Otis Selected for Landmark Tower

Farmington, Conn., April 28 – Otis Elevator Company, a unit of Hartford based United Technologies Corp., was awarded a $23 million contract to provide high-speed, energy-efficient elevators at the Guangzhou International Financial Center, which will be among the tallest in the world.

Otis will supply and install a mix of Skyway(R) double-deck elevators with speeds up to 7 meters per second (1,378 feet per minute) and Elevonic(R) high-speed gearless elevators up to 8 meters per second (1,575 feet per minute). Gearless elevators are up to 50 percent more energy efficient than conventional, geared drive systems. In addition, all of the elevators will have ReGen(TM) drives, which reduce energy usage by up to 75 percent compared to non-regenerative drives. ReGen drives return energy into the building's internal electrical grid for reuse.

"This award recognizes the strength of Otis' project management capabilities and the benefits of our leading 'green' technology for the high-rise market," said Otis President Ari Bousbib.

Otis is also providing its EMS Panorama(TM) system, a Web-based application that enables building staff to monitor, control, report on and manage a full range of operational-critical elevator functions. With this system, building staff can monitor elevator performance, security, traffic patterns, key equipment events and many other critical functions.

When completed for the 2010 Asia Games in Guangzhou, China, the tower will reach 432 meters (1,417 feet) in height. The 103-story building is designed for offices with space above the 70th floor for a luxury hotel. When completed, the tower, also called Guangzhou Pearl River New Town West Tower, will be among the tallest buildings in the world.

Source: www.earthtimes.org

Yale Building Makes Top Ten List

Washington, D.C., April 27 - The Yale Sculpture Building and Gallery has been selected by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) as an outstanding example of sustainable architecture in 2008. The AIA/COTE also selected nine other projects that also iencorporated green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

Here is the ten projects selected:

1. Aldo Leopold Legacy Centre (Baraboo, Wisconsin; The Kubala Washatko Architects) - The LEED Platinum headquarters for the Aldo Leopold Foundation consumes 70 percent less energy than a usual building and achieves net-zero-energy performance. Extensive day lighting and passive ventilation boost the energy savings, reports Environmental News Network.

2. Cesar Chavez Library (Laveen, Arizona; John Birkinbine, AIA, Line and Space, LLC) - The Library, situated next to an artificial lake in the Arizona desert, consumes uses earth berms to provide thermal mass andregulate temperature, while large overhangs and sunshades allow day lighting with little solar heat gain. Rainwater is collected and used to irrigate the neighbouring park.

3. South Lake Union Discovery Centre (Seattle, Washington; Miller|Hull Partnership) - This is currently located in a Seattle park, where it sits on concrete piers to lessen its impact on the site. Designed to be disassembled and relocated, the building features extensive daylighting and air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling.

4. Pocono Environmental Education Center (Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania; Bohlin Cywinski Jackson) - This building features extensive day lighting, passive ventilation, and passive solar gain. Native grasses were used for landscaping, and a small wetland north of the site was preserved to help filter storm water.

5. Garthwaite Center for Science and Art (Weston, Massachusetts; Architerra, Inc.) - This centre features a locally fabricated, exposed timber frame structure and polished concrete floors, among other environmentally responsible materials. A boiler fed by wood pellets, provides 80 percent of the buildings heating needs; the building was expected to use 38 percent less energy as compared to conventional building.

6. Macallen Building Condominiums (Boston, Massachusetts; Office dA, Burt Hill) The building features two green roofs, once of which is irrigated with collected storm water runoff. The project recieved a LEED innovation point for collecting and treating cooling tower blowdown water for irrigation.

7. Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex (Hillsborough, California; Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects) This three-building complex, constructed into a hillside, was designed to consume 69 percent less energy than a conventional school building; a 30-kW photovoltaic array provides 24 percent of the projects electricity. Waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and low-flow fixtures contribute to a 50 percent savings in indoor water use.

8.Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Centre (Flushing, New York; BKSK Architects) This building has rainwater collected from the roof, which flows through a series of channels until it reaches swales filled with native wetland species that filter the water; the treated water is piped to a fountain that feeds a stream that flows through the site. The centre also features integrated photovoltaics and siding made of western red cedar certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards.

9.Sculpture Building and Gallery (New Haven, Connecticut; KieranTimberlake Associates) The building located at Yale University features an innovative curtainwall system that incorporates solar shading, triple-glazed, low-emissivity glazing, and a translucent, double-cavity spandrel panel. The spandrel panel has an insulation value estimated to be greater than R-20 while maintaining 20 percent visual light transmittance.

10.Lavin-Bernick Center (New Orleans, Louisiana; Vincent James Associates Architects) in this student centre at Tulane University, windows were added to increase the available daylight and allow natural ventilation; mixed-mode operation in temperate months was expected to decrease cooling requirements in the perimeter spaces of the building by 42 percent.

