{Re}habitat

When it comes to sustainability in the craft brewing industry, more often than not the focus is on ingredients. Organic and sustainable hops and malts are old news at this point and are considered by most people to be good practice rather than true sustainability. Some breweries, however, have taken the concept of sustainability and applied it not only to their products but to their build-outs and operational models. Spearheading this movement toward greener building for craft breweries is Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, North Carolina.

A popular but false notion is that mold (a fungus) only grows within dark, wet spaces inside a building. In actuality, mold spores can be carried from the outdoors into a building by people, ventilation systems, and even pets and open windows. Once inside, spores can mature into visible colonies if proper conditions are met -- moderate temperature, available moisture, and a food source.

The things that help a building use the least possible amount of electricity and natural gas are central to what makes it green. Making an existing structure more energy-efficient can be done in broad strokes or with baby steps.

The project was a seismic retrofit of a 15-story building constructed in 1991. The steel portion of the project consisted of systematically strengthening the moment connections throughout the building and installing over 200 dampers in a 750,000 sq. ft. office building without interrupting the operation of the tenants. The contract dictated that the work would start in the basement, progress through the ground floor and the parking garage (floors 2-5), and then continue through the occupied office floors (6-15). The contractor could only occupy three half floors at any one time and a set number of parking spaces due to contract restrictions. The contract also restricted work hours, noise levels, and delivery times. These restrictions would drive the pace of the work.

Homeowners wanting to add to or renovate their properties need to know the right questions to ask. Contacting your city zoning office before starting work to obtain a building permit and to verify that the project is permitted under the current zoning ordinances will get you started on the right foot. Understanding property set-back issues and backyard space rules will also help ensure a successful project.

Fire-retardant wood treatment (FRT) is the process by which pressure impregnates wood with fire-retardant chemicals. It is a protective treatment that reduces the combustible nature of wood, minimizes the effects of fire, and is suitable for interior and exterior wood, dimensional lumber, engineered lumber (excluding wood wafer products), and finish materials. Two types of FRT exist today: one involves a blend of a nitrogen-phosphorus organic compound and boric acid, and the other involves the use of ammonium polyphosphates with additives (boric acid, borax, moldicides, and others). Formulation compositions used to treat wood are proprietary and differ between manufacturers.

A growing number of people have become aware of and even begun to measure their personal, ecological footprint on the planet. Others are concerned about healthy living and working spaces free of toxins. Some people simply see greening their properties as an effective cost-cutting measure or wise investment.

Ignoring certain zoning matters during the critical opening stages of your building or development project can be devastating. Property set-back issues and future land-use studies can be roadblocks or temporary stumbling points on the way to success. Whether you are building on commercial, residential, or industrial property, it is essential that you ask the right questions. The answers can make or break your project.