UL Environment Acquires GREENGUARD Environmental Institute | News | Healthcare Design

UL Environment Acquires GREENGUARD Environmental Institute | News | Healthcare Design

Greenguard Press Release

Sustainability Committee

The ISA Sustainability Committee which was a Subcommittee until late 2010 is set to achieve a variety of goals this year. 2010 was a an important year for the committee establishing itself as a legitimate committee set to tackle various sustainability issues and become a resource for the sign industry.

The committee is made up of a diverse group of industry professionals from various backgrounds. The complete list of members is below. Also listed below is an inside look at a few of the committees goals. 

I.   ISA 2011 Strategic Plan pertaining to the Sustainability Committee

The safety, quality and acceptance of industry products, services, and performance will 

improve as a result of ISA sponsored research and influence in industry standards and guidelines. 

Objective 1:  Expand outreach efforts to standard setting and regulatory groups, and develop cooperative training initiatives that address signage and visual communication standards.

           

Objective 2:  Improve outreach efforts to affiliated industries/associations to gather 

technical and training knowledge.

Objective 3:  Increase ISA research capabilities in support of industry positions.

Objective 4:  Improve ISA’s and industry’s understanding and documentation of best 

practices in the signage and visual communications industry.

II.  2011 Program Initiatives

Sustainability Committee Mission Statement: Position ISA as a leader in sustainability in the sign industry, reflecting support of people, planet, and profits as a whole.

Program Initiative I: Develop industry positions and sponsor research to respond to sustainability challenges and government regulation.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Research, report, respond, and train on environmental regulatory issues at the local, state and federal level.

Program Initiative II: Encourage and communicate the positive environmental choices available to the on-premise sign industry.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Create content to appear regularly in trade publications and online media and social networks.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Enhance and develop the Green Product Showcase.

Program Initiative III: Position ISA as the resource for sustainability in the sign industry.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Continue review of existing literature and standards to better understand sustainability issues pertaining to ISA members.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Increase ISA research capabilities in support of industry positions.

-  SC Strategic Program Initiative: Create additional, online resource for sign industry re: sustainability issues and definitions.

Program Inititative IV: Establish cooperative partnerships with relevant industry organizations

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Partner/join/sponsor appropriate organizations to strengthen resources available to our stakeholders on sustainability issues as they affect the sign industry.

- SC Strategic Program Initiative: Develop a cooperative Sustainability Summit with participation of relevant organizations and stakeholders.

 

 

The 4th relates to building actual resources and case studies. This initiative is an opportunity for other companies to participate and share information about different things being done today regarding sustainability. Anyone who has something to share should contact Sapna Budev.

Environmental Committee Members

Teresa M. Young, Chair, Sign Biz, Inc. – Chair
Sapna Budev – ISA Staff Director
Grady Brown , ASI corporate
Beth Gillespie, Acorn Signs & Graphics
Anne-Marie Girard, Akzo Nobel
Melanee Jech, Icon Identity Solution
Carol Keljo, Security Signs
Jason Melby, Daktronics
Kerry Moore, CAO Group
Harry Niese, Midwest Neon Supply
Mike Santos, Nova Polymers

 

How To Be A Green Sign Company

In the January issue of Sign Builder Illustrated there is a Green Supplement that has several articles related to green issues including one that I wrote called "How To Be A Green Sign Company." 

As we move into 2011 there is still a lot of uncertainty around what companies need to do to be more environmentally conscious. This article along with the other articles in this issue give insight into what other companies are doing which hopefully inspires you to do the same.

After reading my article a college had the following comments which I thought I'd share - "When you look at green the easiest way to accomplish large goals is to be minimalistic about your approach-  If you re-evaluate your product line and ask Do I  need this or how can I condense  this product - that is where the win – win comes from -  Saving money and reducing resources."

