Conducting R&D, Training, and Promotion of Solar Energy KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since 1975, Kyocera Corporation (President: Tetsuo Kuba) has continuously been developing its solar energy business with the business rationale, "To bring the power of the sun to the world." To achieve that goal, in August 1984, Kyocera established the Sakura Solar Energy Center just outside of Tokyo for the research & development, and promotion of solar power generating systems. This month the Center marks its 25th anniversary. At the time of the establishment of the Sakura Solar Energy Center in 1984, use of solar power generating systems was limited to special applications such as unmanned lighthouses, satellites and wireless repeater stations; and not many people were aware of the possibility of solar power as an energy source used in daily life. The concept behind the establishment of the Center was to create a comprehensive facility at which to conduct research into solar power products and to facilitate understanding of the benefits of solar energy by introducing it to the world. Serving our mission, "To deliver light to areas without electricity," set-up within the facility are solar power generating systems for real-life examples of housing, agricultural pumps, and village electrification that are typically found in areas without electricity in developing countries in Africa and Asia. Kyocera has focused particular attention on experiments and R&D with these installations. The Center is conveniently located close to Narita International Airport — the gateway to Japan — in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, and has been receiving various groups from state visitors and important guests to technical staff and engineers from all over the world for training on solar power applications. In the 25 years since it was established over 50 thousand visitors have come to the Center to learn about solar power technology — contributing to increased global solar energy awareness. The technology and experience cultivated at the Center is presently being put to work around the world in mainstream grid-connected systems. With the rise in concern for global environmental issues solar energy first started drawing wide-spread attention as a clean energy source in the 1990s. Anticipating this trend, in 1991, Kyocera was the first company to provide commercial grid-connected systems in Japan. The Center is also equipped with a 43kW solar power generating system that was installed in 1984, and which to this day continues to provide power for the facility's indoor and emergency lighting. At a time when few other large-scale solar power generating systems existed, the installation was a unique and unprecedented experimental system.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four years ago, Hurricane Katrina left a path of devastation in the Gulf Coast region. Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership, pledged to Rebuild 1,000 damaged homes left by the hurricanes and created a Gulf Coast Operations team. As the Gulf Coast region continues to rebound, Rebuilding Together continues to bring attention to the ongoing need that still remains for so many residents. This week we are joining forces with our Rebuilding Together New Orleans affiliate (RTNO), Sears and their Blue Appliance Crew, along with longtime New Orleans resident, football Hall of Famer Archie Manning and his wife Olivia, to restore two important properties in the historic Holy Cross neighborhood. The Mannings joined Sears and Rebuilding Together on Thursday, August 27 to celebrate the renovation of a 3,000 square foot Community Center that supports the affiliate's mission. On Saturday, Sears, the Mannings and Rebuilding Together will turn the keys of homeownership back to Army Corps veteran Geraldine Bush. Both properties are located in a neighborhood that was hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Sears donated $70,000 to rebuild the Community Center and Bush's home, and is providing Kenmore ENERGY STAR qualified appliances including refrigerators, ranges, washers and dryers. On Saturday, August 29, Geraldine Bush and her brother will be welcomed back home by the Mannings, Kevin Brown, vice president and chief marketing officer, Home Appliances for Sears; Gary Officer, Rebuilding Together, president and CEO; and numerous military and Sears volunteers. Rebuilding Together 's Gulf Coast Operations Initiative is committed to rebuilding communities from the coast of Mississippi to southeast Texas with the help of the Rebuilding Together Gulf Coast affiliates. Rebuilding Together Calcasieu, Acadiana, and New Orleans affiliates work with teams of 50-100 volunteers that come from near and far to bring homeowners back to a house that is warm, safe and dry.

CLEVELAND, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Glenn Research Center has selected four Ohio companies to provide electrical, mechanical and structural construction-related activities. The work will support both institutional and research construction needs at Glenn's Lewis Field and the Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. The selected companies are EdArch-Erie J.V. of Shaker Heights; R.J. Runge of Port Clinton; KBJ Inc. of Oakwood Village; and Pinnacle Construction and Development Group Inc. of Willoughby. The contracts begin in early October with a one-year base period followed by four one-year options. Each contract has an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity provision with work performed through fixed price task orders. The selected companies will compete for the tasks. Each contract will have a minimum value of $500,000 and a maximum value of $20 million.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The only effective solution with proven performance to manage and remove the harmful contaminants being emitted from Chinese Drywall is now available. The RISS System(TM) removes the inorganic and organic sulfur based contaminants from indoor air. The technology for the RISS system is so unique that it is in Patent Pending status with the U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks. The RISS System(TM) : -- Safe and affordable solution -- Occupants do not have to leave their home -- No removal of personal property from home or building -- No removal or remediation of the existing Chinese Drywall. -- Installation of The RISS System(TM) can be completed in 4-8 hours by trained and certified technicians -- Noticeable improvement to the quality of indoor air within 72 hours of installation. The System has been comprehensively tested by one of the leading independent indoor air quality testing laboratories in the U.S. The performance has been documented by the reduction of the multiple harmful inorganic and organic sulfur based contaminants being emitted for the Chinese Drywall to levels at or below analytical detection limits. The results of the testing performed in homes resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of the indoor air and a restoration of the quality of life for the occupants. According to Eric Trees, of Boynton Beach, "our family reported a greater sense of well being and an immediate lessening of various symptoms which included sore throats, headaches, and other allergic reactions. We were visiting the doctor every two weeks or so. Now that has stopped."

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (President and CEO: Setsuhiro Shimomura) (TOKYO: 6503) announced today it has received an order from Shenzhen Kingkey Real Estate Co., Ltd. for a total of 129 elevators to be installed in the Kingkey Finance Center and neighboring buildings in the vicinity. The 98-floor super high-rise building, which is now under construction in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, is planned to be the tallest building in South China at a height of 439 meters. The Kingkey Finance Center will house a luxury hotel, business offices and commercial facilities. With the buildings scheduled for completion in 2012, Mitsubishi Electric plans to begin elevator shipments in December 2009 and finish by November 2011. The order will be worth approximately 188 million RMB (2.6 billion yen) and will include the following products: * 6 large-capacity double-deck elevators that can carry 3,200 kilograms, or 42 persons (75 kilograms/person), at a time * 55 high-speed elevators with a maximum speed of 120m/min or more, including a 540m/min super-high-speed elevator * 8 low-speed elevators with a maximum speed of 105m/min or less * 60 elevators for neighboring buildings in the vicinity The elevators for the Kingkey Finance Center project will be manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Inazawa Works, Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Shanghai Electric Elevator Co., Ltd. To date, Mitsubishi Electric has supplied elevators and escalators to Shenzhen Kingkey Real Estate through Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator, a 40-percent owned Mitsubishi Electric Group joint-venture. The order for this project was won as a result of the leading technologies and services offered by the three companies.

BOARDMAN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Simon Roofing, a leading roofing manufacturer, installer and service provider, received ISO 9001:2008 certification for the company's call center activities. ISO is an internationally recognized standard issued to organizations with a quality management system and was authorized by TÜVRheinland(R), a premier global provider of independent testing and certification services. Headquartered in Boardman, Ohio, with regional offices and service centers throughout the country, Simon Roofing has more than 100 years of experience in the roofing industry. Simon's call center, located at company headquarters, processes more than 80,000 calls a year. Joe Simon, Operations Director of Service & Lean Champion, said, "One of our goals is to continue to focus on customer satisfaction and standardize the process for continual improvement." ISO 9001:2008 provides a set of requirements that must be in place to have a quality management system, regardless of the organization's size, product or service line, or public or private status. Certification to this standard is voluntary, and organizations must complete a rigorous auditing process by a third-party registrar. "ISO is a very tough standard in the industry to reach and says a lot about our company. Moving forward our goal is to extend these standards further out into the company and receive more certifications," Simon said.

WOOD DALE, Ill., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AAR (NYSE:AIR) announced today that it has received a contract from BAE Systems to manufacture mobile shelters for the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) program. BAE Systems is exercising the one-year option on a contract issued to AAR in October 2008 with a $40 million order for additional shelters. Delivery of the shelters is scheduled to start in April 2010 and be completed by November 2010. "We are very pleased that BAE Systems has extended and expanded this program and that our mobility products will continue to be an integral part of the U.S. Army's ground operations," said Timothy J. Romenesko, President and Chief Operating Officer of AAR CORP. "AAR is dedicated to supporting the warfighter in a wide variety of functions and operations. Our shelters help our soldiers achieve more by increasing efficiency, mobility and readiness." The shelters will be built by AAR's Mobility Systems division, which designs, builds, integrates and supports rapid deployment equipment, expeditionary systems and command and control systems for defense customers and prime contractors. BAE Systems' Global Tactical Systems business produces the FMTV at its facility in Sealy, Texas. The FMTV is the medium tactical vehicle platform of choice for the U.S. Army in the 2.5- and 5-ton cargo vehicle class. More than 56,000 FMTVs have been produced in 21 variants during the vehicle's 17-year production run.

Joint Venture with Atoll Financial Group Will Also Provide Short-Term and Trade Finance to Helix Wind Distributors. SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helix Wind Corp. (OTCBB: HLXW), a global renewable energy company, announced today that it has established a joint venture with Atoll Financial Group (AFG), Washington, DC, to develop products and financing mechanisms to offer individuals, small businesses, commercial users and its distributors' financing of its small wind turbines. Helix Wind CEO Ian Gardner said, "We are excited to be the only small wind company to offer individuals and small businesses financing for small wind turbines, which can make purchasing renewable energy much more accessible to consumers." Under the terms of the joint venture, Helix Wind will finance turbines for distributors and end users. The program will provide financing to individuals, businesses, commercial users of volume orders as well as short-term and trade finance to distributors. The benefit for individuals and small businesses is a smaller cash outlay and the ability to match expenditure with their electric bill savings. For commercial users with aggressive pay-back periods, the financing will also create cash flow. Importantly, Helix Wind distributors will be able to purchase and carry inventory. This will greatly minimize turnaround time for customers and help the company's distributors manage cash flows. The arrangement will also enable Helix Wind to build manufacturing facilities, if needed, in those markets where demand supports the investment as well as finance export sales into countries were Helix Wind does not yet have a local partner. Finally, the Joint Venture will offer financing to Energy Services Companies (ESCO) and Renewable Energy Services (RESCO) companies. ESCO’s and RESCO's provide discounted energy services to commercial end users under Power Purchase Agreements or leasing models. Providing needed financing to ESCO's and RESCO's will help deliver increased energy savings to their customers and drive adoption of Helix Wind's technology. "This joint venture with Atoll Financial Group provides Helix Wind with the operational flexibility we need to grow. Being able to offer financing to our customers and distributors is a significant accomplishment," Gardner said.

Eco-Friendly Activity Shades Company Facilities, Conserving Energy KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its environmental protection activities, the Kyocera Group is growing morning glories and goya (bitter gourd) to form "Green Curtains," which are erected over trestles to shade portions of the outer walls and windows of manufacturing and office buildings at 12 locations throughout Japan. Through photosynthesis the plants absorb CO2, as well as create a screen over the windows preventing direct sunlight from raising the temperature of office interiors — thus reducing the need to use energy consuming air-conditioners. Kyocera first started growing Green Curtains at its Okaya Plant in Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 2007 as part of its energy conservation / global warming prevention activities, and since then they have also been adopted at other Kyocera Group locations throughout Japan. This year, four new locations have been added, making a total of 12 locations. This year, Green Curtains grown at Kyocera Group locations stretch a total length of 294m (965ft), covering a total area of 775m2 (8,342ft2). The growth of these Green Curtains will be able to absorb roughly 2,713kg-CO2 (5981lb-CO2) per year,* or roughly the same amount as 194 cedar trees.** * CO2 absorption (3.5kg) X Area of Green Curtain (m2) = Volume of yearly CO2 absorption. (Source: Rural Culture Association Japan) ** One cedar tree absorbs 14kg/year of CO2. (Source: Forestry Agency of Japan) Thanks to the Green Curtain's ability to block out the strong summer sunlight from shining directly through the windows, Kyocera Okaya and Gamo plants no longer need to use air-conditioning in the offices during the morning hours — thus allowing them to conserve energy. Furthermore, the soft green color of the foliage which shades the windows creates a relaxing atmosphere, which has become a topic of conversation for both employees and visitors at the various locations. After experiencing the benefits of the Green Curtains at work, many employees have also taken up the activity at their own homes. --Temperature Control Results of Green Curtains By performing an infrared thermographic measurement of the outer wall area shielded behind the Green Curtains, and comparing it to the non-shielded areas nearby, Kyocera was able to confirm that the Green Curtains can decrease the temperature by as much as 15 degrees C (27 degrees F). --Preventing Summer Fatigue with the Vegetables Grown The goya (bitter gourd; a traditional summer vegetable of Okinawa) and peas that form the Green Curtains are harvested by the employees, and at most locations, used as part of a special lunch menu in the employee cafeteria. Goya, which is rich in nutrients, is widely used as an ingredient for the prevention of fatigue in the hot summer months in Japan. Moreover, the employees have enjoyed watching the plants grow, and being able to harvest the vegetables.

