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Recycling Programs
Recycling demolition products, construction debris, as well as utilizing recycled materials wherever possible, have become a standard practice for Rudolph and Sletten. Our recycling expertise and contracting resourced enable our clients to reuse and redistribute large quantities of otherwise disposable materials, protect natural surroundings and successfully fulfill city and state requirements for their developments. Please read about efforts at the Sun Microsystems Santa Clara Campus for detailed information about our efforts in the area of recycling and reuse.
Alternative Materials Recommendations
A recent project required over 110,000 board feet of exterior trim that was specified as Select Heart Grade FSC Redwood. At the time there was not enough specified material in the market to fill such a large order. Rudolph and Sletten was able to propose a superior FSC material that met the architectural intent. The new material was Clear Western Red Cedar that had been selectively harvested by helicopter from the lands of the indigenous people of Nova Scotia. This material saved time on the overall schedule, increased the exterior quality due to the better expansion / contraction properties, provided a 20% cost savings, and met the sustainable goals of our client.
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Geothermal Systems
The principles of refrigeration coupled with the earth’s natural characteristics as a heat sink lead to this environ-mentally friendly thermal system. By using the ground as an energy source, the contents of a geothermal pipe system absorb heat from the earth during cold weather and disperse heat during warmer weather. In conjunction with electric energy, this system can create a highly efficient heating and cooling plant. Innovations like geothermal units that save space, money, and energy will continually change the engineering process and lead to safer, greener alternatives.
Fly Ash Concrete
Portland cement, a key ingredient in concrete, can cause environmental problems resulting from the manufacturing process. Fortunately fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired electric power plants, can be substituted for large portions of portland cement, significantly improving concrete’s environmental characteristics.
Rudolph and Sletten’s concrete crews recently completed a one day concrete pour for one of our projects that utilized 5,200 cubic yards of concrete with a high fly ash content.
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Underfloor Air System
Underfloor air distribution systems, or raised-access flooring systems, are growing in popularity in the United States, and in many instances, have replaced traditional bulky ceiling delivery systems. When compared to ceiling systems, these underfloor units offer space flexibility, improved indoor environmental quality, and optimize energy performance. Research has also shown that underfloor air systems can result in significantly lower airborne particulate concentrations when compared to traditional ceiling systems. Using this type of system can also result in a time and cost savings during construction because of the reduced amount of ductwork and the consolidation of all the critical systems (HVAC, power, voice, and data) into one area. Rudolph and Sletten is experienced with this type of HVAC system, with over one million square feet installed, and can make the appropriate recommendations for your project.
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