DC Green Building Examiner

Wal Mart and sustainability

Wed, 27 May 2009 20:27:08 -0700

I love Wal Mart... now, even more so. Consider this exerpt from "Fatigue of Nations" published by Grist. "The much-hammered $300 billion-a-year behemoth has begun pledging itself to sell everything from organic cott...

Formaldehyde and EQ 4.4 - Low-Emitting Materials for LEED

Wed, 27 May 2009 19:33:48 -0700

Having no "added" urea formaldehyde is the key toachieving EQ4.4 in LEED. Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ in the LEED rating system for green building) credit 4.4 specifically prohibits the use of "added urea form...

Bamboo - a rapidly renewable resource for LEED certification

Wed, 27 May 2009 16:35:42 -0700

The above is a Teragren product - Signature Naturals - in the horizontal,natural format. Bamboo qualifies as a rapidly-renewable resource for LEED certification under Materials and Resources (MR) Credit 6. If that has your attenti...

A commercial floor's worst enemy... not what you may think

Wed, 27 May 2009 14:24:39 -0700

For more info: Carpet and Rug Institute

Forbo linoleum water-jet cutting for a green custom look

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:16:36 -0700

Kamran, CCA's in-house CAD magician, designed this logo for a client in Texas. The gloss you see is fromthe adhesive tape used to hold the design togetheruntil after the installation is complete. Linoleum is specifically mentio...

Wool carpet and LEED certification

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:44:21 -0700

Wool performs well and is a truly greenflooring choice found in the heaviestend-use applications. The LEED Commercial Interiors certification process specifically cites wool in its list of rapidly renewable resources. Why?Wool is...

DC Green Building Act

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:20:39 -0700

by Shannon Sentman, Holland & Knight LLC (reposted with permission) With the enactment of the DC Green Building Act in 2005, the District of Columbia boldly led U.S. cities in the fight to combat climate change through applica...

A LEED AP's perspective on the USGBC certification process and new federal building regulations

Sun, 24 May 2009 11:44:52 -0700

Using flooring with organic pigments like Marmoleum is just one way to boost your chances of earning coveted points under the LEED certification system. The above logo representsprofessional accreditationthrough the US Green BuildingCouncil an...

LEED certification and entry mats

Fri, 22 May 2009 15:28:45 -0700

A common headache among building owners, LEED notwithstanding, is controlling debris tracked into a building through foot traffic. The LEED rating system addresses this issue specifically in EQ 5 (LEED-CI) Indoor Chemical...

Green economic outlook good

Fri, 22 May 2009 13:58:03 -0700

Even as dire financial news dominates headlines, all signs point to green building as one of the growing bright spots for the U.S. economy. In fact, as economic experts call for a recovery plan focused on green jobs and infrastru...

Earthscapes resilient flooring for commercial applications

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:59:57 -0700

The use of resilient flooring in commercial applications has steadily increased. Perhaps the only "green" quality of any PVC-containing product is that it uses only a printed layer to duplicate a natural product. ...

Asthma, allergies, IAQ and flooring

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:57:13 -0700

The leading authority on indoor air quality (IAQ) and its affect on asthma and allergies is the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The LEED rating system also places significant weight on IAQ in several areas from particu...

Going to extremes to highlight the safety qualities of natural flooring

Tue, 19 May 2009 09:41:07 -0700

Cork Flour Is Just One Of The Natural Ingredients In Marmoleum. Warning… if you do not have a sense of humor, stop immediately! Marmoleum/linoleum is a natural flooring product specifically mentioned in the green building LEED ra...

US Green Building Council 2009 Federal Summit

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:49:33 -0700

The U.S. Green Building Council’s 2009 Federal Summit in Washington DC showcased President Obama's commitment to greening federal buildings and operations around the world. Among attendees were environmental adviser Nancy Sutley,...

SmartStrand Triexta green polymer ok'd by FTC

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:10:18 -0700

Triexta is marketed under the SmartStrand and Sorona names. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) recently decided in favor of allowing a new fiber classification for poly trimetheylene terephthalate (PTT), also known as "Triexta...

FSC-certified wood

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:45:02 -0700

100% Natural means good, right And certified organic is great. But who's doing the certification and is there a watchdog for all this "green-washing" in the media? The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one of the...

A different kind of green

Tue, 12 May 2009 09:34:30 -0700

The Metro DC chapter of the National Marine Corps Business Network has been established and will be led by a former Marine with an interest in a different kind of "green." Chris Moline, LEED AP, is a sustainable flooring products expert and...

Cork Flooring's green attributes - rapidly renewable, quiet and comfortable

Sat, 09 May 2009 15:25:02 -0700

I’ve had cork flooring in my sunroom and kitchen for almost two years now. What’s the verdict? Well, my wife and I, along with our children ages 7, 8 and 11… and our 75-lb german shepherd… absolutely love it.&n...

Ten eco-friendly things you can do

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:16:58 -0700

The other day my 11 year-old son came to me and asked, "Dad, are we dumping all our trash into the oceans and filling them up?" I would have been hard-pressed to come up with a more appropriate teaching moment. It was t...