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lee Technologies, a leading provider of mission-critical infrastructure solutions that enable commercial enterprises and government agencies to avoid disaster and mitigate risk to their technology facilities, today announced it has been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD) to design and implement a containerized power and cooling infrastructure solution for the DoD Texas facility. The project is valued at more than $3 million. The containerized power and cooling infrastructure was designed and implemented for DoD so that it could be seamlessly added to – and in some cases replace – existing infrastructure without disrupting uptime at the Texas facility. The data center design solution not only takes into account the day one design of a facility, but also ensures scalability, resiliency and ongoing optimal maintenance and operations. "Lee Technologies is honored to have been selected by the Department of Defense to assist them with this project," said Anthony Rizzo, Vice President, Public Sector at Lee Technologies. "Efficient power and cooling is critical to data center uptime, and Lee Technologies' proven methodology when designing and implementing mission-critical infrastructure solutions will deliver 100 percent uptime for the duration of the DoD container project and beyond." Design and deployment of the containerized power and cooling solution initiated in June 2009, and it is expected the project will be completed by the end of the year.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Monument Realty announced today that it is moving forward with the renovation of Potomac Place Tower, a 396-unit condominium located at 800 4th Street in Southwest Washington, D.C. The condominium project was stalled when the senior lender, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., filed for bankruptcy in September 2008. Since that time Monument Realty has worked closely with a new lender to sort through a very unusual set of circumstances and to ensure that construction would be completed and sales contracts would be honored. Monument Realty acquired the Potomac Place project in 2001 and in 2005 completed construction of a new, 302-unit condominium adjacent to the existing Potomac Place Tower, which was built in 1959. In 2003, Potomac Place Tower was designated a historic landmark by the District of Columbia, and in 2005 the residents of Potomac Place Tower elected to convert the property to a condominium. Monument Realty's longstanding history and commitment to the project gave the new lender the confidence to retain its services for the completion of Potomac Place Tower. "We have worked closely with our lender to sort out this very complicated situation and to bring the project back to the market. We are pleased to be in a position to pay contractors and vendors as well as resume sales," stated Michael J. Darby, a founding Principal of Monument Realty. "It has been a pleasure working with the lender and their counsel. They have taken the time to understand the complexities of this project and were able to appreciate the value in moving forward to completion." Monument Realty is quickly creating a niche for itself by aiding lenders in working with distressed real estate through difficult situations. Recently, Monument Realty successfully assisted lenders in restructuring business plans on The Palatine, a 262-unit apartment project in Arlington, and The Chase at Bethesda, a 255-unit condominium conversion. With a team of experienced real estate professionals and a demonstration of commitment to its projects, Monument Realty is looking forward to meeting the future needs of the lending community.

Top 15 Most Frequently Searched Apartment Features and Community Amenities on ApartmentGuide.com ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apartment Guide, a leading resource for apartment searches nationwide, today announced the top apartment features and community amenities consumers searched for on ApartmentGuide.com from February to August 2009. "As apartment industry experts, we are often asked by advertising clients and key influencers what the most popular renting features and amenities are," said Arlene Mayfield, president, Apartment Guide. "We're noticing that now more than ever, renters are searching for added value included in the rent such as some paid utilities and furnished apartments. Searches for short-term lease options have also become more prevalent. This indicates that consumers are still being mindful of their budgets and lease commitments as the overall economy attempts to regain footing." The apartment features and community amenities consumers searched most often for on ApartmentGuide.com over the last six months include (in order): 1. Washer and Dryer In Unit 2. Pets (allowed) 3. Air Conditioning 4. Some Paid Utilities 5. Washer and Dryer Connections 6. Dishwasher 7. Balcony 8. Garage 9. Cable Ready 10. Furnished Available 11. Swimming Pool 12. Short Term Lease Available 13. Fitness Center 14. Gated Access 15. Oversized Closets Distance (of apartment from city center) and price range were also key factors in people's online searches. Not surprisingly, five miles from city center was preferred, followed by 10 and 20 miles respectively. The majority of people looking for a place to live on ApartmentGuide.com searched for apartments in the $500-$700 price range followed by Any-$500 and $700-$900.

Top 15 Most Frequently Searched Apartment Features and Community Amenities on ApartmentGuide.com ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apartment Guide, a leading resource for apartment searches nationwide, today announced the top apartment features and community amenities consumers searched for on ApartmentGuide.com from February to August 2009. "As apartment industry experts, we are often asked by advertising clients and key influencers what the most popular renting features and amenities are," said Arlene Mayfield, president, Apartment Guide. "We're noticing that now more than ever, renters are searching for added value included in the rent such as some paid utilities and furnished apartments. Searches for short-term lease options have also become more prevalent. This indicates that consumers are still being mindful of their budgets and lease commitments as the overall economy attempts to regain footing." The apartment features and community amenities consumers searched most often for on ApartmentGuide.com over the last six months include (in order): 1. Washer and Dryer In Unit 2. Pets (allowed) 3. Air Conditioning 4. Some Paid Utilities 5. Washer and Dryer Connections 6. Dishwasher 7. Balcony 8. Garage 9. Cable Ready 10. Furnished Available 11. Swimming Pool 12. Short Term Lease Available 13. Fitness Center 14. Gated Access 15. Oversized Closets Distance (of apartment from city center) and price range were also key factors in people's online searches. Not surprisingly, five miles from city center was preferred, followed by 10 and 20 miles respectively. The majority of people looking for a place to live on ApartmentGuide.com searched for apartments in the $500-$700 price range followed by Any-$500 and $700-$900.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hanwha L&C USA, the leading manufacturer of innovative surfacing products, will hold a celebratory event today to commemorate the grand opening of its Canadian manufacturing facility. In keeping with Hanwha's ongoing commitment to environmentally friendly production, the 200,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in Canada will utilize the latest environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. The facility's first phase of production will be the manufacturing of HanStone(TM) Fine Quartz surfaces for kitchen countertops, vanities and other surfaces for US residential and commercial markets. The manufacturing facility will also be equipped with the most advanced Breton(TM) Technology, resulting in the production of the most sophisticated looks or designs of natural quartz, in an array of colors; further distancing itself from its competitors. With the initial investment of $70 plus million for the construction of the facility, Hanwha is demonstrating a significant commitment to better service not only the US architectural and design industries, but also global markets in an eco-friendly manner. The new manufacturing plant will enable Hanwha to meet the growing demand for their premium product lines with greater production capabilities coupled with a premier distribution network. Daniel Yu, President and CEO for Hanwha L&C USA, remarked, "Our new facility being built in London, Ontario will be the most advanced, nature-friendly manufacturing plant in the Fine Quartz Surface business, and will produce top quality HanStone products for our customers. We are confident that our HanStone(TM) Fine Quartz Surface and Hanwha L&C USA sustainable business will continue to grow and be successful in North America with continual strong support from the architectural and design industry segments." The Canadian plant investment and recent USGBC (U.S. Green Business Council) membership demonstrates Hanwha L&C USA's commitment to providing superior surfacing solutions for sustainable designs and construction applications, - catapulting the company to true global leader status. In order to continuously supply the US market with superior, green surface solutions, Hanwha L&C USA has begun preparing for future expansions, with plans to increase the Canadian facility by 180,000 square feet investing an additional $40 million. For more information on Hanwha L&C USA and its premium product lines, visit hanstoneusa.com or hanexusa.com.

Roof atop the United States Postal Service Morgan Mail Processing Facility is Part of the USPS's Goal to Reduce Energy Usage by 30 Percent by 2015. NEW YORK, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's largest green builder, has substantially completed New York City's largest green roof for the United States Postal Service (USPS) atop the 2.2 million sq. ft. Morgan Mail Processing Facility on West 28th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. The scope of work included the installation of plants and grasses and fourteen wood benches made from lumber certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council. The roof will reduce storm water runoff and will save the USPS $30,000 each year on heating and cooling costs. The 2.5 acre green roof is part of the USPS's greener facilities strategy and will help the agency achieve its goal of reducing energy use by 30 percent by 2015. To further support the Post Office's greener facilities strategy, Turner replaced more than 2,000 windows and installed more than 50 air handler units. Turner also managed the interior fit-outs on the seventh and eighth floors in the facility, to improve the energy efficiency of the Morgan Mail Processing Facility. "Turner is proud to help the USPS achieve its energy efficiency goals. Green retrofits of existing facilities are an important component of our client's Green building programs," said Charles Murphy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Turner's New York operations.

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- UL Environment today announced that its validations and certifications will help manufacturers achieve the NAHB Research Center "Green Approved" product seal. This recognition qualifies a product to be used by builders to earn points toward National Green Building Certification under the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard(TM). "At UL Environment, we are committed to reducing confusion and clutter within the eco-labeling space," said Steve Wenc, President, UL Environment. "That is why we are thrilled to be working alongside an important organization such as the NAHB Research Center as we aim to foster trust and transparency within the industry." The NAHB Research Center has developed the "Green Approved" program to help builders and designers identify green building products and materials that contribute points toward certification of a building under the National Green Building Standard(TM). This program is available to manufacturers who provide third-party evidence that their products meet specific criteria required by various sections of the Standard. "UL has been testing and certifying products for over a century," said Bob Hill, NAHB Research Center Director of Laboratory and Certification Services. "That's why, when it came time to identify trusted, credible organizations that certify the green attributes of building products, it was a no-brainer to have UL Environment on the short list." UL Environment, launched in January 2009, recently announced the validation of its first building material--Serious Materials' EcoRock. UL Environment is also an official certification body for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) level(TM) program. In the coming months, UL Environment will be announcing additional product environmental claim validations and certifications to industry standards, as well as an expansion of its current service offerings. For more information, go to www.ulenvironment.com.

Constructech Technology Day 2009 CAROL STREAM, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constructech magazine honored the 2009 Vision Award winners during a special ceremony at the fourth annual Technology Day conference, held this year at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare hotel. The Constructech Vision Awards honor companies that have realized the advantages of applying innovative technologies to their everyday businesses as well as the technology enablers that have helped them achieve their goal. Any company involved in residential, commercial, and heavy construction, professionals in all trades, architectural and engineering firms, corporate owners, facility management companies, government agencies, and land developers are eligible for a Constructech Vision Award. "In today's market, construction companies must face new challenges head on, and bring customers the most affordable, quality product they can. This goal can be achieved with the use of the right technology solutions," said Mike Carrozzo, chief editor, Constructech. "The companies named as Vision Award winners recognize this necessity, and have become more successful as a result of implementing technology."

TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walking the streets of Taipei City, many pedestrians may have noticed a refreshing change: a touch of green is being added to homes and public facilities. Walls, roofs and balconies are being turned into kaleidoscopic galleries for living plants in the run-up to the 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition -- the first accredited world-class exhibition ever held by Taiwan. The greenery that will soon radiate from the 91.8-hectare exhibition area -- comprised of four public parks near the Keelung River -- is gradually extending to schools, commercial areas, markets, office buildings, and communities around the city. Forming the backbone of this ambitious beautification initiative are 50 neighborhood greening projects that were completed in 2008, the first year of the plan. With the public's interest in the campaign increasing, the city government has received 300 more requests for green renovation projects since the start of this year, according to the city's Department of Economic Development. "The news spread fast: spots that used to be the ugliest in each neighborhood have become the most beautiful. Now applications are flooding in from almost every borough," said Chen Hsiung-wen, commissioner of the department. Once an application is approved, specialized landscaping engineers contracted by the city are assigned to carry out the project at the selected site. Also, garden accessories and ornamental plants are offered to households for display on their balconies. The city government foots the bill for these services on one condition: that the participating neighborhoods form a volunteer team to care for the plants. Although part of the motivation of the greening campaign is to promote the horticulture exposition, its more far-reaching mission is to increase citizen involvement in environmental landscaping and eventually transform Taipei into a permanent "garden city," Chen said. He explained that through the campaign, the city government is trying to instill an appreciation for plants among residents, further encouraging them to grow and cherish flowers. "The exhibition should not be like a fireworks display that leaves nothing behind after its conclusion," Chen said. "It would be the expo's greatest legacy if appreciating and growing flowers was to become a common culture or habit." Among the most successful projects completed so far is the Jiantan community center, which was converted from an abandoned, dilapidated property. The dull building received an impressive facelift last year when flowers and grass were grown on its rooftop and potted plants were mosaicked on two 10-meter tall sidewalls to turn them into magnificent vertical gardens. According to Jiantan borough chief Pi Wu-liang, the renovated building has now become a model for other neighborhoods, and many residents within the borough are also seeking his assistance to have their homes undergo a similar renovation. He said the popularity of the greening projects is partly due to the use of landscape technology that does not damage the structure of buildings. The vegetation's cooling effect, which helps reduce energy consumption, is another factor. "The green walls bring the building's indoor temperature down by at least 3 degrees Celcius," Pi said.

