Environmental Building News
Volume 14, Number 9 — September 2005

Feature

Design for Cleanability

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In the average American commercial building, we spend more than half as much money on cleaning as on energy, and the chemicals used in cleaning threaten both the environment and human health. This article takes a look at design strategies that can reduce the need for cleaning or that can make cleaning easier, more effective, or less harmful.

From the Editors

Staff Notes
EBN’s Jessica Boehland has been promoted from senior editor to managing editor, where she will more directly manage the process of shepherding the newsletter through planning, writing, editing, and production.

What's Happening

AIA Task Force Seeks to Define Institute's Sustainability Agenda
AIA convened a policy summit in July to help the organization define its position on green design and the LEED(r) and Green Globes(tm) rating systems.

Bush Signs Energy Policy Act of 2005
The new Energy Policy Act includes a range of incentives for green building and green operations of buildings, in addition to a host of other measures, many of which do little to reduce our reliance on foreign oil or benefit the environment.

Newly Empowered Chapters Help USGBC Accept Trade Associations
USGBC’s recent decision to allow trade associations to join its membership is expected to pave the way for ANSI accreditation and greater public-sector use of LEED. The role of chapters in this policy decision is an indication of their increasing importance within USGBC.

ENSAR Group Joins Rocky Mountain Institute
ENSAR Group has closed up shop, and its staff, led by Greg Franta, FAIA, has taken charge of RMI’s green real estate and development group, renamed RMI-ENSAR Built Environment.

 

What's Happening (cont.)

LEED Morphing to Serve the Market Better
Responding to user feedback, USGBC is formulating a “LEED refinement process,” to be announced at Greenbuild.

Newsbriefs

Product Review

Sloan Uppercut Dual-Flush Flushometer Valve

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Sloan’s new flushometer valve, available for new and retrofit applications, brings dual-flush technology to commercial toilets.

Urea-Formaldehyde-Free Particleboard from Roseburg
Roseburg’s SkyBlend is the first general-use particleboard produced with phenol-formaldehyde binder in place of conventional urea-formaldehyde.

Product News

Product Briefs

Calendar

Calendar of Events