WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the winners of the 2011 Professional Awards. The awards honor the top public places, residential designs, campuses, parks and urban planning projects from across the U.S. and around the world. High-resolution images and full project information can be viewed at www.asla.org/2011awards. The jury of leading design experts considered 567 entries and selected 37 winners in the categories of General Design, Residential Design, Analysis and Planning, Communications, Research and the Landmark Award. In addition to the quality of the design, the jury also weighed the environmental sensitivity and sustainability of each project. The October issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine features the winning projects. Winners will be honored at the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in San Diego on Wednesday, November 2.

Greenbuild's economic impact on local economy an expected $26 million CAD with 25,000 delegates TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) annual conference and expo is making its way to Toronto next week to celebrate "what's next" in green building. Greenbuild is the world's largest green building conference and expo and is expected to make an economic impact of $26 million CAD, bringing 25,000 delegates from over 115 countries to the event. A release from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre earlier this week also stated that Greenbuild will generate a positive impact on the local economy of over $58 million from delegate spending. Toronto was selected by USGBC as the host city for the conference for several reasons, including its growth in the green building movement with nearly 300 building projects registered and seeking LEED certification and 44 green building projects already LEED-certified in the Toronto area. Held in conjunction with the Canada Green Building Council, Greenbuild promises to inspire and educate with hundreds of educational sessions; dozens of master speakers; one and two day summits focused on green jobs, residential and affordable green building, and the international green building marketplace; more than 1,000 companies showcasing the most innovative green building products and services in the world's largest expo hall dedicated to green building; and top-notch plenary speakers that include New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell, ABC News political commentator Cokie Roberts, medical anthropologist and physician Dr. Paul Farmer and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The opening plenary event will also feature Grammy award-winning band, Maroon 5.

GreenWizard's Database & Product Management Solution Are Now Linked to LEED Online. GreenWizard Offers Live Demos at Greenbuild. CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GreenWizard®, a web-based solution designed to simplify building material selection and management, today announced a technology partnership with U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building program and LEED Online. This partnership enables users of GreenWizard and their LEED Assessment tools to easily sync up data and information with LEED Online, the software platform that manages the LEED green building certification process. Using the LEED Automation API, GreenWizard is the first product management solution to integrate with LEED Online, and this integration is the first step toward a fully automated process (called LEED Automation) for obtaining LEED certification. At the Toronto Greenbuild show (booth# 230 North), GreenWizard will offer live demonstrations of its first LEED Online integration tool. With GreenWizard’s capabilities, users can: - Optimize LEED points by connecting GreenWizard LEED projects with their LEED Online projects in real-time; - Review LEED Online project credit information side-by-side with their LEED Credit Checklist; - Use GreenWizard's integrated LEED assessment tools to measure progress against the LEED Online project goals; and - Update their LEED Online project credit Scorecard from their GreenWizard project.

