Cradle to Cradle Travels to Iceland - Interview with Michael Cucchiara
Michael Cucchiara, an advisor to CaraGreen and partner in Greenbridge Developments - a mixed use development in Chapel Hill, NC seeking LEED Gold status, has just returned from William McDonough’s annual fishing trip in Iceland. We caught up with him to learn more about this trip, including the esteemed guest list, hot topics of discussion, and why it all happens in obscure Iceland.
Luminous Bio-Glass Vanity by Sitzer Spuria Studios
Sitzer Spuria Studios recently used White Diamond Bio-Glass for the vanity top in a master bath they designed. They selected the material because of its beauty (inside and out). The clients fell in love with the material as soon as they saw it. One of the designers on the project, Beverly Dawson, remarked that the glass is the color of water, so it beckons to be used in a bathroom. The material has a rare luminosity and clarity that make it a showpiece. And, they love it's story - the fact that the material is 100% recycled adds to its beauty. Custom Stone and Marble in Durham, NC fabricated and installed the glass top. The backspash tile selected to complement the Bio-Glass top is MW Glass Mosaic in Satin Grey Mix and the cabinets are a light washed oak.
Here are a few tips from Sitzer Spuria Studios for designing with Bio-Glass:
-Bio-Glass should be supported with a substrate, so designing this layer into the cabinet is essential to a successful installation.
-The lighter colors of Bio-Glass (White Diamond and Oriental Jade) take on the color of the substrate they are placed on. The substrate should be a uniform color, which can be achieved by painting the substrate. Sitzer Spuria Studios recommends Sherwin Williams White Mint for the White Diamond Bio-Glass and Greening for the Oriental Jade Bio-Glass.
- Instruct the installer to use a modest amount of clear adhesive around the edges of the top for a flawless installation.
-Sink options to consider, other than undermount, are drop-in sinks and vessel sinks which would work beautifully with the material.
Visit to Greenbridge Development in Chapel Hill
Greenbridge development in Chapel Hill is a mere 2 blocks from CaraGreen. I’ve driven by it countless times, heard bits about its McDonough design, and knew materials CaraGreen was providing for the project. But until recently, I’d never toured the buildings, which really brought its remarkable design, both in terms of sustainability and aesthetics, to life for me. Mark Vevle of Greenbridge Developments was kind enough to give me a tour of the site.
Exterior & Green Spaces
We started out on the breezy Rosemary Street courtyard entrance, which will eventually be filled with shops and restaurants. The courtyard is flanked by the two buildings that compose Greenbridge, which are clad with distinctive yellow brick, which was selected because it is manufactured in NC by Cunningham Brick Company and has high-recycled content. The buildings also use high-performing Solarban80 Low-E glass for windows. These materials, as well as steel, concrete, and wood, combine to create a complex and interesting exterior design.
We go up a flight of stairs, and we’re looking out on a lush green paradise, which is the green roof atop the lobby space. Mark tells me that Xero Flor installed the green roof in just a couple of hours. A few of the many benefits of green roofs is that they increase air quality, contribute to more efficient heating and cooling systems, provide safe nesting grounds for birds, and provide relief to the city’s water infrastructure during storms by retaining 35-90% of rainfall. Plants are integrated in other ways as well. For example, there are planters filled with vines that will climb up the building by way of a modern wire grid trellis, and residence balconies are separated by containers of dwarf evergreen trees.
Interior Finishes
We head to the stairwell en route to the residential units. Even the stairwell has a good vibe. It is primarily raw concrete, but there are touches of adventurous orange and forest green paint that provide a hip, outdoorsy feel. Sherwin William’s ProGreen low-VOC paint is used throughout. We stop off on the fourth floor, and there’s signage made out of Bio-glass, a 100% recycled glass and cradle to cradle certified product available through CaraGreen. Metal holders that have been cut with the unit numbers and room names on them cup rectangular pieces of Bio-glass. The Bio-glass practically glows.
We explore a number of units to see the various mixes of finishes and layouts. Owners were given the opportunity to choose from finish packages designed by Sitzer Spuria Studios, the interior designers for Greenbridge. Or, in some cases, owners made their own custom selections. For countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, Meld ecoX and xposed concrete slabs, which are made locally in Raleigh and contain recycled content, or Eco-Terr slabs, which contain recycled stone, are used. For backsplashes, Eco-Gres recycled porcelain mosaic tiles and Oceanside recycled glass tile are used. All cabinetry is made from no added formaldehyde sheet goods and glues. Flooring in the main living areas is either bamboo flooring or Turning House Millworks engineered wood flooring. Carpet, used in the bedrooms, is Shaw’s Anso nylon carpet, which is Cradle to Cradle certified. And, terrace flooring is ECOmax recycled rubber tiles by ECOsurfaces, which contain close to 90% post-consumer recycled content. It seems every finish has been thoughtfully selected.
