News, Views and articles on Green Building from The Samuels Group, a commercial contractor based in Wausau, WI http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/0/briefs.aspx http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/62/full.aspx Welcome to The Samuels Groups Green Scene blog.nbsp Youll find news, articles, tips and links about anything involving Green Building and helping our environment.nbsp U.S. buildings consume 40 of ou Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:46:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/63/full.aspx Car Idling Limit the amount of time you let your vehicles engine run in the garage, and keep the door open. An idling vehicle emits twenty times more pollution than one traveli Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:46:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/64/full.aspx Our new headquarters at 311 Financial Way in Wausau, WI has been in the spotlight recently.nbsp The building is a veritable tour of green options, literally from floor to ceiling.nbsp Here are a few o Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:48:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/65/full.aspx Anbspvideo tour of the sustainable options built into 311 Financial Way that was done by Wausaus local newspaper the Wausau Daily Herald. http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID/200 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:05:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/66/full.aspx The Science Channel will be showing episodes of Eco-Tech related to Green Building on Thursday, March 6 starting at 8:00 Eastern Time.nbsp The Episode quotZero Wastequot will feature a story about was Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:07:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/67/full.aspx Sell, donate, or recycle your video camera rather than tossing it. Consumers will throw out about four hundred million electronics this year. E-waste is the fastest-growing segment of municipal waste. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:10:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/68/full.aspx LEED certification is something you hear a lot about in regards to Green Building.nbsp The Samuels Groups new headquarters at 311 Financial Way is Wausau, Wisconsins first privately-owned LEED certifi Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:16:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/71/full.aspx If you were able to catch the episode of Eco-Tech about Green Building on the Science Channel last night you saw several options in building that make structures use less resources, make them more eff Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:19:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/72/full.aspx Try purchasing used equipment. The market for used equipment is already near 1 billion and represents the resale of hundreds of thousands of skis, golf clubs, treadmills, camping gear, and exercise bi Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:28:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/73/full.aspx With the dynamic nature of business in the 21st century, renovations and change to the office environment are a given.nbsp You need more space to accommodate more employees or need to redesign to adap Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:57:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/74/full.aspx Waste tires are a huge management and disposal problem.nbsp It is estimated approximately 290 million scrap tires are generated annually in the United States.nbsp Stockpiles of old tires present serio Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:27:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/75/full.aspx Get your tax forms online. Its simpler, and you can file faster. Over seventy-two million tax returns are e-filed, twenty million from home computers. If every tax return were e-filed, it would save a Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:31:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/76/full.aspx The field of photovoltaics has advanced considerably in the past decade.nbsp Advancements in technology have made solar cells thinner, cheaper and more able to produce electricity from solar energy. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:59:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/77/full.aspx The American Commerce Center, a proposed 1500 foot tall retail, hotel and office building in the city of Philadelphia will once complete, be the tallest building in the Western hemisphere.nbsp Second Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:05:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/78/full.aspx Try to buy more environmentally friendly stocks and products. There are more than two hundred mutual funds - out of some eight thousand mutual funds in total - that are socially and environmentally co Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:27:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/79/full.aspx When you clean your fish tank, remove only one-third of the water and use it as a nutrient rich solution for house and outdoor plants.nbsp Youll conserve water and eliminate the need for chemical fert Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:37:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/81/full.aspx Weve had a lot of people take the sustainable tour of 311 Financial Way.nbsp Now, wed like your helpnbsp If youve already taken the tour, heres your chance to tell us what you thought.nbsp Use the com Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:21:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/82/full.aspx You can calculate the impact you have on the environment with a variety of calculators available on the web that determine the carbon footprint of everything from your car to your lifestyle.nbsp Below Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:55:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/83/full.aspx Receive your bills, make payments, and check your account balance online. Less than half of all U.S. households use online banking capabilities at their home. Instead, they waste time and energy drivi Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:19:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/84/full.aspx Do you have things around your house that are just taking up your space, but could be useful to someonenbsp Maybe its somenbspathletic equipment for anbspsport you no longer have time for, or the set Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:06:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/85/full.aspx Build a detached garage, or make sure its sealed off from the rest of the house, and youll improve air quality.nbspnbspIndoor air pollution makes you sick. Air quality problems cost U.S. businesses 15 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:17:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/87/full.aspx We all know that building green has always been only slightly more expensive than traditional building before you ever calculate in the energy and water savings benefits you realize on a green buildin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:56:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/88/full.aspx Agilewaves, a California company has developed a system of monitors for buildings that tracks the carbon footprint of buidings that it is installed in.nbsp Nueva School in Hillsborough, CA, is a schoo Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:31:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/89/full.aspx If you can, send a text message or e-mail from a handheld device or cell phone, instead of from a computer, especially quick, one-line notes.nbsp Youll save time and