Here’s the latest standards and compliance news affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. Today’s briefing includes nine items.
Brookfield Canada Office Properties said that its Exchange Tower (pictured) in Toronto has achieved LEED Gold EB:OM certification. Features and practices of the building include sustainable commuting tools, green cleaning and waste management, and sustainable purchasing policies, Brookfield said.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative has issued a ten-point statement urging the USGBC to recognize all forest certification standards in its LEED rating tool. SFI said that the current exclusion of non-FSC forestry standards reduces demand for domestic forestry products, and it is not line with the policies of building groups in other countries.
Cell phone refurbishing company eRecyclingCorps has said that it wants to develop the equivalent of a Good Housekeeping Seal so consumers can verify that refurbished phones are as reliable as new devices, and the industry can reduce the its growing e-waste stream. The company has helped form the Device Renewal Forum, which aims to standardize the renewal of cell phones. Sprint Nextel Corp., Brightstar Corp. ModusLink, Global Solutions and the CDMA Development Group have all joined the organization, Waste & Recycling News said.
The IEEE has announced a new standard IEEE 1591.1-2012 – “Standard for Testing and Performance of Hardware for Optical Ground Wire” intended to improve the communications and distribution-automation capabilities of smart grids, writes Lightwave Online.
IEEE also said it is working to develop additional standards for smart grids, including IEEE P1909.1, “Recommended Practice for Smart Grid Communication Equipment – Test methods and installation requirements.” That standard will document test and installation procedures for communications equipment targeting safety and other factors, Lightwave said.
The Parman Library in San Antonio, Texas, has earned LEED Gold certification for new facilities. The city is also taking inventory of existing facilities with the aim to upgrade and certify 103 holdings by September, the San Antonio Current said.
Wood Partners said that it has constructed nearly 1,000 Energy Star certified apartment homes last year, which collectively will save residents more than $437,000 on utility bills each year. The firm aims to design and construct every new project to Energy Star for New Homes or LEED standards, and was listed to the EPA’s 2012 Energy Star Leadership In Housing designation.
Design firm Moody-Nolan said that its work on the $65.5 million Ithaca College Athletic and Events Center meets LEED Gold standards. Features of the 179,000-square-foot sports facility include a non-mechanical ventilation system, a reflective roof, and a swimming pool filtration system that saves about one million gallons a year over traditional pool filters, the firm said.