October 30, 2015 07:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) today announced more ambitious sustainability goals to reduce greenhouse gas and toxic air emissions, along with new renewable power initiatives that will continue to expand the company’s impact through sustainability. “Owens Corning has a history of promoting energy efficiency through our products, our suppliers and our operations,” said Chairman and CEO Mike Thaman. “Today’s announcements reflect a continuation of our company’s history of being a good steward of the environment.” The key elements of the company’s announcement include: •Executing power supply agreements of new installed capacity that represent the largest wind power agreements reported by an industrial company in the world(1); •Dedicating a 2.4 megawatt solar canopy at the company’s headquarters in Toledo that is expected to supply approximately 30 percent of the facility’s annual electricity needs, and offset the equivalent greenhouse gases emitted from the commute of its local workforce; •Establishing new 2020 sustainability goals to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 50 percent and toxic air emissions intensity by 75 percent from its 2010 baseline. "Our new sustainability goals are ambitious and impactful. Importantly, they are made more achievable by these large scale renewable energy actions and by partnering with leading providers of solar photovoltaic systems to continue our leadership in this area,” said Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini. O’Brien-Bernini noted that the wind energy deal will: •Generate the equivalent electricity to that needed to power more than 65,000 U.S. homes; and •Support the wind power industry by enabling the construction of new wind power assets, a market to which the company supplies high performance glass fiber reinforcements for wind turbine blades. "Our new greenhouse gas reduction goal is informed by science-based methodologies that are designed to reduce carbon emissions enough to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial temperatures,” said O'Brien-Bernini. “We have taken an important step in aligning our goals consistent with the scientific consensus on what’s needed.” (1) Based on global publically-available data collected and analyzed by the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewables Center

Company demonstrates continued commitment to provide meaningful options to today's eco-savvy customers INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (Firestone) today released its 2014 Sustainability Report. The annual report provides a comprehensive review of the company's many ongoing sustainable manufacturing and business processes, as well as the environmental implications of its product portfolio, demonstrating year-over-year leadership and progress toward the company's commitment to operate responsibly. "At Firestone Building Products, we are working continuously to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations from 'Roots to Rooftops', and this report reflects our progress and efforts against that goal," said Timothy Dunn, President, Firestone Building Products. "We are proud of the progress we have made, and look forward to continuing to ingrain our culture of environmental stewardship in everything we do, from responsible manufacturing to improving the sustainability of the communities where we work and live." The report details Firestone's progress, activities and achievements through two scopes: social and governance, and environmental. Aligned with parent company Bridgestone Corporation's One Team, One Planet sustainability platform, the 2014 report describes the company's overarching program and focuses on three major environmental objectives: being in harmony with nature, valuing natural resources and reducing CO2 emissions. Firestone teammates are the foundation of the company's innovation and accomplishments. With a committed focus on diversity, health, safety and emergency preparedness, Firestone guides employees to realize corporate goals. This empowers employees to improve communities, revitalize local environments and support and grow local economies through financial contributions and volunteerism.

Schedule an accredited "lunch and learn" seminar or webinar for your firm today... J P Specialties, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of waterstop and waterstop-related concrete accessories. Our NSF 61 certified Earth Shield® line of chemical resistant waterstop is used throughout the world by major engineering firms and project owners for primary and secondary containment applications, as well as industrial wastewater treatment and ozone contactor structures. We invented and hold the patent on the technology used to mechanically weld thermoplastic waterstops . J P Specialties has been in business since 1954. David R. Poole has been with J P Specialties for over 20 years and is the president of the company since 2008. David also serves as secretary of American Concrete Institute (ACI) 350 Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures Subcommittee K (Hazardous Materials), and G (Tightness Testing), and also serves as an associate member on Subcommittee A (General and Concrete). David is currently working in committee on the revised “Concrete Structures for Containment of Hazardous Materials” (scheduled for future ACI publishing). An active member of the San Diego Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), and a frequent public speaker, David’s engineering seminars are requested nationwide by major engineering firms including Montgomery Watson Harza, CH2M Hill, Carollo Engineers, Jacobs Engineers, Camp Dresser McKee, Fluor Corp., Kellogg Brown & Root, and many others. David has also taught waterstop theory, technology, and installation to project owners, concrete accessories distributors, and contractors in the field. David has consulted on and written national and international CSI-format 3-part specifications for a variety of engineering firms and governmental agencies including the July 1995 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Master Specification (CEGS 03250). Waterstops for Chemical Resistance is a targeted course of instruction and professional development for engineering firms engaged in the design of chemical, industrial, and environmental projects such as secondary containment of hazardous waste, industrial wastewater, ozone contactors, and others. The course is technical in nature and describes waterstops role in fluid-proofing concrete joints, chemical resistant polymers and steels, and state and federal regulations of compliance. The course is presented in one (1) hour time frame. Additionally, course attendees are eligible for Continuing Professional Development credit, as David is a instructor with both the Louisiana Engineering Society and the Louisiana Professional Engineers and Land Surveying Board. Course is certified for one (1) Professional Development Hour credit.

