September 11 , 2006  
 

Green Globes™ Recognizes First "Green" Recycling Facility



A milestone was reached today in Colorado, when the Summit County Materials Recovery Center became the first recycling facility in the country to be recognized by the GBI’s Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system for commercial buildings.

“The leaders of Summit County have shown that green building isn’t just for big budget projects and cathedrals of architecture,” said GBI executive director Ward Hubbell, who presented a plaque recognizing the facility’s rating of two Green Globes at its opening ceremony. “Sustainability can be affordable and functional—and should be a consideration with every project.”

The 11,000 square foot building is an independently run (or “neutral”) facility that allows any hauler to collect and leave mixed recyclables and process them for market. It received high marks for heat recovery, the use of salvaged materials and maximum daylighting, all of which are practical approaches to improved environmental performance. The facility will substantially increase the type and volume of materials collected in the area—which will conserve valuable landfill space and resources, while facilitating growth in private sector recycling.

The building was designed by principal architect Matthew Stais, who took it through the Green Globes process in collaboration with the Summit County government and the non-profit High Country Conservation Center. “The cornerstone of this project has been the Summit County government’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Stais. “The Green Globes program was a good fit for us; it helped establish and achieve measurable, meaningful levels of sustainable design and construction.”

This building is the seventh building in the United States to achieve recognition by GBI through the Green Globes design guidance and assessment system.

For more information about Green Globes, please visit the GBI Web site.

 

  
 
  Green Building Program Launches

The following HBA programs were developed in partnership with the GBI, based on the National Association of Home Builders’ Model Green Home Building guidelines
Sept.26            Keystone Green Building Initiative
Greater Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 4 Southern Nevada Green Building Initiative
Las Vegas, NV
Oct.27 Park City Green Building Initiative
Park City, UT

Conferences and Trade Shows

Look for the GBI at these upcoming events:
Oct. 8-10

International Facility Managers Association
World Workplace Conference and Expo
San Diego, CA
Oct. 18-20

2006 Design-Build Conference and Expo
Nashville, TN

 
 
 

A true consensus standard is established when a recognized standards developer like the GBI follows a prescribed process that subjects every aspect of its standard to review, analysis and voting by a balanced group of independent stakeholders. This occurs in a transparent process that includes an opportunity for public comment and response prior to ultimate ratification by a standards organization.

 

The Dow Chemical Company produces insulating foams that are CFC and formaldehyde free, contain post-industrial recycled content, are recyclable, and appeal to neither mold nor insects. They also help to achieve a positive score with environmental assessment and rating systems such as Green Globes.

 
 

It’s all too common for high performance buildings to fall short of expectations, particularly in terms of energy consumption. And while they do still provide greater energy-efficiency than their regular performance counterparts, the gap between design and reality is a growing problem. GBI Insight talks to architect, planner and GBI technical advisor Jiri Skopek about what causes performance slippage and how tools such as the Green Globes system can help prevent it.

  
 

If there was any lingering doubt that green building can be cost-effective, look no further than the green affordable housing movement.

The Green Building Initiative of Dallas, the residential green building program created by the Home Builders Association of Dallas in partnership with GBI, was unveiled at the grand opening of an affordable housing subdivision built to the program’s guidelines. The homes start at $120,000, demonstrating that green built homes can also be affordable.


  
 

Through the Center for Sustainable Engineering, universities and colleges across the country are being encouraged to integrate “green thinking” into their engineering programs.

  
 

GBI Green Globes Training Workshop
Oct. 25 – Harrisburg, PA
This comprehensive workshop on the Green Globes system is being offered to architects, builders, developers, government officials and others involved in commercial construction in the Pennsylvania area.

Ecobuild Federal – The Environmental Systems Technology Conference and Exhibition
Dec. 4-7 – Washington, DC
As a major sponsor of Ecobuild Federal, the GBI will host a series of workshops designed to provide insight and strategies for using the Green Globes system to improve the environmental design and performance of commercial buildings. More