conserve energy.nbsp Compared to s Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:06:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/90/full.aspx Happy Earth Day from The Samuels Groupnbsp To give you somenbspideas on what you can do to stay green this Earth Day, heres a link to our friends atnbspThe Commission for a GreenernbspTomorrow and s Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:52:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/96/full.aspx Do Mother Nature a favor and just say no.nbsp If every American skipped cash machine receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long and reduce one of the top sources of litter Mon, 12 May 2008 10:31:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/92/full.aspx The process of dyeing fabric generates the largest proportion of waste-water produced by the textile industry. So buy clothes with quotnaturalquot colors. If most Americans chose one pair of pants tha Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/93/full.aspx The Samuels Group recently found a way to reduce, reuse and recycle used building materials at one of their Sacred Heart jobsite in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.nbsp Used furniture, marble sills, casework, d Thu, 01 May 2008 10:39:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/94/full.aspx The Home Insulation Company of Mosinee, WI recently installed quotSnug Fit Insulationquot at 311 Financial Way in Wausau, WI.nbsp nbsp The Cellulose insulation is made from 80 post-recycled consumer m Thu, 01 May 2008 10:49:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/95/full.aspx Hang up your bath towels to dry so you can use them more than once. Less laundry means less time running the washer and dryer. Mon, 05 May 2008 08:41:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/98/full.aspx Surprisingly, commercial car washes are a more earth-friendly option than sudsing up your car in the driveway. The pros use less water per wash and often reuse rinse water. Mon, 19 May 2008 08:53:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/100/full.aspx Starbucks recently released its fiscal 2007 corporate responsibility report and laid out plans it has for becoming an even more environmentally responsible company. Starbucks plans to cut energy cons Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:45:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/130/full.aspx Leaky ducts from forced-air or heat pump systems can allow up to 20 percent of the warm air to escape. While most ductwork is hidden in walls and floors, you can seal duct leaks on your own in attics, Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:52:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/131/full.aspx An Energy Star-qualified programmable thermostat can cost as little as 30 but save you 100 or more each year on heating costs by automatically turning the heat down when you are asleep or away so you Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:37:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/102/full.aspx Trees You could save over 20 percent on your air-conditioning bill per year by planting two twenty-five-foot shade trees on the west and one on the east sidenbspof your home.nbsp If shade trees were Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:10:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/103/full.aspx If you buy tennis balls for yourself or your dog, consider purchasing the pressure less variety.nbsp Pressure less tennis balls are not only longer lasting than their counterparts, but are sold in a r Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:53:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/105/full.aspx nbsp Easy Way to See Your Energy Savings nbsp Blue Line Innovations Power Cost Monitor provides real-time feedback for monitoring residential electricity consumption.nbsp This makes it easy for you Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:10:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/106/full.aspx This article from the Portland Buisness Journal describes the new LEED certification standards that are set to debut in January under the name LEED 2009. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:12:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/108/full.aspx Request that whiteboards are used instead of blackboards. Chalk creates dust on the hands and on the surrounding media, sparking allergies and causing computer damage.nbsp Using nontoxic dry-erase mar Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:12:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/109/full.aspx For many people, summer is the time to take the cooking and parties outdoors. If you want to create the perfect patio environment, keep the natural environment in mind as well by choosing products tha Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:44:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/113/full.aspx Brown rice - an environmentally friendlier choice Brown rice is not only better for you, but its better for the environment than white rice too. So whats the difference Rice goes through a variety Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:34:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/114/full.aspx Keep your car tires properly inflated.nbsp When a tire runs too low on air the sidewall bows out and the tread flattens, which adds grip on sand, snow and mud, but also makes it easier to hydroplane a Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:56:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/115/full.aspx This article from IAPMOs August 2008 Green Newsletter,nbspdetails Green Building initiatives just enacted in California.nbsp You can subscribe to the Green Newsletter by clicking here: http://www.iap Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:06:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/116/full.aspx Going Camping Dont Bring Firewood Did you know that by transporting firewood you may unintentionally spread invasive insects and diseases that can destroy trees and reshape entire forests State and f Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:03:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/117/full.aspx Stop delivery of your newspaper while you are away. You will stop waste and save money. Many newspapers will credit your account for the days youre away. Paper is the biggest source of waste to landfi Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:22:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/118/full.aspx Share your popcorn when youre at the movies instead of buying multiple cartons or bags.nbsp Youll save money and packaging.nbsp Americans today consume seventeen billion quarts of popcorn each year fi Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:46:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/121/full.aspx Did you know that Central Wisconsin established The Commission for a Greener Tomorrow to encourage greater awareness of sustainability issuesnbsp The Commission for a Greener Tomorrow acknowledges i Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:54:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/122/full.aspx So what gift should you get for the person who has everything Absolutely nothing. Consider giving something to someone else on their behalf such as an environmental group. Click here to read more: ht Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:56:00 CST http://www.samuelsgroup.net/views/storyview/16/72/129/full.aspx Weather stripping, door sweeps, window shrink wrap, and other materials can be purchased at your local hardware store for 50 or less, and can save you as much as 10 percent in energy costs. If you hav Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:16:00 CST