Coolerado unit beat 2010 DOE efficiency standard by 60 percent. Cooling capacity increases as outside temperature increases. Two-year payback possible through energy savings, utility rebates and tax incentives. DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of California, Davis issued a challenge to manufacturers to build more efficient air conditioners for the Western U.S. The objective was to exceed the 2010 U.S. Department of Energy efficiency standards by an aggressive 40 percent. Coolerado Corporation, the first certified winner of the UC Davis Western Cooling Challenge, entered the program with its new hybrid commercial rooftop unit — a system using its proprietary indirect evaporative technology in concert with a traditional compressor and refrigerant system. DOE laboratory testing indicates that Coolerado's new system, the Coolerado H80, beat the 2010 standards by 60 percent at peak demand and will use 80 percent less energy overall. Testing revealed that the new H80 also has the Coolerado signature; cooling capacity increases as outside temperature increases — not typical of other systems. Eric Kozubal, senior mechanical engineer at the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, conducted the testing and said, "In western climates, the Coolerado H80 provides cooling and ventilation for buildings at efficiency far above standard equipment available today. Laboratory testing shows that the H80 provides consistent cooling performance even when temperatures rise above 95 degrees." "The UC Davis challenge also targeted water conservation, limiting water use for technologies that use evaporation as part of the cooling process," said Mark Modera, director of the UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center. "The water allowance in the challenge was set such that water used at the air conditioner should be mitigated by the savings in water required to produce less power. DOE/NREL determined that the water use for the Coolerado H80 is less than the objective set by UC Davis and is about the same amount of water that will be used to generate electricity for a traditional air conditioner meeting the new DOE 2010 standard." The H80 is the first system Coolerado is offering that includes dehumidification, recirculation and an option for heating. The H80 delivers over five tons of air conditioning at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to larger traditional systems that lose capacity as outside temperatures climb. In some extreme operating conditions and climates, the Coolerado H80 will deliver as much cooling as an eight-ton conventional system and will have an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) over 20. Coolerado began taking H80 orders in August for delivery late this year and is currently building several units which will be delivered to Australia for installation during its cooling season (December). Customers may expect to realize a two-year payback on the price of the H80 through energy savings, utility rebates and tax incentives.

Coolerado unit beat 2010 DOE efficiency standard by 60 percent. Cooling capacity increases as outside temperature increases. Two-year payback possible through energy savings, utility rebates and tax incentives. DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of California, Davis issued a challenge to manufacturers to build more efficient air conditioners for the Western U.S. The objective was to exceed the 2010 U.S. Department of Energy efficiency standards by an aggressive 40 percent. Coolerado Corporation, the first certified winner of the UC Davis Western Cooling Challenge, entered the program with its new hybrid commercial rooftop unit — a system using its proprietary indirect evaporative technology in concert with a traditional compressor and refrigerant system. DOE laboratory testing indicates that Coolerado's new system, the Coolerado H80, beat the 2010 standards by 60 percent at peak demand and will use 80 percent less energy overall. Testing revealed that the new H80 also has the Coolerado signature; cooling capacity increases as outside temperature increases — not typical of other systems. Eric Kozubal, senior mechanical engineer at the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, conducted the testing and said, "In western climates, the Coolerado H80 provides cooling and ventilation for buildings at efficiency far above standard equipment available today. Laboratory testing shows that the H80 provides consistent cooling performance even when temperatures rise above 95 degrees." "The UC Davis challenge also targeted water conservation, limiting water use for technologies that use evaporation as part of the cooling process," said Mark Modera, director of the UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center. "The water allowance in the challenge was set such that water used at the air conditioner should be mitigated by the savings in water required to produce less power. DOE/NREL determined that the water use for the Coolerado H80 is less than the objective set by UC Davis and is about the same amount of water that will be used to generate electricity for a traditional air conditioner meeting the new DOE 2010 standard." The H80 is the first system Coolerado is offering that includes dehumidification, recirculation and an option for heating. The H80 delivers over five tons of air conditioning at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to larger traditional systems that lose capacity as outside temperatures climb. In some extreme operating conditions and climates, the Coolerado H80 will deliver as much cooling as an eight-ton conventional system and will have an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) over 20. Coolerado began taking H80 orders in August for delivery late this year and is currently building several units which will be delivered to Australia for installation during its cooling season (December). Customers may expect to realize a two-year payback on the price of the H80 through energy savings, utility rebates and tax incentives.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Parmenter Realty Partners, a real estate investment, management, and development company is proud to announce the 1000 Parkwood office building, a ten-story building located at 1000 Parkwood Circle in the Cumberland Galleria submarket, has been awarded LEED Gold certification for existing buildings by the US Green Building Council, only the third such Atlanta building to achieve this status. The 211,544-square-foot property is owned and managed by Parmenter Realty Partners. Parmenter and its consultant Green Concepts International worked together to attain this certification, building on Parmenter's existing corporate green initiatives. Since purchasing the building Parmenter has aggressively pursued energy saving projects such as replacing the two building chillers, conducting a full building lighting retrofit, and re-commissioning the mechanical systems. Additionally the building has strengthened the green cleaning and recycling programs already in place. "These projects have reduced the building's carbon footprint, lowered tenant operating costs, and improved tenant comfort," says John C. Davidson, Parmenter Southeast Regional Director. Parmenter is also the owner of Overlook III which is also pursuing LEED certification. According to Jeff Frantz with Jones Lang LaSalle, the building's leasing broker, "LEED Gold certification gives 1000 Parkwood a competitive advantage, especially with corporate tenants who embrace both sustainability and the need to reduce operating costs during these challenging times." 1000 Parkwood Circle was built in 1985 and renovated in 2007. The building located at the corner of Powers Ferry Road and Parkwood Circle is nearly 90% leased and, in addition to a host of green programs and features, offers covered parking, a building conference facility, as well as a café.

Logan Square store is "green from the ground up" and designed to educate and save resources DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, today will celebrate the grand opening of the first drugstore in Illinois to meet top environmental requirements for efficiency and design. The new store in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, near the intersection of California and Diversey, is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards – a certification granted only by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Walgreens officials and guests will mark the grand opening of this eco-drugstore with a tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m. today, followed by a store tour. The Logan Square Walgreens, nestled in an urban area right off the Kennedy Expressway, features a "green roof" with plants growing on it. The roof also has a white coating to help reduce heating and cooling costs. The store will save nearly 34,000 gallons of water a year with efficient water fixtures. During construction, 85 percent of waste was diverted from landfills. The site was a brownfield which was cleaned up and redeveloped for this project. Coolers, freezers and exterior signs all use LED lights, reducing energy use by 50 percent over fluorescent lighting. The store will save enough electricity to power more than five homes a year. In addition, there is special parking for hybrid vehicles, bike racks and nearby public transportation. "It may look like a regular Walgreens from the outside, but once you take a closer look it really is green from the ground up," said Walgreens district manager Steven DiLullo. "Customers can find informational signs inside that highlight these features so they can feel good about what we're doing and where they shop." "On behalf of the City of Chicago, I congratulate Walgreens for their leadership in building a green store," said chief environmental officer for the city of Chicago Sadhu Johnston. "The environmentally friendly features of this store will contribute to making Chicago a greener city while reducing Walgreens impact on the planet. We encourage all Chicago businesses to consider ways that they can be more environmentally friendly and save electricity."

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Construction Writers Association (CWA) Fall Conference provides attendees with the tools and information they need to survive and thrive in an age of changing media. The conference will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Hilton Suites Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. The conference offers journalists, public relations, and marketing communications professionals within the construction industry a unique opportunity to combine industry-specific learning with a great opportunity to network with the industry's leading experts. The two-day conference features a candid publisher's panel on leadership, management, and advertising in the new publishing age with Gary Slack, chairman/chief experience officer, Slack Barshinger and Rod Sutton, editor-in-chief, Construction Equipment magazine; lessons from major green building undertakings such as the Empire State Building and other building icons and city plans; a look at project delivery trends and the economy with Turner Construction; and insights on designing projects for and marketing products in virtual cities, and a tour of the recently completed Modern Wing of the Art Institute. Leaders from the fields of construction publishing, architectural design, and construction will offer the insight and expertise that all construction writers and professionals charged with communications need to stay ahead of industry trends and thrive today. The industry is changing and this conference provides an optimum opportunity to realign with it. Participants can network throughout the event and discuss key industry issues with their peers during roundtable discussions on Ethics in a Digital World; Social Media Best Practices, and Making Yourself Valuable in a Down Economy. Additionally, there are plenty of networking opportunities available to meet the industry's best professionals during the Welcome Reception, Tuesday's lunch program on "How Buildings Survive Industry Failure," and at the Networking Reception prior to the dinner.

(Corona, Calif.) - DECRA Roofing Systems, Inc., the leading manufacturer of stone coated steel roofing panels, is pleased to announce the release of a new direct-to-deck stone coated steel roofing system, DECRA Shake XD. Emulating the classic beauty and architectural detail of a thick, rustic, handsplit wood shake, Shake XD features DECRA's proven "Cut & Tuck" technology and is available in two uniquely blended colors, Antique Chestnut and Pinnacle Grey. In keeping with the tradition of providing innovative stone coated steel roofing solutions for over 50 years, this latest DECRA product has easy to use components much like the popular DECRA Shingle system. According to DECRA President/CEO Bo Hudson, "DECRA's easy to use "Cut & Tuck" technology offers roofing contractors, with no previous metal roofing experience, the opportunity to successfully install a DECRA stone coated steel roof." Shake XD has a unique hidden fastening system and is installed direct to the deck. Shake XD has only 23.4 pieces per square, installs quickly and requires no special tools. Shake XD is the ideal roof, providing the durability and longevity of stone coated steel. The Shake XD panels are walkable and will not crack, split, curl or break like traditional wood shakes. According to Hudson, "It is characteristics like these that set Shake XD apart from other roofing materials by offering value, quality and longevity." Since the development and introduction of DECRA Shingle in 2001, DECRA continues to develop stone coated steel roofing for the mainstream market with easy to install panels and components utilizing "Cut & Tuck" technology. This technology allows DECRA panels to be cut using standard tools and fit into DECRA's roofing components without special application. According to Hudson, "It is the simplification of the installation process and the transition to using traditional roofing distribution channels that has given homeowners and building owners throughout North America the opportunity to choose stone coated steel roofing." DECRA Roofing Systems have been providing ageless beauty, superior performance and lasting durability for over 50 years. DECRA profiles are backed by a 50-year limited warranty, a 120 mph wind warranty, are Class 4 impact resistant, and steel is a non-combustible, Class A rated material. Metal Roofing Isn't What It Used To Be®. For more information on DECRA Shake XD or DECRA Roofing Systems, call 877-GO-DECRA or visit www.decra.com.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a world leading provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, today announced the addition of climate exploration, water reviews, low zero carbon technology consideration, and analysis for certain LEED credits to its VE-Toolkits. Enabling architects and master planners to choose from sets of typical properties, the updated VE-Toolkits also provides users with more detailed, highly visual and rich-text reporting. With these new features, IES offers rapid feedback on LEED and Sustainability analysis to improve architects overall productivity from the earliest stage of the design process. The three-tab combination consists of Overview, Sustainability and LEED sections. The user can utilise these tabs to analyse design ideas in many ways, while assessing the overall feasibility and impact of sustainable strategies at the earliest stages – ultimately allowing the user to make informed design decisions using performance data. The VE-Toolkits are accessed via Revit(R) and SketchUp(TM) plug-ins, as well as through IES' gbXML import for ArchiCAD(R) users. The Overview and Sustainability tab are part of the Sustainability VE-Toolkit, while the LEED tab makes up the VE-Toolkit for LEED(R). The tab allocated for LEED has been expanded to cover the two most recent versions of the New Construction, Schools, and Core&Shell schemes. For example, for the NC 3.0 2009 requirements, up to 15 LEED points can be assessed across the five credits covered, with the VE-Toolkit providing an indicator of whether or not the credit can be achieved. Users can review daylighting, comfort, water, and renewables.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Michigan-based J.S. Vig Construction, a full-service general contractor and construction management company, announced today the opening of the Project Green Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich. J.S. Vig CEO Joseph Vig made the announcement. A division of J.S. Vig, Project Green is focused on the development and implementation of best practices in energy efficiency, water efficiency and sustainable commercial construction. The Project Green Institute will house multiple LEED accredited professionals and serve as an educational resource center for parties interested in green construction. The Project Green Institute will offer the following services: -- Evaluation and auditing of existing buildings and future projects; -- Existing building retrofits; -- Online materials and data related to "best practices" in sustainability; and -- Classroom-style training on the environmental and economic benefits of green construction. "We are excited to see the doors of the Project Green Institute finally open," said Vig. "Our team of sustainability specialists has already developed an informative program designed to guide building owners and operators through the green construction process from start to finish. The Project Green Institute will complement this program by providing an environment where professionals can see and touch the many different elements of green construction and receive expert consultation before making a serious financial decision."

SUMMERVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aeonian Brick Homes (ABH) has started building the first Platinum rated, LEED Certified Home that will be impervious to termite and insect damage, will not support the growth of black mold and mildew and is waterproof. Aeonian Brick Homes (ABH), has registered their current residential project with LEED for Homes , a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Aeonian is the only company in the United State that produces a waterproof, interlocking compressed brick, that can protect families and their possessions during the worst weather conditions, and life altering events. All home builders that wish to "Build Better Than Green" (C) should contact Aeonian Brick Homes to acquire a license to build with their brick. Every home built by Aeonian's licensed network of builders will be LEED certified. ABH is working closely with Nancy St. Hilare, a principle with The Home Energy Group, a green building and energy consulting company that is a certified Home Energy Rater for programs such as LEED(R) for Homes and ENERGY STAR. Traditional brick manufacturer's that are open-minded to mass producing a non-fired, clay-based brick are invited to become licensed manufacturers and distributors of the Aeonian Brick. Aeonian's complete building system includes a wall system that will withstand hurricane force winds exceeding 240 mph, and a concrete roofing system that can withstand hurricane force winds up to 300 mph. Interested builders, contractors and developers should visit the company’s website and click on the "Licensee" link to fill out an online application. The company feels the bar has been set. Very soon home builders and developers will be swamped with consumers demanding their next home (or entire communities) be built with Aeonian's waterproof, fireproof, termite and insect-proof, soundproof, mold and mildew-proof, hurricane and tornado proof brick, with insulating values 15 times higher than normal, and is LEED certified with a 50 year structural warranty. Aeonian Brick Homes is a South Carolina based LLC brick manufacturing company that has had its bricks tested and certified for home construction in 34 states by Florida based Davis and Cleaton Engineering. Their brick is a clay-based interlocking brick that is waterproof, fireproof, insect-proof, soundproof, mold and mildew-proof, insulates the home, and is a green construction material.

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME), a Fortune 500(R) leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure and facilities services for a diverse range of businesses, announced that its Dynalectric San Diego subsidiary has received a contract for the installation of electrical systems for two new buildings as part of the expansion project at the San Diego County Operations Center in San Diego, California. Dynalectric San Diego will be responsible for the installation of all electrical systems required for the two buildings as part of an expansion project. Scope of work includes installing site infrastructure raceways for teledata, security, and fire alarm systems; extending the County Operations campus loop from the central plant to a new gas switch which feeds the two new four-story, 150,000 square foot office buildings; core and shell electrical construction including fire alarm system in each building; installation of site lighting in areas adjacent to each building; and installing a 2,000KW emergency generator supplying full load to one of the buildings. Both building expansions are designed to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver Certification rating. "In addition to our strong desire to do work which supports community needs, Dynalectric's staff of LEED Accredited professionals, as well as our years of experience building high performance facilities to demanding specifications, uniquely positions us to help the San Diego County Operations Center serve the needs of many people for years to come,” said Philip Petersen, President and CEO of Dynalectric San Diego.

ATLANTA, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently honored Georgia Power with its ENERGY STAR for Homes - Leadership in Housing Award. The award recognizes companies that take a leadership role and act as champions for ENERGY STAR. The ENERGY STAR certification is a nationally recognized symbol for energy efficiency that brings value to builders and customers. An ENERGY STAR home is independently certified to save at least 15 percent on energy costs, or about $200 to $400 annually, compared to the same house built to standard energy codes. "Georgia Power is proud to promote ENERGY STAR new home construction," said Dean Harless, Georgia Power's marketing issues manager. "The ENERGY STAR Home program aligns well with Georgia Power's commitment to help our customers become more energy efficient." Georgia Power's ENERGY STAR Home program launched in 2006. Since then, more than 3,200 ENERGY STAR-qualified new homes have been built in Georgia Power's service territory. The program promotes the construction of new homes that are more energy efficient, comfortable, and save homeowners money on their utility bills while helping to protect the environment. Georgia Power supports the ENERGY STAR Home program in a number of ways including builder incentives, builder training, realtor training, home buyer, builder and realtor awareness campaigns, marketing assistance and serving as a technical resource for program stakeholders. The EPA praised Georgia Power's work as an "important contribution" to the success of ENERGY STAR Homes. The award acknowledges the positive effect Georgia Power's awareness campaigns have had in educating the public, home builders, realtors and home raters regarding the energy efficiency benefits that come with an ENERGY STAR qualified home. Harless, who manages all the ENERGY STAR programs at Georgia Power, feels this award is special. "Winning the ENERGY STAR for Homes - Leadership in Housing Award builds on the recognition we've received for our energy efficiency programs and validates our continuing commitment to energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR."

Partnership Supports the Growth of Community Weatherization Programs and New Jobs in Ohio. CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) and ExxonMobil to award the Ohio Green Workforce Training Partnership with the inaugural grant from the NCAF ExxonMobil Weatherization Training Partnership. The Partnership will receive $100,000 to establish a first-of-its-kind training program that will prepare workers for a career in the growing fields of weatherization and energy efficiency. The announcement took place at the home of Mrs. Twyla Simpson, a local resident receiving weatherization services. Speaking at the event, Senator Brown said, "The weatherization program employs Ohio workers, using Ohio products, to lower energy costs for Ohio homeowners," Brown said. "This program is not just about reducing energy use—it's about job creation and economic development in Northeast Ohio." "The NCAF ExxonMobil weatherization training grant gives us the chance to engage new partners from across sectors to provide local weatherization workers with the very best training Ohio has to offer," Roger McCauley, Executive Director of the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development said. David Bradley, executive director of the National Community Action Foundation said, "NCAF and ExxonMobil are proud to launch our weatherization training partnership in Ohio, a great state that shares our goal of increasing America's energy security, creating new job opportunities in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner, and helping low-income families reduce their energy costs."

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Efficiency proponents and regulators need to discard the outdated idea that white is the only color for a "cool" roof, and recognize that many of the newer high-reflectivity aluminum and colored roof coatings can perform just as well or better than white, says the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA). "There's a full complement of highly reflective roofing systems today that meet the energy efficiency and sustainability goals for commercial and residential buildings," says Tom Meyer of RCMA's Solar Reflective Coatings Council. "In the past few years, technological advances have rapidly moved the roof coating industry beyond white to include a multitude of high performing colored coatings and silver aluminum bituminous coatings." While reflective roof coatings can reduce energy consumption or increase roof life for buildings with low-sloped or flat roofs, Meyer said optimal energy efficiency and sustainability require looking at more than just a whiteness factor. "Selecting the appropriate roofing system requires a thorough consideration of climate, a building's location, installation specifics, aesthetics, insulation and other factors," adds Meyer. "There's no single answer. White may be the solution for one building, with an aluminum or colored coating the best choice for another." White roofs were in the headlines recently, when Energy Secretary Steven Chu suggested painting the roofs of all buildings white to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and save energy used for cooling. Chu's statements were criticized in many camps for ignoring energy and other offsetting factors and costs in non-temperate climes.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. & TAIYUAN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China Growth Development Inc. (OTCBB: CGDI), a Chinese commercial property developer and operator, has achieved full occupancy of its newest structure, which equates to the anticipated addition of $1.9 million U.S. dollars in annual gross revenue. The Xicheng Shopping Mall - Phase II, located in Taiyuan, China is a five story mall with 21,000 square meters of commercial space for retail stores. The Company, which operates six (6) shopping malls located in the Shanxi Province, currently generates positive cash flow through existing operations. In the remainder of 2009, the company intends to continue efforts to expand our presence in the commercial real estate market through potential acquisitions and construction of new facilities. "We are pleased to announce that our newest shopping mall has reached full occupancy, which translates to increased annual revenue growth for the company," stated Sam Liu, COO. "The tenants normally pay in advance for up to a 10 year lease period, and this is a significant factor in reducing China Growth Development Inc.'s exposure to fluctuations in the commercial real estate market." The company notes that China's economy has experienced significant growth over the past few years and that has increased the demand for commercial space. China Growth Development Inc. intends to grow and expand its commercial real estate business. The company desires to acquire an additional 2 shopping centers within the next three years in addition to capitalizing on existing development rights. "We aim to have these and future developments enhance China Growth Development's balance sheet and thus shareholder value," added Mr. Liu.

HILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 40 high-paying life sciences jobs will remain in West Philadelphia as two life sciences companies move into the University City Science Center's newest building at 3711 Market Street on the Avenue of Technology in Philadelphia, PA. Leading the way is Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc., with 37 jobs. Just four years after it spun out of the University of Pennsylvania, Avid has outgrown the 5,000 square feet of space it occupied in the University City Science Center's Port Business Incubator for startup companies at 3624 Market Street. Today, Avid announced that it moved into 16,000 square feet of custom-fitted office and lab space on the seventh floor of the Science Center's new 155,000-square foot building at 3711 Market Street. Avid develops molecular imaging agents that allow for the earlier detection of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Diabetes mellitus. The company's goal is to develop compounds to diagnose these diseases before patients display symptoms, allowing for earlier treatment. In May 2009, Avid announced that it completed the first closing of a $34.5 million Series D financing. Also moving from the Port Business Incubator into 3711 Market Street is AlumiFuel Power, Inc., an alternative energy company that generates hydrogen gas and steam for multiple niche applications. AlumiFuel currently represents six jobs. "Government investment in the life sciences sector – and the Science Center in particular – is paying off," says Science Center President and CEO Dr. Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D. "We received $7 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Business In Our Sites program and a low-interest loan from the PIDC that helped support the construction of 3711 Market Street. Since 1963, the Science Center's graduate companies have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Avid is a shining example of the impact the life sciences sector has on the region's economy."

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the last year, a northern Virginia company manufacturing solid-state LED lighting fixtures – the energy efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional forms of energy-guzzling lighting – has been gaining notoriety for its unique and extremely "green" approach to illuminating building interiors. As a result, U.S. Representative Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) wants a first-hand look at the future of lighting when he visits Herndon-based Renaissance Lighting Inc. on August 17. Renaissance Lighting, a leading innovator in the development and manufacture of energy-efficient, ultra long-life solid-state luminaires and headquartered in Wolf's 10th Congressional District, continues to grow while makers of less-efficient types of lighting such as incandescent bulbs, struggle to survive as their future grows more uncertain. "In less than a year Renaissance Lighting has made significant gains in its products' breadth, value, price, efficiency, output, overall performance and innovation – elements critical to the lighting industry's mainstream acceptance of solid-state LED lighting," said Renaissance Lighting CEO, Barry Weinbaum. "Our customers continue to discover that choosing Renaissance Lighting's solid state lighting products is increasingly easy, especially when considering architectural creativity, the total cost of ownership and their low environmental impact." In addition to being 80 percent more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps and 30 percent more efficient than compact fluorescent lamps, Renaissance Lighting luminaires are nearly 100 percent recyclable. This means that virtually all of the luminaire – from its reflector to mounting frame to LED light engine – can be recycled. Luminaires once destined for disposal in landfills are returned instead to Renaissance Lighting before going to Potomac Metals Inc., a metals recycler also based in Wolf's 10th District. "We believe our commitment to recycling captures and even magnifies our corporate obligation to helping preserve and protect the environment," Weinbaum said. "As a co-sponsor of both the American Energy Act and the American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act, my intent is to help formulate an energy policy that comprehensively addresses our nation's energy needs and production requirements for generations to come," Congressman Wolf said. "Equally important is the way in which we consume energy, which is why I am interested in learning first-hand about the benefits of solid-state LED lighting during my visit to Renaissance Lighting." Renaissance Lighting and its work with solid-state LED lighting technology are all about being green – in partnership with the environment. Using energy-efficient LEDs to lower energy consumption has many positive environmental effects such as reduced CO2 and mercury emissions, reduced hazardous waste including nuclear and chemical by-products, lower dependence on imported energy resources, and less demand to create and exploit new energy extraction sites.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With cities mandating LEED(TM) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for public, and even private buildings, in growing numbers, an Atlanta-based sustainability consulting firm is hoping to ease anxieties over meeting those goals with the industry's first Green Guaranteed(TM). Energy Ace is guaranteeing LEED(TM) certification on projects where the firm is able to oversee LEED(TM) administration, Fundamental Commissioning and Energy Modeling, and where the project team is committed to LEED success. According to a study conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction, a building's value increases by almost 8%, return on investment improves approximately 7% and occupancy grows more than 3% when 'green' is a part of the equation. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) projects that commercial green construction starts will grow approximately 10% in 2010, despite the general decline in construction. "There is a lot at stake when you commit to constructing with LEED, and it is not an instantaneous certification. A building must be well designed and constructed before it can achieve that LEED credential cost-effectively," said Wayne Robertson, President of Energy Ace. "The process can take 2 to 3 years. That's a lengthy period, and one in which many activities are happening simultaneously. It boils down to 'what are the expectations' and 'who is responsible.' With our Guarantee, we're taking the reins from day one, and leading that charge until the certification is met." According to the USGBC, 43 states, 190 localities and 12 federal agencies or departments have initiatives that include LEED certification. Among the cities reviewing mandates is Atlanta, GA. Atlanta votes this month on an environmental program covering site development, water efficiency, energy, indoor environmental quality, as well as a look at the building's impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. Across the country, more than 21,000 projects are currently registered for LEED with the USGBC. While legal action to date has been rare, the ground for litigation was broken in 2008, when a Maryland developer sued his contractor when the building failed to achieve LEED Silver certification. "Mandate enacting sustainability requirements will rise. Achieving the higher level of standards takes knowledgeable leadership to ensure those requirements are met and implemented correctly, and at least cost," said Robertson. "No one wants to fail. We know Energy Ace is able to provide superior work and service, and are ready to back that claim by guaranteeing our work."

