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Green: The Color that Became a Building Philosophy
September 5, 2017
Solar panel arrays. Reclaimed wood. Ultra low-flow toilets. Smart thermostats. Continuous insulation. Volatile organic compound (VOC)-free paint. Recyclable railings. The list of ways American home designers, developers, builders, and owners slash energy expense, promote household comfort and health, and embrace green building practices grows by the day.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is carefully monitoring these practices, too. The people behind the widely known LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program for commercial and residential structures say more than 121,900 residential units have now earned LEED certification worldwide.
USGBC research also indicates more than of half of consumers rank green and energy-efficiency as top requirements for their next home. Even renters say a LEED-certified property is topped only by a prime central business district location as a desirable feature, according to USGBC studies. Today the USGBC predicts a whopping 84 percent of all 2018 residential construction will have sustainable features.
High on that list of sustainable features are the Feeney’s CableRail stainless steel cable infill and DesignRail® aluminum railing systems.
“All of our architectural products are made from stainless steel and/or aluminum which are among the most recycled materials on the planet,” says Brad Adsit, Feeney’s Product Development/Engineering Manager. “But that’s just the beginning of how we support a green building ethic.”
Feeney may have one of the most comprehensive, earth-friendly manufacturing programs in the architectural products business. Points of proof:
- The grade 316 stainless steel cable used with Feeney CableRail products contains 70 percent pre-consumer recycled content.
- The aluminum extrusions used in the DesignRail® railing system contain 40% pre-consumer and 30% post-consumer recycled content.
- Low maintenance requirements mean no treatments, stains, solvents, varnishes, or preservative that may contain harmful chemicals.
- CableRail fittings and cables use less raw material and allow easier handling, lower shipping costs, and less transit fuel consumption.
- Feeney’s California manufacturing facility is nearly energy self-sufficient thanks to an immense 5,000 square foot solar panel array.
- Feeney’s powder coating facility in Nebraska emits no V.O.C.s or heavy metal waste, uses a non-chromium pre-treatment wash, and reclaims 93 percent of the wastewater.
This is only a partial list. As you consider railing system options as part of a green homebuilding project, keep Feeney in mind as a LEED-friendly supplier.
“Feeney contributes points to the various LEED version 4 rating systems in the Materials and Resources credit category, by disclosing product ingredients to demonstrate raw material optimization,” according to Adsit.
“We work hard to be thoughtful stewards of our natural resources,” notes Adsit. “Improving our ability to deliver greener building solutions is a continuous, relentless priority.”
To learn more, read the Feeney Environmental Statement and Feeney LEED info.
Company: Feeney, Inc
Source: http://media.feeneyinc.com/blog/the-color-that-became-a-building-philosophy
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