By Anne Vazquez, on January 27, 2012, at 11:15 am The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) has announced the first three projects to be certified by this comprehensive system for rating the sustainable design, construction, and maintenance of built landscapes. SITES is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden.
The initiative was created to fill a critical need for guidelines and recognition of green landscapes based on their planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Since 2005, the partners have collaborated in developing a voluntary, national rating system and set of performance benchmarks for sustainable landscapes in areas with or without buildings.
The first landscape projects to be certified by SITES are: a corporate headquarters of an international manufacturing company; a new university green space, and a children’s playground in an urban park. These are the first to be recognized for sustainable land practices from among 150-plus pilot projects that began the certification process in the summer of 2010.
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By Heidi Schwartz, on January 26, 2012, at 12:14 pm  The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) has released the latest revision to the Design-Build Manual of Practice, “BIM and Design-Build Project Delivery.” Developed by DBIA’s BIM Committee, a group of practitioners representing the full spectrum of design and construction disciplines, the chapter details how design-build teams can make the greatest use of a technology that is transforming the A/E/C industry.
Continue reading DBIA Updates BIM Resource
By Heidi Schwartz, on January 26, 2012, at 11:30 am  Back in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Toxicological Review of Formaldehyde-Inhalation Assessment for public viewing and comment. According to the EPA website, “Public comments received on the Toxicological Review within 90 days after the release of the FRN will be provided to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) independent scientific peer review committee for its consideration.”
Continue reading NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: Formaldehyde & VOC Testing From LA Testing
By Heidi Schwartz, on January 25, 2012, at 12:20 pm  Despite the lingering effects of an over-built housing market, the continued difficulty to obtain financing for real estate projects, budget shortfalls at state and municipal governments, and the anxiety surrounding the prolonged European debt crisis, there are signs that the U.S. design and construction industry will be improving. Corporate profits have returned to pre-recession levels, and businesses have subsequently been increasing their capital spending.
Borrowing costs are at record low levels, and pent up demand for commercial and retail projects factors into what projects to be a 2.1% rise in spending this year for nonresidential construction projects. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, also projects a 6.4% increase of spending in 2013.
Continue reading Commercial Sector Expected to Lead Real Estate Recovery
By Anne Vazquez, on January 25, 2012, at 10:47 am The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced the publication of an industry first standard for variable frequency drives (VFDs).
AHRI Standards, 1210 (I-P)-2011 & 1211 (SI)-2011, Performance Rating of Variable Frequency Drives—available for free download on the AHRI website—applies, within the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) context, to VFDs used in the control of asynchronous induction motors. The range includes all those found within a building including: low voltage (= 600 V) and drives that are standalone, not mechanically integrated into motors.
“What began in 2006 as a small group of members working toward a new Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI’s predecessor organization) product section has led to a standard that will level the playing field and lead to yet another world class AHRI certification program,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI’s President and CEO. The certification program is expected to launch this summer.
Continue reading AHRI Releases Variable Frequency Drive Standard
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