Code Council Offers Complimentary Download of New IGCC Version 2.0

The International Code Council has launched Version 2.0 of the International Green Construction Code for use as a jurisdictional tool to regulate green construction, and as a document for comment leading into the 2011 Code Development and Final Action hearings. You may access IGCC PV 2.0, including excerpts of the code’s Water Provisions as free downloads, on the Code Council’s website at www.iccsafe.org/igccv2. Public Version 2.0 reflects the work of the IGCC Public Hearings Committee, which conducted a review of 1,500 comments and nearly 120 hours of testimony during eight days of public hearings during August 2009 in Chicago.

The IGCC applies to new and existing, traditional and high-performance commercial buildings. It includes ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 as an alternative compliance requirement. Coordinated with the ICC family of codes, the IGCC is designed to go beyond traditional code requirements for those communities who are aggressively pursuing a sustainable goal.

DOWNLOAD

JOIN the ISA Sustainability Subgroup on LinkedIn

The ISA Sustainability Committee (formerly ISA Environmental Subcommittee) has created a group on LinkedIn that will follow the work of the committee and discuss industry related events and topics. 

The Sustainability Committee has aggrressive plans for 2011 and would like to hear from as many people as possible on all issues relating to sustainability and signage. The more people who get involved the better the committee can serve the industry at large.


CLICK HERE to join and make sure to tell a friend!

Sustainability Survey: EGD Getting Greener, but Challenges Remain

In September, the SEGD conducted a members survey regarding the incorporation of sustainable practices in projects. Over 86% of respondents said they are trying to incorporate sustainable practices in their work with a range of approaches, from direct-to-substrate printing to maximizing the use of local materials, using materials with high recycled content levels, and designing modular elements when possible.

The survey yielded great results and insight. Universities, Museums and Healthcare ranked as the top three market segments for sustainable project.

The survey results are posted on SEGD’s Green Resource Guide site.

Sustainable Design Studio Open House in Richmond

Yesterday I attended an open house at Acorn Sign Graphics for their new design studio which is located across the street from their fabricating facility in Richmond, VA. The studio incorporates a variety of green and sustainable strategies and show cases the many green solutions Acorn provides.

Acorn has been a leader in green and sustainable design by not only designing green signage but also in the way they run their business and treat their employees. The design studio shows how companies can incorporate green in their every day businesses.

Below is a short video that highlights many of the green features of the studio. My favorite is the conference room door which uses all recycled or re-used component. 

A New Life for Plastics

GreenBiz.com is hosting another interesting webinar on plastics and bioplastics. Below is a brief summary. CLICK here to register. A New Life for Plastics: End-of-life Solutions in the Age of Greener Materials

October 5, 2010, 8:30 AM PDT / 11:30 AM EDT Plastics in the waste stream have long been a concern, and companies have been finding new ways to address this challenge. After all, why must a polymer that has the potential to last thousands of years in the environment be used in single-use packaging applications? Many companies are now turning to biopolymers instead of traditional petrochemical-based plastics to address waste management challenges and create localized energy. Biobased plastics can degrade in two ways: in oxygen-laden environments, and in environments that lack oxygen. Certain biopolymers have been shown to have characteristics that allow them to degrade in an industrial composting setting. This free, one-hour webcast will shine a light on how global biotechnology and chemical firms are driving innovation to help find a solution to plastics in the waste stream. Join us as we explore recent trends in the plastics industry, including: Use and inclusion of biopolymers Innovative technologies linking plastics to energy generation End-of-life considerations from the design phase Standards development You will learn: the benefits of using biopolymers over traditional plastics the differences among commonly-used biopolymers and their end-of-life solutions challenges faced by the plastic manufacturing, waste management and packaging industries how degradation of biopolymers can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels

Leading the way with Greener Signage: ASI

GreenBuilg.com Article
Leading the way with Greener Signage: ASI

Posted September 23, 2010 8:10 AM by Alex Wilson
Related Categories: Alex's Cool Product of the Week

ASI offers interior signs made from renewable and recycled materials and exterior signs with PV lighting. Photo: ASI. Click on image to enlarge

Clear signage can help us find our way, it can inform us, and--in a green building--it can highlight environmental features. That signage can also, itself, make a statement about the environment.

