Green Product Spotlight – High Efficiency Toilets

Over the last decade, manufacturers have been improving toilet and urinal design to maximize water savings, reduce maintenance, and even look good.

Many manufacturers are producing toilets that provide a full flush or half flush. The user would select a full flush for solid waste, and a half flush for liquid and paper waste, thereby reducing the amount of water required for operation. The photo above is of the “Sydney Smart”, by Caroma.

In addition, The “Cube Ultra”, also by Caroma, introduces liquid sensing technology that actually senses usage, rather than motion, so that the urinal does not uselessly flush when people pass by.

DYAMI is incorporating these technologies in our building designs to help do our part to conserve water and energy.

The World’s First LEED Platinum Hotel

Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels announced that The Proximity Hotel and Print Works Bistro have been awarded LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED is the USGBC’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

The owners of the hotel believe that the costs to build green are minor, do not compromise the guest experience, provide a substantial financial return, and last but not least help the environment.

We at DYAMI are currently involved in many hotel renovation projects where we are working towards LEED certification. We have found that if you properly identify and target key achievable methods, you can “go green” with a minimal additional cost. When considering lifecycle costs, the cost of operating the facility over time, we can actually save our clients money.

Proximity Lobby

Consider the following not so obvious “green” objectives:
Recycle construction debris.
Source materials locally.
Use recycled content.
Restore natural site elements.
Install regenerative drive elevators which generate electricity on descent.
Provide natural daylighting.
Use energy recovery systems.
Source furniture locally.
Commission local artists and craftsmen.

American Institute of Architects – The Top 10 Buildings of 2006

Public Poll Ranks America’s Favorite Architecture

A public poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) ranked the top 150 best works of architecture. Here are the top 10 –

1. Empire State Building
2. The White House
3. Washington National Cathedral
4. Jefferson Memorial
5. Golden Gate Bridge
6. U.S. Capitol
7. Lincoln Memorial
8. Biltmore Estate / Vanderbilt Mansion
9. Chrysler Building
10. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Reply to our blog and rate YOUR FAVORITE work of architecture!

DYAMI will post these results in our upcoming newsletter.

Rockland County Architecture – Stony Point Lighthouse

If you are a fan of historic architecture, consider visiting the Stony Point Lighthouse – the oldest on the Hudson. The lighthouse was built in 1826, and is located at the Stony Point Battlefield National Historic Site in Rockland County.

You can also tour the Battlefield grounds, have picnic, get some exercise and enjoy the views.

Visitor’s Information:
The Stony Point Lighthouse is open to the public during the times that the Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site is in operation. Tours of the lighthouse are available on a regular basis on weekends. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site is open April 15 to October 21 on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am until 5pm, Sundays from 1pm till 5pm.

Location:
Park Road, off Route 9W,
Stony Point, NY 10980.
845/786-2521

New York City Building Department Update – Home Improvement Contractors Require License

In order to further protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of homeowners, on 11/15/05, the Department of Buildings issued Operations Policy & Procedure Notice 03/05 requiring home improvement contractors to possess a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Home Improvement Contractor’s (HIC) License.

This has been established to ensure that all home improvement work is being performed
by licensed contractors. The license requirement will apply to work performed in 1, 2, 3, or 4 family dwellings, individual co-ops, condos, or rented apartments if the person hiring the contractor is the owner or tenant of the dwelling or unit. An HIC license is not required when the work is being performed by a licensed tradesperson and the work is exclusively within their craft for which they are currently licensed.

By using licensed contractors, the homeowner has a greater degree of assurance that the work being performed will be according to the best practices of the industry. If a contractor carries a license, any complaints with the Better Business Bureau will be easier to track since the contractor must use the business name that is licensed – rather than changing the name of the company often to avoid liability.

If you are performing a major improvement project, consider retaining an Architect who can not only recommend quality contractors, but will oversee the project to be sure the work is being performed according to code.