Posts Tagged ‘commercial construction’

Aug 18, 2010 01:58 PM

GreenIntel’s RSS 101

By greeniq

A beginner’s guide to blog readers, web feeds and news aggregators.

Today’s media landscape is constantly evolving, allowing the blogosphere to become more and more of a relevant source of information today, especially in the sustainable building industry. We have countless online resources covering the latest news and trends on sustainable building, green design updates, reviews and recommendations of green building products – but who really has the time to sift through this information overload on a daily basis anymore?

That’s where RSS comes into play. RSS feeds have become common practice among avid blog readers today. Consider it your personal web update delivery service, covering only the content you care about. RSS feeds are a convenient way to manage news and updates from your favorite blogs without ever having to search the web. RSS allows users to preselect the content they would like to receive, allowing early exposure to news, constant updates and of course, time savings.

Ready to get started? In order to receive an RSS Feed, first you’ll need to set up your own blog reader, news aggregator or feed reader. Whatever you call it, your reader will collect the RSS feeds you sign up for every time an update is posted. There are many types of blog readers and aggregators available, each with their ups and downs. Here are some of our top picks to get you started:

Google Reader – Tried and true, web-based Google Reader lets you subscribe to your favorite blogs and websites so new content is delivered as soon as it’s posted. With the freshest content on top, Google Reader provides streamlined updates in a user-friendly template.

Bloglines – Known for its organization, speed, and ease of use, Bloglines is another favorite among frequent RSS subscribers. One reviewer commented, “Its like my daily newspaper written by all the websites I like to read.”

FeedDemon – A Windows compatible desktop feed reader, allowing users to read RSS newsfeeds from hundreds of websites without ever visiting them. FeedDemon can also watch for items in RSS feeds that contain specific keywords of interest to you. An added bonus – If you plan to read your RSS feeds in a place that has no Internet connection, FeedDemon can save all images and links for you so the information remains accessible while you are offline.

NetNewsWire – MAC users have no fear. There are plenty of RSS readers to keep you up to date with your favorite news sources, and NetNewsWire seems to be one of the most popular and fastest out there.

Keeping a pulse on the latest sustainability news can be a daunting challenge with the amount of content available today, so here’s a list of our preferred sustainability blogs for the Architecture and Interior Design Industry to get your RSS library started:

Core77

Archinect

talkcontract

Interior Design – Design Green

A Daily Dose of Architecture

Tags: Architecture, blog, commercial construction, design, energy efficiency, green building, GreenIntel, RSS, sustainability
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Jan 29, 2010 03:45 PM

Weekly Intel: Top Links of the Week

By Building Experts Team

1013 45 banner build weeklyintel2 Weekly Intel: Top Links of the Week

Green building materials are gaining attention and growing fast

Efficiency upgrades and baby boomers will help boost remodeling market

EPA launches green building competition: EnergyStar National Building Competition

Using social networking to win land use battles

How to engage employees in workplace greening

Increased commercial construction volume expected in 2010

Stimulus money will spur construction on California high-speed rail project

10 cities where defaults grew the fastest in 2009

Big Builder editorial director John McManus shares insights from IBS 2010:

Tags: commercial construction, EnergyStar National Building Competition, green building materials, high-speed rail project, remodeling market, workplace greening
Posted in Weekly Intel | No Comments »

May 04, 2009 03:38 PM

Commercial Building Appeal

By Building Experts Team

Green is everyone’s favorite color these days, and commercial buildings love wearing it. Green buildings are steadily becoming the new norm in the commercial building sector, but what is big today may change tomorrow. But don’t expect this color to go out of style. According to Yudelson Associates, a green building consulting service firm, there are several trends to be on the look out for this year. A few of the notable trends include:

Green building will benefit from the new Obama presidency, with a strong focus on green jobs in energy efficiency, new green technologies and renewable energy.
The focus of green building will begin to switch from new buildings to greening existing buildings.
Awareness of the coming global crisis in fresh water supply will increase, leading building designers and managers to take further steps to reduce water consumption in buildings with more conserving fixtures, rainwater recovery systems and innovative new water technologies.
Solar power use in buildings will accelerate with the extension of solar energy tax credits for buildings through 2016 and the prospect of increasing utility focus on renewable power goals for 2015 and 2020.
European green building technologies will become better known and more widely adopted in the U.S. and Canada.

leed hangar 300x163 Commercial Building Appeal

Hangar 25 in Burbank, CA

So what do we make of all this? The government will play a huge role on what goes mainstream. President Obama’s tax credits are aimed to entice green building. The demand and incentive for green building is there – why wouldn’t architects and building owners follow suit? Another reason – commercial spaces are a black hole of energy consumption. According to getsolar.com, “more than 70 percent of total electricity usage and nearly 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States comes from heating, cooling and powering office spaces.” That number alone should convince people how important green trends are.

The green trends will affect everything from building materials to building codes. We may be seeing more cool roofs, perhaps the fastest commercial building trend in the market today according to Commercial Building Products magazine. Although it may not make sense today, according to BuildingGreen.com we may see more wind turbines at the top of most, if not all, commercial buildings in the future. It may be happening slowly (very slowly) but the world is beginning to be restructured before our eyes. Now we just need US government to follow through and make sure it really does happen, the only way it will happen – from the top down.

Tags: commercial buildings, commercial construction, green building, green trends
Posted in Commercial, Green | No Comments »

Mar 17, 2009 06:55 PM

Stimulating the School Systems

By Building Experts Team

Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, CO

Old school has a whole different meaning in the world of commercial construction, and the modernization of K-12 learning environments over the past few decades has come a long way. No doubt that parents, communities, school boards and everyone else involved still have their opinions, but priorities have shifted and one message rings clear (best stated by the the National Clearinghouse for the Educational Facilities) – High Performing schools equal High Performing Students.

True, times are tough and as budgets are cut, obviously local school programs are affected, including construction planning. With the help of Federal funding for school construction, new schools will continue to emerge and now, more than ever, smart decisions are vital. The significance of those decisions differ in every community in every town.

Here’s a tip – a few key questions are being asked of those involved in school facilities planning with a focus on high performance. To be part of the conversation, and ultimately the multi-million dollar projects, be prepared to tie the benefits of your products and services into these considerations:

Is it educationally appropriate? The final product must prove effective for both students and staff. The last thing anyone wants is a building just filled with desks that doesn’t enhance learning in some way.
Is it neighborhood friendly? Design and features must address the many after-school and weekend activities of the community without driving operating costs.
Is it environmentally sound? More and more builders are becoming green certified, but it’s not enough to just incorporate recycled materials or certified wood. Consider sustainable elements that will also enhance the learning environment.
What is its long-term impact? More spending plans are going to be developed with the long-term in mind, so be sure to determine how the cost and payments of your contributions can best fit you and the school.

If you can proactively address these considerations on a local level, you are well on your way to joining the advancement of new school construction and modernization.