The Blog is Moving!

To all of our dedicated readers and faithful followers, we have moved the Healthy Buildings Blog location from this wordpress-based URL to our company’s website. You can now find us at:

WWW.HEALTHYBUILDINGS.COM/BLOG

Thank you again for all of your love and attention! This URL will de-activate on July 15th.

Heat Island and Healthy Buildings

Photo: NASA

Albedo? Heat Island? Solar Reflective Index?

These are some terms floating around the industry relating to environmental health and energy efficiency. The heat generated and absorbed by commercial and industrial areas has a tendency to get trapped in an “island-like” manner surrounding the buildings. These areas can be so much hotter than the surrounding environments that it effects growing seasons, air quality, energy efficiency and ecosystem health. This increase in temperature not only harms the local animal and plant life, but it also makes the buildings’  HVAC and other equipment work much harder than required.

The EPA has reported that, “the annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings. In the evening, the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C). Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality.”

“Summer land surface temperature of cities in the Northeast were an average of 7 °C to 9 °C (13°F to 16 °F) warmer than surrounding rural areas over a three year period, the new research shows. The complex phenomenon that drives up temperatures is called the urban heat island effect.” – Dr Marc Imhoff, NASA

But wait, there is good news! There are a plethora of reasonable efforts that can help lower the impact of spring and summertime heat islands. Some common efforts within the LEED and green building community are white roofs, or roofs with a high albedo or SRI value. Albedo and SRI are related to the ability of a surface to reflect light and heat off and back out of the immediate area. Dark surfaces, such as asphalt and dark roofing material absorbs heat and increase the effect of the dreaded heat island. Buildings concerned about reducing their impact on the heat island may replace their roof with a white material, coat their existing roof with a high SRI value, or even add a garden (green roof)! Not only does this increase the efficiency of the building’s energy systems, but it can increase the air quality and productivity of the micro-climate altogether.

Job Offerings @ Healthy Buildings

In an effort to expose our open positions to as many viable candidates as possible, the Healthy Buildings’ Blog will be used as an update for all current job openings. It is our goal to gather the greatest talent, sharpest minds, and compassionate hearts as we cultivate a work environment where we function together in strong teams to help increase the value of buildings while supporting a healthy ecosystem. Here is what we have available this month!

Environmental Field Technician in DC Metro Area

Indoor Air Quality Techncians / Project Managers are responsible for the execution of all activities related to customer service in field operations including, indoor air quality testing and basic HVAC inspection including:

• Interact and communicate with clients on environmental technical matters,
• Collation and accounting of field samples,
• Knowledge of equipment, software, and operating systems necessary for the recording and downloading of field equipment,
• Ultimately responsible for the quality and timely collection of field data,
• Participate in technical operations meetings for the improvement and efficiency of field operations,
• Respond to client field inquiries in a prompt, knowledgeable, and courteous manner,
• Adhere to all aspects of the health and safety program.

Technical Report Writer / Office Manager in South Orange, New Jersey

Manage the report production process as well as ensure the smooth operation of the South Orange, New Jersey office by performing the following duties and tasks:

• Manage the entire report production process including writing, revising, and electronic delivery to the client
• Receive and respond to client inquiries regarding technical reports and technical questions
• Resolve all problems related to technical report issues
• Review report templates and impliment changes as necessary
• Perform clerical duties in relations to report production, client management, field work coordination, purchasing, and invoicing
• Ensure the office is running smoothly and efficiently
• Other duties as assigned.

Technical Sales Representative in Orange County/Los Angeles Area

• Develop business in the commercial, multifamily, and institutional real-estate industries
• Market the following technical services:  indoor environmental testing, energy audits, building commissioning, high performance building solutions, and LEED certification
• Generate project proposals and respond to RFPs and RFQs
• Promote utility-funded energy efficiency programs
• Develop project budgets
• Conduct market research and prospect to identify new opportunities
• Perform a wide array of tasks to meet aggressive timelines that include various internal Team members and external partnerships

LEED v4 – A Healthy Update

Credit: USGBC

Recently, the USGBC offered a series of educational webinars about the latest developments regarding LEED v4.  The USGBC is still looking for projects to participate in the v4 BETA program.  If you are interested in registering a project with the v4 BETA program, you may do so until Greenbuild in November.  Some perks in participating in the v4 BETA program include: first look at reference guides, certification process, test new LEED Online forms, provide feedback to the USGBC and GBCI teams, up to three CIRs, free promotion through USGBC Marketing, project recognition in Greenbuild 2013, assigned USGBC staff member to project, and many more.  If you have a project currently registered under v2009 and would like to upgrade to v4, you can upgrade at no cost.  Additionally, should your project demonstrate better performance under v2009, the USGBC will allow it to be reverted back from v4 at no cost.

