The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation has awarded US$60,000 to Athena Institute International so it can improve the service it offers to architects and engineers looking to assess the environmental impact of new and existing structures.
The Athena Institute undertakes life cycle assessments on buildings in order to improve the sustainability of the built environment in North America and, according to the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, will now be able to offer an improved service.
Wayne Trusty, president of the Athena Institute, said that the grant would allow the organisation to look at more data to provide more concise information on the production, use and disposal of building materials.
“As a result we will be able to look at a broader range of environmental impact measures for products used in buildings,” said Mr Trusty.
He noted that the money would be used to update the Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings software, the only program of its kind available in North America that assesses whole buildings to international life cycle assessment standards.
The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation is a division of the forest products firm dedicated to improving the quality of life of communities in areas where it has a large presence.