Energy and Water Efficiency
For lighting, Cree LR6 LED lights are installed, which use just 8 watts, have a 25-year lifespan and are made locally. Greenbridge has a solar thermal hot water system that uses 90 solar panels to heat 4,750 gallons of hot water per day, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and promotes energy independence. There’s also a high-efficiency water sourced heat pump which will save energy and carbon emissions while providing individualized climate control to tenants. The HVAC system is designed to be at least 30% more efficient than standard systems, and there’s a Fresh Air Exchange system, which keeps residential units supplied with clean filtered fresh air. An intake at the top of the building draws fresh air in, passes it through a series of allergen and particulate filters, and then delivers fresh air to each unit at the front door, while old air exits out vents in each bathroom. Dual flush toilets, low-flow water fixtures, and energy efficient appliances have been installed in units as well to further conserve water and energy.
Greenbridge is a trailblazing LEED project in NC, which CaraGreen is proud to supply materials for. For more information on this project, visit the Greenbridge website.
Underwriters Labs Uses Bio-Glass
Bio-Glass was recently used for the reception desk at Underwriters Laboratories University Training Center. O’Brien/Atkins was commissioned for the design and branding of the training center, which is located on the third floor of an existing building on UL’s RTP campus. The scope of the project included design concepts for the first floor lobby, which is the primary entrance for UL University attendees, and needed to reflect the UL training center brand. In the lobby, the Bio-Glass reception desk greets visitors. The color used is Oriental Jade and the desk is a curvy arc-shape with two worktop levels fabricated by Custom Stone and Marble. Behind the desk is a spacious credenza, which is also topped with Bio-Glass. This material is made from 100% recycled glass and is 100% recyclable, making it a perfect choice for UL, as their mission is to work for a safer world and they believe in supporting the production and use of products that are physically and environmentally safe.
For more information on Bio-Glass, contact us.
Trinity Commons Apartments Defines Eco-Luxury Space with Bio-Glass
Trinity Commons apartments in Durham, NC, used Bio-Glass countertops from CaraGreen to help achieve their luxury aesthetic and LEED Silver goal. The developer, Crosland, set out to build a healthy place to live, for both the residents and the earth. Crosland designers selected sustainable surface materials, like Bio-Glass, which is made of 100% recycled glass and fully recyclable. Bio-Glass tops are used for the main reception desk, as well as a communal kitchen area and computer workstations in the lobby.
To improve indoor air quality, Low-VOC paints, carpet adhesive, and eco-friendly insulation were used.
Energy and Water efficiency are a priority inside and outside the building. The development is in an urban infill location, close to Duke University Hospital, two major bus lines, and restaurants, to reduce automobile usage. There are plentiful bike storage racks and preferred parking spaces for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles. They will even have recharging stations for the Nissan Leaf when it’s available. High levels of lighting controls are in the residential and common spaces to allow occupants to control their lighting needs. When CaraGreen visited, we noticed the bathroom lights were turned off upon entry and there was signage politely asking visitors to keep them off when not in use. Dim hallways use the most energy-efficient light bulbs. Low flow water fixtures, including dual flush toilets and waterless urinals are installed. Native and adaptable drought-resistant plant species were planted to cut down on water usage by 50% and no sod was used. To reduce the heat island effect, there’s shade landscaping, most of the parking deck is under a light colored surface, and there’s a white membrane on the roof to minimize the build-up of heat from solar gain. A customized HVAC system helps reduce ozone depletion by requiring zero use of CFC based refrigerants in the HVAC and refrigerant systems. And, the site was designed to control the amount of light that leaves it and disturbs the neighbors. This improves nighttime visibility and reduces the impact on nocturnal animals.
For more information on Bio-Glass or to request samples, contact us.
Bio-Glass Featured In House Beautiful’s Bathroom Of The Month
The May 2011 issue of House Beautiful magazine features a spa-inspired bathroom that uses White Diamond Bio-Glass countertops. Bio-Glass is 100% recycled and recyclable glass. In regards to the Bio-Glass, the homeowner said, "It just glows. It adds a glamorous note." Other bathroom finishes include teak, marble tile, and a round porcelain tub. R. Scott Bromley of Bromley Caldari was the architect on the project. For more information on Bio-Glass, contact us.
Introducing Monthly Material Vignettes - November Rain
This palette soothes the senses with its cool aqueous tones and restful grays.
It combines materials that could be used for flooring, casework, and countertops.
Materials from back to front:
-EcoTimber EcoBamboo Woven flooring, Silver Lining
-Meld Micro recycled glass and concrete countertops, Concrete
-TorZo Tiikeri recycled sorghum straw sheets for casework or flooring, Emerald
-Bio-Glass 100% recycled glass sheets for horizontal or vertical surfaces, Oriental Jade
-Durat recycled solid surface for horizontal or vertical surfaces, color 202
For more information on these materials, contact us.
Comments