美國環保署日前宣佈，將在紐約州西拉鳩斯市興建一棟全世界最大的永續建材商業大樓，使用回收工業材料和高效率能源，並減少汽車排放量。負責這項計劃的Destiny USA公司近日和環保署簽訂合作備忘錄，承諾將採用多項環境永續的作法。
環保署固體廢棄物與緊急應變辦公室助理主持人波汀（Susan Bodine）表示：「Destiny USA公司和環保署有許多共同目標，包括使用回收工業材料，並向其他建築計劃推廣環境永續建材。使用回收建材有助於存續自然資源、保護環境、節約能源和經費。」
Destiny USA公司在合作協議中承諾將使用綠建築技術，並參與環保署多項計劃，包括「挑戰節能」、「水資源」和「能源之星」等計劃。該公司在這項建築方案中，已計劃在混凝土中加入3,000公噸煤灰粉，如此可減少3,000公噸溫室氣體釋出；並整修100輛工地卡車，以減少85%的廢氣排放量。
另外，Destiny USA會將油電混合車和柴油車納入車隊，並和旗下航運、船業和租戶推銷環保署「高效運輸夥伴計劃」，以減少卡車排氣量。再者他們將實施一項「通勤優惠計劃」。
美國環保署致力推廣國內建商採用回收工業材料作為建材，這份合作備忘錄即是努力成果之一。回收材料包括煤粉燃燒產品、鑄造砂和拆毀廢棄物，這些東西看似廢料，其實都可以重新用於製造混凝土、牆板、鋼骨架構和柏油。美國企業每年產出超過50萬噸工業廢棄物，若能善加利用，回收後又是一份資源。
A major commercial development in Syracuse, New York, will be the world's largest sustainable structure to be built with recycled industrial materials, incorporate energy efficient features, and reduce vehicle emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week. The developers of Destiny USA, a multi-use project, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA, promising to use a variety of environmentally sustainable practices.
"Destiny USA's pledge is the first of what we hope will be many similar commitments to use recycled industrial materials and promote other environmentally sustainable practices in major construction projects," said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator of EPA's the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "Increasing the use of recycled materials preserves our natural resources, protects the environment, conserves energy and saves money."
As part of its agreement with EPA, Destiny USA has agreed to employ green building techniques and become a partner in the agency's Resource Conservation Challenge, WaterSense, and Energy Star programs. The company plans to use more than 3,000 tons of coal ash in concrete, reducing greenhouse gases by more than 3,000 tons, and to retrofit more than 100 construction trucks to reduce emissions by 85 percent.
In addition, Destiny USA will incorporate hybrid and diesel vehicles in to its fleet and promote EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership to its carriers, shippers, and tenants to reduce truck emissions. Furthermore, the company plans to implement a commuter benefits program.
The MOU is part of a broader effort by EPA to encourage developers nationwide to expand their use of recycled industrial materials including coal combustion products, foundry sand and construction and demolition debris. Instead of disposing of these materials, they can be used to make products like concrete, wallboard, steel beams and asphalt. Each year, U.S. businesses generate more than half a billion tons of industrial waste, which, in some cases, can be recycled and used as valuable resources.
