Sustainability E-News
Greening Business
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From The Editor
As we transition from one year to the next, it is a good time to look back on the past year for lessons learned and think about goals for the future. Whether your business is in manufacturing masonry products, architecture, engineering, or some other field, I encourage you to consider how you and your colleagues can improve on your business practices in the coming year. Are there changes in the office that you can make or encourage your company to make to reduce energy use? How about steps to encourage carpooling or mass transit use? From the factory floor to the office kitchen, we can all make a difference that is sustainable in the truest sense of the word - benefiting the environment, our social space, and saving money.
Here
are a few ideas to get you started.
May your holidays be filled with peace and joy!
Christine "Tina" Subasic, PE, LEED AP
CSubasicPE@aol.com
NOTE: Inclusion in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the products and materials featured, nor have these products been evaluated by TMS or the editor. Furthermore, the views expressed in the articles featured are those of the article authors.
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GREEN BUSINESS NEWS
Sustainable changes in manufacturing should not only benefit the environment, but also improve a company's bottom line. Read more below about the ways some companies are making sustainable changes. ~Tina
Center in Costa Rica developing process to use plastic waste in CMU
NCMA.ORG
The Center for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC), which is based in Costa Rica, has been developing a process to convert waste plastic into building materials like bricks and concrete. According to the CEO, CMU is their "volume product target." To read more,
click here
.
These manufacturers show sustainability doesn't have to be hard
INDUSTRY WEEK
Manufacturers such as TE Connectivity and Blue Planet have found simple ways to pursue sustainability, including holding "treasure hunts" to find inefficiencies and using carbon capture technology to reduce emissions. Electronics manufacturer Morey uses data analytics to monitor product quality, leading to fewer faulty items being thrown away.
Read more
.
External standards help manufacturers send sustainability message
INDUSTRY WEEK
Outside environmental standards such as LEED certification are one way that manufacturers can indicate their commitment to sustainability, writes Ryan Secard in
this article
. Another useful certification is the International Organization for Standardization 14001 standard for environmental management systems.
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GREEN PRODUCT NEWS
Seems like only yesterday that the first concrete and masonry EPDs were published, but in reality many are nearing their time for renewal. Among the first is a new industry-wide EPD for concrete. ~Tina
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New industry-wide EPD for concrete
CONCRETE PRODUCTS
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's (NRMCA) newly published third version of its industry-wide environmental product declaration serves as a reference for establishing environmental baselines for concrete impacts. A companion study reveals impacts for average concrete mixtures nationwide and in eight US regions.
Read more
.
LCA tool estimates concrete's environmental impact
THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFIER
ZGF Architects has developed a life-cycle assessment calculator that compares the environmental impacts of proposed concrete mixes to standard mixes. The tool doesn't require a Revit model or proprietary environmental product declarations for mixes.
Click here
for more information.
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ODDS and ENDS
This section includes some articles that I found fascinating, even if not directly related to both sustainability and masonry. ~Tina
MIT uses 3D printing to vindicate da Vinci bridge design
POPULAR MECHANICS
The Ottoman Empire rejected Leonardo da Vinci's bridge design in the early 1500s, but the Renaissance Man now has vindication thanks to MIT. Researchers used 3D printing to create the blocks for a 1:500-scale replica to prove the viability of the da Vinci design -- a flattened arch to allow masted vessels to pass beneath and wings at each end to brace against winds.
Read more
.
Are people clueless when it comes to their carbon footprint?
TREEHUGGER.COM
When it comes to our personal carbon footprints, how much does the average person understand? Is it clear to the average person which measures make the greatest difference, how does giving up meat compare to reducing plastic bags? What about travel, heating your home and turning off electronics? All important questions. Frank Bilstein, a partner at A.T. Kearney recently conducted some fascinating research into the perceived importance of personal carbon reduction actions with the amount of carbon they save. It is fair to say that the belief or public perception is often not matched with the reality.
Read more
.
Enter now! Excellence in Masonry Awards
WISCONSIN MASONRY ALLIANCE
The Wisconsin Masonry Alliance (WMA) is dedicated to the promotion and advancement of masonry construction through the dissemination of technology, practice, products, and design. A highlight is the Excellence in Masonry Awards presented in recognition of masonry projects exemplifying great design, inspiring material usage, and quality construction. Showcase your masonry masterpiece by
entering today
. There is no cost to enter. The deadline to enter is extended to January 3, 2020.
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EDUCATIONAL NEWS
The Masonry Society (TMS) is continuing their webinar series with several new offerings this spring, including one on changes in
LEED v4.1
focused on the Materials and Resources category. In addition, a number of
previously recorded webinars
are also available. For more information, including the schedule and registration, check out the links below. ~Tina
Upcoming Webinar: What’s New in LEED v4.1
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
The latest version of LEED, LEED v4.1, was released in early 2019 proved a challenge to many designers and manufacturers. The Materials and Resources credits were particularly problematic. This new webinar explains how LEED v4.1 attempts to address these issues by adding incremental achievement levels and revising the thresholds and criteria in many of the credits. To register for this April 9, 2020 webinar,
click here
.
Upcoming Webinar: Strength Design of Clay and Concrete Masonry
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
The use of strength design is common with other materials, and is becoming increasingly common for structural masonry as it offers a number of advantages. TMS is currently developing a new guide on the Strength Design of Clay and Concrete Masonry that focuses on this specific design method, code requirements, and tips to make designs more efficient.
This webinar
will discuss key aspects of the strength design method and recommendations to design masonry quickly and appropriately.
Historical Masonry Workshop Recordings
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
Recordings of a workshop on Historical Masonry are now available on the
TMS web
s
ite
. This program is intended for those assessing, purchasing, stabilizing, or renovating existing buildings (especially historic buildings) with masonry walls such as brick, stone, or concrete masonry units. Topics include building code evaluation of existing buildings, moisture and energy performance, masonry crack repair, strengthening masonry, and more. The 6 hour program is split into 14 parts, which can be purchased individually or together at a 25% discount. TMS Members also receive an additional 25% discount. The workshop was presented April 2013 at the University of Texas - Brownsville Campus. Speakers include Alan Pettingale, Andreas Stavridis, Benchmark Harris, Michael Schuller, and Gordon Shepperd.
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