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BuildingGreen Bulletin: Greener Insulation Options — October GreenSpec

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:11:00 GMT

Twice each month, BuildingGreen publishes an email news bulletin with current news and product information briefs. Sign up here — it's free. We will never share or sell your email address, and you may unsubscribe at any time. Here's an unformatted, text-only version of the current bulletin:

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin - An overview of new information from BuildingGreen.com, Environmental Building News, GreenSpec, and LEEDuser.
New product listings in the GreenSpec Directory are available online.
Leading the way: Breaking News from EBN
· President Orders Federal Agencies to Save Energy
· Older Buildings May Harbor PCBs, EPA Warns
· Read More News
Get thought leadership from Environmental Building News
Featured New GreenSpec Listing
Curtainwall and 700 Series Board Insulations With Recycled Content. Owens Corning makes several rigid and semi-rigid fiberglass board products for commercial applications. These boards contain 40% recycled content (10% post-consumer) and are made with a urea-extended phenol formaldehyde binder, while being Greenguard certified with formaldehyde levels below 0.05 ppm.
New Green Product listings from the GreenSpec Directory
· Kingspan Insulated Metal Wall Panels With Polyiso or Mineral Wool Cores (membership required)
· Horizon Crawlspace Dehumidifiers Operate At As Low As 33ºF
· Samsung's 40-Pint Per Day Dehumidifiers Significantly Exceed Energy Star
· Electrolux Conveyor-Type Commercial Dishwashers Use as Little as 0.416 Gallons Per Rack (membership required)
· More New Listings (membership required)
Become a member of BuildingGreen Suite.
High Performance Buildings Database - Case Study Highlight
· Boston Children's Museum Expansion and Renovation. A major energy consideration and challenge was the desire to open the western façade to daylight and dramatic views while controlling glare and heat gain.
· Check out more case studies in the High-Performance Buildings Database
BuildingGreen's Blog
· Trane Completes the Switch to Ozone-Safe R-410A
· Why are people drawn to design inspired by nature?
· Double Dipping for LEED Materials Credits
· More blog posts
Visit LEEDuser for help with LEED 2009
Featured Event
· Build Boston; Boston, MA; Nov. 18-20. Visit BuildingGreen's LEEDuser at booth #351 in the Energy Pavilion!
· View All Events
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BuildingGreen Bulletin: Building for People — October EBN

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:19:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin — An overview of some of the fresh information in BuildingGreen Suite, including Environmental Building News, GreenSpec, the High Performance Buildings Database, our bibliography, calendar, blog, and more.... The mission of BuildingGreen, LLC is to facilitate transformation of the North American building industry. Join us in that mission by becoming a member of BuildingGreen Suite to access information critical to your green design and construction work. The October 2009 issue of Environmental Building News (EBN) is now available online! Quote of the Month
"Incorporating social equity means that architects are living up to the responsibility they already have." — John Knott, The Noisette Company
(membership required... Get EBN in print!... Get EBN online in BuildingGreen Suite!) This Month's Feature Story
Building for People: Integrating Social Justice into Green Design. Social justice is already a part of green building. Making it a conscious part of the decision-making process, however, requires a new focus. (membership required) This Month's Primer
Upgrade to LEED 2009? Projects currently registered under LEED-NC 2.2 can transfer to LEED 2009 before certifying. Should your project switch? News in This Issue
AstroTurf Ordered to Curtail Lead Use Product Reviews
Mineral Wool Residential and Commercial Insulation. Following up on EBN's August story (membership required), mineral wool insulation offers a good alternative to foam-based insulation, with fewer hazardous chemicals. (membership required) Heat-Pump Water Heaters Ready for Prime Time (membership required)

Letters
August's feature story — "Polystyrene Insulation: Does it Belong in a Green Building?" (membership required) — brought in a lot of mail from readers:
Polystyrene's Track Record
Watch for Other Toxics
HBCD Isn't the Only Problem
Polystyrene Chemicals Widespread
Changing Practices Case Study Highlight
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL. JRC's commitment to the principle of tikkun olam — Hebrew for "repairing the world" — is manifest in the building's architecture. On a modest budget, the synagogue achieved a LEED Platinum certification.
Check out more case studies in the High Performance Buildings Database... BuildingGreen.com Blog
Stimulus-Funded Green Jobs = Left-Wing Conspiracy
Buildings For the People
BuildingGreen on Campus
See all Blog Posts... Featured Events
National Sustainable Building Advisor Program; October 2; Southern Oregon University
WaterSmart '09 Convention; October 5-9; Las Vegas, NV
Greenbuild; November 11-13; Phoenix, AZ. Visit BuildingGreen at booth #1652 to see LEEDuser Live!
BuildingGreen.com Calendar... We're on Facebook
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BuildingGreen Bulletin: Efficient HVAC Options — September GreenSpec

