Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008 - (Page 25)

NEWSLINE CALIFORNIA ADOPTS NATION’S FIRST STATEWIDE GREEN BUILDING CODE The report also includes a case study section in order to reflect the best practices and diversity of sustainability policy. It also documents the spread of green building programs, explores best practices, and provides tools for policymakers. Visit www.aia. org for more information. TRANSFORMING CHILDREN’S HEALTH THROUGH THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Denver — Hospital buildings can heal according to a report by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) produced in partnership with the Center for Health Design. It is the first comprehensive report to look at the impact of the physical environment on child patients in healthcare settings. Based on a scientific review of 320 evidence-based design studies in the academic literature that apply to the field of pediatrics, the report concludes that the physical environment of healthcare settings affects the clinical, physiological, psychosocial and safety outcomes among child patients and families. According to the report, minimizing or eliminating the harmful effects of such environmental factors as loud noise, high light levels and infectious pathogens should be the goal of children’s hospitals and other types of hospitals providing pediatric services. In particular, the neonatal intensive care unit has been the focus of many interventions proven effective in improving infant health outcomes. The report prioritizes top design recommendations and breaks them out by those that can be implemented at any time at low cost and those that can be implemented during renovation or new construction at moderate to high cost. Visit www.childrenshospitals.net for more information and to purchase the study. 24 WWW.EDCMAG.COM Sacramento — The California Building Standards Commission announced the unanimous adoption of the nation’s first statewide green building code. The code is designed to lead to improved energy efficiency and reduced water consumption in all new construction throughout the state, while also reducing the carbon footprint of every new structure in California. The new California Green Building Standards Code goes well beyond the current building standards. These new statewide standards will likely result in significant improvements in water usage for both commercial and residential plumbing fixtures and target a 50 percent landscape water conservation reduction. They also push builders to reduce energy use of their structures by 15 percent more than today’s current standards. The new standards declare the minimum California will accept in environmentally friendly design. California’s new building standards will result in increased water and energy savings through a combination of more efficient appliances, use of efficient landscapes and more efficient building design and operation. The code also encourages the use of recycled materials in carpets and building materials, and identifies various site improvements including parking for hybrid vehicles and better storm water plans. Additionally, the new code contains standards for single-family homes, health facilities and commercial buildings. The code is composed of optional standards that will become mandatory in the 2010 edition of the code. This adjustment period will allow for industry and local enforcement agencies to prepare for, and comply with, the new green building standards. Moving forward after 2010, the California Green Building Standards Code will be updated on an annual basis to ensure that the latest technology and methods of construction have been incorporated to always maintain a high level of standards. For more information, visit www.scsa.ca.gov. COUNTIES WITH GREEN BUILDING PROGRAMS HAVE INCREASED ALMOST 500 PERCENT Washington, D.C. — According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), since 2003 the number of counties with green building programs has risen from eight to thirty-nine for an increase of 487.5 percent. In an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of U.S. counties, AIA commissioned a study, “Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green Counties,” of the 200 most populous counties in 2008 representing 168,864,538 Americans, or a little more than half of the country. Working in conjunction with the National Association of Counties, the AIA spoke to planners, building officials, and sustainability managers across the country, resulting in a total response rate of 88 percent. Key findings of the study include: • Thirty-nine counties have a green building program, or at least 19.5 percent of all sample counties. • At least 42,949,498 people, or 25.6 percent of the sample population, live in counties with green building programs. • An additional nine counties indicated that they are in a more advanced stage of developing green building programs, forecasting a future of increased green activity. • The Eastern Region has the most green building programs at 19, covering approximately 19 million people. HOTEL CHAIN CHOOSES WIND POWER Dallas — Accor North America announced a new agreement between its Sofitel Hotels and wind energy supplier Community Energy, Inc. to purchase clean, renewable, wind energy for all nine Sofitel locations in the U.S. This purchase of wind-generated power in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) qualifies Sofitel Hotels as an EPA Green Power Partner. “We’re proud to step up as a leader in our industry and to do our part for the environment. Our customers recognize and value http://www.aia http://www.carlisle-syntec.com http://www.carlisle-syntec.com http://www.edcmag.com/webcard

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008

Environmental Design & Construction- August 2008 Contents Editor's Note Web TOC Newsline New plus Notable Therapeutic Spaces On the Cover Surviving and Thriving A New Green Era of Luxury Special Section: Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification Getting it Right Extra Credit Product Focus 21st Century Schools Marketplace plus Classifieds Advertiser's Index Of the Earth

Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008

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