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A New Kind of Roofing Adhesive
According to EPA documents, organic solvents used in commercial products release over 886,000,000,000 pounds of VOC’s in the atmosphere each year in the U.S. This is second only to transportation pollution, which releases about a trillion pounds of VOC’s annually. These two sources of VOC’s exceed all others combined. In spite of all the “Green” rhetoric, the consumption of solvents continues to grow without abate at about the rate of the annual Gross Domestic Product.
Construction materials make up a large amount of annual VOC pollution tonnage. Because these materials are not a fixed source of pollution, they have been poorly regulated. Solvents used in coatings, adhesives and sealants have been a cheap, convenient and unrestricted method of applying construction materials for many years. Although viable, alternative materials do exist, the persistent use of cheap, solvent release compounds has been sustained by powerful political and industry forces. As a result, safe and efficient alternatives have been struggling to enter the market.
The industry is now on the cusp of profound change due to the development of a new solvent free, sealant and adhesive chemistry with superlative performance capabilities--and complete safety.
A new adhesive is about to make its debut. It will be introduced at Greenbuild in Chicago in November. A totally solvent free, single ply roofing adhesive capable of withstanding hurricane force winds is imminently qualified to replace flammable, 80% solvent based, widely used roofing adhesives--and reduce VOC pollution by over twenty-five million pounds. It will deliver significant time and cost savings as well. This high performance product will earn 1 LEED Point for Low Emitting Materials and 5 NAHB Global Impact Points. It presents zero health hazards and contributes nothing to global warming.
The new roofing adhesive is made by Chem Link in Schoolcraft, Michigan.
September Tour of Green Buildings to Showcase Region’s National Leadership in Sustainable, Energy-Efficient LEED Buildings
Grand Rapids, MI – August 11, 2010 – The U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan (USGBC-WM) Chapter today announced that it will host tours of 40 commercial and residential LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings located in and around the Grand Rapids area on Friday and Saturday, September 10th and 11th. The tours will coincide with Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities, a conference hosted by a5 Inc. and Seven Generations Ahead on Friday, September 10th at Grand Valley State University’s Eberhard Center on the downtown Grand Rapids campus.
“The Grand Rapids metropolitan area ranks first nationally in the number of LEED buildings per capita, and fifth overall,” explained USGBC-WM Chapter Chair Renae Hesselink, LEED AP. “We’ve earned the right to call ourselves a national center of green building, but more importantly we’re positioning our region as a trendsetter, a leader in innovation, and home to experts in the design and manufacture of energy-efficient, sustainable buildings and materials.”
The Green Buildings of West Michigan Tour will provide its participants with a close-up look at a diverse portfolio of LEED-certified building stock spanning a variety of market segments including office, manufacturing, small project, health care, education, residential, hospitality and non-profit. The buildings are also featured in Green Buildings of West Michigan, a book published by the USGBC West Michigan Chapter to commemorate the tour. Information regarding availability and pricing is available at www.usgbcwm.org/green-buildings-book.
Primary tour transportation will be based near the Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids, where tours begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th. Registration is required. In addition to the shuttle services provided, some tours will incorporate public transportation and walking. The tour includes visits to Aquinas College, the David D. Hunting YMCA, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Hyatt Place Grand Rapids South, in addition to LEED buildings owned by office furniture industry leaders Haworth, Herman Miller and Steelcase.
“Based on the initial response, we expect hundreds of industry professionals, students and those just curious about the green building movement to join us on the tours,” Hesselink said. “They’re coming from throughout the Midwest to ‘kick the tires’, ask questions, and consider how they might advance the art and science of green building in their own communities. We’re excited to see the growing interest and happy to share the lessons learned by the many green building pioneers that call West Michigan home.”
Tour registration and details are available at www.usgbcwm.org/green-buildings-of-west-michigan. An early bird registration discount is available through August 15th.
The corresponding Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities conference will feature keynote addresses from Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, Mayor Dave Bing of Detroit and Director Rebecca Humphries of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The full program, along with registration information, is available via the GreenTown web site at www.greentownconference.com
Four West Michigan Facilities Receive DNRE Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Award
Four west Michigan businesses have received awards today from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for their outstanding commitment to environmental community outreach. In a ceremony today at the Pilgrim Manor Retirement Community in Grand Rapids, DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries applauded the businesses’ commitment to environmental protection and conservation.
