Project: Thermal Break Strategies for Cladding Systems in Building Structures

Check out this developing project!

http://www.coe.neu.edu/Research/thermal-breaks/project_summary.html

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Join Green Structure Group on Linked-In

The Green Structure group is dedicated to improving the environmental performance of built structure. It is open to all structural engineers who wish to explore and advance best practices in ecological design. The group is supported and managed by the SEI Sustainability Committee. Learn more here: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Green-Structure-4892266/about

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Life Cycle Assessment Software Now Free Download

The Athena Impact Estimator® (IE) is the most widely used North American life-cycle assessment tool made for designers that allows one to choose the structural system and specification. In order to significantly increase the user base of the IE within the architectural/engineering design community, the software is now offered free of charge. Visit http://calculatelca.com/software/impact-estimator/ for more information and to download.

The SEI Sustainability Committee is recognized in Athena Institute’s recent press release for our contribution to improvements made to their latest version of the Impact Estimator® (Version 4.2.01, released Sept 2012).  The LCA working group of the committee issued a wish list to Athena in late 2011 and worked through the year to fulfill one of the top wish list items: the addition of composite floors (concrete-filled metal deck over steel beams) to the floor and roof assembly options. This effort took a bridging of Athena with AISC and ensuring the translation of data from AISC into the tool met the needs of structural engineering users. The LCA WG will continue to push for implementation of other wish list items in the next release.”

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How to Reuse a Floating Bridge

Seattle's 520 Floating Bridge

The Washington State DOT has required that the design-build team for a new bridge must reuse or recycle the existing bridge in a sustainable way. An international design ideas competition has been born of this challenge. Favorite options for reusing the existing pontoons have included floating docks, breakwaters, and piers. It's likely that the winner of the ideas competition will be more creative.

Results of the competition are to be announced live at the 2012 Seattle Design Festival and subsequently posted online. Log on to view the winning design. Did you have a better idea? What other design options come to mind? Please share your comments here.

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Coal Waste Processors Sue EPA

Coal waste products, like flyash, have long been used as complimentary cementitious materials to improve strength and durability of concrete while reducing cement content and therefore the embodied carbon of concrete. Until recently, even the EPA has been supportive of the commercial use of such materials. Now the EPA is taking a second look at the heavy metal content in these byproducts. A final ruling on whether to classify these materials as hazardous waste remains in limbo, but the uncertainty has angered the largest coal waste producers who have filed suit against the EPA demanding a deadline for the ruling.

Jim Vallette of the Healthy Building Network has published an interesting article outlining the positions of each side on this case. Online at https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1405374.11099227719/rid:e87b8c542d06d8efb7270d2f375cc924

This issue was addressed in a previous blog article on this website: House Bill Takes on EPA Ruling Process

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