We all want to look our best, right?  Here are several of our favorite before and after shots of our beloved asphalt surfaces.

Lookin’ good, eh?  We think so.

Does your parking lot need an update?  Give us a jingle!

Turn over a new leaf and LEED the way!

No, it’s not a typo…  Now there is a new way to take the LEED and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.   As a property manager or building owner, we know you have heard a lot about “going green.”  But, how does this movement affect you, your tenants, and your organization as a whole?  Believe it or not, it can have a huge, long-term impact!

Utilizing practices and materials that conserve resources can qualify your property for LEED certification.  And, by certifying your green building, you gain recognition for your site, which makes it more marketable and desirable to tenants and customers while also satisfying the growing need to protect our environment.  Also beneficial is the financial gain realized by saving water, reducing waste, lowering operating costs, and even qualifying for tax rebates and other incentives.

So, what is LEED?  LEED is an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is the internationally recognized system for certifying buildings (commercial and residential) as high-performance “green” sites that are healthy, productive places to work; less costly to operate; and maintain a reduced environmental footprint.

To become LEED-certified, building projects must earn credits in key areas that promote human and environmental health.  Our post next week will go into more depth about how to become certified and the key metrics that matter most. Please stay tuned…

This week we’re taking you to the heart of Naperville, Illinois, for a closer look at RePLAY™ installation!

We’ve discussed RePLAY™ in previous posts.  As a refresher, RePLAY™ is a pavement rejuvenator designed to penetrate up to 1.25 inches of the asphalt introducing new SBS polymers, reducing permeability, and thus reversing the natural oxidation process. It is a cost-effective way to maintain and improve your parking lot or roadway.  RePLAY™ is also considered to be a “Green” product, which is where we’ve mentioned it before on our blog.  While most pavement maintenance products are petroleum or coal tar-based, RePLAY™ is a bio-based material derived from soy beans, a renewable resource.  In addition to being carbon negative, RePLAY™ also has the added benefit of producing a gray surface color (rather than jet-black), which helps mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect.

Project Fast Facts

Job Site Location: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL

Project: Cracksealing and lot marking followed by RePLAY™ application

S.C.A.L.E. Guide Score: Lot was a “B” grade according to our S.C.A.L.E. Guide

Duration of Project: Clean-up to completion lasted approximately 4 hours.  Due to the rapid cure time, the parking lot was re-opened about 30 minutes after completion.

Why RePLAY™: RePLAY™ was a great fit for Our Saviour’s since the pavement had never been sealcoated before.  The faster cure time was especially convenient for the employees and members of the congregation.  As an added bonus, RePLAY™ is an environmentally-friendly alternative!

Procedure: Prior to RePLAY™ installation, the parking lot was cracksealed and striped.  Next, the parking lot was cleaned of all loose dirt and debris.  RePLAY™ was then applied via a specialized spray system designed by BioSpan Technologies, Inc., the manufacturer of RePLAY™.

Click here for more before, during, and after photos!

Permeable Paver Installation: U.S. Cellular Field

This project occurred at the height of the “green” movement in Chicago, and in response to the new Stormwater Management Ordinance put into effect in January 2008.  To comply with this wide-spread initiative, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (owner and operator: U.S. Cellular Field) decided to revamp the Lot L parking area with environmentally-friendly Unilock® permeable pavers.  The work on Lot L at U.S. Cellular Field also came as part of past and ongoing organization-wide environmental efforts by the Chicago White Sox.  The parking lot officially opened to the public on Opening Day at U.S. Cellular Field on April 7, 2008.

Click here to watch our short video to learn more: Covering New Ground

Parking Lot L Fast Facts

• Fist Major League sports facility to use permeable pavers

• Surface area: 265,000 sq ft (4.5 football fields)

• Drainage capacity: 154,583 cubic feet (1.15 million gallons)

• Excavation: 750,000 sq ft

• Paver installation rate per day: 20,000 sq ft

• Colors: granite and charcoal

As a kid, summer meant freedom from school and relaxing during long, hot summer days. As an adult, summer doesn’t affect much in our day-to-day routine. But, one thing remains the same—the heat! Whether you live on the East coast, West coast, or somewhere in between, you can count on summer to sizzle.

This is especially true in our industry. Working with hot-mix asphalt can mean sweltering conditions in summer. For a brief respite, our employees recommend the following destinations to walk along the beach, lounge poolside, or simply enjoy indoor activities in the cool A/C.

1. Monterey and Modesto (CA) for the rocky shorelines and awesome sunsets. Monterey has a great aquarium and Yosemite is close by with picturesque walks with spectacular waterfalls. —Anita, Accounting 2. Las Vegas for plenty of sunshine, great food, and free drinks, all with absolutely no concept of time! —Ryan, Special Projects 3. Orlando for Disney World because it brings out the kid in everyone! —Teri, Regional Administration 4. Hawaii (anywhere on the island) for the weather, of course, and activities such as snorkeling, scuba-diving, and parasailing. —Josh, National Project Management 5. Northern Wisconsin for year-round outdoor recreation including golfing and just plain relaxing. —Pete, Regional Sales

As for me, when I was little, my family would vacation in Wisconsin Dells with another couple and their children. It was such a great experience that I now take my family on vacation with other friends and their kids. This summer we’re renting a beach house in Nags Head, North Carolina.

Have you traveled to any of these locations during the summer? If so, tell us about your experience. Or, let us know your favorite hotspot. Until then, stay cool!