Tag: environmentally friendly

What is a Green Office Building?

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Find out how green office buildings save energy with building automation controls and several other key environmentally responsible features

Building green isn’t just about aesthetics, it is something that can help us build better communities.

If you’ve entered a newly built office building or museum recently, there is a good chance you’ve noticed a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification near the entrance. LEED certifications represent the efforts of the architects, builders, and occupants to make the building as environmentally sustainable as possible. In order to receive a LEED certification, they have to minimize energy and water usage in order to prevent wasteful consumption. 

There are several ways to accomplish these goals for large scale construction projects including responsible sourcing materials, indoor air quality, and water & lighting control systems. If you’re curious about what makes a “Green” building worthy of LEED certification, keep reading!

Why Are Green Building Important for the Future of Responsible Urban Design

Learn about the benefits of building automation controls and green design for cities across the globe

Building green isnt just about aesthetics, it is something that can help us build better communities.

Green buildings have become the most popular options for large buildings for a few reasons. First, sustainability is essential to keep our planet running and is it important to conserve resources wherever possible. It is also fiscally responsible to build green buildings, as they have lower energy costs, maintenance costs, and provide better indoor environments for employers and employees. 

Another reason that green offices are so important is due to current human migration trends. Today, more people are living in cities than ever before. Long gone are the days of ever expanding suburbs. In fact, by 2050 it is estimated that 68% of the world’s population will live in cities. As more people flock to cities for better job prospects, public transportation, and other amenities, green urban design becomes a critical element of future infrastructure.

What Makes a Building Green?

In order to find out if a building is green or not, you need to consult the LEED certification, which measures building automation controls among  several other factors

Incorporating the local environment into the design and construction process is essential.

We’ve discussed what makes green building design so important, but what are the individual factors that make a green building? According to LEED, there are 8 key factors that each need to be considered before any certification is awarded. 

In order to be initially considered, the building must assist in maintaining or improving quality of life in the local area and achieve a high level of efficiency. If these requirements are met, then LEED will look at the following 8 key metrics to determine whether the building is truly sustainable. Let’s take a look at what goes into designing and constructing a green building. 

  1. Transportation

A robust public transportation system is the key to any sustainable city. In order to be LEED certified, the building must have access to a transportation network. Not only is it more sustainable to ride public transportation than it is to travel in a personal vehicle, the building will also require fewer parking spaces. Fewer parking spaces means less wasted area dedicated to fossil fuel consumption.

  1. Location

Choosing a location that fits with your local community is one of the most important parts of green construction. If the building is disruptive to the local environment, it will not be considered for LEED certification.

  1. Water

Using building automation controls, energy efficient buildings can drastically reduce average water consumption. It is also essential to closely monitor water consumption during the construction process.

  1. Energy

In addition to conserving water, building automation controls are also essential for saving  energy for lighting, HVAC and other necessary building operations.

  1. Materials

To ensure a sustainable construction, all materials used must be ethically and responsibly sourced.

  1. Indoor Environment

Though it is most important that the building makes a minimal impact on the environment, the indoor environment is also considered for LEED certification. These metrics include indoor air quality, indoor noise pollution, lighting quality and any other design element with a positive impact on the inhabitants of the building. This is another opportunity to mention how building automation controls contribute to a high quality LEED certification — when these systems operate efficiently and automatically it leads to a higher quality of life inside the building.

  1. Innovation

One of the more subjective elements of LEED certification is design innovation. Every year, architects and project managers make developments in sustainable design and LEED believes it is important to keep pace with these innovations.

  1. Local Impact

A building is not truly sustainable unless it directly benefits the local community. Local impact is a major factor in LEED certification. Too often buildings are constructed with little to no concern for the surrounding community. In an effort to encourage more responsible city planning and construction practices, LEED takes community impact seriously when issuing certifications.
Stil curious about LEED certification and what it takes to build sustainable communities? You can learn more from their website or take a look at some of the world’s most sustainable buildings. When we take our environment, surrounding areas, and energy consumption seriously, we build better and more responsible communities.

