Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.

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Posted on March 28, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Replacement of University of Iowa’s fine arts campus to cost over $400 million

The replacement cost for the University of Iowa’s fine arts campus, which was devastated by a 2008 flood, will be $404.9 million, according to the Iowa Board of Regents. Total flood damage from the flood is expected to top $1 billion at the Iowa City campus. The fine arts campus requires a new...

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

White roofs reduce surface temperatures more than 40 degrees compared to black roofs, study finds

Retrofitting a black roof surface to white reduced peak rooftop temperature in New York City by 43 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, during the summer of 2011, according to a new study published online at Environmental Research Letters. The study was the first long-term effort in New York to test how...

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Perkins+Will’s renovated Atlanta office is North America’s top LEED Platinum project

Perkins+Will’s new Atlanta officeis the current highest-scoring LEED Platinum project in North America under the 2009 version of LEED -NC. The building, originally constructed in 1985, minimizes energy use by 58% and potable water use by 78%. Exterior renovations included energy efficient exterior...

Posted on March 07, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Energy efficiency retrofits could produce $1 trillion in savings for the US

Investments in energy efficiency retrofits for buildings could yield more than three times their value—or about $1 trillion in energy savings in a decade, according to new research from Deutsche Bank and The Rockefeller Foundation. The new report, "United States Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits...

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Mayo Clinic to spend $700 million per year on renovations, new construction through 2017

Rochester, Minn.-based health care provider Mayo Clinic plans to spend $700 million annually on renovations and new construction through 2017. That’s nearly double the $415 million it spent last year. About 60% of the capital spending will go toward replacing and renewing facilities, equipment, and...

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

London's Tower Bridge joins list of energy retrofits on iconic structures

Vatican City, the Empire State Building, and the Sydney Opera House have all employed low-energy solutions in one form or another in recent years. “High profile projects can highlight the importance of retrofitting and cause people to think about installing renewable energy systems on the micro...

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Trump to spend $200 million to convert historic DC post office into luxury hotel

The U.S. General Services Administration selected Trump Organization, headed by Donald Trump, to redevelop the historic Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C. Trump plans to spend close to $200 million to turn the structure into a 250-room luxury hotel with a restaurant, spa and conference...

Posted on February 08, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Real estate firm Reckson saves $1.25 million annually from green upgrades

Reckson, a division of SL Green Realty Corp., recently reached LEED Gold for its 384,000 sf, 12-story headquarters in downtown White Plains, NY for energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable operations. That’s a rare distinction for commercial office buildings in New York. The 40-year-old...

Posted on February 01, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

Retrofits almost always more sustainable than new green construction

Despite all of the available technology and new green materials available today, retrofitting an existing building is almost always a more sustainable option than tearing an old building down and rebuilding it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation published a new study comparing the...

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Drew Ballensky

London hospital building - world's tallest - to get badly needed renovation

Guy’s Tower in London, the tallest hospital building in the world, is getting a much needed renovation. In recent years, the 143-meter-high (about 470 feet) building—actually two towers connected by a bridge—has been falling apart. Small pieces of concrete have started to fall off the towers,...