North American airports go to new heights: Going green

Airports across North America
are embracing the green movement
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

Airports across North America are jumping on the green bandwagon and making some drastic operational changes. Over the past year, more than five airports have moved in a more eco-conscious direction.

The two areas airports are focusing on are:

• Incorporating solar power in their existing infrastructure  

• Aiming for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) Certification

LEED Certification

LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is a resource companies can use to ensure they are complying with green practices in the areas of building design, operations, construction and maintenance.

In the past year, at least three airports have been LEED certified.  

The Winnepeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in Manitoba is Canada’s first LEED certified airport and features natural lighting and mechanical systems that help to reduce consumption.  The airport is 25 percent more efficient than Canada’s building code requires.

The Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal in Atlanta received a LEED Silver certification and its green features include water and energy conservation, as well as good indoor air quality. The airport has also used low VOC materials for the buildings, which include paints, sealants and recycled wood products. 

The San Francisco International Airport has redone Terminal 2 and garnered a LEED Gold certification for its efforts. The terminal’s eco-conscious features include recycling some of the original infrastructure of the space, while saving on water and energy consumption and reducing overall waste.

Solar Power

Though several airports have made strides to install solar panels on their buildings, there are two airports of particular note that are creating solutions that are both cost effective and eco-friendly.

The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recently revealed plans to refit the rooftops on the car rental center and two other garages with 5.4-MW of solar power. The expectation is that 51 percent of the energy utilized by those buildings will be solar powered, resulting in $ 4.7 million in savings over the next 20 years.

The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority in Tennessee has already implemented one element of its plans by setting up a 1-MW array close to the airport which has already reaped benefits. In just two months, that array helped save over 62 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. The airport hopes to build a solar farm that will, when completed, consist of 3-MW of solar power, an ambitious project for a smaller airport.

Have you been to any of these airports? Let us know what you thought!

Source: Earth Techling

Taking green one step further

Electrocorp's I-6500 series
are designed for use with
HVAC systems

The trend toward greener airports is encouraging and environmental consultants have undoubtedly been involved in helping to realize these various plans.

As with any construction or refurbishment project, materials are not the only concern for ensuring good indoor air quality. An air cleaning system which operates continuously is a necessity when expecting good indoor air quality on a long-term basis.

Installing air cleaners within HVAC systems in airports will help clean the air of particle and chemical pollutants through the use of HEPA and activated carbon filters.  As a result, in addition to an eco-conscious ethos, airport authorities can ensure healthy air quality for both employees and travelers.

For more information on Electrocorp’s air cleaners, call one of our IAQ experts at 1-866-667-0297 or contact us through our website.

Show  your support for greener and healthier environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

Love manicures and pedicures? Workers face serious health effects

Working with nail polish every day could lead to
serious health effects, experts warn.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Summertime is sandal time and one of the busiest times of year for the thousands of nail salons across North America.

The clipping, filing and polishing industry has become a popular venture.

In Canada’s Toronto alone, residents can pick from 1,152 spots to get their nails done. The state of New York has approximately 4,100 nail salons.

But while most clients see their occasional manicure and pedicure as a treat and an occasion to relax, the technicians servicing their nails are exposed to dangerous organic solvents and harsh chemicals emitted by nail polishes and nail products.

The biggest health threats come from chemicals such as formaldehyde, acetone, toluene and dibutyl phthalate.

Some of the reported health effects include

• Asthma
• Rashes
• Damage to the reproductive system
• Effects to sexual organ development in male fetuses

Experts suggest different tactics to minimize the risks to employees. For example, using spring-loaded bottles for polish remover to reduce the amount of escaping vapors, installing tilted and ventilated tables, using healthier polish brands and high-quality particle masks, updating the ventilation system to remove odors and chemicals and raising awareness among nail technicians.

One of the problems is that many workers in nail salons are recent immigrants from China or Vietnam, who may be too afraid to complain about health problems, researchers say.


