Wednesday, October 2, 2013

IIDA Member Spotlight: Holley Henderson


If you are interested in further reading here is a link to Holley's book, Becoming a Green Building Professional: A Guide to Careers in Sustainable Architecture, Design, Engineering, Development, and Operations


Friday, September 27, 2013

Fortunately: Better products and practices moving to the forefront


Submitted by:
Meghan Woodcock, EDAC 
SCAD Professor, Interior Design
IIDA Sustainability Forum Director

Written by:
Nancy Suitt Bennett. IIDA Industry Representative
Principal
Main Solutions


Fortunately, the world of furniture and textiles has embraced the need to produce products that are more environmentally friendly.  Many manufacturers have been proponents of environmental practices for years, but certainly with designers and architects reaching to achieve LEED certification the focus on better products and practices has come to the forefront.

Carnegie just introduced the first high-performance interior textile in the world with a majority of plant based content.   Carnegie is a company that has been focusing on environmentally friendly policies even when it was not a buzzword.  The newest introduction by Carnegie has been 7 years in the making, achieving the first Gold Cradle to Cradle Certification wallcovering with their new introduction of BIOBASED XOREL. 



Carnegie has had a commitment to the environment since the 1980’s when they chose not to introduce vinyl into the collection based on vinyl’s negative environmental impact.  Xorel was developed in 1981 as an alternate to vinyl wallcovering that was not only beautiful, but also achieved high performance at a cost effective price point.  Furthermore, XOREL can be used for wallcovering, panels, and upholstery.

Bio based XOREL is plant based and contains between 60-85% bio content.  (US government guidelines require products to have 25% bio content to be labeled a Biobased product)   It has a significantly reduced carbon footprint over petroleum based products.

So what the heck is this biobased renewable resource?  The bioelectricity is generated through sugar cane waste. (Now as we know in the South…sugarcane today ….KUDZU tomorrow!) Sugar cane has a lower carbon emission rate compared with some of the other biobased materials.  For each ton of sugar cane used in production, 2.5 tons of carbon is captured.  Very technical!  The take away is Carnegie is committed to creating a beautiful product that works for you and the environment.

Biobased XOREL, though challenging to produce, looks, costs, and performs the same as XOREL.  The first introduction offers 6 designs in 91 colorways.   CARNEGIE also has the “responsible return program” where all XOREL products can be returned to Carnegie at the end of their useful life for proper reuse. 


Another manufacturer that rocks the environmental world of table bases is FALCON.    Recycled engine blocks have fueled the content of their bases for years.  Who knows…maybe you are sitting at a table and the base is made out of the first car you ever drove…or your parent’s car.  You know the car you were told to drive with tender loving care and you immediately threw care to the wind as soon as you left the drive!


For 35 years Falcon has recycled more than 150,000 tons of car parts to create their table bases.  The bases are 100% recyclable.  Each recycled ton of car parts is equal to about 100 table bases.  Also, Falcon uses an electric induction furnace that emits minimal air pollutants versus a blast furnace and smoke stack. 
As they say at FALCON…”turn up the base”!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Looking Ahead: Sustainability Events 2013-2014


Written by:
Meghan Woodcock, EDAC 
SCAD Professor, Interior Design
IIDA Sustainability Forum Director


Looking Ahead: Sustainability Events 201314
2013–14 offers a wide range of events focused on bringing environmentally minded individuals together. Engaging activities, diverse line-ups and thought-provoking content promise to continue raising awareness and inspire the next set of meaningful steps towards change. From conservation efforts and film festivals focused on the urgent environmental issues of our time to understanding the built environment's most rigorous and ambitious performance standards and the world's largest expo dedicated to green building, here’s a glance at what’s coming up in 2013–14.

Georgia

Smart Cities and Ecosystems
Thursday, October 3, 2013 6:00PM – 8:00PM // Atlanta, GA
usgbcga.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&Itemid=110

2013 Forestry Symposium
Oct 4, 2013 8:30 AM // Athens, GA
usgbcga.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&Itemid=110

Understanding the Living Building Challenge Public Workshop
December 5, 2013 // Atlanta, GA

living-future.org/events/understanding-living-building-challenge-workshop-atlanta-ga

Greenprints 
March 1213  2014 //  Atlanta, GA
greenprints.org


National
Understanding the Living Building Challenge Public Workshop
September 25, 2013 // Cincinnati, OH

living-future.org/events/understanding-living-building-challenge-public-workshop-cincinnati-oh

The New Metrics of Sustainable Business Conference
September 24
25, 2013 // Philadelphia, PA
sustainablebrands.com/events/sbiif/newmetrics13

Understanding the Living Building Challenge Public Workshop
October 11, 2013 // New York, NY

living-future.org/events/understanding-living-building-challenge-public-workshop-new-york-ny

Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design
October 6– 8, 2013 // Minneapolis, MN
www.di.net/events/summit

Net Zero Cities 2013
October 23– 24, 2013 // Fort Collins, CO
netzerocities.net

CitiesAlive 11th Annual Green Roof & Wall Conference
October 23, 2013 - October 26, 2013 // San Francisco, CA, USA
citiesalive.org