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the feud at Ground Zero intensifies, the designer of an alternate plan for the troubled site is launching a vigorous campaign to raise awareness. A series of "Kitchen Table Summit" meetings will turn up the heat in the weeks before the 8th anniversary of 9/11 and challenge the trend toward lowered expectations. Invitations have started going out from structural engineer Kenneth Gardner to community leaders in politics, industry, media, architecture, and the arts, as well as to 9/11 family spokespeople and individuals who represent the man- and woman-on-the-street. The common sense that thrives around the nation's kitchen tables has been banished from the World Trade Center. The recent "Gracie Mansion Summit" was just the most recent example of the elitist "Mansion Mentality" that gave us the official plan to begin with. It is illogical to think that the contempt for the people that fostered the current chaos can be overcome without the public's help. As Yogi Berra pointed out: "You can observe a lot by watching," and the folly of the current irrational course is apparent. The cost overruns and years of delay recently projected by independent overseers make it increasingly likely that those who are invited to take part in this civic rescue mission will recognize the value of attending. The man who created the "Twin Towers II" plan (along with his mentor, the late Herbert Belton, an architect on the original WTC construction team) is confident that there will be some who are eager to evaluate the plan before making up their minds. "Twin Towers II" has already impressed some eminent authorities in the field. The aim now is to make other influential citizens aware of an alternative to all the waste and disappointment, while a transition is still feasible. If there is a plan ready to build 21st-century mixed-use Twin Towers that could be completed within three or four years and would cost billions of dollars less than is currently projected, then how can that responsibly be dismissed? Furthermore, if it includes an uplifting memorial that is much preferred by 9/11 families, for a fraction of the cost of the current design, on what basis can it be ignored? How much longer will a handful of politicians be allowed to defy the will of millions of Americans? A recent MSNBC poll suggests that more than 90% of the people agree that the Twin Towers belong in America's skyline. What is it about the current project that makes it worth overruling the people?

Permaculture, Alcohol Fuel Production, Car Conversion, Renewable Energy Solutions, Green Building Classes Including an American Clay Design Course for Natural Interior Finishes Featured. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--MAREA: WHAT: Pennsylvania's scenic rural countryside provides the campus for a unique series of hands-on workshops and exhibits focused on providing the essential skills and understanding necessary to implement sustainability solutions for home and new "green" commercial ventures. The 5th Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival features the nation's top Eco-experts covering: developing sustainable food production, converting gas vehicles to electric and biodiesel power, making small-scale Alcohol Fuel for home heating, cooking and transportation and using American Clay as a nontoxic, creative solution for beautiful interior finishes for home and office. Registration Required Workshops Include: * Alcohol Fuel Production and Use Workshop - A two and a half-day workshop presented by Permaculture /Alcohol Fuel expert/author David Blume. (9/18 – 20) 9 :00am–5:00pm - $270.00 * Converting your Car to Electric – Jenny Isaacs, Bucks County Renewables. (9/19) 2:30pm-5:30pm - $15 * Converting your Car to Run on Vegetable Oil – David Rosenstraus, Fossil Free Fuels (9/19 – 20) 9:00am–4:00pm - $50 * Hands-On American Clay - All Day Friday (9/18) Check-in 9:00am - $156 (MAX 12 people) Free Workshops include: * Spin Farming Workshop - Sun. (9/20) 3:30pm * Timber Frame Construction Demonstration - (9/18 – 20) * Small Scale Farming Demonstration with Horses - Tim Aukland, River Run Farm (9/18 – 20) * Biodiesel Demonstration Q & A Session - (9/18 – 20) * Solar Site Evaluation – Bill Hennessy, MAREA, NABCEP Certified Solar PV installer, NYSERDA eligible PV & Wind installer (9/18 -20) 2:30pm * Tour of the 3.7K Skystream Wind Turbine Installation - Sat. (9/19) 11:30am Where: The Kempton Community Center, Kempton, Berks County, PA. When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday September 18 - 20, 2009. Background: MAREA's 5th Annual Festival, is one of the largest and first Zero Waste events in the country and features top innovators of the sustainability movement presenting educational talks and programs providing the foundations for creating sustainable lifestyles, developing clean renewable fuel and energy sources as well as ways to create new, non-exportable job opportunities.

New look, and streamlined content enhance user experience. WABASH, Ind., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermafiber, Inc., has launched its redesigned company website. The new site features a contemporary appearance with simple and clear navigation, which helps customers quickly find the information they want. The site also provides more details about Thermafiber's widely specified mineral wool insulation products and services. Reorganized content and new features streamline the user's experience, providing important information to all customers from specification to installation and beyond.

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's largest builder of healthcare facilities, reported that the use of an innovative combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean construction practices on the 555,000 sq. ft. Middle Tennessee Medical Center (MTMC) in Murfreesboro, Tenn. resulted in the delivery of $3 million in budgeted costs savings below the Owner's initial target at the beginning of the project and an additional projection of nearly $1 million in savings from BIM-enabled prefabrication alone by the end of the project. Construction of the medical center is also on track to be completed two months early. The 286-bed regional hospital, which will feature 10 operating rooms, 27 post-partum rooms and 40 emergency department rooms, will be substantially completed in May 2010 largely due to Turner's implementation of a Lean construction approach enhanced by the use of Building Information Modeling as a visual and data-rich work planning tool. "Not only can the new Medical Center open its doors earlier than originally anticipated, we are also going to benefit from a cost savings that is thanks in part to the early involvement of Turner and its use of BIM in conjunction with Lean construction practices," said Jennifer Garland, MTMC Project Director. In the early planning stages of the project, the team decided to pursue a Lean approach to minimize waste and increase efficiencies throughout the life of the project. Applying the slogan of "build digitally first," Turner is achieving large percentages of pre-fabrication on major components of the building systems through a comprehensive digital coordination process. Subcontractors are using their trade BIM's to visually "prototype" all aspects of their work in detail long before fabrication or construction even starts. "BIM combined with a Lean culture enabled us to achieve levels of prefabrication we have not seen on previous projects," said Andy Davis, Turner Universal Senior Project Manager. "For example, most of the building's ductwork is being prefabricated off-site and then assembled at the project. In some cases, up to 16 feet of ductwork is being delivered to the site to be installed in single piece."

-- Independent Study Demonstrates Disconnect Between Industry Standards and Market BOSTON, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the results of the Synovate study, American homeowners are more concerned with energy efficiency and cost saving measures when building a 'green' home than with any other factor. FreeGreen, the world's leading house plan provider, commissioned the independent study focused on consumer perception of how to define 'green' building. The study reveals a gap between what consumers believe are the most significant green elements and the criterion of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-H), the most popular green building industry standard for homes. "Green home building standards such as the LEED-H and the National Home Building Association (NAHB) standards are useful guidelines for builders and architects focused on green home building," said David Wax, FreeGreen CEO. "This survey indicates that it could be very useful for LEED-H and NAHB to incorporate consumer feedback into their standards to get the best of both worlds; experts setting the standard in green innovation, while using consumer input to drive the marketing efforts leading to greater adoption. The survey question: What do you consider to be the single most important factor in determining if a home is 'green?'

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lexington Insurance Company, a Chartis company, today announced the introduction of Upgrade to Green(R) – Builder's Risk, which provides coverage that supports green building construction and renovation projects registered with the LEED(R) or the GREEN GLOBES(R) rating systems. Upgrade to Green, available as an endorsement to Lexington's Completed Value Builder's Risk Policy, extends coverage to address the risks green buildings face during three key areas of construction: project management and administration, site ecological impacts, and consumption of resources. In the event of a covered loss to a green building, Upgrade to Green provides coverage for the fees of qualified professionals associated with the building's design and restoration, as well as the costs of re-commissioning building systems and replacing vegetative roofs. Additionally, the product responds to changes to the relevant rating system criteria or loss of anticipated rating points as a result of a covered loss. For example, Upgrade to Green provides coverage if the new rating criteria require more points to achieve the anticipated certification level, or if the criteria to achieve the same number of points are more stringent and costly. It also provides extra remuneration for reconstruction or rework to secure new rating points if, as a result of covered damage, anticipated rating points are lost and no longer available. "We are committed to supporting sustainable development through innovative green products and services," said Liz Carmody, Senior Vice President, Lexington. "Upgrade to Green, which is part of our Ecosurance(R) portfolio of green products, addresses the unique risks that green construction and renovation presents to property owners." For more information regarding Upgrade to Green, contact Liz Carmody at 617-772-4597 or liz.carmody@chartisinsurance.com, or visit www.lexingtoninsurance.com/property.

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Iberdrola Renewables and Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company, LLC (Simpson) today announced that the Northwest's newest renewable energy facility -- a 55 megawatt (MW) biomass cogeneration plant at Simpson's Tacoma, Wash., pulp and paper mill -- has reached commercial operation. Simpson owns and operates the renewable energy cogeneration facility, which generates power from a combination of wood based biomass and wood lignin recovered from the pulping process. The biomass based fuels are used to generate steam which spins a steam turbine making renewable power while providing process steam to the mill. Iberdrola Renewables purchases all the renewable electricity from Simpson and manages high-voltage transmission and delivery to California. Simpson invested approximately $90 million to build the project, of which $20 million was in new construction jobs. Iberdrola Renewables announced in October that they had sold the entire power output to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). "Successfully delivering new renewable energy supply with a partner like Simpson is an exciting accomplishment," said Peter van Alderwerelt, senior vice president at Iberdrola Renewables. "Bringing together our detailed knowledge of West Coast power markets and unique portfolio of transmission rights combined with Simpson's extensive experience throughout the forest products sector makes for an important development at a time when it is vital for our utility customers to find more sources of clean, renewable power." "We are thrilled with our successful new venture in renewable energy," said Allan Trinkwald, President of Simpson. "Our renewable energy plant builds on our long history of commitment to the environment and on our existing sawmill and paper mill operations. Working with Iberdrola Renewables' experienced and talented team was a big help in getting to commercial operation."

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets(http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dfd8cc/capitalizing_on_ch) has announced the addition of the "Capitalizing On China's Investment in Transportation Infrastructure: An Assessment of Opportunities" report to their offering. Introducing a comprehensive and thorough assessment of the opportunities in China's Transportation Infrastructure investment (rail, road, airports, ports). The report is now available and it provides the most up-to-date and accurate intelligence on the expected investment as the Chinese government rapidly implements its stimulus package and its 11th Five Year Plan. The report covers the major projects in rail, road, airports and shipping ports. The report identifies 190 major projects across the four sectors, and profiles 80 of the projects deemed to have the most potential for clients who provide products and services within these sectors. The completions of the contracts for many of these projects are imminent and this report provides clients with the information to ensure that they do not miss out on any opportunities. The report highlights the key factors that enable access to the opportunities, such as the: Identification of the project decision-makers and product and services specifiers, at local and national level for products and services in: * Electronics industry * Equipment industry * Chemical industry * Construction materials and services * Others. Source of funding for projects Tender procedures and timing Understanding of policy towards local content products and services, versus eligibility of foreign content. For example, on certain more technology intensive projects, foreign suppliers have substantial technical advantage as domestic competitors in most cases do not have the required technology at this point in time. In locally-financed projects, local construction services and products are predominantly used. Multinational suppliers typically need to leverage relationships with local partners of joint ventures or distributors to access these opportunities.

