Green Building Products

Green Building Statistics: Demand is High, Design Experience is Low

Thu

Aug

We'll be signing off today for the holiday weekend, but before we do that, I want to point out a couple of interesting green building statistics: one group collected by NAHB and the other which was mentioned during yesterday's Green Building Initiative webinar discussing insurance and surety issues for green construction projects. During the webinar, one panelist -- an employee of XL Specialty Insurance -- noted that only 20 percent of his company's insured design professionals consider themselves "very experienced" in green design. That's obviously a percentage to which XL is paying close attention in the context of green risk management.

Sales Tax Exemption Proposed for Garden State Green Building Products

Fri

Aug

by Stephen Del Percio

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New Jersey may soon be the first state in the U.S. to offer a sales tax exemption for certain green building products. Bill S-1778, introduced by state senator Bill Baroni (R- Mercer/Middlesex) would provide consumers with an exemption from New Jersey's seven (7) percent sales tax for EnergyStar-rated residential appliances, including refrigerators, ceiling fans, and fluorescent light bulbs. Although other states- including Vermont- have offered similar temporary green product sales tax exemptions, the New Jersey legislation would be the first to go permanently on a state's books. The program would be called "Buy Green, Save Green," and the bill is also being sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, a Democrat from Camden. However, some businesses in southern New Jersey are concerned about the bill's potential impact on Urban Enterprise Zones, where the state sales tax is only 3.5 percent, as many businesses tout their UEZ locations in promotional materials.

Baseball All-Stars Parade on Green Carpet from Bentley Along Sixth Avenue

Wed

Jul

by Stephen Del Percio

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As part of Major League Baseball’s efforts to green this year’s All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium (which the American League won last night in 15 innings), the red carpet that covered 95,000 square feet of Sixth Avenue yesterday from 40th through 58th Streets during the All-Star Red Carpet Parade was manufactured by Bentley Prince Street from 100 percent recycled fiber content. Bentley, whose California manufacturing facility holds a LEED-EB rating from USGBC, used 100 percent renewable electricity to manufacture the carpet through its on-site solar array, coupled with the purchase of Green-e-certified RECs. According to Bentley, its carpet manufacturing process avoids the use of 300 pounds of petroleum-based fiber and 162,000 gallons of water. The company also bought 480,000 pounds of verified carbon emissions reduction credits from aggregators that include Native Energy, Blue Source, and 3 Degrees. Bentley will now recycle all 45,000 pounds of the carpet in connection with its ReEntry 2.0 reclamation program.

Baseball's All-Star Game to Bid Green Farewell to House That Ruth Built

Thu

Jun

by Stephen Del Percio

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While the New York Yankees have been mum on the green design features (if any, though the project is not seeking a LEED rating) at their new $1 billion stadium in the Bronx which will open up next April, Major League Baseball announced today that next month's All-Star Game (July 15) at the current Yankee Stadium across the street will be "the greenest event in MLB's history." MLB executive vide president John McHale said that MLB's "All-Star summer will demonstrate baseball's commitment to improving the environment, and we will continue to do more in this area at the Commissioner's Office and with our clubs."

Green Depot Manhattan to Open at Bowery Landmark

Thu

Apr

by Stephen Del Percio

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Brooklyn-based green building materials and products supplier Green Depot announced yesterday that it will begin construction on a 3,000-square-foot Manhattan showroom at 222 Bowery, between Price and Spring Streets. Designed by architects Studio Mapos, the project should get underway on May 1 and will seek a LEED (presumably under Commercial Interiors) Gold or Platinum rating. Details on specific green features at the showroom are unavailable, but Green Depot will also offer patrons a green resource and design center. Founder and CEO Sarah Beatty called the expansion "significant" and "a fundamental recognition of the growing effort amongst customers to make healthier and more eco-friendly living choices." The project should be completed by November and will be Green Depot's sixth- and largest- showroom to date.