New daylighting approach lets designers pick performance desired for each climate Greenbuild 2011 CANTON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The new Maximizer unit skylight from Duo-Gard Industries Inc. integrates up to three energy-saving, light-transmitting technologies to achieve top performance in translucent daylighting for any specific climatic region. Duo-Gard will introduce Maximizer at Greenbuild 2011 in Toronto. Maximizer’s clear acrylic dome covers a panel of insulating 25mm translucent multiwall polycarbonate glazing with high diffused light transmittance. Adding optional Lumira™ aerogel (formerly called Nanogel) in the glazing’s walls doubles the insulating value and adds additional diffusion. Another option is a transparent coating filter that significantly reduces heat gain from infrared rays and eliminates UV rays, yet maintains visible light transmittance. All three technologies add up to top performance in skylighting, resulting in exceptional savings in building operations. Six models of Maximizer offer a range of performance values up to the totally integrated M250 model with dome, IR coating filter and Lumira-filled 25mm polycarbonate, providing 19% light transmission, 8% heat transmission and U-value 0.13.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--If you’re thinking about replacing the siding on your home, there’s now a new, higher performance category of home siding to consider instead of top-of-the-line fiber cement or vinyl siding. Pultruded fiberglass siding and trim is a new, premium class of siding and trim originally developed for homes located in parts of the U.S. and Canada that experience some of the most extreme weather conditions in North America. Extreme heat, extreme cold, high humidity, saltwater, and major storm systems such as blizzards are no match for APEX siding and trim featuring Ultrex® pultruded fiberglass technology. With an expected life of 50 years or more, APEX siding and trim offers incredible, lasting beauty and is an environmentally friendly, low maintenance, impact resistant alternative to fiber cement, wood and vinyl siding. Available in ten rich and enduring colors, in two widths, 4-inch and 7-inch, and in either a smooth or wood grain finish, APEX siding and trim can be used in a variety of residential architectural styles. APEX siding and trim, an affiliate of Marvin Windows and Doors, is made with Ultrex pultruded fiberglass, a patented proprietary material pioneered by Marvin® that has been a key component in the manufacture of award-winning Integrity® and Infinity® lines of windows and doors for more than 20 years. In every critical performance category -- appearance, durability, strength, extreme temperature resistance, water management, cost of ownership and sustainability -- APEX siding and trim outperforms vinyl, wood, steel, aluminum and fiber cement. It offers the look of freshly painted wood without the headaches and hassles of maintaining fiber cement or wood, such as caulking and painting. It is stronger than fiber cement, and its acrylic finish is four-times thicker than paint applied to fiber cement or wood, so it resists chipping, splintering, fading and warping. APEX siding and trim will never need to be repainted – ever.

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Green Day Forum, Portland's premier green building conference, will feature a high-level roster of national and regional "champions of the triple bottom line." The speakers will discuss their successful business models that empower people and communities, while furthering green building and financial goals. The November 3rd event, to be held at The Gerding Theater at the Armory in Portland's Pearl district, will be keynoted by Nancy Murray, CEO of Builders of Hope, a nonprofit organization that rescues homes scheduled for demolition and retrofits them while training economically disadvantaged workers and creating community.

New assembly includes both 1-hour rating for exposure from exterior and 2-hour rating for burning from interior NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LP Building Products announced an expanded scope of UL listings, including a new insulation option in the UL-listed BXUV.U349 wall assembly with LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated Oriented Strand Board Sheathing. Following a full-scale, ASTM E119 (UL 263) test, the alternate assembly, using R-13 fiberglass insulation instead of mineral wool insulation, passed a 2-hour interior burn requirement, earning UL approval. In addition, a one-hour exterior burn rating was earned for a similar assembly with mineral wool insulation and exterior cladding, as described in a new UL listing, BXUV.W408. The fiberglass insulation option in the updated U349 listing reduces the cost of load-bearing walls rated for burning from the inside only, while the new W408 assembly provides a more efficient method of meeting code requirements in walls located close to property lines or adjacent buildings, where exterior fire ratings also come into play. These wall assemblies also help property owners better utilize valuable urban land by reducing the cost of adding valuable space to mixed-use and multi-family structures.” The International Building Code allows for a height of up to five stories of wood construction for a residential building with two-hour rated exterior walls. Typically two-hour rated exterior walls use one or two layers of exterior gypsum sheathing on the exterior side of the framing, often in combination with a layer of wood structural panels. The U349 and W408 assemblies, however, utilize LP FlameBlock Sheathing as the exterior wall sheathing to meet both structural and fire requirements. Not only does this approach save the expense of purchasing exterior, fire-rated gypsum board, it results in significant a labor savings. In addition, use of LP FlameBlock in these exterior walls reduces dead load and can potentially improve design flexibility due to the sheathing’s superior shear capacity. The new W408 listing includes options for a range of exterior claddings, including OSB-based siding, plywood, and fiber cement claddings, as well as other materials known to have equal or greater fire resistance. The excellent fastener-holding ability of LP FlameBlock can simplify installation of exterior facing materials, potentially providing additional labor and time savings. LP FlameBlock, as part of the U349 wall, has been used in Type III projects across the country, including buildings in College Park, MD, Nashville, TN, Issaquah, WA, and Merrifield, VA. LP FlameBlock offers structural strength and fire resistance in one panel. Created by applying a proprietary, non-combustible, fiberglass-reinforced Pyrotite® coating to LP OSB panels, LP FlameBlock is an ICC certified (ESR-1365), PS2-rated structural sheathing with a Class A Flame Spread Rating. The product is also Exposure-1 rated, provides extended burn-through resistance, delivers a 20-minute thermal barrier (ASTM E119), and contains no hazardous chemicals. LP FlameBlock can reduce the time and cost associated with having to install either double-layers of gypsum or a combination of gypsum and structural sheathing. The product is available in a variety of PS2-rated thicknesses and lengths, including Struc-1, and is paintable. LP FlameBlock panels are installed with the same tools and fasteners used for installation of other structural sheathing panels.

