On January 5, 2015 the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has proposed the adoption of a rule proposal to update the New Jersey building codes from the current version (ICC 2009 version) to the ICC’s latest 2015 version with recommended changes. There is a 60 day comment period so comments must be submitted by […]
We often think about air pollution as an outside problem. When we do think about indoor air pollution, we think about the issue as a problem in office buildings. Finally, we are led to believe that building codes protect us from problems in our homes, so we really do not have to worry about our […]
Environmental Initiatives Education Programs and Presentations Get the Word Out The issues surrounding environmental initiatives – sustainable development, recycling and solid waste management – are complicated. From scientific to practical, legal to moral, the questions and concepts can easily overwhelm the message. With backgrounds in environmental science and education, DeFeo Associates’ consultants create programs and […]
On a recent trip, I had the pleasure of staying in a LEED gold certified hotel. This property was not only a fine hotel, but it actually practices the concepts of sustainability as a part of its business model. The hotel, an Element (part of the Westin chain) is not only a green hotel, it […]
What is Sustainability? Simply put, Sustainability means that a resource can be maintained indefinitely. It is naturally replenished as fast, or faster, than it is used. The Earth provides valuable natural resources (like oil, water, forestry) that humanity uses for its fuel, food, shelter – all aspects of its existence. For a resource to be […]