TFM Channels

Choose a Channel Commercial Ceilings

Looking for a New Career?

Enter your search terms: Help

Home > Sustainable by Design

TFM welcomes Anne Vazquez as the Sustainable by Design Columnist

 

Record Year In 2007 For Energy Star Facilities

Among those joining the list was JCPenney, the first big box retailer to earn the designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Landscape Architects Put Green Roof To Test

In May 2006, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) began to monitor the performance of a green roof installed on its Washington, DC headquarters building.

Reducing Waste, Coming And Going

Conscientious manufacturers are cutting back on shipping materials to trim waste for customers.

Heating And Cooling Sourced From The Earth

Geothermal energy—heat derived from the earth—has the potential to provide heating and cooling in buildings.

Best Ideas For Buildings

Millions of species can’t be wrong

On The Continuum: Life After LEED-NC

Two years after achieving LEED certification for its original construction, the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR pursues LEED for Existing Buildings.

Water: Put It Aside For A Non-Rainy Day

As demand for this natural resource continues to increase, facilities might consider rainwater harvesting to ensure supply.

Existing Buildings In Cities Focus Of New Program

The Clinton Climate Initiative Is Working With Locations Around The World To Increase Energy Efficiency

LEED-EB Changes On The Horizon

The USGBC’s rating system for existing buildings is getting a major overhaul.

Financial Aid Available For Renewable Energy

Budget restrictions shouldn’t curtail consumption control projects.

Saving Energy With Window Film

Those products with solar control properties can help to keep out unwanted heat.

Keeping Mold Away With Moisture Control

Measures taken during the construction and operations stages will help minimize this threat to healthy indoor air quality.

Outdoor Lighting: Brighter Not Always Better

Regulations on the amount, quality, and type of exterior illumination for buildings are increasingly relevant for facility managers.

Buying Renewable Energy Certificates

While one size does not fit all facilities, this energy purchase strategy can be beneficial for many.

Reducing Cooling Loads With External Shading

With the proper approach, the use of shading devices on the exterior of a new or existing building can save on energy use.

Make A Splash: Green Your Rest Rooms

Specifying more environmentally friendly paper products is one step toward sustainable practices.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Greening Rest Rooms: The Role Of Dispensing Strategies

Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, a green cleaning consulting firm located in Bloomington, IN, offers tips on minimizing paper waste in rest rooms.

When The Heat Was On This Summer, Demand Response Programs Delivered

This month, guest columnist Michael Gordon writes about how energy consumers in New York City were able to curtail their electric usage this past summer during periods of record demand. As participants in the city’s Emergency Demand Response Program, these organizations helped to keep the grid up and running.

Green Globes To Seek Certification As An ANSI Standard

Introduced to the U.S. market from Canada in 2004, this building rating system may be a good fit for some sustainable projects.

Setting A Timetable: The 2030 Challenge

A new initiative to reduce the use of fossil fuel energy has been adopted by mayors across the U.S.—with municipal assets first on the list.

When Specifying Insulation, What Should You Know

While insulation is just one part of the building envelope package, knowing this performance characteristic can help in decision making.

Refrigerant Phase Outs: What Do They Mean To Facilities?

What options will facility professionals have as CFC and HCFC production declines?

Energy Efficient LEDs Show Promise For Niche Facility Applications

This lighting source is making inroads in practical building installations.

Construction Conservation

Successfully executing a recycling plan for construction materials requires careful planning.

Research At Rensselaer May Lead To A Building Envelope That Earns Its Keep

A prototype of an “active building envelope” developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute holds promise for heating and cooling in the future

(Don’t) Beware Of The Natives

With proper planning, outdoor landscapes featuring indigenous plants save time and money.

Incentives Can Help Facilities Increase Their Return On Investment In Solar Photovoltaics

Financing Options For Solar Energy Systems Grow

Double Duty: Combined Heat And Power

Implementing combined heat and power systems can help reduce facility energy costs.

Save Water While Quenching Cooling Towers

With proper infrastructure and treatment in place, reusing water can be a viable option for a facility.

Keeping E-Waste Out Of The Landfill

Facility managers can help the environment—and fulfill regulatory requirements—by recycling electronics.

A Look Into Wind Energy

With renewable energy sources gaining more attention, power from the wind is one to consider.

Lessons for FMs, From The Halls Of Academia

On many college campuses, facility managers and students are working together to further environmental action.

Purchasing Choices And Proper Ventilation Contribute To Improved IAQ

Furnishings that are low emitters of chemicals, combined with proper ventilation procedures, help to make the facility a healthier place.

Saving The World, One Facility At A Time

Incorporating environmentally friendly practices into facility operations can be a challenge, but some research into this area can offer benefits to the bottom line.