Cooper Lighting's io® LED Balance Beam awarded a Silver Award and an Innovation Award; the io® Koi LED Bollard Series also received a Silver Award. PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Two products from Cooper Lighting, an industry leader committed to delivering innovative products and driving transformational technology in the lighting industry, were selected from 325 products as winners in the 22nd annual Best of NeoCon® Awards, sponsored by Contract Magazine, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and McMorrowReport.com. The io® Balance Beam and the io® Koi LED Bollard Series were each honored with a Silver Award. In addition, the Balance Beam was honored with an Innovation Award – only one of six products bestowed with this honor. The awards were presented at NeoCon 2011, which was held in Chicago, June 13-15. The Best of NeoCon Awards 2011 honors new commercial interiors products in 40 categories ranging from Architectural Products to Workplace Technologies. The io Balance Beam was awarded in the Healthcare categories under the Healthcare Solutions category, and the io Koi LED Bollard Series was awarded in the Lighting, Technology and Accessories categories under the Decorative, Chandeliers, Pendants, Sconces, Accent, Downlights and Wallwashers category. Forty-five judges were engaged in the review and decision process.

Honor recognizes use of innovative technologies for construction PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluebeam Software announced today that it and McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. won gold at Constructech's 2011 Vision Awards in the Builder/GC Commercial +$500 million category. The award honors McCarthy's use of innovative technologies to conduct everyday business and recognizes Bluebeam for enabling the construction company to achieve its goals. Bluebeam is a leading developer of smart, simple PDF solutions for the architecture, engineering and construction industries. McCarthy, one of the premier commercial builders in the U.S., uses Bluebeam's flagship product, Bluebeam PDF Revu, to hyperlink PDF documents for better access to information such as drawing details, specifications and RFIs. The documents are then made available on a custom McCarthy jobsite kiosk via a wireless connection for instant access by all jobsite personnel to the most updated information to improve project communication and management.

Builder adds net-zero energy usage option to its signature Built to Order home designs LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KB Home (NYSE: KBH), one of the nation’s premier homebuilders, today announced a planned nationwide rollout of its next-generation of energy-efficient home designs, a net-zero energy home it has dubbed ZeroHouse 2.0. The introduction of ZeroHouse 2.0 is the latest advancement made by America’s Built to Order™ homebuilder to help lower the total cost of homeownership for homebuyers. While a new ENERGY STAR® qualified standard KB home may save homeowners $1,000 annually on their energy utility costs on average, when compared to a typical resale home, selecting a ZeroHouse 2.0 may eliminate their monthly electricity charges entirely. The first ZeroHouse 2.0 model homes include solar power systems and building techniques and features that enhance efficiency well beyond KB Home’s ENERGY STAR qualified standard. These homes will open later this week in Tampa, San Antonio and Austin. Much more than just a concept home, homebuyers in these markets will now be able to incorporate ZeroHouse 2.0 energy efficiency options into their home at the KB Home Studio. The national rollout of ZeroHouse 2.0 to more KB Home communities will continue through 2012. Visitors to a KB Home community with a ZeroHouse 2.0 model home can take a guided tour that highlights the many features, some visible and some hidden behind the walls, that help reduce energy costs. Higher efficiency is the result of a whole-home approach, from the inside out, that begins with increased insulation, upgraded HVAC systems and dual-pane, low-e windows and ends with solar panels on the roof.