“I am here today to recognize four West Michigan businesses for their outstanding commitment to the environment and their community,” said Director Humphries. “These businesses are finding ways to engage their community, their clients and their employees in environmental and natural resources projects that benefit their community and the state of Michigan.”
Receiving DNRE Neighborhood Environmental Partner (NEP) Awards were Pilgrim Manor, the City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant, Herman Miller and Mel Trotter Ministries.
Pilgrim Manor was honored for hosting an Emerging Green Building Competition at its facility. Each year, regional chapters of the US Green Buildings Council have the option of hosting a design competition for students and young professionals. Pilgrim Manor hosted the event and held the award ceremony on Earth Day to draw attention to the importance of environmentally efficient green building in the community. Pilgrim Manor also educated 15-20 community volunteers on developing rain gardens at its annual General Synod in Grand Rapids.
The City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant was recognized for its development and implementation of the Wyoming Medicinal Disposal System (WYMeDS). The plant partnered with local pharmacists to collect and sort liquid and solid medications from the public, which the plant stores. The medications are then destroyed by the Kent County incinerator. The program is a model for pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal.
Herman Miller, Inc. was honored for its work with Habitat for Humanity in helping to build a LEED Certified Gold home in Grand Haven. More than 120 Herman Miller volunteers also partnered with residents of the McLaughlin Neighborhood in Muskegon to build a playground and help in clean-up projects around the neighborhood. Herman Miller also participates in the West Michigan Sustainability Forum and the Adopt-a-Highway program.
Mel Trotter Ministries of Grand Rapids received an NEP Award for its innovative recycling and composting program in its community. The facility implemented a “zero waste” Thanksgiving dinner, with more than 2,000 people participating in the event and only generating 10 pounds of waste. Mel Trotter Ministries has also eliminated the use of disposable plates and silverware, further reducing solid waste and litter at its facility. The residents of its drug and alcohol recovery program participate in the 2x3R4Living Program, which teaches residents about the traditional three R’s – reduce, recycle and reuse – and the additional three R’s of recover, remanufacture and resell/repurchase.
The NEP Awards Program was developed by DNRE to recognize facilities and their community partners who have worked together on environmental and natural-resource projects to improve the environment locally in their communities.
Further information on the NEP Program is available on the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/deqnep, or by calling the DNRE Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. To learn more, go to www.michigan.gov/dnre.
Board of Directors Call For Nominations
Call for Nominations
Board of Directors
USGBC – West Michigan Chapter
Board of Directors Election Fact Sheet
Green Building Council Pressured to Include Certified Forestry Products
In a letter steered by Congressmen Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) to the U.S. Green Building Council, 79 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing 35 different states, have urged the organization to “accept all credible forest certification systems for qualification under the LEED rating system” including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. On the heels of the letter from this bipartisan group of Members of Congress, USGBC today received a petition with nearly 6,000 signatories calling for LEED recognition of all “wood and paper products certified to independent, respected and credible standards including SFI, ATFS, CSA, FSC, and PEFC.” In addition, six members of Congress have sent their own letters urging an inclusive LEED policy.
“From the halls of Congress to other elected officials across North America to architects, builders, family tree farmers and forestry and sustainability experts around the world, the support for a change in LEED has grown exponentially,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI Inc.). “Wood should be recognized for its environmental merits, and third-party certified forest products should be given additional credit.”
More than three quarters of certified forests in North America are certified to standards not currently recognized by USGBC.
The letter from the House members states that maintaining the status quo will mean builders seeking LEED certification “would be discouraged to use third-party certified SFI and ATFS products” grown in the U.S., while opening LEED to other forest certification programs “could stimulate the market for American produced forest products and the communities and jobs that depend on both.”
In a letter to USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi that was delivered with the SFI petition, Abusow wrote that it has “stimulated a tremendous outpouring of support, tapping into a broad and diverse community” and that “it’s difficult to ignore the voices of almost 6,000 people from around the world who took the time to respond.”
U.S. Governors and Canadian Officials Support Opening LEED
In addition to the petition signers and Members of Congress, 10 U.S. Governors – representing Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, Virginia and Washington – have written letters to the USGBC to voice their concerns over the current approach to wood product certification. The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers as well as individual provincial ministers have also written letters to the USGBC to show their support for all credible forest certification standards. To see a complete summary of the professional organizations and governments that have chimed in on this issue, visit sfiprogram.org/leed.
