Connect Tag: green building

Imagine being able to power your appliances via solar paint? And we all thought that the best way to go green with paint was sticking with zero VOC’s!

According to the Huffington Post, developers at the University of Notre Dame believe that green homeowners may be able to say hello to a new paint that can generate electricity via ‘power-producing nanoparticles.’ The paint looks no different than any other type of paint and may be able to be made in large quantities at a low cost. When hit by light, the particles are believed to produce small amounts of electricity that researchers hope can be magnified enough to power home appliances. Although still far behind the efficiency of solar panels, if improved, can this 'Sunbelievable' paint be a new wave of the future? Only time will tell.

Read the full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/22/sunbelievable-solar-power-paint_n_1166357.html?ref=green

In an article written by Chris Keenan on greenbuildingelements.com, we can learn about the large benefits of solar power on our environment. Although the market is dominated by solar power on a smaller-scale installation, these installations can affect us largely overall. The future of solar power is likely to keep growing and therefore decreasing the use of fuels such as gas and oil.

Allegrone Construction Co. was selected as General Contractor for the reconstruction of the former Searles/Bryant School into the new corporate headquarters for Jane Iredale Cosmetics. In October 2010, Iredale was awarded  a $4.6MM Recovery Zone Facility Bond from the state for the purchase, renovation, and furnishing of their  new headquarters. This project is LEED Registered with a goal of LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council upon completion. LEED Registered projects utilize sustainable materials and technologies.

To read more details on the Jane Iredale Cosmetics' project based in Great Barrington, MA refer to the article from the Berkshire Trade & Commerce. To learn more about sustainable and green building practices, go to www.allegrone.com/sustainability.

Many homeowners think that being green is costly. However, new business models are being developed so that healthy homes are attainable no matter what your price point is. Green building is becoming more and more popular. A benefit of a green home is having the satifaction and assurance that all building codes are met since attaining a LEED Certification requires building codes to be surpassed. Soon, building codes will be much stricter, especially on new construction.

Check out what's to come on sustainability on BuilderOnline.com in the new year.

http://www.builderonline.com/green-building/10-green-building-trends-for-2011.aspx

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, a professional leader in Berkshire County, focuses on the change and growth of the businesses in our local community. The Allegrone Companies are proud to accept the honor of "Member of the Month" through the Chamber, as both companies' visions promote change, growth, and sustainable business.

Read the full article on the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.berkshirechamber.com/?nav_id=24