Bonded Logic is introducing perforated batts for its UltraTouch Insulation. Several batts in each package will contain perforations allowing you to easily size the batt to the dimensions needed. The perforations enhance the consumer's experience and have no impact on the nature or performance of the product. The perforation pattern was developed to provide the most common "off size" pieces with no cutting required!
2/2011
The LEED for Homes Scoring tool launches Feb. 28.
The LEED for Homes Self-Scoring Tool gives you an estimate of how your project might score in LEED for Homes.
9/10/2010
The dates of the 2011 Cisca Convention and Intex have been announced for April 4-7, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
9/10/2010
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) invites candidate projects for the 6th Annual Design & Build with FSC Awards -- recognizing excellence in the use of FSC materials in both residential and commercial/institutional design and construction.
9/1/2010
Another Industry Leading First from PAC International
Resilient Sound Isolation Clips for Radius Walls and High Abuse Applications
"The RSIC-Security Clip" provides a solid mechanical connection between the Furring Channel (hat track) and the RSIC clip. The RSIC-Security Strap allows the furring channel to be installed "vertically" on walls such as inside or outside radius walls. The addition of the RSIC-Security Clip to the RSIC family of product once again confirms the "World Class - Industry Leading" approach PAC International uses to create exclusive Noise Control Solutions for complex Architectural Designs. The RSIC-Security Clip is yet another industry first introduced by PAC International to make the RSIC family of products the ONLY Resilient Mount Wall System which provides real answers for radius wall application or Focused Heavy Loads.
The "RSIC-Security Clip" makes the RSIC family of products the best choice for public buildings such as Schools, Community centers, Hospitals, Police or Fire Stations or any application where high abuse, security or seismic is a concern. Adding the RSIC-Security Clip to any RSIC assembly does not change the excellent STC or IIC provided by the RSIC family of products. The RSIC-Security Strap is compatible with the RSIC-1, RSIC-1-1FS, RSIC-1 ADM, RSIC-1 TTC, RSIC-1.5 CRC, RSIC-2 EXT04, RSIC-1-SI, and RSIC-V clips.
Please join PAC International in supporting the United States economy, RSIC products are Made in the USA with recycled materials.
8/10/2010
The U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC), Habitat for Humanity Lake County, and Bank of America, have teamed up on this year's Greenbuild Legacy Project. Each year, the Greenbuild Legacy Project Committee selects a project to give to its host city as a symbol of our gratitude for hosting Greenbuild and to share with that region the benefits of green building.
8/8/2010
U.S. Green Building Council expands to certifying green communities by launching “LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System” .7/29/2010
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launches toolkit to help state legislators advance green schools agenda.
7/20/2010
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issues safety alert regarding antifreeze in residential sprinklers.
News release from NFPA: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee has awarded scholarships to four fire safety students based on their contributions to fire safety activities, academic achievements, and leadership abilities.
7/8/2010
Bonded Logic Inc had sponsored a AIA Continuing education article in the June issue of Architectural Record. While this is a sponsorship, rather than an actual advertisement, you can find multiple images of UltraTouch and the article certainly has a slant towards the features and advantages of using our products. This article and accompanying test counts for 1 HSW/SD Credit. You can access the online version for one year at the following link:
Please share this with any architects you may know, as it is a great article on insulation and a great way to earn some CE credit! 7/6/2010
According to USGBC in the News Details, the U.S. green building market value will balloon from $71.1 billion now to $173 billion by 2015.
6/26/2010 -6/27/2010
G-20 Toronto Summit
Toronto, Canada
The world’s chief finance ministers and central bank governors meet to address global economic recovery. They will meet to discuss monetary policies and regulations in hopes of consensus to stabilize the world finances and avoid future crises. This is the 4th such meeting since it’s origination in 1999, spurred by the devastating effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
5/4/2010
We are pleased to announce the acceptance in the city of Los Angeles building department. The newly published LARR approval extends the use of the RSIC systems even further ahead of all other acoustical systems. The RSIC systems have more sound tests and fire tests than all of the other systems combined. Making the RSIC systems the most accepted product and systems available today.4/30/2010
The first New York CHPS (Collaborative for High Performing Schools) opens its doors.
4/28/2010
Cape Wind, the first US offshore wind farm was approved. The project will be 5 miles off the Massachusetts coast in the Nantucket Sound. The $1 billion project is expected to produce enough electricity to power around 400,000 homes.