Global Recognition of Multiple Credible Certification Standards
Numerous green building rating systems around the globe have recognized all credible forest certification programs. This includes ANSI/ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, ANSI/GBI Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings, Built Green Canada, CASBEE in Japan, BREEAM in the United Kingdom and the Australian Green Building Council’s Green Star Program. In addition, green building codes, including the draft International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and ASHRE 189.1, also recognize multiple forest certification programs.
“The road through the USGBC review process has not been short or uncomplicated, and in the end, we hope the organization gets past this outdated process and the politics around the LEED forest certification policy. For the sake of our forests, our communities, the tens of thousands of family foresters who make their livelihoods from forestry, and the future of green building across North America and globally, it is time for USGBC to do the right thing and recognize all credible forest certification standards, including SFI, ATFS, PEFC, CSA and FSC,” said Abusow. “It’s what other green building programs and codes globally already have applied. Multiple forest certification programs push each other to do better, and they serve different needs.”
Source: PRNewswire, Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Innovation Michigan finalists named for 2010
Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 12:02 PM Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 11:33 AM
Business Review West Michigan
Business Review has named 38 companies as finalists for the 2010 Innovation Michigan statewide awards. Winners will be named at the July 28 awards and exposition at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.
The largest number of finalists in the event’s five-year history, Business Review selected the Innovation finalists based on uniqueness of the innovation, which could include a new product, process, business, line or service. Innovations must have occurred within the past 18 months. Entries also were judged based on the outcome of the innovation to date, including its effect on revenue, employee morale, customers and company image.
The finalists represent a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, not-for-profit, technology, health care and education. Each finalist will showcase their innovation at the July 28 Innovation Michigan Awards & Exposition, 5:30-9 p.m. Eight companies will be named winners at the end of the evening.
“Innovation Michigan is the premier event honoring innovation across the state,” Business Review Editor B. Candace Beeke said. “It’s invigorating to see what these entrepreneurs create. It’s also rewarding to see the established, larger companies in Michigan maintaining an innovative corporate culture. “This is a time when Michigan needs to see that innovation in business is alive and well.”
All finalists also will be featured in a special publication by Business Review July 22.
Business Review will present its Lifetime Achievement Award for Innovation to Amway Corp. of Ada at Innovation Michigan, honoring the 50-year-old company’s innovative business model and long history of innovation. Amway, the second-largest privately held company in the region, employs 4,000 in West Michigan.
“Amway was chosen for this prestigious award because its long success has been the result of extreme innovation, from its roots to its modern accomplishments,” Beeke said. “Business Review is proud to recognize Amway as one of the hallmarks of innovation in this business community.”
Past Lifetime Achievement for Innovation winners include Herman Miller Inc., Kellogg Co., Stryker Corp. and Meijer Inc.
More than 200 are expected to attend Innovation Michigan from across the state. In addition to food and drinks, guests will enjoy unique entertainment and music from West Michigan. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door.
Sponsors for Innovation Michigan include Comcast, GRid70, Western Michigan University, The Right Place, Stiles and Ottawa County Michigan Works! Partners include MichBio and Southwest Michigan First.
Innovation Michigan Finalists
· AL Software, Detroit
· Azenic Inc., Kalamazoo
· Bloomfire, Kalamazoo
· Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Detroit
· Berryco, Ada
· Crystal Clean Auto Detailing, Grand Rapids
· Downstream, Zeeland
· Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.
· DVS, Grand Rapids
· Dynamic Computer Corp., Farmington Hills
· Eagle Rotary Systems, Jackson
· Eco-Composites, Holland
· e-Simulations, Grand Rapids
· Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
· GRid70, Grand Rapids
· Grand Rapids Inventors Network
· Hammerhead International, Bingham Farms
· Heart of West Michigan United Way, Grand Rapids
· Hospice at Home, St. Joseph
· JaiPlace, Grand Rapids
· Junior Achievement & The Manufacturers Council, Grand Rapids
· Learn Inc., Kalamazoo
· LS Mold Inc., Holland
· Magnum Engineering, Grand Rapids
· Metro Health, Wyoming
· Michigan State University College of Communication Arts & Sciences/INgage Networks, Lansing
· Pan’s Innovative Science & Technology, Grand Rapids
· Parnunu, Zeeland
· Pink Slip Party West Michigan
· Quaeris, Grand Rapids
· Revel Custom Wine Cellars, Grand Rapids
· Ruwach Design, Grand Rapids
· Seldom Disappointed, Kalamazoo
· Steel Supply & Engineering Co., Grand Rapids
· Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids
· The Stocked Kitchen, Grand Haven
· U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan chapter
· Stryker Corp., Kalamazoo
© 2010 MLive.com. All rights reserved.
