This past weekend, The Masonry Society (www.masonrysociety.org) held its annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington. TMS is a professional, technical, and educational association dedicated to the advancement of knowledge of masonry materials, design and construction. Engineers, architects, contractors, educators, manufacturers and other interested parties participated in the four-day forum.
My involvement with the meeting was to present one manufacturer’s viewpoint on sustainable manufacturing of masonry products. While we still have a long way to go, some of Mutual Materials’ many noteworthy “green” accomplishments are:
1. Incorporating variable speed drive motors in manufacturing operations.
2. Replacing older motors with higher efficiency models that use less energy.
3. Innovative kiln firing systems that modulate energy input according to
demand, resulting in fuel savings.
4. Using best management practices at plants and yards to manage stormwater.
5. Reforestation of clay mining properties.
6. Use of clean-burning propane fuel in our forklift fleet to minimize emissions.
7. Mutual’s multiple manufacturing locations reduce long-haul trucking of
materials, saving fuel.
8. New product developments, like permeable interlocking concrete pavers(PICPs)
that help support low impact development strategies for our customers.
9. Recycling 100% of the waste water from grinding and press operations.
10. Recycling concrete product plant waste into usable products.
It is important to note that being a responsible corporate citizen when it comes to sustainable manufacturing processes can also be profitable. Many of the initiatives listed also resulted in cost savings as well as helping to conserve resources and protect our famous Pacific Northwest environment. So, when evaluating the cost of incorporating sustainable practices, don’t forget about the other “green” payback….cash!
Rick Crooks
Director of Business Development
Showing posts with label sustainable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, September 28, 2009
Looking Beyond LEED for Masonry Green
There has been a lot of discussion over the years about how masonry can contribute LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points for architects and building owners who are seeking LEED Certification for their projects. Most of the interest to date has been focused on points available for the recycled content of our materials and/or whether or not our manufacturing plants and their associated raw materials are located regionally within 500 miles of a project site.
To a lesser extent there has also been interest in gaining points through “construction waste management” by the efficient use of our materials and minimal packaging, utilizing lighter colored masonry materials to combat the “heat island effect”, permeable paving for “stormwater management” and in using masonry’s inherent mass to “optimize energy performance”.
But one area that has been overlooked by LEED is “life cycle costs”. Masonry is a strong and durable material. Certainly most of us when thinking of blocks of stone, concrete or bricks would agree. Masonry does not require a lot of maintenance. It’s insect and water resistant. It will not provide a medium for mold growth and it will not burn. When properly designed and constructed, masonry structures have very long service lives. We see this everyday in schools, libraries, courthouses, etc., that were built at the turn of the last century and are now being renovated for another 100 yrs of service life. In short, because masonry lasts so long and requires such little maintenance, it is arguably one of the most cost effective materials on the market today.
Critics will argue that the amount of heat energy needed to manufacture brick is an excessive cost, without putting it in the context of its long life. The actual “embodied energy” of brick (the energy required to mine, manufacture, and transport) is actually less than that of concrete, glass, steel, aluminum, EIFS, wood and fiber cement products (AIA Environmental Resource Guide). Recent research data published by the National Brick Research Center, Clemson University, clearly shows that when cradle-to-grave assessments of all energy and pollution generated to manufacture building materials “over the warranted life” was chosen, brick, with its 100 year life span clearly comes out the winner.
It is unfortunate that the current LEED protocol does not effectively recognize the life cycle cost of building materials. Doesn’t masonry deserve the credit?
Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager
To a lesser extent there has also been interest in gaining points through “construction waste management” by the efficient use of our materials and minimal packaging, utilizing lighter colored masonry materials to combat the “heat island effect”, permeable paving for “stormwater management” and in using masonry’s inherent mass to “optimize energy performance”.