4/26/2010
In celebration of National Healthy Schools Day, the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) has released the Operations Report Card (ORC), a new low-cost, online tool that benchmarks current performance, analyzes existing conditions and recommends green and healthy improvements for existing school buildings.
4/19/2010
The 26th annual conference of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, NOISE-CON 2010 ran concurrently with the 159th Meeting of the Acoustical Society in Baltamore, Maryland.
4/8/2010
Minnesota Twins home, Target Field is awarded the LEED Silver Certification. It becomes the second Major League Baseball ballpark to be certified as such.
4/21/2010
Bonded Logic Announces Post-Consumer Sourcing & More Environmentally Friendly Packaging for UltraTouch Insulation
Recycled Blue Jean Insulation Now Made From Post-Consumer Denim & Available Nationwide
CHANDLER, Arizona….One of the building industry’s most environmentally friendly products just got a whole lot greener and a bit less confusing. UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, commonly referred to as “recycled blue jean insulation,” is now sourced entirely of post-consumer blue jeans, instead of the post-industrial denim scraps it was previously made from.
Additionally, Bonded Logic Inc. has improved UltraTouch’s packaging to increase its product per truckload by 15 percent. This significantly impacts the company’s carbon footprint and opens the door for “drop shipments,” making UltraTouch available anywhere in the United States.
Bonded Logic has always used post-consumer denim as part of its philanthropic efforts. Through a partnership with Cotton Inc., the company has transformed 200 tons of post-consumer blue jeans into its UltraTouch insulation and donated it for home building efforts in communities in need. Over the past five years, these jeans were collected nationwide at consumer denim drives through Cotton Inc.’s COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN initiative. This high-profile outreach led many consumers to wrongly assume that all UltraTouch products were made from post-consumer denim.
“Our customers have reacted very favorably to the news that UltraTouch is now made from post-consumer blue jeans,” stated David Church, general manager of Bonded Logic Inc. “People have a lot of affection for America’s favorite fabric and UltraTouch gives those well loved jeans a second life and keeps them out of the landfill.”
Although UltraTouch is now made from post-consumer denim, Bonded Logic will continue to use post-industrial denim in the manufacture of several of its other green products.
Not only has sourcing for UltraTouch been changed, but small changes in UltraTouch’s packaging will allow Bonded Logic to ship much more effectively and greatly reduce fuel and transportation costs.
“We are constantly searching for ways to improve our carbon footprint,” said Church, “Although these changes won’t be apparent to the consumer, they represent a significant decrease in fuel consumption and transportation costs and make UltraTouch more greener than ever.”
It’s not just the recycled denim that makes UltraTouch so green. Unlike most insulation that is treated with harsh chemicals, UltraTouch is treated with a borate-based solution for fire retardency and mold and pest resistance. Borates are an EPA-registered material that have a lower toxicity level than average table salt.
The sustainability of UltraTouch continues with the manufacturing process, which uses minimal amounts of energy in comparison to traditional insulating products. Additionally, all scrap and manufacturing trim are reintroduced into the raw material supply creating a virtually zero waste process. It’s not surprising that UltraTouch can contribute to earning up to 12 LEED™ credits.
UltraTouch also offers superior soundproofing, with a 30 - 50 percent increase in acoustical performance over traditional insulations. The natural fibers offer maximum thermal properties, which can help reduce heating and cooling costs.
UltraTouch products are available throughout ASI 4/14/2010
Final registration( 5/31/2010 ) and project submission deadline for USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition: Small, Green, Affordable. The Salvation Army has teamed up with the U.S. Green Building Council for this year’s competition. The competition challenges entrants to design an affordable, 800 square foot green home for an elderly client in New Orleans. The Salvation Army has begun a large scale green building campaign in five neighborhoods in New Orleans. They plan to use the competition’s designs to build 125 new homes over the next 3 years.
4/5/2010
EPA issues a going green tax tip. IRS Tax Tip 2010-66
Going Green May Reduce Your Taxes
When you invest in energy-efficient products, you may be saving money on both your energy bills and your tax return. The Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about these six energy-related tax credits created or expanded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
1. Residential Energy Property Credit This tax credit is for homeowners who make qualified energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. This credit is 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements. The maximum credit is $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010 combined. The credit applies to improvements such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.
2. Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit This tax credit will help individual taxpayers pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, solar electricity equipment and wind turbines installed on or in connection with their home located in the United States and geothermal heat pumps installed on or in connection with their main home located in the United States.The credit, which runs through 2016, is 30 percent of the cost of qualified property. ARRA removes some of the previously imposed annual maximum dollar limits.
3. Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Credit ARRA modifies this credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles purchased after Dec. 31, 2009. The minimum amount of the credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles, which runs through 2014, is $2,500 and the credit tops out at $7,500, depending on the battery capacity. ARRA phases out the credit for each manufacturer after they sell 200,000 vehicles.
4. Plug-in Electric Vehicle Credit This is a special tax credit for two types of plug-in vehicles — certain low-speed electric vehicles and two- or three-wheeled vehicles. The amount of the credit is 10 percent of the cost of the vehicle, up to a maximum credit of $2,500 for purchases made after Feb. 17, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2012.
5. Credit for Conversion Kits This credit is equal to 10 percent of the cost of converting a vehicle to a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle that is placed in service after Feb. 17, 2009. The maximum credit, which runs through 2011, is $4,000.
6. Treatment of Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit as a Personal Credit Allowed Against AMT Starting in 2009, ARRA allows the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, including the tax credit for purchasing hybrid vehicles, to be applied against the Alternative Minimum Tax. Prior to the new law, the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit could not be used to offset the AMT. This means the credit could not be taken if a taxpayer owed AMT or was reduced for some taxpayers who did not owe AMT.
3/30/2010
Up to 60,000 homes in the US may be affected by allegedly toxic drywall that was installed from 2001 thru 2006. The drywall was imported from China during the housing bubble to handle demand. The drywall releases gases that can corrode metals in a home, including copper gas and water pipes, copper wiring, air conditioning coils, and electronics. Remediation requires full removal and replacement of the drywall. At fault companies are still being determined and damage claims are stacking quickly. Expect this story to continue for quite some time.
3/2010
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) has provided over 16,000 certificates, with values of FSC labeled sales in excess of $20 billion. 3/1/2010
ATTN RENOVATORS
An EPA protection order that goes into affect April 22, 2010, will require additional training for contractors that perform maintenance, renovation, or repair of child care establishments and homes built before1978.
The order state:
Beginning April 22, 2010, no paid job can disturb painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes or child care facilities unless (1) the firm is certified by the EPA or a state and (2) the renovator has completed training and is a certified renovator. The requirements under the rule apply to maintenance, renovation or repair activities where six square feet (about the size of a poster) or more of a painted surface is disturbed inside, or where 20 square feet or more of painted surface (about the size of a door) is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is also covered by the rule. The only exceptions are where paint is proven lead free or the job is smaller than six square feet.
2/22/2010
January employment numbers are released, showing construction related unemployment has soared to 25%. This is up from the same time a year ago at 18% and two years ago at 9%. Construction projects as a whole are down, but there has been a slight increase in residential project starts.
1/12/2010
California’s Building Standards Commission unanimously adopted the first in the nation, mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN). They have offered a draft of the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code on their website @ http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/documents/2010/Draft-2010-CALGreenCode.pdf . This code will go into effect on January 1, 2011. The code will require all buildings reduce their water consumption, meet higher levels of efficiency, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
The code is proposed to require acoustical building assemblies and components to have STC ratings per ASTM E90 and ASTM E413. For projects in areas of existing loud exterior noise, wall and ceiling assemblies must have an STC of at least 50 and windows must have a minimum STC of 30. Walls that separate tenant spaces would need to have an STC of at least 40. These changes will require builders to modify their current practices to include additional sound absorbing measures.
• Soundproofing Products • Sonex TMCeiling & Wall
Panels • Sound Control Curtains • Equipment Enclosures
• Acoustical Baffles & Banners • Solid Wood &
Veneer Acoustical Ceiling & Wall Systems • Professional
Audio Acoustics • Vibration & Damping Control Fire
Retardant Acoustics • Hearing Protection • Moisture
& Impact Resistant Products • Floor Impact Noise Reduction
• Sound Absorbers • Noise Barriers • Fabric Wrapped
Wall Panels • Acoustical Foam (Egg Crate) Acoustical Sealants
& Adhesives • Outdoor Noise Control • Assistive
Listening Devices • OSHA, FDA, ADACompliance • On-Site
Acoustical Analysis • Acoustical Design & Consulting
• Large Inventory • Fast Shipment • No Project
too Large or Small • Major Credit Cards Accepted