If you are considering the v4 BETA program, some space types that the USGBC is looking for include schools, residential, hospitality (hotel), and campus projects. Please contact us if you desire more information!

New Service Offering – WET

Most of our clients know Healthy Buildings as their ‘go-to’ firm for Indoor Air Quality, Energy, and Sustainability services. We have added another area of technical expertise: Water Efficiency.

Water is a precious resource that is often, unknowingly, wasted in office buildings.  Thirty Six states are anticipating local, regional, and statewide water shortages in 2013 and in Washington, DC last year, the price of water rose 13%. Many options are available to building owners and managers to reduce water consumption and save money in the process.

Our new program, WET^TM, an acronym for Water Efficiency Technologies, was officially rolled-out in April of this year. Several pilot projects were completed in 2012 and 2013, and those buildings have reduced their domestic water consumption by upwards of 40%. A few of these buildings were previously ineligible to pursue LEED EBOM certification because they did not meet the Minimum Water Efficiency prerequisite, but as a direct result of the WET^TM program, are now able to earn the prerequisite and additional points toward certification.

This turn-key program considers all potential water saving solutions for our clients, including grey water reuse, process water and irrigation efficiency, fine-tuning water flow in domestic fixtures, identifying leaks, and addressing all other issues that may be discovered while conducting a detailed water audit.

Interested in saving water at your building? Let us know!

Earth Day – A Time for Reflection

Spaceship Earth

Today, on Earth Day, we take a step back from our daily business to try and understand WHY it is that we do what we do. Some say that what you do is not as important as why you do it, and I believe there is no greater day for this reflection. Throughout our daily business at Healthy Buildings, it is our intent to make buildings healthier, more efficient, and more valuable. These efforts are all grounded in creating harmony between man, nature, and civilization – but this movement didn’t begin out of thin air.

The massive “Spaceship Earth” that we occupy is much more delicate and vulnerable than we had ever expected. The beginning of this understanding was sparked through the Apollo explorations. Check out this beautiful video that displays a turning point in the understanding of the Earth.

It’s tiny out there…it’s inconsequential. It’s ironic that we had come to study the Moon and it was really discovering the Earth.

~ Bill Anders, Apollo 8

When the Apollo astronauts took the first look at the Earth from space, a ripple of awareness and understanding spread throughout the human consciousness. We live on a floating rock that nurtures life unconditionally. The new perspective gifted by these brilliant space explorers birthed a new respect for the Earth and has continued ever since.

I think the one overwhelming emotion that we had was when we saw the earth rising in the distance over the lunar landscape . . . . It makes us realize that we all do exist on one small globe. For from 230,000 miles away it really is a small planet.

~ Frank Borman, Gemini 7 & Apollo 8

This adventure was no mistake, it is no coincidence that this event changed the general understanding of the Earth and the universe as a whole. I believe that it is our responsibility to ensure we maintain the health of the Earth. If this effort in itself is not inherently convincing, may it be for the survival of human society – for at the very least we can rationalize these efforts for our own well being. The basis of who we are as a civilization is connected directly to how we interact and treat the Earth, because this is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. Let us continue this flowering understanding of our beloved Earth and continue to support harmonious human interaction.

Handling E-Waste: Battery Recycling Programs

Credit: © Shutterstock

Americans buy nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power cell phones, radios, toys, remotes, watches, laptops, and portable power tools. Batteries contain a number of heavy metals and toxic chemicals and the dumping of batteries has raised concern over the risks of soil contamination and water pollution.

The battery of the future will have more capacity, more conductivity, more flexibility and will be fully compostable. This is just one of many green dreams that will help improve the harmony of industry and environment. The first commercially available battery came to market in the 1960’s, and since then there have been incredible strides in their applicability and longevity. What has been lacking in these technological advancements is environmental compatibility and dispensability. Below is a video of new battery technology that may adhere to present day problems with e-waste. Take a gander at the “Super Supercapacitor” by Brian Davis.