But one area that has been overlooked by LEED is “life cycle costs”. Masonry is a strong and durable material. Certainly most of us when thinking of blocks of stone, concrete or bricks would agree. Masonry does not require a lot of maintenance. It’s insect and water resistant. It will not provide a medium for mold growth and it will not burn. When properly designed and constructed, masonry structures have very long service lives. We see this everyday in schools, libraries, courthouses, etc., that were built at the turn of the last century and are now being renovated for another 100 yrs of service life. In short, because masonry lasts so long and requires such little maintenance, it is arguably one of the most cost effective materials on the market today.
Critics will argue that the amount of heat energy needed to manufacture brick is an excessive cost, without putting it in the context of its long life. The actual “embodied energy” of brick (the energy required to mine, manufacture, and transport) is actually less than that of concrete, glass, steel, aluminum, EIFS, wood and fiber cement products (AIA Environmental Resource Guide). Recent research data published by the National Brick Research Center, Clemson University, clearly shows that when cradle-to-grave assessments of all energy and pollution generated to manufacture building materials “over the warranted life” was chosen, brick, with its 100 year life span clearly comes out the winner.
It is unfortunate that the current LEED protocol does not effectively recognize the life cycle cost of building materials. Doesn’t masonry deserve the credit?
Steve Hubbard
Distributor Sales Manager
Monday, July 6, 2009
Mutual in the News
Recently Mutual Materials has appeared in the news on both a national and local level.
Spokane's Sustainable Schools
The National Concrete Masonry Association wrote an article on the building of sustainable schools in Spokane in the latest issue of their magazine, Concrete Masonry Designs. With a rating system similar to LEED, the Washington Sustainable School Protocol (WSSP) for High Performance Schools was established with the purpose of designing schools to be more durable. Two out of the three schools used Mutual Materials concrete masonry units. The article also gives a good explanation of masonry’s role in contribution towards LEED points. Check out the article below.
Masonry in Sustainable Schools
Tacoma Family Goes Green
On June 3rd an article written by Dan Voelpel appeared in the News Tribune about a Tacoma family that recently completed construction on a "green" home. From the insulation to the fill dirt to the hardwood floors, the Chappell family made the painstaking decisions to go green. This includes the use of our EcoStone permeable pavers for their driveway. Click the link to see the article and a photo of their driveway.
Tacoma News Tribune
More on Permeable Pavers
Seattle Magazine also just published an article on permeable pavers this month. Written by Maria Dolan, the articles gives a few examples of homeowners doing their part by using permeable pavers throughout the City of Seattle, where "40% is covered by impervious surfaces". Check out the article.
Seattle Magazine
Mutual and WALP
Finally, Mutual Materials was featured in in the June issue of WALP's magazine discussing the importance of being involved in trade associations. Check out the article.
WALP Article
Spokane's Sustainable Schools
The National Concrete Masonry Association wrote an article on the building of sustainable schools in Spokane in the latest issue of their magazine, Concrete Masonry Designs. With a rating system similar to LEED, the Washington Sustainable School Protocol (WSSP) for High Performance Schools was established with the purpose of designing schools to be more durable. Two out of the three schools used Mutual Materials concrete masonry units. The article also gives a good explanation of masonry’s role in contribution towards LEED points. Check out the article below.
Masonry in Sustainable Schools
Tacoma Family Goes Green
On June 3rd an article written by Dan Voelpel appeared in the News Tribune about a Tacoma family that recently completed construction on a "green" home. From the insulation to the fill dirt to the hardwood floors, the Chappell family made the painstaking decisions to go green. This includes the use of our EcoStone permeable pavers for their driveway. Click the link to see the article and a photo of their driveway.
Tacoma News Tribune
More on Permeable Pavers
Seattle Magazine also just published an article on permeable pavers this month. Written by Maria Dolan, the articles gives a few examples of homeowners doing their part by using permeable pavers throughout the City of Seattle, where "40% is covered by impervious surfaces". Check out the article.
Seattle Magazine
Mutual and WALP
Finally, Mutual Materials was featured in in the June issue of WALP's magazine discussing the importance of being involved in trade associations. Check out the article.
WALP Article
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