A Green Resolution...Don’t Buy Bottled Water

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:45:16 -0500

January is a time for personal assessment, goal setting, renewal of commitment and broadening of horizons. Along with the New Year’s resolutions you make this year, think about just one more resolution that is easy to achieve... recycling... and in particular not buying water in plastic bottles. Studies show that 60 million plastic water bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day, about 22 billion every year. The water in these bottles conform to Food and Drug Administration guidelines which is not as high a quality as tap water that conforms to EPA standards. Cost for bottled water based on prices of name brand 12-packs is 4000 times more than tap water and equates to as much as $8.26 per gallon. Making bottles uses energy, transporting bottles to stores uses energy, disposing of bottles (only 1 in 6 gets recycled) uses energy. Be green in 2009 and don’t buy water in plastic bottles.

Bay County LEED Certified DEQ Building Almost Complete

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:05:50 -0500

The Bay County Department of Environmental Quality is moving to a new home. This new home is not just any home, it is the first State of Michigan government office building with an alternative energy system. It has achieved the Platinum level LEED certification which is the highest rating that can be obtained. The DEQ building is an environmentally sustainable structure with energy efficient design and construction that will be a model for future state buildings.
Among the many green features is a raised platform floor with the heating system in the 18” high space with panels that allow the heat to rise through the grid without the need for ductwork. There will also be 28 skylights that will allow the offices to be bright enough for work during the daytime without overhead lamps. A wind turbine will be erected on the property that will be 120’ high. The turbine is expected to provide 15-20% of the total electrical load for the building.
There are also two rain retention ponds on the south end of the property. These ponds will collect water and reduce the city storm water runoff. The roof is actually a soya based foam insulation deck that provides an R-45 factor. There is a two-inch gap between the exterior and interior walls with recycled shredded blue jeans used as insulation. Even the landscaping has been addressed with drought resistant plants being used, eliminating the need for watering. The building will be open for operation soon, with the grand opening scheduled for April.

Grogging

A Green Resolution...Don’t Buy Bottled Water

Bay County LEED Certified DEQ Building Almost Complete