ASI is one of the industry innovators sign fabrication, and nowhere is that innovation more apparent than in its green product lines. The company offers three distinct lines of environmentally friendly signs: the ASI Solar Series, InTac Eco, and Terra.

The ASI Solar Series is designed for exterior applications where self-contained internal illumination is desired. Integral photovoltaic (PV) modules and self-contained lead-acid batteries power these signs with no need for trenching or wiring. Aluminum housings, LED lighting, interchangeable face panels, acrylic lettering, and zero operating costs are among the features. The company claims that full nighttime illumination will be provided for up to eight days without sunlight.

ASI Solar exterior signs use LED lighting and integral PV modules and battery storage. Photo: ASI. Click on image to enlarge

InTac Eco is a line of interior signs that combine Greenguard-certified materials, low-VOC paints, and a large color palette to choose from. These signs are made from renewable biopolymer, wood, or paper. Eco Plant is a compostable, bio-based plastic (biopolymer) derived from non-food agricultural crops; it is available in thicknesses of 1/32" and 1/16" (0.79 and 1.6 mm), has a maximum service temperature of 104°F (40°C), comes in a matte-white finish and can be painted or receive digitally printed graphics. Eco Wood is a wood-fiber material that is available in 1/4" (6.4 mm) thickness and 12 standard colors, but cannot be painted or receive digitally printed graphics; it carries Greenguard Children & Schools certification. Eco Paper is a paper-wood composite that is available in nine colors and thicknesses of 1/8" and 1/4" (3.2 and 6.4 mm); it carries Greenguard Children & Schools and FSC certifications and can receive digitally printed graphics.

ASI InTac Eco interior signs are made from a renewable bioplastic. Photo: ASI. Click on image to enlarge

Terra signs, also for interior use, are made from 3form ecoresin™, a 40% pre-consumer-recycled co-polyester material that can be specified with embedded sustainably harvested plant materials. Available ADA-Ready® with tactile letters or Braille in thicknesses of 1/16", 1/8", 1/4", and 3/8" (1.6, 3.2, 6.4, and 9.5 mm), Terra signs carry SCS certification for recycled content and Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certification. Select Terra patterns use Fair Trade materials sourced by 3form from Third World countries in which farmers are paid a fair wage for their crops or Full Circle materials developed in collaboration with skilled artisans in Third World countries. 15 "standard" colors and patterns are available for the base material, with 18 colors for tactile lettering as well as custom options. Terra's Fair Trade materials include Tiger Thatch, Bear Grass and Bear Grass Lite; Full Circle materials include Banana Fiber and Fossil Leaf.

With all of these sign options, a variety of standard styles and sizes are available, along with custom options.

ASI Terra interior signs use 3form ecoresin, which is a 40% recycled polyester with embedded plant materials. Photo: ASI. Click on image to enlarge

ASI maintains environmentally responsible manufacturing practices throughout their operations, including use of recycled materials whenever possible, minimizing waste, responsibly managing water, and reducing use of chemicals in production. Founded in 1965, ASI is represented in 40 U.S. cities and has global partners in 35 countries. "Green" is heavily featured on the company website.

In highlighting the green features of your buildings--as well as other signage needs--why not use signs that embody those green features?

For more information:

ASI
Dallas, Texas
800-274-7732 (patches through to local affiliate)
www.asisignage.com

See more on this product in the GreenSpec Guide

Alex Wilson is the executive editor of Environmental Building News and founder of BuildingGreen, LLC. In addition to this product-of-the week blog, he writes the weekly Energy Solutions blog. To keep up with his latest articles and musings, you can sign up for his Twitter feeds. .