Have you ever been affected by the fumes or smells in nail salons and spas? Tell us about it!

Source: The Globe and Mail

Clean the air in spas and nail salons

Air cleaners for nail salons:
5000 and 6000 Salon

When a full HVAC update or renovation project is beyond a nail salon’s budget, individual air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA can help remove dangerous particles, chemicals and odors.

Electrocorp has developed a range of air cleaners for beauty salons and spas that feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas for gases and fumes and the longest-lasting and most efficient filters available on the market.

The 5000 and 6000 Salon air purifiers, for example, are also equipped with a source capture attachment that can be positioned right above the working area, so that harmful chemicals and fumes as well as fine particles are removed right at the source, before they become airborne.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

Fracking and silica sand: A health and safety hazard

The silica sand used for fracking
puts workers at risk
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

A work safety alert was recently sounded out in the hydraulic fracturing industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) both reported, after researching oil and gas well sites in five states, that workers were at risk for respiratory disease.

Though the thought that comes to mind with fracking is usually oil and gas, the two federal agencies found unusually high levels of silica sand in 80 percent of the air samples taken on the sites. In fact, the samples revealed that over 30 percent of those samples contained levels of silica that were 10 times higher than safety regulations permit.

Exposure to silica sand dust through inhalation can cause silicosis, a life-threatening lung disease. OSHA and NIOSH suggest these oil and gas companies protect their workers by limiting their exposure to the particles. Respirators and exhaust vents are among some of the solutions proposed by the agencies.

During the fracking process, silica sand is combined with water and chemicals. This fluid is pressurized and then used to help break up shale deposits in the ground, allowing workers access to the oil and natural gas.

Though OSHA and NIOSH still have to conduct testing on the effects of exposure to silica sand, at least one Wyoming company has already tested its effects and implemented safety measures. Knowledge on other companies’ plans is, as of yet, unknown but the Petroleum Association of Wyoming and The Wyoming Oil and Gas Safety Alliance have pledged their cooperation and plan to inform their members of the risks surrounding silica sand.

Do you or someone you know work in fracking? Tell us about your experiences with silica sand and how your company is dealing with the potential risks.

Source: Trib.com

Providing cleaner air

Electrocorp's I-6500 Cyclone Collectors
can extract fine particles, such as silica sand dust,
from the air

OSHA and NIOSH have made several suggestions for improving air quality. Of those recommendations is the use of exhaust vents. 

Electrocorps’s I-6500 with Cyclone Collectors provides an air cleaning option that extracts dust and fine particles from the air through a pre-filter and a HEPA filter. There also activated carbon optionsfor chemicals, odors and gases. We can also manufacture customized units for individual needs.

To speak to one of our IAQ experts about the I-6500 Cyclone Collector or for a customized unit, contact us at 1-866-667-0297.

Show your support for safe working environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

VIDEO: Office air quality and possible health effects

Hundreds of thousands of people spend the majority of their days in an office environment.

Not everyone is lucky enough to work in a green, bright, healthy building - most offices are situated in older, less environmentally friendly structures.

Working in an office with poor indoor air quality can have an impact on the health, well-being and productivity of workers.

The IAQ Video Network and Cochrane and Associates have produced a new video about the dangers of indoor air pollution at the office to raise awareness:


The 3-minute video talks about common indoor air pollution sources as well as health effects.

Air cleaners for offices

Since it is often impossible for office workers to change an entire building's air quality, a room air purifier with the right filters can help provide cleaner and healthier air in their immediate surroundings.

Electrocorp has developed powerful air cleaners for the office that can tackle indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, volatile organic compounds, mold, bacteria, viruses, fine particles and allergens.

The air cleaners feature a complete multistage filtration system with a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter and optional UV germicidal filtration.

For large office printers and equipment, Electrocorp also offers air cleaners for office printers, which will capture irritating chemicals and particles at the exhaust with a custom-made intake hood to protect nearby workers from exposure.

For more information and a personalized consultation, please contact Electrocorp today.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.