green building/LEED

— By Ron Prager — HVAC: Major changes in the industry have arrived. There are major changes occurring in the HVAC industry and they are going to affect both HVAC contractors and end users in a significant way. We anticipate that these changes will also impact building codes, cost of construction and cost of equipment installation. Some of what is presented below is established fact and some is based on my best guess as to what we believe the impacts will be. I will identify which items fall into which …

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Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies broke its own sustainability record by recycling and converting more than 314 million pounds of used cooking oil (UCO) into renewable diesel or biodiesel in 2023, breaking the record set in 2022 by 25 million pounds. The company continues to help its 40,000 customers nationwide be more sustainable and reach their Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) goals to create a cleaner, more livable planet. With the support of renewable energy partners such as Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Restaurant Technologies converts 100% of UCO collected into renewable diesel …

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Glenview, Ill. — ITW Food Equipment Group has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor among ENERGY STAR awards. This year marks the 17th consecutive year ITW Food Equipment Group has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and 15th consecutive year receiving the Sustained Excellence award. “The development of energy-efficient products is an absolute priority for our brands …

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Seattle — Starbucks has certified 6,091 Greener Stores, nearly doubling its portfolio in the past year, and a milestone achievement toward the company’s goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. In markets around the world, Greener Stores’ energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50% by 2030. The company has Greener Stores in 44 markets with new markets including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Italy, …

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Peter Tsanacas Facility Maintenance quote

It’s another thing for restaurant operators to worry about: all the costs of doing business, including food, rent, labor and energy are increasing, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry survey, released in February. It’s bad news for any business operating on razor-thin margins. Restaurant operators complain that they have little control over food and rent costs, while the need to remain competitive often blocks operators from making cuts in staffing and food. The situation forces restaurant owners, and other businesses such as retail, to …

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Asheville, N.C. — Wicked Weed Brewing and its main production brewery located in Candler, N.C., has been award GOLD certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices. Wicked Weed Brewing is one of only three breweries in the United States to receive zero waste certification. To reach this milestone, Wicked Weed diverted its waste to 99.3%, sending less than …

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Salisbury, N.C. — Ahold Delhaize USA has promoted Marc Stolzman to chief sustainability officer, reporting to CEO JJ Fleeman. In this new role, Stolzman will oversee all aspects of health and sustainability for the U.S. businesses, including strategy and goal setting, in alignment with Ahold Delhaize global sustainability ambitions and commitments, as well as all U.S. regulatory, compliance and financial reporting. “As one of the largest food retailers on the East Coast, we are committed to being a sustainable retailer as we work to create healthier communities and a healthier …

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Tamarac, Fla. — CITY Furniture, a family-owned American furniture and mattress retailer, fine upholstery manufacturer and one of America’s Top 20 furniture retailers, is marking its sustainability achievements in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the year 2023. “In the past year, we remained true to our Corporate Social Responsibility goals, reaching significant milestones across various initiatives,” says Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture. “The hard work and dedication of our team, combined with our focus on customer satisfaction and sustainability, have been crucial to our success. We are committed to …

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Reston, Va. — GridPoint, a leading cleantech company that decarbonizes commercial buildings and accelerates the transition to a sustainable energy future, has expanded its partnership with Panda Express, the largest Asian dining concept in the United States. With nearly 2,500 locations, Panda Express will deploy GridPoint Intelligence™ to all U.S. locations during the next 18 months to optimize energy consumption, reduce energy costs and ensure that all restaurants remain at maximum temperature comfort for its guests and associates throughout varied climate conditions year-round. “We have sought solutions that can deliver …

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New York City — UNIQLO has formed a new partnership with The Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit committed to helping preserve the environment for future generations. UNIQLO in the U.S. is contributing $150,000 that will go toward the organization’s ‘Plant a Billion Trees’ program, aiding in forest restoration to slow the spread of biodiversity loss and climate change. “We’re very proud to support The Nature Conservancy in their critical work around reforestation,” says Jean Shein, UNIQLO’s global director of sustainability. “UNIQLO’s brand purpose is to help make everyday life better, …

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