PARKERSBURG, W. VA.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the second year in a row, Simonton Windows(R) ranks "Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction Study SM. Simonton also ranked highest in similar studies conducted in 2006 and 2008 by J.D. Power and Associates. Simonton received the highest overall ranking in the study compared with all other vinyl window and patio door manufacturers surveyed in evaluations of seven factors. The annual study is based on responses from 3,109 residential builders and remodelers. Each respondent evaluated up to two manufacturers of residential windows and patio doors. "One of our core values at Simonton Windows is to focus on anticipating and exceeding customer expectations. Our exceptional ranking for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates --for the second consecutive year--serves as a key performance indicator for us, and echoes our strong commitment to building and remodeling professionals throughout our industry," says Mark Savan, president of Simonton Windows. "We are honored to again receive this outstanding recognition for our products and services, and we value the confidence and trust they place in Simonton every day. "Our consistent focus on customer satisfaction remains unaffected by the challenging economic conditions in the marketplace. Our entire organization is dedicated to providing our customers with quality products, unsurpassed customer support and complete and accurate orders in an industry-leading delivery time."

Projects in 114 Countries Now Comprise 27% of LEED Certified Square Footage. WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International builders are increasingly adopting the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating System -- the United States' primary tool for green building -- with international projects now comprising 27 percent of LEED certified and registered projects. LEED projects are underway in 114 nations, with a particularly strong presence in Norway, Finland Sweden and Denmark. "Currently there are 43 LEED projects under construction in the Nordics, where their commitment to consensus and collaboration mirrors exactly how LEED works best," said U.S. Green Building Council's Vice President of International, Tim McEnery. "Growth of LEED adoption in the Nordic region is accelerating: 36 projects have registered with LEED so far in 2009. With the increase of interest in the Nordic countries, we're confident that LEED will be a tremendous tool to add to the leadership in sustainability that the Nordic countries embody." By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. Interest in LEED is strong because it is more than a rating system, but an entire support program for helping owners and operators green their complete building portfolios. The LEED program applies to new construction, existing buildings, interiors, residential and neighborhoods, and has special applications for schools, hospitals, retail and hospitality sectors, underscoring its flexibility. McEnery pointed to the success LEED has already had around the globe in countries such as India, Canada, Italy and Brazil. "The adage about thinking globally and acting locally is the exact kind of framework that is needed if we are to aggressively address the role of the built environment in climate change. LEED provides the market with a framework to harmonize global best practices, metrics and protocols," added McEnery. Green building is being rapidly adopted in both the residential and commercial sectors. The USGBC's LEED program is widely viewed as having been the catalyst for this growth because it serves as an essential, proven tool for enabling this market transformation. It provides a concise framework for best-practices in high-performance green building design, construction and ongoing operations, a critical part of sustaining high performance. Equally important is the independent, third-party verification that a building meets these high performance measures. This ensures that buildings are constructed as designed and that they perform as expected. This role is performed for USGBC by the Green Building Certification Institute, which provides third party confirmation through coordination with global certification bodies like DNV (Det Norske Veritas). Since 2001, LEED has provided building owners and operators with an objective, verifiable definition of green, along with design and measurement tools with the reliability and integrity they need to have an immediate, quantifiable impact on their buildings' performance.

Software Increases Productivity and Eases the Analysis Process from Start to Finish. BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software for sustainable building design, today announced the launch of VE-Gaia, a step-by-step smart navigation software solution that offers a complete analysis workflow environment designed to guide the user through the process and facilitate analysis understanding. VE-Gaia is composed of a series of navigators which increase productivity, reduce the potential for human error and revolutionise the way analysis is undertaken. Using VE-Gaia, designers have the ability to input and manipulate exact building data within an integrated central data model. The smart navigators take users through a range of different analysis tasks from model import/creation and data assignment, including the consideration of building metrics, natural resources and material use, to climate exploration, water use, energy/carbon analysis, loads calculation, daylight/solar assessments, renewable and low/zero carbon technology consideration and the assessment of LEED credits. "VE-Gaia is a major milestone in the evolution of our software, and will revolutionise the way building simulation is performed," said Don McLean, Founder and CEO of IES. "Ideal for architects and designers who don't undertake simulation on a day-to-day basis, this software guides the way from analysis to understanding; increasing productivity and easing the process for everyone involved." With VE-Gaia, designers can track progress, control quality, iterate workflows, trigger simulations, filter results and automatically produce highly-visual graphics and interactive rich-text reports. Within a project, any common navigator component is always up to date. Users can also move between navigators at any time, providing a rapid cycle of development for each project. These unique features allow the user to mould and define their workflow within the framework provided by the navigators. VE-Gaia navigators also include a notes and date/user stamp function that facilitate a direct modelling QA system that can be exported for documentation purposes. A special buy one, get one free offer is running on the core VE-Gaia product until the release of V6.1 of the . Add-on VE-Gaia navigators are available for the LEED and Sustainability assessment capabilities. LEED capabilities cover daylighting, comfort, water and renewables across the New Construction, Schools and Core & Shell schemes – reports fit LEED letter templates. For more information on VE-Gaia, visit http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.iesve.com/Software/VE-Gaia.

The Plaza Building is the First Existing Building in Portland to Achieve Certification under New LEED(R) for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Program. PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Standard earned a coveted LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Gold Certification for its Standard Plaza home office building. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The Standard is pleased to have the first building in Portland, Oregon, to achieve any LEED rating for the Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance program. Located in downtown Portland, the 217,000-square-foot, Class A home office building was originally built in 1963. The Gold Certification is the USGBC’s second-highest rating. "The LEED-certified approach to the design and renovation of existing buildings brings significant cost savings through energy efficiency – and also reflects The Standard's commitment to supporting healthy and sustainable communities where our employees live and work," said Greg Ness, president and CEO at The Standard. Green Building Services, the sustainability consultant for the project, brought a wealth of expertise to the endeavor. "The new LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance system addresses the ongoing services required to ensure high performance over time. This shift in focus enables building owners and managers to concentrate on operational efficiencies, resulting in significant savings," said Elaine Aye, principal at Green Building Services. LEED certification of Standard Plaza was based on a number of green design features and operational best practices that positively impact the property itself and the broader community. The sustainability programs successfully implemented at The Standard demonstrate how a building constructed 46 years ago can profitably achieve energy and resource efficiency that compares favorably with newer construction. "Gold" highlights of the Plaza building include: * Plumbing retrofits which are resulting in a savings of 2.5 million gallons of potable water annually * High participation rate of building occupants utilizing alternative modes of transportation for commuting * Secure parking for 75 bikes * Green cleaning and recycling programs that are improving indoor environmental quality, reducing toxic chemicals and diverting waste from landfills * Using a new “Green Lease” that asks tenants to partner with The Standard to help with green efforts To implement these features, The Standard invested more than $208,000 in efficiency upgrades to equipment, operations and employee practices. These improvements are expected to generate approximately $111,000 in annual savings, and have a simple payback period of 1.9 years. The energy performance of the building rates in the top 20 percent of similar facilities nationwide and has earned the EPA's Energy Star label, reflecting the company's commitment to being a smart energy consumer. By making the energy-saving improvements to the Plaza, The Standard estimates it will save the company approximately $1.3 million in utility and operational savings over the next 15 years.

Cabinet Manufacturer Offers "Dynamic Component" 3-D Models for Google(R) SketchUp(TM) and other CAD Programs. MIDDLEFIELD, OHIO – August 10, 2009 – To help designers and architects simplify the design process, KraftMaid(R) is now offering 3-D cabinet models as Google(R) SketchUp(TM) Dynamic Components in the Google(R) 3D Warehouse. As Dynamic Components, these models make it easier than ever for designers to create highly functional, personalized spaces for their clients. "The advanced function built within each of our 3-D models is an industry first for kitchen cabinets," said Mark Johnson, director of sales & marketing education at KraftMaid. "Since the cabinet collections are modeled as Dynamic Components, designers can show their clients a virtual kitchen, bath, home office or laundry room design with animated cabinet doors and drawers. They can even preview design options like base cabinet rollout drawers for aging-in-place or Universal Design applications. Designers can size and resize the cabinets to any dimensions we make, access specification information embedded within each model and hotlink back to the KraftMaid website for more information. Our new smart models are a perfect "BIM Light" solution since they can be downloaded for free from Google(R) 3D Warehouse directly into SketchUp(TM) and other residential CAD programs. It's easier for clients to experience designs in 3-D and see what options work best for them." Dynamic Components are SketchUp components to which attributes have been assigned. Attributes can be simple pieces of additional information, such as part numbers and dimensions. Additionally, attributes can contain spatial relationships, such as how two parts are positioned in relation to each other, and behaviors, such as animation and smart scaling. "Storage opportunities can often be missed when designing a kitchen because clients can't visualize their cabinetry's true functionality," added Johnson. "Dynamic Components allow designers and clients to virtually open doors, pull out drawers and get an understanding of which types of interior storage options will best fit their needs." Google SketchUp was developed to provide quick 3-D forms for conceptual stages of design, including a repository of 3-D objects that accelerate the design process, called the Google 3D Warehouse. SketchUp models can be converted into all major CAD products without having to draw designs twice. KraftMaid Dynamic Components 3-D models are produced by digital media firm Igloo Studios. To download these models from the Google 3D Warehouse, visit http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse and search "Collections" using the search words, "KraftMaid Cabinetry by MASCO." About KraftMaid(R) Cabinetry For more that 40 years, KraftMaid Cabinetry has been one of the nation's largest manufacturers of semi-custom cabinetry. Today, KraftMaid continues to lead the industry in innovation and design with an extensive product selection featuring more than 100 trend-in door styles and more than 45 furniture-quality finish options. In 1990, KraftMaid was purchased by Masco Corporation of Taylor, Michigan, one of the world's largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home and family. KraftMaid(R) is the anchor brand of the Masco Retail Cabinet Group. All KraftMaid Cabinetry carries a limited lifetime warranty and is Environmental Stewardship Program-certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. KraftMaid is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and has earned the ISO 14001:2004 Certification for its sustainable manufacturing processes. KraftMaid cabinetry is available through an extensive distributor and dealer network. For more information, visit www.kraftmaid.com or call 440-632-5333 About Igloo Studios Igloo Studios is a digital media firm that creates immersive 3-D and video media solutions for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry companies. The firm creates interactive 3-D models for Google Earth and the Google 3D Warehouse under its "Blue Marble Project" branded studio (http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.bluemarbleproject.com/). These powerful new media experiences are leveraged by building product manufacturers, real estate developers and designers to reach clients and consumers in a visually meaningful way. Igloo's second studio known as "School" (http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/go-2-school.com) is devoted to training users of Google SketchUp through online video podcasts, DVDs, live instruction and a Web community for SketchUp and Google Earth users.

ITHACA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Tagos Group, LLP chose Building Performance Compass to benchmark educational facilities across 76 school districts in Texas. The study supports a market transformation program to reduce energy use among K-12, colleges and universities sponsored by the largest regulated electric distribution and transmission company in Texas. Building Performance Compass provides state energy efficiency programs, weatherization agencies, and utilities with the resources necessary to track building energy. Compass assists organizations such as building portfolio managers, schools, municipalities, and regional climate change groups in meeting energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals. For a demonstration or more information, visit http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.psdconsulting.com/buildingperformance. Building Performance Compass incorporates over 20 years of building performance experience from Performance Systems Development (PSD). It builds on software developed by PSD for New York State Energy Research Development Agency's (NYSERDA) FOCUS on Commercial Real Estate program. That project, currently benchmarking forty million square feet of commercial space in New York City, empowers building owners to manage their energy consumption themselves. Building owners can identify strategic opportunities for energy savings and carbon mitigation without the need for third-party energy service providers. Building Performance Compass ensures that utility and state energy program managers receive comprehensive reporting for all energy efficiency improvement efforts; Building portfolio managers know what impact behaviors and building improvements have on energy use over time; Building owners view how their buildings perform against a national average using the EPA's Portfolio Manager and a peer comparison to similar buildings; Weatherization agencies have a central information hub, improving program effectiveness for the increased efforts proscribed by this year's stimulus funding; and Contractors find a powerful analysis tools pinpointing areas of highest energy use to most effectively use a customer's budget and show how their work produces real results. Performance Systems Development specializes in providing software, training, and consulting to the building energy efficiency industry. The company provides a whole-systems approach to energy policy, programs, solutions, and software processes, to improve process efficiency. PSD continues to develop TREAT, a leading energy simulation tool for building retrofits, and Green Energy Compass, a residential benchmarking tool. PSD delivers green jobs training, Building Performance Institute certification training, and a licensed curriculum for building professional training programs. For a demonstration or more information, visit http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.psdconsulting.com/buildingperformance.

