They say the material is water resistant.  But our concern is rain or spilled drinks.  If one spills a beer during an emotional playoff game, will the paper chair lose its ridgidity and collapse the next time someone uses it?

High Density Paper Composite (HDPC) Innovative, natural, durable, strong; Maglin’s new High Density Paper Composite (HDPC) is the perfect alternate to wood for sustainable site furniture.

HDPC is created using FSC-certified 100% post-consumer recycled paper saturated with proprietary pheolic resins containing natural ingredients. Once saturated, the sheets are fused together under heat and pressure. This cross-links the resin polymer in all three directions producing a dense, homogeneous and essentially non-porous composite product that does not delaminate. Ordinary material is transformed into an extremely strong and durable solid surface material with incredible longevity and resistance to water.

Benefits of HDPC:
• FSC-Certified 100% post-consumer recycled paper
• Heat resistant to 350°F
• Class A fire and smoke rating
• Made of recycled paper and uses many natural ingredients
• Aesthetic appeal and warmth

Visit Maglin’s website to find out more information about HDPC ]]> http://www.midwesternconsulting.com/blog/index.php/2011/06/07/green-chairs-paper-chairs/feed/ 0 http://www.midwesternconsulting.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/29/leed-for-neighborhood-development/ http://www.midwesternconsulting.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/29/leed-for-neighborhood-development/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:32:44 +0000 Scott Fisher http://www.midwesternconsulting.com/blog/?p=299 The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is now roughly 6-months into the implementation of the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) rating system.  After a pilot program and a response period, the new rating system has a total 110 possible points and requires a minimum of 40 points for a project to be certified and 80+ to receive platinum status. 

The main sections to achieve points in are:

• Smart Location and Linkage
• Neighborhood Pattern and Design
• Green Infrastructure and Buildings
• Innovation and Design Process
• Regional Priority Credit

Based on the various credits, one of the primary goals of this rating system is to develop larger concepts of a community and how all the individual pieces work together.  It is an extension of many credits that are already a part of the LEED for New Construction system (LEED-NC), specifically the Sustainable Sites points section. 

It will take a little time to fully digest all the aspects of this rating system, but the key concepts have already begun to be used by Midwestern Consulting on recently started projects and will hopefully continue to be a guiding light for future developments. 

Scott Fisher is an engineer at Midwestern Consulting in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He is LEED-AP and can be reached at 734.995.0200.