Source: www.thaindian.com

Green Building Awards Program

There is still time to submit a nomination to The First Annual Connecticut Green Building Council Awards Program. These awards will cover several categories and submissions are due on or before May 12, 2008.

Four basic categories will be Judged (new construction or renovation):

Most Intriguing Residence (No limit to the size or complexity of this submission as long as it is an exclusively residential project)

Most Intriguing Commercial Structure (Any form of commercial use, office, retail, manufacturing, etc.)

Most Intriguing Public Building (This could be a school, town or city structure, a state structure or even an college building)

Most Appealing Submission (To encourage innovation and will be a judgment call by the judges)

Buildings must have been in operation for at least one year.

Criteria: These awards will be based on the best overall sustainable design. Generally, the following categories provide a basis for the judging:

Energy usage of project
Water conservation
Materials use
Site design
Indoor air quality/elements

The awards will be presented at a CTGBC luncheon on June 4th.

The location will be the Sculpture Building (LEED Platinum) at Yale University in New Haven.

To find out more and to download an application, visit the CT GBC's Web site.

Stop & Shop Achieves First In Green Buildings

Quincy, Mass., April 24 – The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company of Quincy, MA, today announced that they have been awarded LEED(R) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (US GBC). This achievement distinguishes Stop & Shop not only as the first supermarket chain, but also the first company in the country earning Volume Certification under the Portfolio Program. Fifty-one existing stores and close to 3.4 million square feet of stores have met the green and sustainable criteria of the US GBC. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

"We are tremendously proud to have achieved LEED Portfolio Volume certification," stated Stop & Shop president and CEO, Jose Alvarez. "At Stop & Shop, we are deeply committed to corporate social responsibility and believe it is important to embed sustainability in every part of our company. This achievement is proof of our commitment to and our success in leading the industry in green and energy efficient operations and buildings."

According to the USGBC, buildings in the U.S. account for 39% of total energy use, 71% of electricity consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions.

LEED Portfolio Volume Certification enables building owners to integrate the LEED green building rating system into existing buildings in their company's portfolio in a cost effective way without sacrificing the technical rigor and integrity of LEED. The Portfolio Program recognizes market leaders who have committed to and achieved high levels of LEED certification within their portfolio.

"Stop & Shop is a true leader in green building," said Richard Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "Many people think that only new buildings can be green. At Stop & Shop, they understand that there's a lot that can be done to improve a building's energy efficiency and minimize its impact on the environment."

Stop & Shop's LEED Portfolio Volume Certification was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include recycling, solid waste management, and water conservation, white reflective TPO roof membrane, daylight harvesting, T5 florescent lighting systems with dimmable ballasts and occupancy sensors controlled by state-of-the-art energy management systems, refrigeration systems with high-efficiency fan motors, low energy glass, and more.

For years, Stop & Shop has been committed to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of its associates, customers and residents of the communities in which it operates through various programs and initiatives. The organization also recently earned recognition for superior energy performance of their supermarkets by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They were the only supermarket chain in the country and the only company in New England to be named an ENERGY STAR Leader in 2007.

Source: www.earthtimes.org via www.ctenvironmentalheadlines.com/

Penmar Industries Adds Eco-Labels to Product Line

Norwalk, Conn., April 18 – Penmar Industries is proud to introduce a full line of FSC certified, 100% post consumer recyclable labels. Designed for laser and ink jet printers, copiers and digital offset printing, it can have a tremendous impact on the green initiatives of corporations and manufacturers.

The line includes Pinnacle's environmentally conscious products. Recylabels® is made from 100% recyclable face stock and 100% recyclable adhesive. The recyclable adhesive increases the quantity of corrugated boxes that meet recycling requirements. All of their labels are made from Clean Edge Technology®, manufactured using a unique process that eliminates the adhesive around the edge of the label sheet. This means no adhesive bleed and contamination in your laser printer, eliminating adhesive mess and waste. Available in standard and custom sizes.

The products provide a simple way for all businesses to implement green practices and meet their environmentally conscious goals. Contact Tony Soegaard or J. Rick Cipot at 800-882- 0021 or tonysoegaard@penmar-industries.com or jrickcipot@penmar-industries.com.

Source: CT Minority Supplier Development Council

Bristol-Myers Squibb Building Gets Green Props

Wallingford, Conn., April 14 – Bristol-Myers Squibb's facility on Research Parkway will be honored by the nationaly recognized Green Building Initiative for continually improving its existing buildings.

The building is being showcased for, among other things, providing a healthy indoor environment, having a comprehensive energy managment plan--on site renewable energy and high-efficiency features such as lighting and boilers.

