A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City.

Here's a great Material Reuse/Recycling Story (especially when materials are unable to be Reused in their current condition):

The Navy assault ship USS New York, built in Louisiana with tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center, passes in front of the Empire State Building as it arrives in New York Harbor Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. The bow of the $1 billion ship, built in Louisiana, contains about 7.5 tons of trade center steel. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

From BBC News: The USS New York sailed up the Hudson River to near Ground Zero, where it fired a 21-gun salute in tribute to those killed in the 2001 attacks. It was watched by relatives of 9/11 victims, along with members of the emergency services and the public. The US Navy is to hold an official commissioning ceremony for the new warship on Saturday. The New York set off on its maiden voyage from Louisiana, where it was built, nearly three weeks ago. The bow of the boat contains 7.5 tonnes of melted steel from the fallen buildings of the World Trade Center.

The ship's crest includes images of the Twin Towers and features the colours of the city departments that first responded to the terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died.

'A transformation'

People gathered by the waterfront to watch the ship's 21-gun salute honouring those who died in the 11 September attacks. The crew stood to attention along the deck as the guns were fired.

Among those watching was JoAnn Atlas, who lost her firefighter husband in the attacks. "We have to remember. It's a way to honour them," she told the Associated Press news agency. Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother was among those killed, said she was pleased that the steel from the towers had been reused in the ship. "It's a transformation of it from something really twisted and ugly," she told AP. "I'm proud that our military is using that steel."

About one in seven of the 361 sailors serving on the ship are from New York state, a higher percentage than would normally be the case, a Navy spokeswoman told AP. She said there had been many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship.

Making Material Reuse Effortless to Save Time, Money and the Planet - F'09 Newsletter

PlanetReuse is predicated on a simple but revolutionary idea: make it easy for people to use reclaimed materials and they’ll do more of it. That’s good for the future of sustainable building and our planet.
Studies show that as much as 40 percent of waste in landfills comes from construction projects. With billions of tons of trash produced annually and global waste production expected to double by 2013, it adds up to a staggering quantity of landfill waste. Reuse—as the purest form of recycling—helps reduce that amount.
But as Nathan Benjamin found, sourcing quality materials for commercial construction often proved difficult, and frequently architects can’t find materials early enough to incorporate into a design. That discovery led Benjamin to found PlanetReuse in 2008, with the sole purpose of taking the work out of the reuse process.
“We make the connection, handle the groundwork and guide clients through a streamlined process,” he said. “Handled efficiently, reuse is one of those rare situations with no downside. Reclaimed materials are typically available at a 15 to 20 percent savings over new. We follow a proven method that saves time and effort. And—vitally—reuse significantly reduces landfill waste.”
It all adds up to the PlanetReuse mission:to make using reclaimed building materials effortless by expertly matching materials with designers, builders and owners, saving projects money, serving LEED efforts and sustaining the planet.
The idea is resonating within the design and construction industry. The first-to-market company, which earned a Lifecycle Building Challenge award for innovation, has grown 300 percent in the last year.
PlanetReuse follows efficient, tested processes for both placement and deconstruction consulting. The company’s sweet spot is the design development phase, where they work with the architect to seamlessly integrate reclaimed materials, often reviewing drawings and specs to provide a fresh perspective. PlanetReuse sources materials, tests for quality, and documents for LEED and Living Building Challenge certification.
While the robust PlanetReuse website displays available materials and offers the opportunity to request specific items, Benjamin likes clients to consider PlanetReuse the most valuable, cost-efficient member of a project team. And if you’re looking for something you don’t see online, just ask us about it. We’ll find it---we love challenges.
“We spend every minute of every day in the reclaimed materials world. And as long-term members of the green building community, we speak your language,” Benjamin said. “It’s our mission to make your world easier through our knowledge of reclaimed materials. Like our clients, we’re very passionate about sustainable design and construction, and know that together, we can make a real difference.”

Salvaged Materials Find a Home in America’s Greenest Building Project - F'09 Newsletter

When one of America’s greenest projects opened its doors this summer, the world learned that many of those doors were salvaged. The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) in Rhinebeck, New York debuted on July 16 as one of the world’s best showcases for reclaimed building materials. PlanetReuse was privileged to coordinate much of the salvaged building material used in the project.

The OCSL, an environmental education center and wastewater treatment facility, is expected to be certified as the world’s first Living Building Challenge project, the highest measurable standard for sustainable design and construction. The award-winning building was designed by BNIM Architects, with John Todd Ecological Design.

“So much building material heads for landfills, when instead it can find new life in new building projects,” said PlanetReuse founder Nathan Benjamin. “As the world’s greenest building, the Omega Center is a perfect showcase for salvaged materials, but it also demonstrates how easily any building can take advantage of material reuse.”
Using reclaimed materials is one of the purest ways to build green, and an important consideration for Living Building certification. To discover effective ways to incorporate these materials into the OCSL, BNIM sought out PlanetReuse, whose focus is linking reclaimed materials with the design community.

With the design team, PlanetReuse identified key areas for the use of reclaimed materials. They worked with six demolition and reclamation contractors (three not-for-profits and three for profit) to procure and test the materials, sourcing close to the project to reduce fuel consumption. The company provided documentation on every step to support the certification process. The architect and contractor valued PlanetReuse’s insight, to that point that both wished the company had been involved even earlier in the process to assist with schedule and incorporate more materials.

Reclaimed materials within the Omega Center include dimensional lumber, plywood, interior doors, beech wood paneling and toilet partitions, among many others. The materials came from warehouses, schools, office buildings and other projects within the source radius. Reclaimed materials typically offer 15 to 20 percent savings over new and their use earns significant points towards LEED accreditation.

