We work in an incredible industry where clients trust you with their hopes and dreams then you get the draw the path to get them there. Previous updates here, here and here.
Recycling is the universal sign of “going green.” It is a process that takes a waste material and converts it to a new product, thus reducing the consumption of raw materials, potentially reducing energy usage, and diverts materials from a landfill. Recycling is not only a great way to save our planet but a spectacular way to save money.
Recycled materials include wood, glass, metal, paper, plastic, electronics, and even fly ash. These materials used in a new product are counted as “Recycled Content.” There are two types of recycled content: “Pre-Consumer” and “Post-Consumer.”
Recycling should not be confused with composting, which is a great way to further reduce the amount of trash going to a landfill. To learn more about composting click HERE.
Pre-Consumer materials are generated by manufacturers and processors, and may consist of scrap, trimmings, and other by-products that were never used in the consumer market.
Post-Consumer material is an end product that has completed its life cycle as a consumer item and would otherwise have been disposed of as a solid waste. Post Consumer materials indicates the product was made with these materials that were recycled by residents and other businesses. Post consumer materials can introduce contaminants into the stream of products which makes recycled material harder to manufacture than pre-consumer or virgin raw materials. Additionally, items like paper and plastic have raw materials that degrade in quality each time it is recycled.
Recycling has become more of a challenge over the last few years with global supply chain changes. While the total amounts of products being recycled continue to grow, it is harder to find a place to send everything, for example, #3-#7 plastic, and manilla envelopes with interior plastic cushions cannot currently be recycled in Harrisonburg. On the other hand, more products are now readily available that are made from recycled content materials, such as plastic lumber for park benches, picnic tables, and lawn furniture. Newspapers are commonly recycled into building insulation, construction paper, and even countertops. So as you are thinking about whether to throw it away or recycle it, think about how that small decision, multiplied over a year’s worth of trash, can impact our future.
Yesterday I attended a kick off event for one of our commercial project. This is an exciting time for the clients as they have the opportunity to tell their story to the public about what they are doing and why it is important. This is especially important for an organization like the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank that survives off of donations. They want to make sure their donors know that donations for food will continue to go directly to providing food for the hungry in our community. They also want to make sure the message is provided explaining why they need to modify their existing facility to better facilitate their mission. This is also their time to celebrate a new chapter in the history of their organization.
It is exciting to get past the design phase and start construction! We are very excited and thankful to be part of this project and a supporter of this incredible organization.
The building is taking shape, rough-in has started on the first floor, and the heat of summer has arrived. Here is an update for the project that started here, here and here.
The ground breaking of a project is a very exciting first step of any project. You spend months on design, learning what the client wants, and testing variations to get it right. Then you submit the design to the city / county for final review and to get the permits required to do construction. Finally you get all the parts in place and the equipment shows up at the site. The ground breaking.
R-Value is a measure of the reduction of heat transfer across a defined path. An R-Value of a product will provide you with information about the thermal performance of that specific product. It does not tell you the R-Value of the system (fiberglass, wood studs, sheathing, siding making up a wall assembly).
There is a test to determine R-Value where a sample of material is placed inside a testing chamber. This chamber has a hot plate and cold plate. The test determines how much heat goes through the material. This test does not factor into it, wind, humidity, human error, or temperature outside. These factors will greatly influence performance of the product being used with a given R-Value as well as the overall assembly of parts. Before you settle on a particular product with an R-Value you find acceptable – think through the entire assembly and climate you are placing the product.