retail Display Applications SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced a new competitively priced 1-Watt high power LED emitter for use in solid-state lighting applications. Avago’s energy efficient ASMT-Ax00 LED features a low-profile package design, wide 130-degree viewing angle, and the ability to handle high thermal and drive currents. Available in a variety of colors, this LED is ideal for use in architectural, contour, retail display, decorative and garden lighting applications. Solid-state lighting equipment manufacturers are constantly in need of brighter, more reliable high power LED packages. Avago’s ASMT-Ax00 is a high performance LED designed to handle high thermal and high drive currents. By delivering a high flux output of up to 76 lumens (lm) at 350mA, this LED features a maximum allowable junction temperature of 125 degrees-C and high ESD resistance of 16 kV. Moreover, the ASMT-Ax00 is compatible with standard SMT reflow soldering processes to provide lighting designers with more freedom and flexibility in designing their applications. Avago’s ASMT-Ax00 LED emitter is encapsulated in a heat and UV resistant silicone compound for high reliability and long life. The ASMT-Ax00 is ideal for use in lighting applications where height is a constraint and provides designers of solid-state lighting applications with a wide viewing angle, and superior heat dissipation. Features Available in Red, Amber, Green, Blue, Cool White, Neutral White and Warm White colors Long operating life Energy efficient High reliability package due to enhanced silicone resin material Exposed metal slug for excellent heat transfer Suitable for reflow soldering processes Low thermal resistance Moisture sensitivity: MSL 2a Pb-Free and RoHS compliant ESD >16kV U.S. Pricing and Availability Avago’s ASMT-Ax00 LEDs are priced at $1.70 each in 1,000 piece quantities. Samples and production quantities are available now through Avago’s direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.

First Multi-Tenant High Rise Building in Houston to Receive Designation HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Transwestern today announced that 1800 West Loop has received Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Green Building Rating System™. 1800 West Loop is the first high-rise office building in the city of Houston, and in Texas, to be LEED Silver certified under the new LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M program. Located in Houston’s Uptown Galleria submarket, 1800 West Loop is a 399,777 square foot, Class A office building. The property is owned by a limited liability company comprised of Transwestern Investment Company, The Easton Group, Chuck Cobb and Jorge Perez. “We are extremely proud 1800 West Loop has been LEED Silver certified,” said Chip Clarke, president of Transwestern's Gulf Coast and Mountain regions. “This certification is another piece of Transwestern’s corporate efforts, dedication and commitment to sustainability and creating value through operational excellence. We greatly appreciate the tremendous efforts of everyone on the team who worked to green this project and gain this exciting recognition.” To earn the certification, 1800 West Loop implemented a number of green design and operational features which include a newly installed white roof, high efficiency CFC free chiller replacement, implementation of a green cleaning and building recycling programs, as well as improvements to exceed indoor air quality standards and improve water efficiency. Transwestern continues to chart the course industry-wide in sustainability and the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M program with over 100 buildings seeking certification across the Transwestern managed portfolio. The Transwestern standard of operational excellence is only furthered by these initiatives to incorporate sustainable practices including water savings, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality within the Transwestern managed portfolio. As of January 2009, Transwestern has four LEED certified properties within its managed portfolio, with many more currently going through the certification process. “Greening the existing commercial building stock presents a tremendous opportunity to reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, and providing their occupants with healthier places to live and work,” says Doug Gatlin, vice president of market development, USGBC. “Transwestern has demonstrated its commitment to greening building practices in many ways—including through the certification of the existing building space at 1800 West Loop in Houston.”

WHIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- George A. Nader of Nader Homes, Inc. became one of the select group of professional builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals nationwide who have earned the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation, identifying him as someone with knowledge of the best strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes.