GREEN ISSUES
14 Nov 07. International Truck and Engine Corporation’s Melrose Park engine plant has received the prestigious Illinois Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award for the 13th time. The award recognizes the plant’s efforts to develop a new water-based spray coating that significantly reduces hazardous emissions and also saves the company thousands of dollars. The project decreased the use of paint by 82 percent, reduced air emissions from the paint process operation by 83 percent, and reduced paint sludge waste by 13 percent. In addition, by using less solvent-based cleaners, the plant has cut air emissions by two tons, or 56 percent from previous years. Each year, the governor of Illinois and the state’s Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) honor Illinois companies and organizations for their significant achievements in protecting the environment and boosting the economy. Recently, the award was presented to International and 21 other companies. “These organizations are leading the way in finding and using new ways to reduce waste and protect the environment. They have made an ongoing commitment to prevent pollution that, in the long run, will make their employees and our communities healthier,” said Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Ron Poland, plant manager, Melrose Park engine plant. “It underscores our commitment to the environment. Reducing emissions is the right thing to do from a health standpoint, and it also makes good business sense.” “Melrose Park’s long-standing environmental accomplishments are helping our company lead the way to a cleaner world. We should all be proud of these efforts,” said Kristin Pelizza, environmental manager at Melrose Park.
15 Nov 07. The new Raytheon Warfighter Protection Center in Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded the prestigious LEED Silver certification by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first official “green” facility in the state under the newer, more stringent standards. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In order to obtain the Silver certification, the Raytheon facility in Huntsville had to earn enough points using the council’s stringent criteria, which included reducing operating costs, providing a healthier and more productive environment for occupants, and conserving natural resources. In a ceremony at the Warfighter Protection Center, the LEED Silver certification plaque was unveiled in front of Raytheon employees and guests. The plaque will be permanently displayed in the new building’s reception area. Last month the Raytheon facility in Huntsville was honored with two awards from the City of Huntsville and its Air Pollution Control Board for its efforts to reduce air pollutant emissions and for promoting environmental education.Among the many design and building elements that contributed to the facility receiving the LEED Silver certification were:
— Water use reduction – the reduction of water use in restrooms, showers and kitchen sinks designed with low-flow fixtures
— Reflective roof – a white roof for sun reflectivity and additional insulation to reduce heating and cooling loads
— Construction waste management – more than 90 percent of the cardboard, wood and metals waste diverted from a landfill and recycled
— Indoor air quality – a CO2 monitoring system installed to vary the amount of fresh air delivered to the building
— Safer materials – low volatile organic compounds used during the installation of paints, adhesives and sealants
— Sensor controlled lighting – occupants control and adjust individual lighting environments with sensors automatically turning lights off when employees leave their offices
— Preferred parking – to encourage employees to drive low emission vehicles and carpool.
Turner Universal constructed the Huntsville facility. Fuqua and Partners was the design architect.