Stamford Facility Awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Waters North America, the third largest beverage company in the U.S., today announced its headquarters in Stamford, Conn. has received the U.S. Green Building Council 's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Gold certification, verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. This marks the company's 10th LEED-certified building. To date, Nestle Waters has the most LEED-certified facilities of any U.S. food and beverage manufacturer, with more than 3.7 million square feet designed and built to meet LEED standards. The building incorporates many "green" features, as well as attributes that encourage greater employee collaboration, including: - A white roof to reduce use of heating and air conditioning - Low energy/high efficiency lighting system and low-flow water fixtures in bathrooms - Convenient recycling in logical locations, such as kitchens and coffee bars - The first Cradle-to-Cradle-certified office chairs - An employee shuttle from the Stamford train station to encourage use of public transportation - Preferred parking spaces for low-emission vehicles - Cubicles built with low partitions and ample seating areas for co-workers to discuss ideas - High recycled content on furniture, fabrics, countertops, carpet and ceiling tiles

First Siemens facility in U.S. and first new construction/industrial site in Kansas to receive LEED® Gold designation ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Energy has been awarded LEED® Gold Certification for its recently opened wind turbine nacelle assembly plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, for its environmentally responsible design and efficient operating systems. The 300,000-square-foot facility is Siemens' first LEED ® Gold certified production facility in the U.S. It also holds the distinction of being the first LEED ® Gold new construction/industrial site in the state of Kansas. The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, green buildings. Sustainable highlights: - Insulation resulting in minimal heat loss in the winter and minimal AC loss in the summer - No CFC or HCFC (Hydro chlorofluorocarbons) refrigerants used in AC systems - Intelligent water management, 48.7% better than Energy Policy Act baseline - Daylight provided through skylights (75% of all regular occupied areas) - "Sage Glass" system controls solar heat gain (reducing energy consumption), blocks glare and increases day lighting potential - Use of low-emitting materials in sealants, adhesives, paints, carpet, wood and finishes - During construction avoided 50% of construction waste from disposal; use of recycled and regional materials

VICTORIA, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - The Province is releasing a new guide that builds on industry knowledge gained over the past decade to enhance the quality of wood-frame, multi-unit residential buildings constructed in British Columbia. The guide explores the latest research, design and construction best practices for building enclosures and is an invaluable reference for the construction industry. The Building Enclosure Design Guide - Wood-Frame Multi-Unit Residential Buildings offers practical solutions to help ensure that new residential buildings are well constructed for B.C. families and residents. Developed in consultation with an industry task group, it updates earlier best practice guides that have been instrumental in creating a consistent approach to the design and construction of effective building envelopes. Available from the Homeowner Protection Office, a branch of BC Housing, this comprehensive guide is intended to assist members of B.C.'s residential construction industry - particularly builders, architects, designers and contractors. It is also an excellent resource for industry educators.

A Leading National Provider in the Installed Home Improvement and Home Furnishings Industry Launches Recycling Program in Select Service Areas NORTHLAKE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Empire Today, a national leader in the installed home improvement and home furnishings industry, announces today that it has taken a major step towards minimizing the environmental impact of their day-to-day operations by participating in the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and initiating a recycling program. Through a partnership with CLEAR (Carpet Landfill Elimination And Recycling), 100% of the carpet and padding removed by our residential, small business and commercial installers that can be recycled, will be recycled. In first quarter 2011, Empire piloted the new program in select service areas. Since then, over six million pounds of carpet and padding have been recycled. The program is currently operational in over 25 of Empire’s service areas and will continue expanding throughout the remainder of the year. This program is a significant step forward in Empire’s efforts to support Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification initiatives for our small business and commercial customers.

Asphalt- or wood-shingle homes can upgrade to genuine slate for the price of synthetic and without costly reengineering SlateTec weight-saving technology licensed to Ludowici Roof Tile for use in TileTec® clay tile roofs WHEAT RIDGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SlateTec, Inc. announced today the launch of a new simple lightweight roof assembly system using natural slate: the SlateTec system. The patented SlateTec system layers highest-grade slate (grade S1) over a recyclable high-tech polymer interlayment to reduce roof weight, and slate pieces used, by approximately 40 percent while yielding a roof “made of natural slate and looking exactly like a traditional slate roof,” according to Mike McDonough, president of SlateTec. The environmental impact of SlateTec roofs is low, largely due to their long life: 75 to 100 years. This is twice that of cement tiles and three or four times that of wood and asphalt. Roofing systems with shorter life spans generate more negative impacts over time because they must be replaced more often. Long lifespan also decreases lifetime cost.