Acquisition of Charleston, SC-based regional geotechnical contractor expands the company's Earthquake Drain capabilities. Hanover, Md., October 16, 2015 - Hayward Baker Inc. (HBI) announces the acquisition of assets of Ellington Cross, LLC, (EC) a regional geotechnical contractor that provides Earthquake Drainâ„¢ design and installation. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., EC operates primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Members of EC and HBI will combine operations into the existing Charleston Area Office and operate under the name "Ellington Cross, a division of Hayward Baker." HBI will take on EC's existing management team and employees, as well as assume key existing contracts. EC is a regional geotechnical contractor focused on liquefaction mitigation ground improvement using Earthquake Drains (sometimes referred to as "EQ Drains"). HBI owns the patent for mitigating liquefaction using prefabricated vertical drains throughout North America. Unlike prefabricated vertical wick drains, EQ Drains have a much larger cross-sectional area and flow capacity, intended to limit pore pressure increases in cohesionless soils and subsequent liquefaction during earthquake events. Among EC's noteworthy projects are U.S. Highway 17 ACE Basin Parkway Widening and Bridge Replacements (Segments 1 & 2), performed for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Earthquake Drains were used to mitigate liquefaction at all bridge approaches over a 21-mile corridor from State Route 64 to U.S. Highway 21.

Model 3634EC is a heavy-duty slide designed for wide drawers and includes an Easy-Close feature to bring drawers to a smooth, gentle close. Santa Fe Springs, CA - Accuride expands the company's heavy-duty product line with the addition of model 3634 and its Easy-Close counterpart (3634EC), soft-closing slides designed for drawers up to 42" wide and loads up to 150 lbs. The 3634EC fulfills the market need for a reliable soft-closing slide solution for wide-drawers–perfect for a range of commercial applications. The optional Easy-Close feature brings drawers to a smooth and gentle close, helping to prevent the shifting of contents when closing. Both 3634 models have the same cabinet member hole pattern as Accuride’s 3832 slides, simplifying installation and saving valuable time in high production environments. Additional features for both 3634 + 3634EC include 1" of over-travel to provide full access to drawer contents, and silencing to ensure quieter operation. These products are unhanded and offer a lever disconnect to facilitate drawer removal. Both products are available in clear zinc (C) or electroplate black (CB) finishes, in lengths of 12"–28". The 14" length is full extension only (no over-travel). Model 3634 (without Easy-Close), supports loads up to 200 lbs. when side-mounted and 75 lbs. when flat-mounted. The 3634 includes a hold-in detent feature to help keep drawers in a closed and secure position. These slides are the ultimate solution for wide drawer applications supporting kitchen pots and pans, dishware, and small appliances. Commercial applications include file or supply storage in business and medical offices, as well as retail displays and fixtures. Stay tuned for more information from Accuride.