Until the battery market develops and supports a new eco-friendly battery, there are a few different options for recycling or properly disposing of these toxic items. One available web-based company, Call2Recycle, has a program that collects e-waste on-site anywhere in the United States as well as Canada. Additionally, there are drop-off stations that can be utilized for personal disposal. Businesses, retailers, communities and public agencies are able to participate in this program for free! Shipments are sent to a recycling facility and usable materials are then upcycled to create new products or materials.

http://www.TheBigGreenBox.com

“BUY IT, FILL IT, SHIP IT,” is the motto for The Big Green Box, used to safely collect, store, and ship away harmful batteries and e-waste. The Big Green Box is available for commercial or residential spaces, pre-constructed to increase the ease of the disposal process. Once the box is filled, simply drop The Big Green Box off at any FedEx location or have your current FedEx driver take the box. The price of shipping to and from your location is included in the price of the box.

Aside from these great recycling options, one way to reduce your e-waste stream is to buy rechargeable batteries. About one in five dry-cell batteries purchased in the United States is rechargeable. Over its useful life, each one may substitute for hundreds of single-use batteries. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to save and recycle!

 

Cherry Blossoms are in Bloom in DC!

Enjoying the views from our Fairfax, VA office this afternoon.

 

Air Leakage Testing for High-Pressure Duct Systems

For the past four decades, NYC has been regulated by the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (“ECCCNYS”), which has historically applied only to new buildings and major alterations.

NYC has more than 975,000 buildings and properties.

Per the authorizing New York State Energy Law, NYC is allowed to enact its own energy code, provided the City’s code is more stringent than the ECCCNYS.

The backdrop for Mayor Bloomberg’s 2009 proposal for NYC to establish its own energy code was the Mayor’s PlaNYC initiative to reduce the City’s carbon emissions 30% by 2030 and his Greener, Greater Buildings Plan to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings. Local Law 85 of 2009 was subsequently signed into law, establishing the New York City Energy Conservation Code (“NYCECC”).

Most notably, the current NYCEEC applies to new buildings and all alterations.

One aspect of the NYCEEC that buildings might not be aware of yet is Air Leakage Testing for High-Pressure Duct Systems. Per code requirements, at least 25% of the duct area must be sampled and tested for systems that are designed to operate in excess of 3 inches w.g. (749 Pa). This testing should be conducted after installation and sealing and prior to closing of walls, shafts and ceilings.

Healthy Buildings is expanding our existing local law compliance service offerings and conducting commercial duct leakage testing for the NYC market. Contact gmerkin@healthybuildings.com for more information.

Positive and Negative Duct Accreditation (PANDA) System: Model PAN200 Series

How Efficient is Your Vehicle? LEED and the ACEEE

Photo:humanityy.co

As one explores the USGBC and the various LEED rating systems, a realization occurs that without third-party programs, certifications, policies and verification…there would be no LEED as we know it today. These third-party programs help develop the framework that supports LEED on a universal scale. One instance of this is found with the accepted green cleaning products, highlighted in a previous post about Green Seal and Environmental Choice. As more third party programs develop, LEED becomes more stringent and transparent simultaneously.

the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has developed a database of all vehicles and ranks them by the associated “Green Score”. This score is determined by pollution during manufacturing, production and distribution of the required fuel type, exhaust emissions, fuel efficiency, hydrocarbons and much more. This information is reported through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resource Board. The top vehicle in 2013 scored a 58 and the average is a 35. The monsters of the road average at a score of 15, what hogs!

Photo: http://www.aceee.org

LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) reserves a potential for 15 points for promoting alternative forms of transportation for building occupants. These 15 points are potentially 25% of the points needed for a building to reach LEED Gold certification! The Green Book of vehicles, created by ACEEE, is the database holding the scores for each vehicle on the road today. Points under LEED EBO&M are captured by determining how many occupants use alternative forms of commuting, such as carpool, telecommuting, biking and even running (yes, some people exercise their way to work!). Drive-alone occupants may still fall under the “alternative forms of transportation” if their vehicle meets the ACEEE Green Score of 40 or more.

Greenercars.org, a derivative of ACEEE, has a wealth of information including the meanest and greenest vehicles of 2013, green driving tips to improve fuel efficiency, and market trends regarding vehicle manufacturers, technology, and sustainability. Find out how sustainable your vehicle is today!