CSI unveiled GreenFormat, a web-based database ofgreen product information, ath the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston.

This is accessible at www.greenformat.com

GreenFormat is a new CSI format that provides a standardized framework for identifying the sustainable properties of building products.
The free, web-based search offers a fast and easy approach to evaluating green product information.

Check out this website, for free specifications resources pertaining to specifications for sustainable projects, including LEED.
The website, Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), is maintained by National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) using volunteers from our industry.

There are EXTENSIVE specifications resources at that site.
Some information is pertinent to Division 01 requirements, such as Indoor Air Quality, Construction Waste Management, Stormwater Management, and others. There are “sample” specification sections for many of these site requirements.

Some of the resources are intended to be “plugged in” to one’s existing specification sections.

The resources are structured to be very non-proprietary, so no manufacturers or products are listed.

http:/www.wdbg.org/design/greenspec.php

NOTE: If that address above does not work, just do a Google search for “greenspec”.

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the architectural community has made some progress in energy conservation in new building design.

The article states that architectural projects that have achieved LEED certifications have averaged 25% to 30% less energy consumption when compared to non-LEED projects.

While that is good news, the Wall Street Journal quotes “prominint architects” as stating that the architectural community is capable of saving up to 50% less energy in new buildings.

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C Plus C Consulting has been involved in many projects that are trying to achieve LEED certification, and we are pleased to read that these efforts are beginnning to save valuable energy resources.

NRCA has recently published the 2007 edition of the NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual.
This new manual describes NRCA’s guidelines for design, materials, and installation of quality vegetative green roof systems.

According to a recent article in “Healthcare Building Ideas” Magazine, half of the existing California hospitals will not meet the 2013 deadline for mandated seismic retrofit.

We are pleased to announce that C Plus C Consulting now has a new, shorter, easier to use domain name.
Simply type : ccspecs.com into your browser and you will be routed directly to our website.

The Construction Specifications Institute has recently issued changes to the CSI Section Format and CSI Page Format standards.

Section Format standards are recommendations for the 3-part specifications article titles and article locations. The revisions to the CSI Section Format were extensively reviewed by industry members and stake holders.

Visit the CSI Institute website for more information.