Green Building Intitiative President Ward Hubbell will present a plaque to Bristol-Myers representatives on Apr. 24.

Source: Record-Journal www.MyRecordJournal.com

Thule To Install Solar Panels in Seymour

Rocky Hill, Conn., April 10 – Thule, Inc. will be installing a 318-kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its production facility in Seymour, CT according to RenewableEnergyWorld.com.

Thule, the leading US manufacturer of transportation accessories has received a $1.3 million grant from The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) to help fund the project at its Seymour facility which is also the U.S. headquarters.

"We are experts in maximizing a vehicle's roof space and we are pleased to be able to use our building's roof to reduce and stabilize our energy cost," said Fred Clark, president of Thule Inc. "This installation represents yet another step Thule is taking to minimize our energy footprint. We have made substantial improvements in lighting, maintenance and operations over the past few years to achieve significant energy savings. We encourage our employees to ride bikes to work and provide facilities for those who do so. In deciding to move forward with going solar at our facility we chose American Capital Energy as our integrator because of their extensive and proven experience in large commercial solar projects," concluded Mr. Clark.

Lise Dondy, president of CCEF, said, "The partnership of Thule and Nautilus Solar Energy reflects a growing trend linking environmental stewardship with sound business practices - in a win-win scenario. Thule will derive the benefits of energy cost control, while Nautilus Solar Energy will enjoy state and federal incentives and a long-term contract to sell clean power back to Thule." Dondy added, "We are seeing more and more installations throughout the state under this smart PPA business model."

Thule's extensive product line features multi-purpose roof racks, roof top boxes, rear mount racks, truck boxes, side steps and accessories for transporting and organizing outdoor equipment (Thule), professional contractor equipment (Thule Professional and UWS) and recreational vehicles (Thule SMART RV). For more information visit www.thuleracks.com.

Source: www.renewableenergyworld.com

Shawmut Adds Office in New Haven

Hartford, Conn., April 7 – Shawmut Design and Construction, a national construction management firm, recently announced it has opened operations in New Haven. Shawmut has grown its Connecticut presence with the completion of Connecticut's only LEED Platinum Certified building, the Yale University's Sculpture Building project in New Haven. The Sculpture Building was recently recognized as a 2007 CTGreen10 awardee.

"With an office and team on the ground in New Haven, Shawmut is now better positioned to provide a high level of personalized service to our clients in this growing market," Bill Hughes, president and chief operating officer of Shawmut, said in a statement. "This increased presence illustrates our commitment to the academic community of New England, where Shawmut regularly completes challenging urban projects and occupied renovations, while delivering unparalleled customer service."

Shawmut which currently employs 800 people across its six locations including New York City and Las Vegas, is headquartered in Boston and a 2007 winner of the Boston Business Journal's Best Places to Work (Large Company)
and was ranked #1.

Source: Hartford Business Journal

Electro Energy Introduces Eco-Solution

Danbury, Conn.., April 3 – Electro Energy Inc., a leading provider of advanced battery technologies and associated systems, today, introduced its Gen-A-Sys® anti-idling technology for the trucking industry at its Danbury, CT headquarters. The Gen-A-Sys® anti-idling solutions, jointly developed by Electro Energy and Enertek Corporation, are the next generation in auxiliary power units for long-haul and local delivery trucks. The Gen-A-Sys® products have been installed on a vintage 1987 359 Peterbilt, which will be on view during the press conference.

Representatives from Enertek and Electro Energy demonstrated the patent-pending Gen-A-Sys® systems which provide an all-electric source of cab heating, cooling and hotel load power utilizing advanced battery technology developed by Electro Energy. The Gen-A-Sys® +DC (daycab) solution utilizes only batteries for the electrical power. The Gen-A-Sys® Q, a hybrid battery – diesel generator solution provides auxiliary power for longer durations or heavier loads. The show truck is outfitted with both systems.

Michael Reed, Electro Energy's President and CEO, said, "Many states now have commercial truck anti-idling regulations and as of January 1, 2008 any Class 8 truck entering the State of California is required to have an anti-idling system installed. The Gen-A-Sys® systems power the truck hotel loads resulting in reduced exhaust emissions, noise and fuel expense compared to idling the truck engine. Electro Energy's advanced battery technology reduces the weight of these systems enabling greater freight loading and revenue potential for truck operators."

Enertek co-principals Paul Baumann and Bruce Wingen began a nationwide press tour promoting the Gen-A-Sys® system at the 2008 Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky last week. They will continue the tour meeting with media and industry representatives in Winston-Salem, NC; Bentonville, AR; Houston, TX; Sacramento, CA and many other cities along the way ending in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 1, 2008.

Source: www.electroenergyinc.com