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Solutions Journal: Spring 2011—Integral Group’s Vision (Interview with Peter Rumsey)
RMI fellow Peter Rumsey discusses deep green engineering, the Amory Effect and how the building industry is undeniably changing for the better. RMI Senior Fellow Peter Rumsey leads the West Coast office of Integral Group, which is responsible for the mechanical engineering on the retrofit of Caltech’s LEED-Platinum Linde + Robinson Laboratory. He has collaborated with RMI on the design of the Caltech lab and on dozens of other projects since the mid-’90s, and works regularly with RMI’s RetroFit initiative, which aims to make deep energy savings in retrofitted buildings the new norm.
Solutions Journal: Spring 2011—Caltech’s Linde + Robinson Laboratory to be First LEED Platinum Lab
When Caltech officials decided to renovate a 1932 astronomy building that will house a new center for environmental sciences, they thought life should mimic ideals—and thereby created what will be one of the greenest science facilities on the planet. Several RMI supporters and staff members worked with the design team on the Linde + Robinson Laboratory, which is expected to become the nation’s first LEED Platinum laboratory in a historic building after it opens in July.
Can “Green” Buildings have Negative Health Effects?
A recent blog on TheHill.com carried the headline “green” buildings could harm your health. This post was circulated widely via the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers weekly e-newsletter. In addition, regional and national publications have featured a similar story with equally concerning titles.
Helping to Shape the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
While you may be more used to hearing about RMI’s work with an automaker or building owner, a recent RMI partnership has a very different flavor. This summer, RMI is collaborating with Catawba College’s Center for the Environment on an upcoming program, “Redesigning Our Future: A National Environmental Summit for High School Students” July 20-24, 2011. We interviewed RMI Senior Consultant specializing in sustainable communities and campuses Michael Kinsley on what RMI brings to the education table.
RMI’s Solutions Journal Online
RMI has a reputation for coming up with groundbreaking ideas and solutions to problems like unnecessary energy consumption, pollution, and fossil fuel addiction. But we know ideas are not enough. Ideas have true power only when we implement them successfully.