Veronafiere's international exhibition dedicated to the natural stone industry (30 September-3 October) attracted 1,524 936 companies, with 936 from 55 countries. Even more operators from abroad, up to 57% of total (+9% compared to 2014 edition). Verona, 3 October 2015 – Marmomacc, the largest exhibition in the world dedicated to natural stone business and culture, closes its 50th edition today at Veronafiere hallmarked by growth. In just four days, the event has attracted 67,000 specialist operators - 3% more than visitors at last year's show. The international character of the event expanded even further, with international attendance up to 57% of total (+9%) from 150 countries, 5 more than in 2014 (www.marmomacc.com). Marmomacc confirmed its status as the global centre for marble, granite, natural stone, machinery and processing technologies, thanks to the presence of 1,524 companies (occupying a show area of more than 77,000 square meters), including 936 from 55 countries - with debuts by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Venezuela and Georgia. There was also a positive performance as regards organised delegations, which this year came from 55 States - 11 more than the last edition of Marmomacc. In keeping with its traditions as a venue promoting trade in natural stone field, Marmomacc set a new record for the number of buyers arriving from Europe (Germany and United Kingdom in particular, followed by Spain and France), with a significant increase in visitors from the United States, Canada, India and Australia, as well as Israel, Poland and Iran; figures for incoming operators from Turkey, Russia, Brazil, China, Morocco and Egypt were consolidated. Ettore Riello, President of VeronaFiere: "This result is doubly rewarding for us. First and foremost, we have achieved all the goals we set ourselves for the 50th edition in terms of qualified attendance, trade delegations and professional operators, with across the board increases that helped create important and new business development opportunities and partnerships for our customers and for Veronafiere itself alike. Secondly, we demonstrated to the Government the validity of our conviction of the exhibition tool and its high-profile events as a vital asset for business by SMEs, especially in terms of exports, thereby including Marmomacc - on the strength of major results achieved in the course of fifty editions and its high level of internationality - in the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan through a structured project also involving the ICE-Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Marmomacchine." Giovanni Mantovani, CEO & Director General of VeronaFiere: "The show achieved extremely high levels of internationality on all fronts, with significant increases even by geographic areas where we have already been directly and continuously active for many years, through our companies, partnerships, initiatives and events. At the same time, this edition enabled us organise an agenda of meetings at the highest institutional and business levels, which will help us develop new partnerships on strategic markets for the core business of Veronafiere itself." The Show - for the second consecutive year - was held in conjunction with Abitare il Tempo, Veronafiere's event dedicated to contract, design and interior decor sectors. The next edition is scheduled 28 September - 1 October 2016.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce the second Timber in the City Competition for the 2015-2016 academic year. The competition is a partnership between the Binational Softwood Lumber Council (BSLC), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons The New School for Design (SCE). The purpose of the Competition is to engage students to imagine the repurposing of our existing cities with sustainable buildings from renewable resources, offering expedient affordable construction, innovating with new and old wooden materials, and designing healthy living and working environments.

October 7, 2015 New York, NY Innovative architecture requires expanding the boundaries of the discipline by spurring creativity through design and technology. At this year’s conference, Architectural Record brings together key figures who have generated a range of imaginative solutions for the built world today and for the future. From architects practicing outside the discipline to principals of large firms to materials experts and graphic designers, the event’s participants represent different approaches to original problem solving in a rapidly changing world.

OCEAN ISLE, N.C., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Seldom does a day go by that there isn't a report of apartment mold somewhere in the US resulting in property loss or damage, serious health effects and legal implications. A search of Google News for "apartment mold" returns more than 26,000 results with numerous reports from across the country made within the past week. Innovative Dehumidifier Systems, the developer of the award-winning IW25-1 dehumidifier, the first moisture control solution in America designed specifically for multifamily housing, has released an ENERGY STAR® certified model. The enhanced performance IW25-2 dehumidifier draws 23% less power consumption than the original model. It also uses 35% less maximum absorbed current, thereby reducing previous energy costs by approximately one-third. In addition to the energy and cost savings, installing the new IW25-2 ENERGY STAR® model allows multifamily developers and builders to receive points for participating LEED and EarthCraft projects. The IW25 places apartment humidity control directly in the hands of property managers. It has a tamper-proof cover that can only be removed using a special tool. The IW25 can be quickly installed between existing studs or surface mounted to an interior wall. Once installed, it operates independently of the HVAC system to quietly and efficiently remove excess moisture from inside apartments. Installation of the IW25 is far less complex than whole house dehumidifiers and can usually be completed in less than an hour, minimizing disruption to the resident. It's these features and benefits that separate the dehumidifier as the only unit of its kind on the market. The new model also comes with improved safety features in addition to the increased efficiency that achieved the ENERGY STAR® certification. Epoxy coated coils extend the life of the equipment by preventing corrosion and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). A protective shroud around the main circuit board is designed to add protection for the unit control board. Auxiliary pump safety contacts were added to the unit control allowing the unit to be shut off in the event of condensate pump failure. A revised grille provides for smoother and more efficient airflow. Lastly, a new compressor and the addition of a row to the condenser coil increase efficiency.