CODES and STANDARDS NEWS

2015 International Energy Conservation Code

GREEN BUILDING LAW UPDATE

The 2015 version of the International Energy Conservation Code is soon to be upon you. Many suggest that the IECC has much more impact on high performance building than has LEED. Read more.

GREEN BUILDING NEWS

As green building becomes more common such buildings may be easier to rent or sell, but don't necessarily command higher prices according to the article below. ~Tina

Not All Sustainable Buildings See Value Jump From Green Features

THE NEW YORK OBSERVER

More residential properties in New York City feature sustainable or green features, some of which real estate agents market as such to lure buyers, but not all upgrades translate into higher property values at sale time according to this article. Conversions involving LEED certification are likely the best route for property owners hoping to see a value increase from their green efforts. Many methods exist for meeting this qualification, including the use of green roofing technologies.

The Truth About CSR

HAVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is supposed to be about social and environmental responsibility, and not about short-term performance. But the demand for profitability is putting pressure on companies to get results from every initiative, and the result is often a CSR program that serves neither the company nor society effectively. In this Harvard Business Review article, the authors present a system for developing a CSR program across three theaters of practice-philanthropy, operations, and the business model-that's integrated and aligned with the company's values. [NOTE: Registration required for access to this article.]

PRODUCT NEWS

Most of the time articles included under product news focus on masonry products and their constituent ingredients. This time we've also included a piece on a new insulation product that could make insulating cavity walls in northern climates much easier. Check out the link below. ~Tina

Block Could Improve Energy Efficiency of Buildings

INDEPENDENT (IRELAND)

The Roadstone Thermal Liteblock, designed to be used at thermal bridging points, is said to retain up to three times as much heat as concrete blocks. The blocks, developed in Ireland by a CRH subsidiary, are also about 40% lighter than concrete blocks. Read more.

Flipping the Switch

JOURNAL OF LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

To reduce energy loss in buildings, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are collaborating with industry to develop a high-performance material that nearly doubles the performance of traditional insulators without a high cost premium according to this article.

ODDS and ENDS

The article below is a creative example of utilizing masonry in a way that maximizes its strengths. This large sculpture is made from granite blocks, and according to the article, was "designed and fabricated as a self-supporting structural system." This resource-efficient design capitalizes on the compressive strength of masonry to form dramatic arches. ~Tina

MIT Unveils Memorial for Officer Killed by Boston Bombers 

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD

The Sean Collier Memorial, designed by the Boston architecture firm H?weler + Yoon, is both a poetic sculptural form and an amazing feat of engineering and technology.  The granite masonry is self-supporting.  Read more.

EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Call for Abstracts ECI Conference on LCA

ENGINEERING CONFERENCES INTERNATIONAL

The Engineering Conferences International (ECI) has issued a call for abstracts for Life Cycle Assessment and Other Assessment Tools for Waste Management and Resource Optimization. For more information, click here.