-Two contracts awarded in Changsha and one contract won in Shenzhen- ZHUHAI, China and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Architectural Engineering, Inc. ("CAE" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:CAEI) , a leader in the design, engineering, fabrication and installation of high-end building envelope systems, today announced that it has been awarded two government contracts in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, and won a bid on a government contract in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, with a total value of approximately US$11.2 million. The two contracts in Changsha, together worth US$8.9 million, are for the Changsha Riverfront Cultural Park Museum and Changsha High Speed Train Station projects. The rapid urban development of Hunan province has accelerated the construction of municipal projects in Changsha, the provincial capital. In addition, the Company has also won a bid for the brand new Terminal 3 at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, worth US$2.4 million. The Terminal 3 is designed to bridge two of China's most-developed cities -- Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and to create a world-class integrated gateway and transportation hub for both domestic and international travels. CAE will provide design and consulting services and be responsible for designing the terminal's curtain wall, which will be shaped to be resemble a honeycomb, a unique blend of function and form. Mr. Ken Yi Luo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Architectural Engineering, commented, "We are very excited to be awarded these municipal project contracts. Boosted by the government's 4-trillion RMB (USD$585 billion) stimulus plan, the number of domestic construction projects in China have started to trend upward. We are confident that CAE will continue to benefit from the accelerated growth of infrastructure projects throughout China as the stimulus plan continues to spur domestic demand. We believe we are well positioned to capture further revenue opportunities arising from the improving market conditions."

- Funds Will Be Used to Support Creation of Montgomery County Manufacturing Plant - PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- SRS Energy, a leading developer of sustainable solar roofing products, has been awarded $2,805,000 in grant and loan money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support the production of its Sole Power Tile(TM) system, the first solar roofing tile designed to seamlessly integrate with curved clay tile roofs. "These funds will enable SRS Energy to expand its business by opening a manufacturing plant that will put Pennsylvanians to work producing the Sole Power Tile," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy. "We are delighted at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's commitment to invest in clean, sustainable technologies that will benefit both the environment and the economy." On June 30, 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development awarded SRS Energy a Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF) loan for $2,375,000 to support the purchase of equipment for a manufacturing plant that the company will open in eastern Pennsylvania, in a location to be announced shortly. On July 14, 2009, the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved a $430,000 grant, also to be used for purchasing manufacturing equipment. The plant's first line is scheduled to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2010, and will employ 30 to 40 people, with additional lines to open at later dates. The Sole Power Tile system is designed to seamlessly blend with several styles of US Tile's clay roofing tiles, providing sustainable energy while preserving curb appeal. The product employs cutting-edge thin film solar technology, valued for its ability to convert a greater spectrum of light into electricity, as well as its relative insensitivity to heat when compared to other solar technologies. SRS Energy and US Tile are currently launching the Sole Power Tile system in select West Coast markets, and will begin a nationwide rollout of the product in spring of 2010. For more information, visit www.srsenergy.com.

Initial Sustainability Goals Exceeded on Turner Projects. MIAMI, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's largest builder of Green buildings, is leading the Green building effort in the South Florida market through the company's commitment to sustainable building practices. With 24 LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) working in Turner's Miami office and more than 1,100 LEED APs nationally, more than any other firm, the company is uniquely positioned to meet the Green building needs of our clients and the community in the South Florida market. Turner recently led the building team for the Knoll, Inc. showroom in Miami, Fla., which achieved a LEED Silver Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The showroom was originally intended to achieve a LEED Certification, but by obtaining additional points for sustainable elements that included sensory lighting and recycling more than 90% of the construction debris, the project achieved LEED Silver with no additional cost to the client. In addition, Turner managed the construction of the LEED Gold Toyota Motors Lexus Florida Training Center in Miramar, Fla. This project had an original goal to achieve a LEED Silver Certification from the USGBC, but through the efforts of the building team to recycle more than 90% of the construction waste and the creation of parking spaces for carpool-only vehicles, the project was awarded a LEED Gold Certification in April at no additional cost to Toyota. Turner's most recent Green project awards include three higher education facilities in South Florida. Turner is providing construction management services for Florida International University's $32 million Public Safety and 2,300-space Parking Garage 5 complex as well as Florida Atlantic University's $19 million, 65,000 sq. ft. College of Arts and Letters, both scheduled to achieve LEED NC Silver Certifications. In addition, Turner is currently providing pre-construction services for Miami Dade College's Culinary Arts Building, which is scheduled to achieve a LEED NC Certification upon its completion 2011. To further support Turner's commitment to the adoption of Green building practices in the South Florida market, Carlos Duarte, Turner Senior Project Manager for the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), serves as a board member and the treasurer of the USGBC's South Florida Chapter. Turner has had a presence in Florida since 1908. Turner completed the Venetian Hotel in Miami in 1910 followed by the 12-story Ingraham Building in Downtown Miami. In 1926, the company constructed the landmark Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. In 1959, Turner completed the 17-story Southeast First National Bank of Miami building in the heart of the downtown business district. Today, Turner's Miami office is one of the largest construction management firms in South Florida.

CityCenter Emerges as Leader of Sustainable Urban Development, Driving Green Economies of Scale in Multiple Industry Segments. LAS VEGAS, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Strip, CityCenter will be one of the world's largest sustainable developments, from design and construction to operations and guest amenities. An extraordinary urban resort destination brought to life by eight world-renowned architects, the 18-million-square-foot development is set to achieve a combination of gold and silver LEED ratings by the U.S. Green Building Council throughout its distinctive hotels; residences; dining, retail and public spaces. Using cutting-edge solutions, CityCenter has been able to grow responsibly without sacrificing the quality of materials or guest experience. Due to its size and purchasing power, CityCenter is driving green economies of scale in multiple industry segments, paving the way for other entities to build and operate sustainably. CityCenter has moved beyond existing green practices to empower industry-wide innovations. Key Sustainable Highlights -- First energy-generation on The Strip through its 8.5 megawatt natural-gas co-generation plant, providing efficient electricity on site, reducing emissions and using "waste heat" to provide all domestic hot water -- Water conservation technology and programs that will save between 32% and 39% within the buildings and 60% in outdoor landscaping -- First-ever fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) -- Nation's most technologically advanced hotel rooms with exclusive features allowing guests to "green their stay" -- Development of slot machine bases that serve as floor air-conditioning units, efficiently cooling guests from the ground up, rather than wasting energy on empty space by cooling from the ceiling -- Energy-efficiency initiatives providing a savings equivalent to powering 7,700 households annually -- Creation of a large-scale recycling operation that enabled the recycling or reuse of more than 230,000 tons of construction waste, including 80% of the imploded Boardwalk Hotel. Most significantly, collaborating with the foremost sustainability and LEED consultants from throughout the nation, CityCenter has introduced more than 10,000 construction trade and craftsmen to green building techniques that can be implemented at other developments throughout Las Vegas and beyond. "CityCenter captures the energy and diversity of Las Vegas in one of the world's largest green urban developments," said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE. "Designing CityCenter with sustainable elements and practices reinforces its permanence and creates a healthier environment for our guests and residents, as well as for the 12,000 people who ultimately will work at CityCenter."

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., the world's leading producer of resins and adhesives for industrial applications, announced today it will partner with Tekle Technical Services, Inc. (TTS), a biocomposites company, to develop "green" building products for the construction industry. Hexion and TTS recently signed an agreement formalizing their intent to collaborate on commercial development of building materials utilizing TTS' natural fibre-based materials and Hexion's industry leading resin systems, including those featuring its Ecobind(TM) ultra low-emitting resin technology. Hexion will aid TTS in its efforts to develop unique composite materials that include: -composite panels using agriculture, forestry and municipal waste fibre sources; -engineered fibre mat products using agricultural and forestry fibres; -structural insulated panels reinforced with natural fibres; -natural fibre cement composites, and; -fibre plastic composites. Under the agreement, Hexion will develop resins, adhesives, catalysts and additives for use in TTS products, and will provide technical services and support from its regional forest products R&D centre located in Edmonton, Alberta. "Combining Hexion's industry-leading low-emitting resin systems with the natural fibre expertise of TTS will help TTS provide the construction industry with new, environmentally suitable products with enhanced sustainability characteristics," said Carlos Nuila, vice president, research & development for Hexion's Forest Products Division. The recognized leader in resin technology for the forest products and construction industries, Hexion continues to provide environmentally advanced systems that reduce emissions in both the production environment and in finished products. Its EcoBind resin technology is helping wood panel producers meet the most stringent global emission standards and is being trialed in other construction applications to help reduce emissions and improve new building air quality. In another initiative, Hexion's Albecor(TM) bio-based powdered coatings system received a 2008 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine citing it as one of the top 100 innovations last year. "Hexion is committed to helping our customers continue to improve their products, reduce or eliminate product emissions and enhance product sustainability," Nuila said.

Well-dwellers can rest assured that exposure to waterborne arsenic and associated health concerns will be mitigated with Culligan's fully tested and certified solution. CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--About 43 million people – 15 percent of the nation's population – who use water from private wells may unknowingly be exposed to contaminants including naturally occurring arsenic, according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Society (USGS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum limit for arsenic in drinking water at 10 ppb (parts per billion), due to concerns that arsenic may have long-term health effects. To address consumer concerns about arsenic in their water, Culligan, the leader in home water treatment solutions for more than 70 years, just introduced the only certified Whole House Arsenic Reduction Filter on the market. The entire system has been tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the reduction of total arsenic (pentavalent and trivalent). Homeowners can be assured that the new Culligan solution is backed by third-party certification experts who uphold independent testing standards to validate which devices are successful at reducing arsenic and other contaminants. Why third party certification is important to consumers is the entire system passed laboratory tests (including arsenic reduction performance), material review, structural integrity, and literature compliance. Not only does the filter safely reduce arsenic in drinking water, but it also reduces arsenic levels in water used throughout the entire household. This significantly decreases the potential for human exposure to arsenic when bathing, washing dishes and laundering clothes. "Culligan customers now have peace of mind knowing that any traces of arsenic in their water are mitigated to regulated levels by the Whole House Arsenic Reduction Filter. This is a major advance in protecting the entire family from the impact of arsenic," said Eric Rosenthal, Culligan's senior vice president of marketing.

-- FAA investment in critical Michigan infrastructure project now tops $32M DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An additional $1,471,526 in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on its way to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan's largest air transport facility and among the world's largest air transportation hubs, to support the ongoing reconstruction of the airport's Runway 09L/27R. Congressman John Dingell (D-MI 15) notified the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), operator of DTW, of the additional grant award. "The timely reconstruction of this critical transportation infrastructure—and the jobs such a project creates—are essential to Metro Detroit's economic comeback," said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson. "The Airport Authority could not be more grateful to and proud of Congressman Dingell, as well as Senators Levin and Stabenow, for their steadfast commitment to the future of our airport, our region and our great state." This new federal investment more than doubles DTW's most recent $1,250,490 FAA grant for the runway project awarded in July. As with this original grant, the additional funding announced today will support the reconstruction of 900 feet of Runway 9L/27R east of Runway 3L/21R and narrowing it to 150 feet, which is already well underway. Runway 9L/27R is the older and one of only two crosswind runways at DTW, which are used primarily during indicated wind conditions. "I am pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to increase the size of their grant for this runway at Detroit Metro Airport," said Congressman Dingell. "This can help pay for some much needed improvements in terms of the airport's ability to handle its current load. I hope this will pave the way for a more efficient and effective airport which will be able to better serve the people of Southeast Michigan, as well as create much-needed construction jobs for our folks at home." The grant increased by this announcement, now totaling more than $2.7 million, follows an original $30 million in FAA grants awarded to the Airport Authority in June. Half of that initial funding was provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and has enabled the WCAA to accelerate the reconstruction project, reducing the impact of construction on travelers and creating more short-term local jobs. As many as 225 excavators, pavers, haulers, electricians and other new construction jobs are anticipated at DTW this summer as part of that project. Serving more than 35 million passengers in 2008, DTW is the largest airport in Michigan and among the busiest air transportation hubs in the world. DTW serves as the second-largest hub for the world's largest airline, Delta Air Lines, and is also home to 14 additional airlines, including several low-cost carriers and foreign-flag carriers. With two new passenger terminals and six jet runways, DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable, customer-friendly and efficient airports in North America with more than 1,200 non-stop flights per day to over 160 destinations worldwide.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBR (NYSE:KBR) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Verkhnechonskneftegas (VCNG) to provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the VC FFD Project located in the Eastern Siberia region of Russia. KBR will provide FEED services for a single new build, 140,000 barrels of oil per day facility, which will be tied back via a new 85-kilometer pipeline, to the existing East Siberian Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline. The VC oil & gas field is planned to produce a plateau production of 140-kbopd from 430 production wells, and there will be 215 water injection wells. The field development will involve total 645 wells distributed over 75 well pads. The reservoir is about 1700m depth and initial reservoir pressure is about 2,250 psia, with a reservoir temperature from 12C to 20C. The project award marks the first contract between VCNG and KBR and builds upon the existing relationship between TNK-BP and Granherne, a KBR subsidiary. Work on the project is already underway. "This award solidifies our relationship with both VCNG and TNK-BP, and is further evidence of KBR's commitment to establishing our continuing presence in Russia," said John Rose, President, KBR Upstream. "We look forward to executing this project and I am confident this will be a successful FEED for the Eastern Siberia program." KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services and civil infrastructure sectors. The company offers a wide range of services through its Downstream, Government and Infrastructure, Services, Technology, Upstream and Ventures business segments. For more information, visit www.kbr.com.

