It’s Not Just Furniture!

Former President Bill Clinton on Thursday exhorted university officials from around the country to do a better job leading the way on making their campus buildings greener.

“For all the good we’re doing, we’re just piddling compared to what we ought to be doing and compared to what we could be doing,” Clinton told 250 college administrators meeting at the Palmer House Hilton.

“Think about it: 6.7 million jobs lost. And all this work out there is laying on the ground, begging to be done with an absolute certain high return. I am anxious to speed this up. For all the good you’re doing, we should be doing three, four, five, 10 times what we’re doing as a country.”

Clinton has become a crusader for environmental renovation as a catalyst for energy conservation and putting people back to work.

If solar panels or green roofs could be seen going up on campus roofs around the country, other builders would follow suit and put people back to work, helping fight unemployment as well as saving energy, Clinton told the receptive audience.

“Every time somebody sees a project on one of your campuses, fixing a building, you are having an impact, even beyond the fight to produce climate change and lower your utility bills,” Clinton said.

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YMCA of the Rockies is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the three new lodges it’s building as part of a $40 million expansion.

The organization hired Neenan Archistruction to design and build the lodges at the YMCA campus outside Estes Park.

Using what’s known as “panelized” construction, the company had the walls manufactured in a Severance factory and assembled on site, eliminating 80 percent of the waste typically generated during a project’s framing, said Mark Holdt, vice president for planning and project development at the YMCA. (more…)

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July 27, 2009
Building Design and Construction

Bowdoin College’s new Sidney J. Watson Arena, dedicated January 18, 2009, has become the first newly constructed ice arena in the United States to earn coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

The USGBC certified the Brunswick, Maine, ice arena’s LEED status July 16, 2009. Two Bowdoin College residence halls were granted LEED Silver certification in 2006. (more…)

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Yum! Brands’ Environmentally-Friendly KFC and Taco Bell Restaurant Awarded LEED Gold Certification; Recognition Confirms Company’s On-Going Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), the world’s largest restaurant company and parent of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, has constructed the Company’s first building under the United States Green Building Council’s LEED®(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Yum! Brands’ KFC-Taco Bell restaurant in Northampton, Massachusetts has been awarded LEED Gold certification.

Developed through the collaboration of architects, contractors, engineers, environmental groups, government agencies and more, LEED is a nationally accepted and independent system to measure environmental performance of buildings. LEED certification is determined by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Buildings granted LEED certification are recognized for their environmental commitment in the areas of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design.

With the assistance of some of the leading sustainability and restaurant experts, Yum! Brands opened the KFC-Taco Bell restaurant in Northampton in December of 2008 as part of the Company’s on-going commitment to corporate social responsibility. The restaurant marks Yum’s first building constructed under the United States Green Building Council’s LEED program. More..

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There has been a lot of interest generated in better understanding the 42″ panel height requirement in LEED Commercial Interiors, Credit EQ 8.3. In August the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) issued a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) that clarifies what is and is not required with regard to panel height for this credit. To help clarify the requirements attached below are two slides and the actual credit interpretation that can be used in discussions with designers and clients about why taller panels are acceptable. (more…)

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Thursday, April 23, 2009
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh’s new arena not only will be the newest in the National Hockey League when it opens in 2010 but the greenest in sports.

On Earth Day, the Penguins and the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority announced that they will seek a LEED Gold certification for the $321 million complex, which is being built adjacent to Mellon Arena.

The LEED Gold rating not only would be the first for any arena in the National Hockey League but also the first for any major sports venue in the country, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, the developer of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system. (more…)

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Yep, it’s true. Florida has the first LEED certified pizzeria in the world!

USGBC LEED

Pizza Fusion Unveils World s First LEED Certified Pizzeria

Pizza Fusion (www.pizzafusion.com) was recently awarded Gold and Silver certifications by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for its first two restaurants built to LEED specifications in Palm Beach Gardens and Weston, Florida. This recognition makes Pizza Fusion the first LEED certified pizzeria in the world.

It s very rewarding to see our first two LEED projects officially comply with the strict specifications of the USGBC s building and operational standards, Mike Gordon, vice president of store development and co-founder of Pizza Fusion, explains. These certifications represent our commitment to building all our restaurants to this standard.

Pizza Fusion s restaurants feature a number of unique, eco-efficient products, techniques and designs. Pizza Fusion restaurants eco-elements include countertops made of re-used glass bottles from other Pizza Fusions and manufactured using a cradle-to-cradle approach, bamboo flooring, 30% recaptured industrial concrete, non-VOC paints, energy start certified appliances, insulation made from recycled blue jeans, low voltage lighting, furniture made from reclaimed wood, and much more.

I congratulate Pizza Fusion on the LEED certification of their Palm Beach Gardens and Weston locations, states Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22). Pizza Fusion s extraordinarily high standards for eco-efficiency make them community leaders in green business. Their forward-looking approach is a model for small businesses across South Florida and the nation.

In the United States, restaurants are the top electricity consumer among retail businesses, accounting for 33% of the total consumption. Each restaurant produces an average of 50,000 pounds of waste per year.  Pizza Fusion s LEED certified restaurants reduce water waste by 40 percent and electricity consumption by 20 percent annually.

“Pizza Fusion is to be commended for its LEED certification of its Weston and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida locations,” Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council, states. Pizza Fusion has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and by achieving certification they also demonstrate a commitment to the health, comfort and well-being of their customers and employees. About Pizza Fusion Founded in 2006, Pizza Fusion combines a fresh, organic menu with an industry-leading environmental approach to restaurant service. With 19 restaurants open in 11 states, Pizza Fusion is franchising nationally.

This article was prepared by Food & Farm Week   editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Food & Farm Week

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