The US General Services Administration has it issued a request for information to gather input on new sustainable building technologies and practices in support of its Green Proving Ground program. The program is seeking information from industry, commercial organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations on technologies to test for the potential to improve economic and environmental performance in federal buildings, GSA said.
The ASHRAE/USGBC/ASPE/AWWA Standard 191P, Standard for the Efficient Use of Water in Building, Site and Mechanical Systems, is currently open for public comment until Dec. 10, 2012. The standard aims to provide baseline requirements for the design of buildings, site and mechanical systems, ASHRAE said.
Commissioning for all buildings designed and built under ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2011 would become mandatory under a new proposal open for public input. The proposed addendum would remove the Section 10.3.1.1 Building Acceptance Testing provision for small buildings. The proposed addendum is open for public review until Nov. 18, 2012, ASHRAE said.
United Arab Emirates telecommunication provider Du has recertified its ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations. DQS conducted the audit. Both certifications are reviewed by the awarding institutes every year, to ensure continued compliance, AME Info said.
The Green Building Council of South Africa has launched the Green Star SA Public and Education Building version 1 rating tool. The tool will be used to assess new or refurbished public and educational building developments and assign a Green Star SA rating. The new system consists of eight environmental impact categories and an innovation category for design and post-construction phases, writes Engineering News.
Clemson University has earned LEED Gold certification for the 56,000-square-foot expansion of the Lee Hall academic building; it is the campus’s seventh LEED Gold building. The Lee III restoration and new construction project is zero energy-ready, and includes features such as weather monitors, mechanical windows, and geothermal wells for heating and cooling, the university said.
Chamisa Village Phase II, a 127,000-sq.-ft. residential complex at New Mexico State University, has earned LEED Gold certification. The two- and four-bedroom housing units feature recycled insulation, a rooftop water collection system and high-efficiency lighting, writes the New Mexico Business Weekly.
Azahar Place, the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation’s new home development in Ventura, Calif., has earned LEED for Homes Platinum certification. The 60-apartment complex features an Energy Star rated-roof, surface water management controls, materials recycling and waste management, and Energy Star-rated appliances. The complex also secured certifications from Enterprise Green Communities, NAHB Green Building Standard, Department of Energy Builders’ Challenge, Energy Star, and the “Build it Green” Green-Point Rated program, the Ventura County Star said.