SCORE! GRCC Construction Trades Students Hit Gold; Second LEED Building Award in One Week; Third for Year
07.14.2010 – For the second time this week, GRCC, in partnership with Habit for Humanity of Kent County, has been informed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that a house remodeled by GRCC students has earned LEED Gold status. The two houses that earned USGBC recognition this week are at 735 Crofton SW and 905 Logan SE.
A third home built by the Green Construction Remodeling class, 756 Hogan SW, also received LEED Gold earlier this year.
“We’re just doing our part to prepare our students to work in Grand Rapids, the city with the most green buildings per capita in the U.S.,” said lead instructor on the Logan St. house, Keith Ferguson, smiling as he showed the latest LEED letter to colleague Duane McIntyre, who led the class that built the Crofton St. home.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized green building certification system, started in 1998 by the USGBC, that standardizes measurement of energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, stewardship of resources and other sustainability goals.
The GRCC-Habitat Kent partnership, which began in 2009, offers a win-win-win opportunity:
1. GRCC Construction Trades students get hands-on, green building and remodeling experience
2. Habitat Kent is able to produce more houses sooner
3. A local family gets their first real home – an energy efficient home.
GRCC Job Training is proud to offer two classes that focus on “green” construction practices. The Residential Construction program, led by Duane McIntyre, builds LEED certified homes from the ground up. The Green Construction Remodeling program, led by Keith Ferguson, remodels existing homes.
Grand Rapids Community College, established in 1914, offers both liberal arts and workforce development degrees, classes and training. GRCC holds classes on the downtown Grand Rapids campus as well as seven community campuses throughout Kent and Ottawa counties. Enrollment is 30,000.
UN Global Compact, Accenture Release Findings of Largest CEO Research Study on Corporate Sustainability
Chief Executives Believe Overwhelmingly That Sustainability Has Become Critical to their Success, And Could Be Fully Embedded Into Core Business Within Ten Years
(New York, June 22, 2010) – In spite of the recent economic downturn, an overwhelming majority of corporate CEOs – 93 percent – say that sustainability will be critical to the future success of their companies. Furthermore, CEOs believe that, within a decade, a tipping point could be reached that fully meshes sustainability with core business – its capabilities, processes and systems, and throughout global supply chains and subsidiaries.
These are among the key findings of a survey of 766 CEOs around the globe – the largest such research study of top executives ever conducted on the topic of sustainability – released today by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture (NYSE: ACN). In addition to an online survey, the study included extensive interviews with 50 of the world’s leading CEOs.
According to the survey, A New Era of Sustainability: UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study 2010, the global economic downturn did little to dampen corporate commitment to sustainability. In fact it seems to have done the opposite: 80 percent of the CEOs say the downturn has raised the importance of sustainability. As businesses address the challenges of the financial crisis, sustainability is being recognized as a source of cost efficiencies and revenue growth. Additionally, many companies view sustainability as a critical element in driving growth in new markets as they look toward economic recovery.
The survey results indicate that businesses are taking sustainability more seriously. In a similar survey conducted in 2007, 50 percent of the CEO respondents said that sustainability issues had become part of their company’s strategy and operations. In the 2010 survey, that number jumped to 81 per cent.
While recognizing the scale and complexity of global challenges, many CEOs say there has been progress over the past three years in making the transition from developing a sustainability strategy to execution.
CEOs cited several barriers to achieving their sustainability goals, including:
- The complexity of implementing strategy across business functions (cited by 49 percent)
- Competing strategic priorities (48 percent)
- Lack of recognition from the financial markets (34 percent)
CEOs also believe that several conditions must be met before sustainability can be fully integrated into a company’s core business, and that businesses need to take a leadership role in bringing them about. Business action will be required in five key areas:
- Shaping consumer tastes in order to build a stronger market for sustainable products.
- Training management, employees and the next generation of leaders to deal with sustainability issues.
- Communicating with investors to create a better understanding of the impact of sustainability.
- Measuring performance on sustainability – and explaining the value of business in society.
- Working with governments to shape clearer regulation and create a level playing field.