Sustainable Zinc

Architectural Record has an interesting article called Zinc: The Sustainable Choice among Architectural Metals. 

Glossary of “Green” Terms

Below is a link to a glossary of green terms found on ISA's website - signs.org. I would be interested in any other glossary that is out there.

Glossary of "Green" Terms

The Future of EcoLabeling

A friend forwarded me a great article from InteriorandSources.com on EcoLabeling that talks about understanding environmental product claims.  CLICK HERE to read.

Quest for Greener Inks

Sign Builder Illustrated has an article called "The Quest for Greener Inks" in the current June issue.  The article talks about UV inks growing in popularity because they cure instantly and are VOC-free.  The article also talks about how UV technology is growing and how manufacturing companies are working on modified inks that allow printing on flexible substrates.

CLICK HERE to view the article.

Three R's in Green

I wrote an article for this months issue of segdDESIG magazine that focused on the 3 R's in Green - Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle.  These three topics really cover the gammit related to environmental consciousness and touch on everything from landfill contribution to value engineering to modularity.

Many of the examples sited in the article have been discussed on this blog in the past.  Breaking things up in these three topics - Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle proves to be an easy and fun way to discuss environmental consciousness related to recycling and material waste.

Reduce - design and build for better material yield.  Begin with the end in mind and allow for more possibilities at the end of a products life. 

Re-Use - design with life cycle in mind - if a system needs to be in place for X amount of years and the reality is that components will change, build so the core can continually be Re-Used.  Can a product be disassembled allowing components to be re-used for other projects?

Recycle - sounds like the easy one but it's not.  Very little of what we build gets recycled because of the nature of the products we make, how they're made and how they're installed.

Maybe Recycle is the third R because if the other two R's are done, recycling what's left won't be so hard.

NovAcryl GR Press Release

One of my goals for 2010 was to develop and introduce a new line of photopolymer substrates that meets the growing need for greener solutions in signage.  This means that quality and aesthetics not be compromised, and most importantly, no increase in cost.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a crazy goal but one of necessity for survival in today's world - creating new products and services that meet our clients goals while matching the worldview of the evolving market we serve.

Nova Polymers Introduces
a New Green Alternative Solution for ADA Signage

NovAcryl® GR™ Photopolymer is the latest addition to Nova's diverse line of photopolymer substrates for ADA Compliant Room Identification Signage

Fairfield, NJ -- NovAcryl® GR™ is a new line of photopolymer sign material for high-resolution raised graphics and ADA-compliant room identification signage. NovAcryl® GR™, offered exclusively by Nova Polymers, allows sign designers and fabricators the ability to create a green sign solution without design limitations or increased costs.

NovAcryl® GR™ is a result of Nova Polymers partnering with 3form®, a leader in the manufacturing of eco-friendly substrates, to offer an environmentally conscious and affordable product that can be used for signage projects that require a green solution or will be used inLEED Certified facilities.

NovAcryl® GR™ is environmentally and user friendly. This unique sign material is processed in plain tap water and bonds to 3form® Clear Ecoresin panels, which are non-toxic, Greenguard Certified and contain a minimum of 40% recycled content.

"The introduction of NovAcryl® GR™ will fill a void in architectural and wayfinding signage by allowing the industry to use standard photopolymer signage the same way they have been for years with the added benefit of environment consciousness. NovAcryl® GR™ will process and look exactly like standard photopolymer signage; the only difference will be the fact the base substrate is clear Ecoresin instead of virgin PETG", says Dave Miller, Business Director for Nova Polymers.

About Nova Polymers, Inc.

Nova Polymers is the largest North American manufacturer and distributor of photopolymer sign products. Nova Polymer is also a leader in educating the fabrication and design community about ADA regulations and environmental issues related to signage. For more information on NovAcryl® GR™ and other contemporary solutions for high-resolution raised graphics and ADA-compliant signage, visit www.NovaPolymers.com or call toll-free 888.484.6682.

