Wild Ones

In order to be a part of the green movement, one needs to look towards the future to realize what needs to be done and why. In order to put green plans into affect, we need an affective workforce behind us to help initiate our ideas. Through a nationwide movement intended to update and refresh the skills of blue-collar workers, society has created the ‘green-collar’ worker.

The green-collar movement, as it is better known as, is intended to advance technologies in science, building and environmental practices so the modern day workforce can keep up with societies projected lifestyle change. These workers will be skilled in building upgrades rather than just maintenance or standard construction. Workers will also be skilled in energy efficient practices. This movement will not only help to keep up with the sustainable trend, but it will also promote new jobs and aim to increase our countries economy.

According to the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the U.S. authorized $125 million per year to create a pilot Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program. This program will help to provide jobs in recycling, storm water management, acid mine drainage and other water quality jobs.

National organizations that are responsible for promotion of the new movement include the Apollo Alliance, Green for All and The Workforce Alliance.

According to recent reports from the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, “The new energy economy will create some brand new industries and many brand new jobs. But even more of it will involve transforming the induustries and jobs we already have.”

The Leadership in Energy and Enviromental Design (LEED) has begun to construct a new generation of industrial buildings.  Standard landscaping elements are now giving way to newer and more sustainable features.  Previous elements such as grass berms are now being replaced with bioswales, which are drainage systems that are designed to retain water onsite.  Another new sustainable feature for industrial buildings are french drains.  French drains were designed to reduce water discharge in sewer systems.

Other elements that are being introduced in this new generation of construction for industrial building are the interior design elements.  Elements such as clerestory glass provide ambient lighting and reduces energy use.  Another fairly new element being used is daylighting, which is when strategically place windows and skylights are used to provide natural sunlight.  Also being used is recycled carpeting, non-volatile organic chemical-emitting paints and finishesnon-volatile organic chemical-emitting paints and finishes and also energy efficient mechanical systems can reduce operational expenses and help earn valuable points for LEED certification.

Industrial real estate developers currently find themselves at the threshold of a new era in real estate. With LEED certification now a reachable benchmark for most new industrial facilities, both small and large businesses are making a push for green, finding that building sustainable product is finally financially justifiable.

Industrial real estate developers are currently finding themselves at the threshold of a new generation in real estate and industrial building design. With LEED certification now a reachable benchmark for most new industrial facilities, both small and large businesses are making a push for green, finding that building sustainable product is finally not only economically justifiable but also, financially justifiable.

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New Orleans makes plans to go green.  With the help of ecologically accustomed programs such as Global Green, Historic Green, The National association of Home Builders Model Green, Brad Pitt’s “Make it Right campaign” and the American Society of Interior Desingers(ASID), the new ReGreen Guidelines manual has been unveiled.  The ReGreen manual shows 10 common renovation projects.  It explores how challenges and opportunities for each project offer sustainable and Earth-friendly concepts and products.  Case Studies of guidelines and trade-offs are available for each of the 10 project types.  The ReGreen guidelines are a free public service of the ASID Foundation and the Green Building Council. 

This specific manual, filled with numerous helpful guidelines, was written for professionals to use in their remodling and design practices.  However, consumers are expected to make use of them as well.  The ultimate purpose of the guidelines are to show that houses in New Orleans can be rebuilt and “greened” one space at a time.  The manual also offers directions on how New Orleanians can instill “green” principles in every phase of the rebuilding project.   The guidelines offer dozens of simple approaches that also help to instill “green” principles into home rebuilding.  The main idea is to avoid using products and systems that ultimately waste natural resources, pollute the environment and anything that is harmful and toxic to humans and animals.

The Washington Nationals baseball team are catching new ground in 2008 season with new uniforms and Nationals Park.  As for catching new ground Nationals Park is the first Major League Baseball ballpark in the United States to achieve Leadership in Energy Environmental Design certification (LEED).  Nationals Park sustainable designers were HOK and Devrouax-Purnell Architects.  Along with having HOK/ Devrouax-Purnell Architects, the Washington Nationals said, “The new ballpark will pay attention to issues affecting the health of the Anacostia River, such as storm water management and minimization of water pollution.”Addition to storm water management and water pollution  Nationals Park has a maximum  capacity of 41,000 and will feature a vast atmosphere surrounding Nationals Park.  The vast atmosphere will include the Washington Monument, Capitol, and Navy Yard. Furthermore, Nationals Park is the first ballpark in the United States to achieve LEED certification. 

Welcome to the Wild One’s blog!

In this blog, we hope to inform the public of news and updates in the Sustainable world. Through our client, EDRA, we hope to educate and change the way that the world views construction and design so that we can help to create a positive outlook on our future.

As a result, sustainable design  is ensuring a future for our planet. By using fewer natural resources and more sustainable energy practices, we can help to give back