Feature
Recycled Content: What is it and What is it Worth?
Recycled content is often the most visible -- and touted -- environmental attribute of green building products. Government programs have encouraged the use of recycled-content products to deal with solid-waste concerns, and green-building rating systems reward designers for specifying these products. But divergent definitions cause confusion, and a limited view of environmental performance might be giving recycled content more attention than it deserves.
From the Editors
Making Recycling Work
Undervaluing energy and raw-material extraction limits the worth of recycling, according to executive editor Alex Wilson, who argues that higher taxes on energy and virgin raw materials use -- through tax shifting -- could reset the balance.
BGI Publishes 5th Edition of GreenSpec
The latest edition of GreenSpec includes more than 1,850 listings of environmentally preferable products, along with guideline specification language.
Distance Learning Collaboration
BuildingGreen has partnered with the Boston Architectural Center to deliver its online Sustainable Design Certificate Program. BGI’s Alex Wilson and Nadav Malin are helping to develop curriculum and teach courses.
What's Happening
NAHB Rolls Out Green Building Guidelines
NAHB unveiled its voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines in January.
USDA Announces Biobased Rule
The Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program is off and running, mandating that federal agencies purchase biobased products when practical.
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What's Happening (cont.)
EU Begins Trading Carbon
Member nations of the European Union have begun trading the right to emit carbon dioxide, a global-warming gas, as the EU strives to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
Forest Stewardship Council's New Labeling Rules
FSC has introduced three new labels -- FSC Pure, FSC Mixed, and FSC Recycled -- to differentiate various levels of partial-content certification.
Newsbriefs
Awards & Competitions
C2C Winners Announced
The Roanoke Regional Housing Network and GreenBlue Institute announced the winners of the C2C Housing Design and Construction Competition.
Award Briefs
Product News
Interest in Demand Water Heaters Growing
Sales of tankless water heaters are growing by 25% each year, and new models promise to bolster their popularity.
Product Briefs
Calendar
Calendar of Events
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