National Community Affairs Conference to Commemorate Milestone Governor of Ohio Ted Strickland to Speak Key Bank CEO Henry Meyer to Keynote Conference. NEW YORK, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Construction Company, the nation's leading general builder, is marking the firm's 40th anniversary of the Turner School of Construction Management (TSCM) program. The TSCM provides minority, women, disadvantaged and small-business owners with courses on topics such as green buildings, developing a business plan, financial planning, estimating, construction law, bonding and insurance. The 40th Anniversary celebration, held in conjunction with Turner's National Community Affairs Conference, will be held on August 11th and 12th in Ohio, where the TSCM originated. The conference will be held in Cincinnati where Turner is constructing the $210 million Great American Tower at Queen City Square. The Turner School of Construction Management is a learning program that is offered through each of Turner's offices and has been held in more than 70 cities across the country. Since the program's establishment in 1969, there have been 32,000 graduates of the TSCM program. During 2008 alone, 33 programs were held, graduating more than 1,165 people. The program has helped Turner build successful long-term relationships with minority -- and women -- owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) generating more than 48,800 contracts with a value of $17.6 billion. Turner President and CEO Peter Davoren said, "We are very proud to have this record of accomplishment and that we are able to provide so many opportunities to minority and women business contractor communities around the country."

PASADENA, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today that it has received a contract from BAA to provide full-spectrum engineering design services for the new Energy Centre and associated distribution systems at London Heathrow Airport. Officials did not disclose the contract value. In making the announcement, Jacobs Group Vice President Allyn Taylor stated, "We are delighted to have won this opportunity to further our relationship with BAA and to provide additional services at Heathrow. This technically challenging and high-profile project will draw on a number of Jacobs' specialist capabilities to support BAA in its carbon-reduction strategy." The new Energy Centre, which combines a substantial Combined Heat and Power element, renewable fuels and conventional plant technology, will mark a significant step toward fulfilling BAA's commitment to a low-carbon strategy for the campus. When completed, the Energy Centre will serve the heat and power demands of the new Eastern Campus development and allow for expansion as part of a long-term strategy to link airport-generating assets. In this project, Jacobs will combine renewable fuel and technology expertise with full multi-disciplinary infrastructure and building design capability, and will provide energy demand profiling, technology performance modeling and assessment of full life environmental, commercial and maintenance options prior to developing the scheme design. Jacobs, with annual revenues exceeding $12 billion, is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional, and construction services. Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. We, therefore, caution the reader that there are a variety of factors that could cause business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our 2008 Form 10-K, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We also caution the readers of this release that we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

HOUSTON & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Construction of the approximately 500-mile Midcontinent Express Pipeline (MEP) is complete and natural gas transportation service commenced Saturday, Aug. 1, on the pipeline from Delhi, La., to Transcontinental Pipe Line's Station 85 in Butler, Ala. Interim service had begun on the pipeline from Bennington, Okla., to Delhi in April. MEP is a joint venture of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:KMP) and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP). "We are delighted that the final leg of the Midcontinent Express Pipeline is in service," said Steve Kean, president of Kinder Morgan's Natural Gas Pipelines group. Kinder Morgan constructed and will operate the pipeline. "The completion of this final segment of MEP affords shippers and producers in the Barnett Shale, Bossier Sands and other producing regions access to markets in the eastern United States," said Lee Hanse, senior vice president of Energy Transfer's Interstate Pipeline group. MEP has multiple receipt and delivery points along the pipeline system, which originates in southeast Oklahoma, crosses northeast Texas, northern Louisiana and central Mississippi and ends in Alabama. Capacity is currently up to 1.25 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day in Zone 1, which interconnects with the Columbia Gulf Transmission system in Delhi and up to 0.84 Bcf per day in Zone 2, which interconnects with the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line system in Butler. An expansion of the pipeline is expected to be completed in 2010, which will further increase MEP's capacity to approximately 1.8 Bcf per day in Zone 1 and 1.2 Bcf per day in Zone 2. The pipeline's capacity, including the expansion capacity, is fully subscribed with long-term binding commitments from creditworthy shippers. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:KMP) is a leading pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. KMP owns an interest in or operates more than 28,000 miles of pipelines and 170 terminals. Its pipelines transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, CO2 and other products, and its terminals store petroleum products and chemicals and handle bulk materials like coal and petroleum coke. KMP is also the leading provider of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery projects in North America. One of the largest publicly traded pipeline limited partnerships in America, KMP has an enterprise value of over $20 billion. The general partner of KMP is owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc., a private company. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) is a publicly traded partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. ETP has pipeline operations in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Utah, and owns the largest intrastate pipeline system in Texas. ETP's natural gas operations include gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and processing assets, and three storage facilities located in Texas. ETP currently has more than 17,500 miles of pipeline in service and has a 50% interest in joint ventures that have approximately 500 miles of interstate pipeline in service. ETP is also one of the three largest retail marketers of propane in the United States, serving more than one million customers across the country.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schuff Steel Company, the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) and the International Code Council (ICC) recently published "Performance-Based Plastic Design Earthquake-Resistant Steel Structures." The authors are Subhash C. Goel, Ph.D., P.E., Professor Emeritus Structures and Materials Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and Shih-Ho Chao, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Texas, Arlington, TX. Schuff Steel Company is a subsidiary of Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK), a leading family of companies providing fully integrated steel construction services. According to Jay Allen, SE, executive vice president of sales and engineering for Schuff International, "The book provides structural engineers, educators and students with practical guidance on how to design a building for desired seismic performance using the new Performance-Based Plastic Design (PBPD) method. The book offers clear explanations of design methodology. It also applies the methodology to different structural systems while clearly demonstrating each step of the process through numerous design drawings, formulas and tables." The book is a collaborative effort based on research conducted by Goel and Chao at the University of Michigan. Research was sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction; NUCOR Research and Development; and Nabih Youssef Associates, Structural Engineers. An advisory group consisting of 13 leading academics and engineers from across the country read and commented on the manuscript. "Schuff helped underwrite the book based on its contribution to the steel industry. It is extremely informative for practicing engineers, as well as for those of us in the steel fabrication and erection business who are involved in the planning and constructing of earthquake-resistant structures," said Allen. "Performance-Based Plastic Design Earthquake-Resistant Steel Structures" is also available on CD. To purchase a copy of the book or CD, contact ICC at ICCsafe.org or call 888-422-7233.

GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A leading forensic expert on building envelope, water intrusion, toxic mold, and Chinese drywall, Spiderman S. Mulholland, Senior Forensic investigator and national consultant with US Building Consultants (USBCI) and US Building Laboratories Inc. (USBLI) along with an independent work group comprised of experts and scientists have been working feverishly to determine proper protocol for remediation of homes affected by the defective Chinese Drywall Crisis. Many questions have been raised. Do we have to rip out the wiring? Can the studs be salvaged? Does the tile have to be torn out? Does the ceiling drywall have to be removed? What about our personal belongings? What is the absorption rate of these volatile organic compounds on the other building materials that are in the home? USBCI and USBLI have taken over several Florida homes and have been doing testing in the lab and in the field along with other laboratories across the nation. They are trying to design the most cost effective solution for remediation. "The biggest fear we have is homeowners paying twice to have their homes remediated," said Mulholland. "Already there are many reports of remediation that have failed after removing the drywall. There are some builders who are even asking homeowners to forfeit their legal rights on future claims. This is a serious concern to us and we have contacted local and state officials about this concern." Under the proper protocol for remediation, this could be a win-win situation for homeowners providing that warranties and certification is obtained by the contractors or developers. Mulholland has been concerned about this issue, and contacted the offices of Senator Nelson and Congressman Wexler to address this crisis. The main issue is if the homes are not properly remediated and not certified with warranties, homeowners again may be left holding the bag. Contractors coming back to rectify the problem need to be aware of proper protocol in dealing with remediation efforts. US Building Consultants, Inc. will be formulating these protocols and submitting them to the state for approval over the next several weeks. To learn more about Spiderman Mulholland and USBCI, go online to www.usbcinc.com, or to arrange an interview, contact anne@usbcinc.com. Source: US Building Consultants, Inc. CONTACT: Annie Johnson, US Building Consultants, Inc., +1-352-505-6771, annie@usbcinc.com Web Site: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.usbcinc.com/

Efficiency Gold Standard Continues to Set New Mandates. BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A handful of energy-efficient buildings that have achieved net-zero energy are driving new mandates for energy efficiency, according to the latest issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine. According to the examples in Jeff Gavin's article, "The Full Gain of Net-Zero," net-zero energy buildings actually produce their own energy, ultimately offsetting the energy they expend. Some also produce more energy than they use, and can sell the excess back to the utility. The efficiency perfection of these tightly constructed buildings are also leading communities and states to set 15- to 30-year target dates when new construction must meet net-zero. "Power quality and its impact on consumers is part of our growing residential content," said John Maisel, publisher of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md. * Aldo Leopold Legacy Center: a conservation center in Baraboo, Wis.: the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-rated building in the United States for new construction, meeting all of its energy needs on site and using 70 percent less energy than a National Electrical Code-compliant building. The Center's roof-mounted solar array is projected to meet 110 percent of the building's energy needs annually. H&H Group Inc., Madison, Wis., served as the primary subcontractor, and added solar energy to the project seven years ago. H&H's net-zero strategies included daylighting controls, motion sensors, compact fluorescents, a grid-tied photovoltaic system, a geothermal radiant floor systems and an air chamber forced air system that greatly reduces HVAC energy use. * Austin, Tx.: will require all of its community's new homes to be net-zero-energy capable or able to operate completely off the grid by 2015, with Dallas and other Texas cities setting their own green-construction standards. California’s Energy Commission has recommended similar goals by 2020 for the entire state. For the full article, go to: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.ecmag.com/index.cfm?fa=article&articleID=10361

TORONTO, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- "We have had great success, the Guild Inn 7-storey hotel building is now completely down; the historic building is successfully separated and is ready to be restored. REC Demolition and Toromont CAT have partnered in GREEN LEED Demolition. REC Demolition have used their new Caterpillar 330D UHD -Ultra High Reach Demolition Excavator, which allows us to safely complete demolition projects like Regent Park and 7-storey The Guild Inn hotel. "Restoration Environmental Contractors-REC Demolition is announcing our 20th Anniversary this year of being Green - now LEED-qualified - specialty contractors," states Don Bremner, President, CEO, REC Demolition. "REC, by using (Toromont) Caterpillar Demolition Excavating Equipment, has achieved great success by enforcing the three R's (reduce, re-use, recycle)." REC have exceeded 94.7% per cent Green LEED certification at the Regent Park, the TCHC, Toronto Revitalization environmental remediation and demolition project. We also had exceptional results with an over 75% success rate at the Queen's University Jock Harty Demolition project with PCL Constructors in Kingston. We expect our success to continue and we are excited to announce the new addition of the Caterpillar 330D UHD -Ultra High Reach Demolition Excavator to our CAT Fleet. We pride ourselves on our safety record, our Green/LEED practices, the three R's (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle), Green Demolition, and an increased level of productivity. With these metrics in mind, our clients will get the complete demolition and environmental remediation package. Since established in 1989, Restoration Consultants - Restoration Environmental Contractors REC Demolition have successfully completed over 9,000 environmental remediation and demolition projects throughout Canada, specializing in environmental remediation, demolition using Caterpillar Demolition Excavators, asbestos removal, lead abatement, mold remediation, industrial plant cleaning, decommissioning closures, site remediation and disaster recovery in the industrial, commercial, government, and institutional sectors. The Restoration Environmental Contractors senior project management and site supervisory team has accumulated more than one million hours of on-site environmental remediation contracting experience in the removal of all hazardous materials including asbestos, mould, lead dust, PCBs and heavy metals. They are also very well versed in plant decommissioning, site decontamination, soil remediation, and demolition. REC Restoration Consultants and Restoration Environmental Contractors is a full-service emergency response contractor committed to excellence and which boasts an impeccable record of health and safety. REC's strength lies with its highly trained people, and has over 100 unionized professionals on call to address a variety of needs.