Reduce, reuse, recycle.  We all know these concepts are key to eliminating waste, conserving energy and minimizing our impact on the environment to become more better stewards of our resources and produce more sustainable designs. As designers and specifiers, we can only be as successful in pursuing these goals as our building material manufacturers are in implementing them in production of the components we select.  

This month’s program will examine how manufacturers of some of our major building components have integrated recycling and other waste reduction strategies into their processes. We’ll discuss how that equates to more efficient use of raw materials, affects the amount of energy and carbon embodied in the production processes and reduces waste and landfill disposal.  We’ll also discuss the impact is on performance and quality of the products themselves resulting from utilizing recycled versus virgin materials. We’ll look ahead to see what else can be done to further these goals.

The program is pending approval by AIA for 1 HSW continuing education credit.  After participating in this program, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand the difference between Post-industrial, Pre-consumer and Post-consumer recycling and the benefits of choosing products that recycles post-consumer back into new materials (full circle recycling). 
2. Identify opportunities to select materials with higher recycled content to provide energy efficient and sustainable buildings.
3. Understand the term “life-cycle” and how specifying a systems that have a low impact on life-cycle is beneficial not only for the environment, but an owner’s wallet.
4. Identify characteristics of proven performance and durability – the longer a building system lasts, the less often it has to be replaced and have discarded materials end up in a landfill.

Please RSVP to Terri Bracken at neregcsi@gmail.com  by April 14th.