BECC 2013 – Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference
November 18 – 20, 2013 // Sacramento, CA
beccconference.org

2013 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
November 20-22, 2013 // Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
greenbuildexpo.org/faqs/General-Information.aspx

DC Environmental Film Festival 2014
March 18-30, 2014 // Washington, D.C.
dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org

Living Future 2014
May 2123, 2014 // Portland, OR

living-future.org/unconference2014

San Francisco 4th Annual Green Film Festival
May 29June 4, 2014 // San Francisco, CA
sfgreenfilmfest.org

Sustainable Brands '14 Conference
June 2
5, 2014 // San Diego, CA
sustainablebrands.com/events/sb14/register

2014 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
November 810, 2014 // New Orleans, LA
details TBA

International
Sustainable Brands London Conference
November 18-19, 2013 // London, England

www.sustainablebrands.com/events/sblondon13/register

Understanding the Living Building Challenge Public Workshop
November 19, 2013 // Madrid, Spain

living-future.org/events/understanding-living-building-challenge-workshop-madrid-spain

Understanding the Living Building Challenge Public Workshop
November 21, 2013 // Barcelona, Spain

living-future.org/events/understanding-living-building-challenge-workshop-barcelona-spain

14th Annual Environmental Film Festival
November 21–24, 2013 // Toronto, Canada
planetinfocus.org/film-festival

2014 International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability
January 2224 2014 // The University of Split, Split, Croatia
onsustainability.com/the-conference

Ecobuild 2014
March 46, 2014 //  London, England
ecobuild.co.uk

International Conference on Sustainable Design and Construction Engineering
April 2930, 2014 // Paris, France
waset.org/conferences/2014/france2014/icsdce/

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A Volunteers Experience at Zerolandfill Atlanta


Student blogger  Saima Ahmad sent us her blog post about her Zerolandfill Atlanta experience, see what she has to say about this great event!  Remember, that the second weekend is coming up.


"I am an IIDA student member from GTC and volunteered at the Zerolandfill event on Saturday. Here is my blog covering the first day."


IIDA Student Member's experience with the Zerolandfill Atlanta Event

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The New Kind of Clubhouse in MultiFamily Communities

Residential Forum – The new kind of clubhouse in multifamily communities
Submitted by: Katherine Leicht, Shelton Taylor & Associates, IIDA

            With the economy still struggling to get back on its feet, young adults remain nervous about making a commitment to buying a place. Instead, they opt for renting in high-end apartment complexes with upscale, all-inclusive amenities.
Developers are not going to build one of these lavish communities before getting to know the market around the area. “It's critical to get detailed information about potential residents from the builder in the beginning," says Victoria Currens, principal with Style Interior Design based in Irvine, Calif. "We like to collaborate with builders at every stage of the project. First and foremost, you have to determine how the space is going to function and who will use it because this influences most design decisions.”
            Today, the “new generation” clubhouse has turned into a social gathering place for friends to hangout, families to host parties, and neighbors to meet and mingle with each other.
“The look and feel of multifamily communities continues to change. Greater competition is forcing developers to differentiate their products–and it all starts with the clubhouse. There is a new focus on lifestyle, amenities, and services. Developers willing to provide excellent clubhouse design, not to mention quality amenities and services, will add value to their property and will successfully attract renters willing to pay premium rates.” (Source A)
Below are some new and upgraded areas of the typical amenity space.

 
  • Outdoor area
Today’s outdoor areas in new-construction multifamily communities are not your typical rectangular pool with uncomfortable chaise lounges. They are resort-style, recreational areas with waterfalls, bocce ball courts, grilling areas with top-of-the-line appliances, fire pits, and multiple seating groups.


Metro 808 Apartment Homes – Charlotte, NC
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, www.woodfieldinvestments.com

Metro 808 Apartment Homes – Charlotte, NC
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, www.woodfieldinvestments.com
Hidden Creek Apartment Homes – Gaithersburg, MD
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, www.woodfieldinvestments.com

Whitehall Parc Apartment Homes – Charlotte, NC
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, http://www.whitehallparcapts.com

  • Multimedia Theater
Say goodbye to watching the Lakers game on your 32”TV in your living room. Say hello to watching it with your friends and neighbors on an 80” flat screen with surround sound speakers.
Creekstone Apartment Homes – Durham, NC
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, www.woodfieldcreekstone.com

  • Demo Kitchens
Seen in more of the upscale communities, residents can practice their cooking skills by themselves or take classes that are offered by the community every week by a local chef in the demo kitchen.
Whitehall Parc Apartment Homes – Charlotte, NC
              Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, http://www.whitehallparcapts.com
Wi-Fi Café 
Equipped with cappuccino/latte/coffee/smoothie machines and tablet chairs with outlets built-in, the typical “business center” is no longer strictly business.
Hidden Creek Apartment Homes – Gaithersburg, MD
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, www.hiddencreekapartment.com

Whitehall Parc Apartment Homes – Charlotte, NC
Image courtesy of Woodfield Investments, LLC, http://www.whitehallparcapts.com



Whether the prospect is looking for a great pool area to throw parties in the summer or a demo kitchen to practice cooking, they have one thing in common:  they want the “new generation” amenities, regardless of resident profile.  

Sources: