The First Facility Management Blog

Shaw Industries will certify more than 50 manufacturing facilities under a new environmental management system by year end 2006. The Shaw Environmental Management System (SES) is based on the requirements contained in the ISO 14001:2004 with provisions that are relevant and applicable to the company’s organization.

The Shaw Environmental Management System reflects the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance, the prevention of pollution, and the continual improvement of its environmental management practices. Through its environmental policy, it establishes a means of measuring environmental performance in relation to environmental objectives and targets set forth in the Shaw Environmental Management System process.

“The Shaw Environmental Management System includes an environmental policy with elements that are required by the international ISO14000 standard, as well as those expressing our cradle to cradle vision for the future,” says Steve Bradfield, director of environmental affairs at Shaw Industries. “It allows us to express our aspirations in a format that reflects the full spectrum of Shaw’s commitment to environmental stewardship with the full support of senior management.”

Shaw Environmental Management System certification will be maintained and audited jointly with the ISO 9001:2000 which is based on the Shaw Quality System. Corporate Quality Engineering and Risk Management will together perform system audits that assess conformance to the Shaw Environmental Management System. Based on the certification audits and periodic surveillance audits, a facility will gain and maintain certification to the Shaw Environmental Management System.

Increasing evidence reveals that local market factors are decisive in determining how much traction green buildings truly have. As in other parts of the real estate industry where construction and space absorption rates vary from market-to-market and change over time, there’s a wide variance in the understanding and acceptance of green buildings throughout the U.S.

For TFM’s coverage of this topic, see “The State of Sustainability” from the archives.

This assessment comes from Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute, which was based on a survey conducted of registrants prior to its popular educational seminar series, Turning Green into Gold™. These seminars were presented in 17 markets across the U.S. during 2005. Architects, engineers, designers, facilities managers, building owners, developers, and contractors attended these seminars to learn how to design, build and operate high performance and sustainable buildings.

Overall, 35% of those responding said “green building issues are well understood, and are a corporate objective.” However, there’s a wide disparity between markets. Los Angeles was at the top of the list at 56% while the Chicago suburbs ranked at the bottom at 5%. It’s significant to note that the 20-mile drive from the Chicago suburbs to downtown reveals a different attitude as 41% said green issues were well understood and a corporate objective.

How do the individual markets rank? Seattle at 53% is a close second to Los Angeles, followed by Washington DC (48%), Phoenix (46%), Boston (44%), Charlotte (43%), Chicago Downtown (41%), and Denver (38%). The remaining nine cities came in at 25% or less.

Over the past three years, there has been an upswing in the response to the benchmark question: How well are green building issues understood by your organization? This year, 35% said that “green building issues are well understood and are a corporate objective” which compares to 11% in 2002 when the Institute conducted the research project Measuring the Success of Green.

While the progress is encouraging,” says Alan Whitson, RPA, lead presenter in the Turning Green into Gold programs and president of Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute. “It’s clear more education about the advantages high performance and sustainable buildings is needed, and in some markets it’s looks like a lot more education will be needed.”

“Somewhat,” is still most frequent answer to the benchmark question; at least 30% of respondents in every market responded “somewhat” with the national average sitting at 46%. This compares to 49% in the 2002 survey. Seven out of the 17 markets were above 50% on “somewhat.”

A market about to reach the tipping point is San Diego, which has some of the highest energy costs in the nation. One-quarter of seminar attendees in San Diego said green building issues were well understood and a corporate objective. A third of the attendees said “green building issues were well understood, but not a corporate objective.” Another third answered “somewhat.” Only 7% said “not at all”.

A sign of how much progress has been made is those answering “not at all” dropped to 5% among 2005 seminar attendees compared to 14% from the 2002 survey. Half the markets surveyed in 2005 were at 5% or lower in the “not at all” category. The Chicago suburbs were the highest at 11%.

Ranking by “Green building issues are well understood and are a corporate objective.” Charlotte and Minneapolis tied for sixth place. Raleigh, Philadelphia, Columbus, and Atlanta tied for 11th. The survey encompasses only markets where the Turning Green into Gold™ seminar was held in 2005.

The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association [RCMA] 2006 Annual Conference & EXPO – “Energizing Our Vision” – will be held January 14-17, 2006, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, Ft. Myers, Florida. The 2006 event marks the 24th anniversary of the organization of the RCMA, formed in 1982.

This year’s theme, “Energizing Our Vision”, centers on current, pending and future issues related to the rapidly increasing world of the energy specific roofing industry. In addition, attendees will be provided the opportunity to discuss with industry leaders and fellow roof coatings manufacturers and suppliers those trends and changes that will impact their business and company’s continued success for the future.

“The RCMA Annual Conference is a great mix of educational and social opportunities. Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is the ideal venue to come learn, share and network in a relaxed environment,” notes RCMA President Van Ripps, President, Palmer Asphalt, Bayonne, NJ. Ripps continues “This is one roofing conference that no industry professional should miss.”

“This year’s panel of speakers is the strongest in recent memory. As organizers have stated, we have seven keynoters, not just one in 2006,” according to the Annual Conference Chair Joseph Mellott, Vice President, Technology, Momentum Technologies, Inc., Uniontown, OH.

In addition to the specific sessions on energy efficient roof coatings, plant health & safety and crisis - issues communication, other timely issues and in-depth information will be presented in committee meetings and sessions devoted to updates in government and regulatory affairs; technical issues and codes; and business strategies and communications.

For additional information regarding the Association or RCMA’s 2006 Annual Conference, and/or for registration details, contact the RCMA by calling 202-207-0919.