9. Sheet metal roofing

Sheet metal roofing is a great example of how modern green building materials and construction techniques can contribute to LEED certification. Sheet metal roofing provides superior durability, longevity, and insulation qualities that make it a popular choice for sustainable buildings. It also requires minimal maintenance over its lifespan, saving further energy, resources, and money. By using sheet metal roofing, architects are able to create lasting structures while minimizing their environmental impact.Get in touch with a sheet metal fabrication company to learn more about the benefits of sheet metal roofing and how it can contribute to LEED certification. With their expertise, you will be able to design and build a beautiful, sustainable structure that meets the highest standards for energy efficiency.

5 Popular Packaging Materials For Ultra-Durable Transportation

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The importance of good packaging material cannot be overruled in any business. Regardless of the purpose, choosing a packaging material is necessary for a myriad of reasons. For example, good material protects the products from harmful environmental degraders and keeps it fresh and in good shape for the consumer to use.

Besides, every packed product seems more captivating when it comes in appropriate packaging. For example, candies and packed snacks come in printed packaging which is highly lucrative to the buyers. Similarly, different products come in different packaging.

At this note, it makes sense to know the types of materials that can be used. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular packaging materials used in the industries for transporting products.

1. Plastic

One of the most popular and widely used packing materials in a plethora of industries is plastic. Its high resistance to loading and extensive durability are amongst the leading reasons for its widespread use. Besides, plastic can also be easily molded into different shapes and sizes as per the requirement, making it one of the most economical materials as well. Some of the industries that regularly make use of plastic packaging include food and beverages, chemical and textile industries, and many more. Plastic could be seen around wrapping almost every product, either at the exterior or in direct contact with the product. For example, clear plastic bottles are used for packing soft drinks and other beverages. And the primary reason for this is to improve the visual appeal of the product. Likewise, most of the electronics come wrapped in bubble wraps or plastic sheets for additional protection against moisture and transitional bumps.

2. Tin

Another common material for packing products is tin. You must have seen it being used for packing soft drinks and hot and cold beverages. Bears, coca-cola, and other beverages could be easily found packed in tin cans. Apart from this, ready-to-eat meals are also quite popularly packed in tin cans. The widespread popularity of this material is because of its high resistance to allergens and atmospheric contamination. Besides, high-pressure packaging is also highly supported by this material. This is also the reason why most of the ready-to-consume packed food items come in tin packaging.

3. Corrugated Paper

Plastic and tin are both responsible for environmental pollution to a large extent. According to a study, if all of the plastic waste is to be mounted, the pile would rise as high as ten times the height of Mount Everest. Strange! Isn’t it? To replace some of these issues and offer a more environmentally friendly solution, the paper is now being widely used as packaging material. And surprisingly, the paper is also highly durable, or at least is comparable to plastic to some extent. For example, Gaylord boxes, which are made out of corrugated cardboard sheets, are strong enough to bear hundreds of kilos of load in one go. Experts at TheGaylordBoxExchange.com explain that boxes made out of corrugated cardboard do not pollute the environment. Additionally, these paper boxes can be reused several times before they can be discarded.

4. Glass

Though not as popular as plastic or paper, glass is still used for packing around one-third of the total FMCG products. The reason why glass is preferred for packing these products is its high resilience to chemical disturbances. In other words, glass is chemically inert and does not change the chemical properties of the products packed within. High chemical resistance also makes it highly suitable for packing medicines and laboratory chemicals. The only problem with glass is its fragile nature, which is also the reason they need to be handled with extra caution.

5. Wood

Last but not least, wood is also one of the widely used packing materials. It is highly durable, environmentally friendly, and is also sourced naturally. Moreover, wooden packages can be reused several times before needing major repairs. However, wood is mostly used only where protection against bumps and accidental hits is needed. For example, when moving bulky furniture from one place to another, wooden boxes are usually used to brace the furniture together and keep them safe from breaking during the transit.

There are many other packing materials such as fiberglass, felts, and even cloth bags which are now gaining traction in the market, rapidly. However, these materials would still be the leaders, mostly because of their economic feasibility and high durability. That being said, the industry insiders believe that there are still more innovations to appear in the field of packaging materials. And surprisingly, these innovations are to be witnessed in both the existing and new technologies. Only time will tell, what the future holds for industries and what new materials would come up.