Most significantly, reuse keeps tons of building materials out of landfills.

More than Just Wood: The Many Faces of Reclaimed Building Materials - F'09 Newsletter

Mention reclaimed materials and the image pops: salvaged wood beautifully repurposed as paneling or flooring. While reclaimed wood is indeed one of the most popular reused materials, the range of materials sought and available extends far beyond that.

“Reclaimed wood is a classic, and it’s an idea most people are familiar with,” said PlanetReuse operations manager Tim Bensman. “But we’re seeing a growing market for steel, doors, access flooring, granite and marble. Steel, especially, offers huge potential for reuse, and along with that a huge potential for cost savings as well as a greater ability to achieve additional LEED material reuse credits.” The LEED MR system awards credit for reuse of a variety of reclaimed materials. PlanetReuse works with the design team early enough in the process to allow a huge list of options for consideration.

Ryerson University in Toronto has been studying steel reuse for a number of years, surveying designers, demolition contractors, salvage yards and steel fabricators to better understand the steel lifecycle. A 2006 report determined that construction steel reuse resulted in the reduction of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, a number that could grow dramatically with increased awareness.

Steel recycling has always been popular, especially in Europe. The UK-based Steel Construction Institute estimates recycling rates at 85 percent or higher. But reuse of steel components—which as the purest form of recycling provides the highest benefit to the environment—demands a bit more quality control.

To create those standards, PlanetReuse is working with prominent structural engineers around the country to establish fundamental testing principles. The company is actively sourcing reclaimed steel from deconstruction contractors, delivering a message of profitability for quality steel components.

They’re also talking to design principals around the globe, both to in regards to available inventory and insight on how to incorporate reclaimed materials. In recent years, architects designing shorter-term buildings (like venues for the 2012 Olympics in London) have suggested demountable venues that can be partially or completely removed and reused elsewhere.

“We’ve really just scratched the surface when it comes to the diversity of reclaimed materials,” said Bensman. “The easier the process becomes the more you’ll see materials of all types available for incorporation into new building projects. Whether that’s tons of steel, a dozen doors or a small slab of granite, the key is communication between those who need it and those who have it.”

Green Heroes Making a difference, in big ways and small. - F'09 Newsletter

These architects, who recently won a prestigious global award for innovation, focus on design that’s good for people and the planet. We’re inspired by their thoughts on how “one percent” can change the world.

Since 2002, Public Architecture has centered on architecture in the service of public interest. That focus bears fruit with designs like the self-contained day labor station, which recently earned the Global Holcim Award. But perhaps the organization’s greatest impact is not a design, but a program to encourage pro bono work.

Their 1% program challenges architecture firms to pledge 1% of billable hours to pro bono work. If everyone jumped on board, that could mean 5,000,000 volunteer hours annually, or as the site states, “the equivalent of 2,500-person firm working full time for the public good.” The program has captured the attention and support of design professionals nationwide. Last year, architects pledged more than 200,000 hours and an estimated $20 million in pro bono services.

What’s on our Founder’s Kindle Books, shows and music that catch our founder’s attention. - F'09 Newsletter

Author Douglas Rushkoff was mugged on Christmas Eve in front of his Brooklyn apartment. The resulting events sent him down an interesting pathway that became the basis of a divisive new read.
Rushkoff’s book, Life Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take It Back, proposes that the “market and its logic” has insinuated themselves into every aspect of our lives and separated us from authentic interaction. “You won’t agree with everything he says. I know I didn’t,” says PlanetReuse founder Nathan Benjamin. “But it provoked a good deal of thought on the work/life separation and—as an entrepreneur—how not much is certain in today’s economic environment.”
The author shares his views on buzz marketing, which he suggests turns our social interactions into promotional opportunities and blurs the lines between our personal and professional lives. (In an era of Facebook and Twitter, this resonates.) But few could disagree with some of his suggestions to reclaim our personal connections, like engaging in neighborhood activities and buying local.

Fresh Ideas New and innovative stuff from around the globe - F'09 Newsletter

You can toss your papers, plastic and glass in a bin, but how do you recycle or reuse a trampoline? Or bits of old plumbing pipe? Check out a website that offers practical insight for unusual items.

The UK-based Recycle This explores innovative ways to recycle and reuse atypical materials, from trade show lanyards to wedding dresses. Even better, they invite both suggested items and comment on possible uses, creating a community of average folks that provide realistic, usable solutions. According to the site, in three years they’ve “covered more than 600 items and had over 8500 suggestions of ways to reuse, repurpose or recycle things that would otherwise go in the bin.”  Check them out at: Recycle This
For the crafty among us, the old plumbing pipes can become a copper pot rack. And those lanyards? Use them to keep track of easily lost items at the office, from desk keys to USB drives.

Going to GreenBuild? Come see PlanetReuse on the panel in Session BL08 - Mining the Urban Environment: Navigating the Reuse Opportunities

Come see us in Session BL08. The panel and the topic have changed from what may have read when you registered. The changes will be noted in the insert in the Agenda/Schedule you receive when you check in, but the following is the new topic and modified panel:
Topic: Mining the Urban Environment: Navigating the Reuse Opportunities
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2-3:30pm.
Moderator: Amanda Sturgeon - Senior Associate, Perkins+Will
Speakers: Nathan Benjamin - Principal + Founder, PlanetReuse
Steve Baer - Sr. Consultant - Five Winds International and PE Americas
Come enjoy a great conversation in Material Reuse!