JC Penney's first LEED-certified store

PLANO, TX — JC Penney Company Inc. recently held the grand opening of its first store designed to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, according to a press release.
The 115,000-square-foot store, which is an anchor at The Village at Fairview, is designed to use 41 percent less energy than a similar sized, non-LEED building, the release stated.
Sustainable features of the new store include: A reflective white roof; energy-efficient lighting; landscape materials that will reduce irrigation needs by 50 percent; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 20 percent; use of recycled materials during construction; and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that is 21 percent more energy efficient, the release noted.
The store has also been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "Designed to Earn the Energy Star," making JC Penney the first national retailer to receive this designation from the design stage, the release added.
According to the story, based on its design, the store's annual energy performance is expected to be in the top 25 percent of comparable retail buildings.
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Mold discovered in school's HVAC system

COLFAX, NC — Mold was recently discovered in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Colfax Elementary School, according to WGHP-TV.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends keeping the school closed until the problem is completely remedied, the story stated.
Haley Miller, a spokesperson for Guilford County Schools, said: "The mold found can be cleaned with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) [filter equipped] vacuum, per the industrial hygienist."
It is suggested that the school: Remove the carpet; decommission the HVAC system rather than simply clean the ductwork; adjust moisture levels by installing a vapor barrier in the crawl space under the building; and remediate any mold discovered during the process, the story noted.
Guilford County Schools Board of Education members were urging school officials that the HVAC system was contributing to poor indoor air quality as far back as 2005, the story added.
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EarthRight-certified dental office

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN — A two-year, $1 million renovation project of a dental office that focused on making the building more environmentally friendly is now complete, according to the Eden Prairie News.
Bruce Hultgren, D.D.S, said: "With the changes that we made, we’ve been certified by an organization called EarthRight."
The building includes a green roof, energy efficient lighting, a low-maintenance heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and landscaping that requires minimal watering, the story stated.
The green roof feature of the building is expected to pay for itself within five years because of the energy savings it will promote, the story noted.
Patients are able to see the hard work Family Dentistry did in planning and implementing the green roof with a view of the sedum-covered roof from the dental chair, the story added.
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Sustainable Prisons Project gains support

LITTLEROCK, WA — The Sustainable Prisons Project, a partnership of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) and Evergreen State College, began with a pilot program at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in 2004, according to the Examiner.
The aim of the project is to reduce operational costs and the environmental impact of prisons by teaching staff and inmates sustainability skills, the story stated.
There are several projects participants are partaking in, including: A greenhouse and garden which produces roughly 15,000 pounds of vegetables annually, saving more than $17,000 per year; composting and recycling to cut down on landfill waste; and beekeeping, which has added honey to the dining hall menu and created beeswax for the on-site production of lotion, the story noted.
The program stands to serve as a model for other prisons and enforced residential institutions to help scientists conduct and share ecological research to improve the welfare of society as a whole, the story added.
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U.S. Marshals seize sanitizing products from Clarcon

ROY, UTAH — The U.S. Marshals have seized all skin sanitizers and skin protectants at Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story, the seizure came after a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that revealed that there were high levels of potentially disease-causing bacteria in Clarcon products.

The seizure of these finished products, as well as their ingredients, occurred after Clarcon did not agree to promptly destroy them as was requested by the FDA, the story stated.

Deborah Autor, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance, said: "The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms that do not manufacture drugs in accordance with our current good manufacturing practice requirements."

Clarcon produced and distributed over 800,000 bottles of hand-sanitizing products throughout the U.S. since 2007, the story noted.

Some of the bacteria present in the contaminated products can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues and according to the FDA, such infections may need medical or surgical attention and may result in permanent damage, the story added.

LEED-Gold certified Papago Gateway Center

TEMPE, AZ — The Papago Gateway Center, a mixed-use office and laboratory facility built by Okland Construction Company Inc. in 2008, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, according to East Valley Living.

A unique aspect of the building is the automated, operable, sun-tracking louvers that wrap the southern side and portions of the east and west facades to provide shade and reduce cooling costs, the story stated.

Lee Chesnut, chief executive officer (CEO) of Chesnut Properties LLC, said: "We are proud to be able to say Papago Gateway Center is LEED-Gold certified. But, we are more proud of how this amazing, green, building actually operates in the real world. It’s not the certificate we wanted, it was the most efficient and cutting-edge building that we wanted — a new type of building that would break through the barrier of ordinary building operation and management into a new, healthier, less costly and demanding building in our living environment."

Depending on the time of day and the amount of sunlight striking the building, the structure appears different due to the sun-tracking and shade-providing louvers, the story noted.

Chesnut Properties LLC has committed to purchasing 100 percent green power for the life of the facility in addition to implementing a green cleaning program with tenant incentives honoring elevated levels of commitment to eco-building during tenant improvements, the story added.

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District greens its act to improve student performance

PHOENIX — For the Murphy School District, going green is about more than simply saving money, it is about protecting the health of faculty, students and staff, according to The Arizona Republic.

The district's new Education and Health Center, built with the help of a $300,000 grant from Rotary International, recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.

Superintendent Paul Mohr, Jr. said: "My district is in one of the toughest and grittiest neighborhoods in Phoenix. We have a documented rising incidence of asthma and pulmonary problems. When I became superintendent five years ago, I saw a need to offer basic health care to our families. I envisioned a new stand-alone facility for wellness and education."

Sustainable aspects of the building include: Photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30 percent; low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, carpet and other building materials; and a diverse landscape incorporating 30 species of indigenous plants, the story noted.

By promoting cleaner, healthier and more environmentally friendly indoor spaces, the Murphy School District hopes to see a student performance increase on math and reading tests, something that LEED-certified buildings have been shown to do, the story added.

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