Various Benefits Offered By Bag-on-Valve Technology

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The Bag-on-Valve technology can be described as a type of modern packing technology that helps improve your medical, cosmetic and food packaging. It offers plenty of benefits over traditional packaging systems. Here is a look at the benefits which highlight why this has become the popular packaging in the present day.

No More Wastage

Do you cringe over the amount of ketchup stuck at the bottom of the bottle and refuses to come out? Well, Bag-on-Valve technology ensures that consumers can use 99% of the product. It is no wonder that so many companies in the food and drinks industry have already shifted to Bag-on-Valve packaging systems. It even allows you to control the amount of product you use without making a huge mess.  

Easy To Transport

Since the Bag-On-Valve packaging system involves a leak-proof plastic bag with a sealed valve, it is a whole lot easier to transport than glass bottles. They also take up less space compared to plastic bottles filled with the same amount of product. With inflation pushing up logistic expenses, companies all across the world are embracing the Bag-on-Valve technology to reduce their overhead. 

Improves Lifespan of Product

The Bag-on-Valve technology ensures that the product does not come in contact with external elements. According to the experts at the Signature Filling Company, the pouch is made up of laminated films that prevent any interaction between the product and the environment. Thereby keeping the product away from dust, oxygen, contamination, gas, moisture, light and so on. This helps you keep your product sterile until it is used. Invariably it means an increased shelf life for products which is advantageous to brands.

Convenience

Many brands are switching to bag-on-valve systems to package their products because of the sheer convenience it offers. You do not need to lug around a huge bottle of sunscreen the next time you visit the beach. The Bag-on-Valve pouch is easier to carry around and apply directly on to our skin as well. Packaging cream, lotion, and gel-based products have never been this easy before.

No More Leakage

Bag-on-Valve technology has been developed with attention to product integrity. This means that you will not have to experience any unfortunate leakage incidents. After all, nobody likes cleaning up messes.

Fully Recyclable

The recent climate changes have brought forth the importance of adopting sustainable methods of packaging. The bag-on-valve packaging system is as environment-friendly as it is recyclable. This will go a long way in reducing waste and emissions.

If you have a spray-on product, you can still pack it using the Bag-on-Valve technology. The technology ensures that the product remains separate from the propellant. The airless-one-way valve system and the modern pouch packaging ensure that the product remains secure at all times. Hence it becomes the best choice for those who travel frequently.

With all these benefits it offers, it is no wonder that Bag-on-Valve technology has become one of the most preferred methods of packaging today.

Top Tips For Starting A Recycling Business

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Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

With the changes in our planet in the last few years, it is becoming more important than ever for us to look after the world and make sure that it is healthy for many years to come. If you are passionate about the world and you want to make it a better place there are lots of things you can do to make it happen. One of the things you could decide to do to make a small difference in the world would be to take on a recycling business and offer you services to the public and to businesses too. Here are some of our simple tips for coming up with a recycling business to rule them all this year.

Find your niche

The first thing you will want to do when you open up a recycling business is decide exactly what kind of things you want to recycle. For example you could choose to travel around to local businesses and get rid of their sensitive documents and cardboard, or perhaps you could choose to work with local pubs and restaurants to recycle cans and bottles. Try find a niche and stick to it because this will make your life much easier.

Equip yourself

Once you know what kind of recycling business you want to launch you will need to equip yourself and make sure that you have everything you need to make your venture work. Recycling materials need to be handled carefully and in the proper way because they are often items which are full of chemicals which need to be safely disposed of. Consider applying a furnace camera inside your furnace for glass and other materials because this will allow you to inspect the process and keep an eye on it to make sure that it is safe.

Check regulations

When you are planning to make a big impact on the environment and you will be using machines to melt down materials, there are a lot of regulations to adhere to. Make sure that you ask your local authority what the rules are and be sure to stick to them to the letter.

Promote yourself

Once you have set up your small business it comes the time to promote your business to the rest of the world. If you are looking for a way to get people interested in your venture you have the ideal tool to use: your message. When we work for a company who is looking to make a positive change in the world and keep the environment safe, we have the ideal chance to share a message and make people want to support our cause. You can share a real story and explain why you want to help the planet, and make sure that you take the time out to educate people about the effects of waste in the world. Using information and stories such as with animals in the ocean can really make people see the effect they are having on the world and they will be more likely to want to help you.