On the issue of creating a friendlier investor environment for business sustainability, fewer than 50 percent of the executives surveyed (who work for listed companies) indicated that sustainability informs their discussions with financial analysts. Even though CEOs overwhelmingly believe their sustainability activities have a positive impact on their company’s valuation – in terms of revenue growth, lower costs, reduced risks and enhanced brand reputation – quantifying that value with traditional metrics such as cost reduction and revenue growth has been elusive.
“Achieving greater environmental and social sustainability takes time, effort and a sincere leadership commitment,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “Two-thirds of the CEOs we surveyed are looking to the Global Compact as a forum for sharing best practices and emerging ideas on sustainability, and we look forward to helping guide their efforts to develop effective policies and tangible practices.”
Warming investors to the notion that sustainability is good for the bottom line and regaining trust of all stakeholders in the wake of the global financial crisis are other critical issues CEOs face, according to the survey.
“CEOs told us they have by necessity been on the defensive during the downturn, but that they feel now is the time to get on the front foot in aligning sustainability with core business strategy and execution” said Mark Foster, Accenture’s group chief executive, Management Consulting and Global Markets. “Business leaders recognize they are going to have to take a real lead, for example, holding the line on sustainability in their business models; tackling the roadblocks with diligence in tough to crack areas like supply chain and performance management; and working hard to respond to and shape customer demands that turn sustainability into an opportunity for growth and innovation”.
According to the survey findings, three corporate attributes – brand, trust and reputation – were by far the primary considerations CEOs cited for acting on sustainability. They were identified by 72 percent of the respondents as one of their biggest motivators, followed in descending order by: the potential for revenue growth and cost reduction (cited by 44 percent), personal motivation (42 percent), consumer and customer demand (39 percent) and employee engagement and retention (31 percent).
Additionally:
- 83 percent said the economic crisis elevated the role of sustainability and ethics in building trust in business
- 80 percent said it raised the importance of sustainability as a leadership issue for top management
- 77 percent said it led them to take a longer-term view of business and the role of sustainability
Among the survey’s additional findings:
- Education and climate change were identified by respondents as the “big issues” they face, with resource scarcity and health starting to appear on the horizon. Education was identified by 72 percent of the respondents as the most important development issue for the future success of their business, followed by climate change at 66 percent.
- 91 percent of CEOs said their companies would employ new technologies to address sustainability issues over the next five years, such as developing renewable energy and creating greater energy efficiency.
- 78 percent of the respondents believe that companies should engage in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders to address sustainability issues. Examples of potential partnerships include suppliers, NGOs and governments.
“It is clear from the survey results that global business has its work cut out in order to build sustainability programs that become key components of a company’s core business,” said Peter Lacy, who led the study and is managing director, Sustainability Services at Accenture for Europe, Africa and Latin America. “If sustainability does become fully integrated into global businesses within the next decade, the regulatory, technology, investment and consumer changes required will be staggering, creating significant winners and losers across businesses and industries.
“Still, it’s great to see that some progress is being made, and that the movement toward a more sustainable economy and business context is clearly gaining momentum.”
Media Contact
Matthias Stausberg
UN Global Compact
+1 (917) 367-3423
+1 (917) 214-1337 (mobile)
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Chris Allieri
Accenture
+1 (917) 452-5161
+1 (646) 245-8937 (mobile)
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2010 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit: Building a New Era of Sustainability
24-25 June 2010, New York
Chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 will bring together more than 1,200 leaders from all sectors to elevate the role of responsible business and investment in bringing about the needed transformation to more sustainable and inclusive markets. More information: www.leaderssummit2010.org.
http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/news_events/8.1/UNGC_Accenture_CEO_Study_2010.pdf
Greenbuild 2010 Program is Live
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The full program for Greenbuild 2010 is now available to view online. You can browse the educational sessions, USGBC and Education Provider workshops, off-site education, green building tours, the Chicago Outdoor Experience, Residential Summit and International Forum sessions, and more. Start browsing now at www.greenbuildexpo.org/Education. You can also view education and events packaged by industry and market sector, to help you identify offerings that might be of most interest to you. Also, once you've registered
for Greenbuild 2010, you can access your
personal Greenbuild 2010 scheduler. Use your scheduler to plan your time
at Greenbuild and reserve your spot at sessions and special events. Remember:You must reserve your
spot in advance in order to attend Greenbuild sessions. |
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