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segdDESIGN Sustainability Issue

Open publication - Free publishing - More graphic

The May issue of segdDESIGN No. 28/2010 — the Sustainability Issue — is now available.  If you haven't seen this yet, please take a look as you will notice something a little different about this issue.

The focus of this issue is on sustainability and environmental graphic design. The issue is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled-content paper (both cover and text). Processed chlorine-free and made with BioGas energy, the paper is certified by EcoLogo, the Forest Stewardship Council, and Permanent Paper. Also, it was printed using vegetable-based inks and zero-VOC aqueous coatings.  

The issue’s focus is on sustainability, including Guest Editor Naomi Pearson’s foundation article on Life Cycle Assessment and feature stories on model “green” EGD projects such as the Green Depot store, The Nature Conservancy’s Design for a Living World exhibition, and Portland’s TriMet transit system, among others. 

In tandem with the issue’s publication, the SEGD Sustainability Forum has launched its new SEGD Green Resource Ghttp://greenresourceguide.segd.org/, a site focused on sustainability and EGD. It outlines SEGD’s Green Audit approach, focuses on strategies geared toward sustainability, and provides a wealth of resources for EGD practitioners striving to minimize the environmental impacts of their work.

This issues is a true success and provides information, stories and content specifically related to EGD. 

Green Strategies for Sign Systems

The May 2010 edition of Sign Media Canada has a couple of good articles related to architectural and wayfinding signage. Grady Brown, president of ASI, wrote an article that was based on a seminar he gave at this years ISA conference in Orlando.

The article focuses on sustainability in signage and talks about the role signs have in LEED projects.

CLICK HERE to view

SEGD Green Resource Site Goes Live

Yesterday was the official launch of the SEGD The Green Resource Guide website. The Green Resource Guide website is the latest in a series of green initiatives by the SEGD Sustainability Forum, a group of designers, fabricators, and consultants committed to promoting sustainable approaches to environmental graphic design.

The new website provides green audits as well as case studies, environmentally preferable resources, a sustainability-focused bibliography, a glossary of green terms, related web links, and this Green Resource Guide blog.

The goal of the new website is to provide educational content and share specific information relating to the things that are being done in EGD and signage. The website will continue to evolve over time with more case studies and information.

Please share your thoughts, comments and any ideas you have for improving this site. A consistent theme throughout the industry has been that there are few resources on environmental issues that are specific to our industry. This new website is a huge step in the right direction and the more participation we receive, the more successful it will be.

http://www.greenresourceguide.segd.org/

conVerd’s Enviroboard™ Named Best Green Product of 2010 at ISA International Sign Expo 2010

ALEXANDRIA, VA – April 26, 2010 – In a showcase that included the latest in energy efficiency, low VOC, and other environmentally friendly products, one of the most routinely used in signage was deemed the most revolutionary. Enviroboard™, conVerd’s multi-ply, moisture-resistant, green alternative to traditional foam and corrugated plastic boards, was named the Best Green Product of 2010 at ISA International Sign Expo 2010.

Enviroboard™ is comprised of 10 percent post-consumer waste and 90 percent Forestry Stewardship Council-certified fiber. Its green benefits are included every step of the way, from its fabrication into composite material using water based adhesive system through its full recyclability after use. It is suitable for use in point-of-purchase, trade show displays, or in hanging sign applications.

Enviroboard™ was chosen the Best Green Product in a competition that allowed each participating company two minutes to present its environmentally friendly new product. Those who attended the showcase—held for the first time at ISA Sign Expo 2010—voted on the winner.

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Designing Greener Lighting

In this month issue of Sign Builder Illustrated, Jeff Wooten has written an article that focuses on LED's and how they relate to environmental issues including LEED. The article talks a lot about LED technology and addressees specifics relating to the LEED rating system which has been one of the missing links to many green related topics and article in our industry.

CLICK HERE to for the full article.