Procuring polyisoJared O. Blum
A decade ago, sustainable and energy-efficient construction were
not central topics of conversation at construction industry trade
shows; the price of oil had not hit an all-time high; most states
did not have statewide energy codes; and the government had not yet
mandated that federal buildings receive certifications through the
U.S Green Building Council's (USGBC's) Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.®
As we enter 2005, energy-efficient and sustainable construction
are influencing the current construction industry. Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) has signed an executive order requiring
LEED certification for state-owned buildings in California, and
governors in Maine, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington have done
so, as well. By the end of this decade, several LEED-certified
high-rise buildings will grace the Manhattan skyline, including the
new headquarters for The New York Times. The U.S. General
Services Administration now requires all its buildings to receive
certification through USGBC's LEED rating system. (For more
information about LEED, see "Green
buildings standard," September 2003 issue, page 30.)
Products such as polyisocyanurate insulation are meeting the
increased demand for and interest in efficient, sustainable
building products. However, this increased demand, especially in a
growing global economy, sometimes is a mixed blessing for an
industry that has prided itself on its ability to provide virtually
next-day delivery to the roofing and related construction
industries.
As the building industry continues to strive for more
energy-efficient buildings, the demand from contractors, designers
and building owners for polyisocyanurate insulation is driving a
strong market. In fall 2004, polyisocyanurate insulation
manufacturers completed their fourth consecutive quarter of
double-digit growth compared with corresponding quarters in late
2002 through 2003. The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers
Association (PIMA) expects polyisocyanurate production numbers for
2004 to exceed historic levels and break the 5 billion...
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