Composites Replace Traditional Materials with Lighter, Stronger, Aesthetic Solutions in Automotive, Building and Construction, Energy and Power, Industrial and Transportation Applications SHANGHAI, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE:OC), a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems and residential and commercial building materials, is showcasing a wide array of advanced innovative composite applications at the China Composites Expo held here Sept. 7 - 9 at the World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. Owens Corning's exhibit focuses on several key end-use markets including automotive, building and construction, energy and power, industrial and transportation. These sectors are providing significant opportunities for the fast-growing use of advanced composite solutions in the shift away from traditional materials to higher-performance solutions. Several game-changing solutions reinforced with Owens Corning's new high-strength XStrand® H glass are on display at the company's booth including power cable cores and poles for the energy and power market. Also being featured are pultruded rods and high pressure cylinders for industrial applications, as well as pallets manufactured from long fiber thermoplastics (LFT) reinforced with Type 30™ rovings. Owens Corning is also highlighting both thermoplastic and thermoset applications for the transportation sector including cargo and passenger floor liners for aeronautic applications manufactured using FliteStrand® S roving. Automotive spoilers and front-end modules using Advantex® Type 30™ roving are also on display. Rounding out the booth exhibit is Owens Corning's Silentex® noise control and muffler filling system that provides effective exhaust noise control.

Durarail – THE PANORAMA POST – For Fences and Pool Surrounds... Durarail's newest, sleek looking glass railing can also be used for Fencing or Pool & Hot Tub Surrounds...with see-through glass or etched glass to act as a privacy panel...the options for this new system are endless.

Low-emission products help customers meet high environmental standards ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division announces the launch of new Low VOC Aerosols and 3M™ Hi-Strength 94 ET Spray Adhesives with up to 50% reduction of VOCs, giving customers more “future friendly” adhesive options that help them meet air quality and environmental goals. As more attention is paid to VOCs—volatile organic compounds—and their role in air quality, 3M is offering these next generation materials for customers interested in pursuing LEED® credits and other environmental certifications. All of the 3M Low VOC Spray Adhesive products are GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified(SM), a product certification recognizing low-emitting building materials and other products used in environments where children and other sensitive populations spend extended periods of time.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earth Advantage Institute and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance have produced a series of case studies that illustrate successful implementation of the "Ducts Inside" strategy, where the air handler and all ductwork are located inside the conditioned space of a new home. This practice can reduce home energy use by 15-20 percent compared to typical HVAC installations. The studies are designed to inform designers, architects, builders and subcontractors about the benefits and challenges of best practices for building with ducts inside. The case studies were selected to represent diversity in the residential marketplace, including urban infill, suburban, one-story, two-story, custom, speculative, and production-built homes. These Northwest builders, located in either marine or cold climates, are certifying their homes to one or more green certification standards: ENERGY STAR®, Earth Advantage®, LEED® for Homes, BuiltGreen®, or NAHBGreen®. Builders reported a number of strategies for success, including mapping duct layout on plans and bringing subcontractors into the process early for improved collaboration. Subcontractors appreciated being pulled in and were able to help determine how to use materials efficiently and avoid installation conflicts with other tradespeople. Additional strategies included marking locations of all ducts, boots, and electrical and plumbing locations to ensure smooth installation; using shorter depth beams to provide needed space for ducts to pass underneath; and using insulated flex duct to provide protection to the ductwork running through open web floor trusses. Challenges included educating builders, home inspectors and new homeowners who were often skeptical that "right-sized" systems with supply registers located on the interior walls would meet the load and satisfy comfort needs. Pre-designed homes with such features as varying ceiling heights and vaults can make the process more time-consuming. The builders indicated that their customers were receptive to the "ducts inside" concept. One buyer was surprised that the strategy was not already the norm. The HVAC contractor interviewed said that offering systems with ducts inside has opened up new markets for his company. The case studies can be found at www.ductsinside.org.