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:20:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin - Become a member of BuildingGreen Suite and get access to more tools and information critical to your green design and construction work. New product listings in the GreenSpec Directory are available online. Breaking News
· People Get Sicker in Overcooled and Overheated Buildings (membership required)
· USGBC Revising Forest Certification Benchmark for LEED
· Read More News... Featured New GreenSpec Listing
Evergreen Aftermarket Blower Motor for Residential HVAC. Evergreen is an electronically commutated motor (ECM) aftermarket replacement for permanent-split-capacitor (PSC) blower motors in residential HVAC systems (except furnaces). According to the company, Evergreen can add up to 1 SEER point to an existing system and uses 25% less electricity than a PSC motor and 74% less in constant-fan applications. (membership required) Select New GreenSpec Listings
· IceStor Ice-On-Coil Thermal Energy Storage System for Commercial Use (membership required)
· Silva Cell Supports Tree Growth and Stormwater Management Even with Paved Surfaces (membership required)
· Separett Villa is a Swedish-Made, Waterless Urine-Separating Composting Toilet
· Children's Furniture from Solid FSC-Certified Maple Harvested in Northeast U.S.
· More New Listings... (membership required) Case Study Highlight
Half-Moon Outfitters Distribution Center, North Charleston, SC. Expected to use 46% less energy than a comparable conventional building, energy-reduction strategies include efficient fluorescent lighting, dimming ballasts, daylight and occupancy sensors for lighting, SEER-19 split-system heat pumps, and demand-controlled ventilation. Check out more case studies in the High-Performance Buildings Database... BuildingGreen's Blog
· Living With Climate Change: How to Design Buildings and Communities for Adaptation
· LEED 2009: Should You Upgrade Your Project?
· More blog posts... Featured Event
West Coast Green, San Francisco CA, Oct. 1-3. Visit BuildingGreen in Booth #137 with a nifty offer for thrifty residential designers and builders. Stump Peter Yost and other our Green Building Advisors at their Q&A session, and see Alex Wilson's picks and pans for green products. Registration discount of 20% with this link. View All Events... Find us on Facebook
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BuildingGreen Bulletin: Climate-Changed World — September EBN

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin - An overview of some of the fresh information in BuildingGreen Suite. The mission of BuildingGreen, LLC is to facilitate transformation of the North American building industry. Join us in that mission by becoming a member of BuildingGreen Suite to access information critical to your green design and construction work.
The September 2009 issue of Environmental Building News (EBN) is now available online!
Quote of the Month
"We believe signing on to the 2030 Challenge is an empty promise in the absence of a client commitment." —Nellie Reid, AIA, Gensler
This Month's Feature Story
Design for Adaptation: Living in a Climate-Changing World. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases tomorrow, rising global temperatures would still bring major changes to the climate system and our way of life. This article offers solutions for designing buildings that not only mitigate our impact on the global climate, but also adapt to the changes that are coming — and those that are already here. Check out our list of ways to adapt your buildings, and add your suggestions. (membership required)
This Month's Primer
Tankless water heaters have some downsides, but mostly offer advantages over conventional storage water heaters.
News in This Issue
· AIA Brings 2030 Targets Down to Earth
· AIG Insuring for Green Building Risks (membership required)
· Michelle Moore Joins the Obama Administration (membership required)
· Table of Contents...
Featured Product Review
Invelope: A Breakthrough in Exterior Commercial Wall Assemblies? Invelope is a steel and foam panel that serves as a moisture and vapor barrier, drainage plane, and insulation while also providing a mounting system for brick veneer or terra-cotta cladding.
Case Study Highlight
Tillamook Forest Center, Oregon. The building entry spans a 65,000-gallon forest wetland pond fed by rainwater from the roof. The pond also stores water for fire sprinklers, forest firefighting, flushing toilets, and mechanical cooling. Check out more case studies in the High Performance Buildings Database...
BuildingGreen.com Blog
· More Toilet Flushing Fun
· Greenbuild 2009 Expo Hall: Some Math
· Men Should Pee Sitting Down
· See all Blog Posts...
Featured Event
West Coast Green; San Francisco, CA; Oct. 1-3. West Coast Green is a business-to-business conference in San Francisco for building industry professionals who want to explore green innovations to propel their businesses forward. You get a 20% discount with this link.
BuildingGreen.com Calendar...
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BuildingGreen Bulletin: Soy-Based Exterior Stain — August GreenSpec

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:25:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin - Become a member of BuildingGreen Suite and get access to more tools and information critical to your green design and construction work.

New product listings in the GreenSpec Directory are available online.

Breaking News AIG Offers Insurance Managing Green Building Risks The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building: Redefining the Practice of Sustainability AIA Brings 2030 Targets Down to Earth
(membership required) Read More News

Featured New GreenSpec Listing SoyGuard Premium Stain and Sealer is a pigmented exterior wood finish containing soy methyl ester, a natural solvent derived from soybean oil that penetrates the wood surface and encapsulates wood cells with a protective polymer resin. Independent third-party testing indicates comparable protection to that of petroleum-solvent-based products.
(membership required)

Select New GreenSpec Listings Crystal Cabinet Works Makes the GreenQuest Line with Environmentally Responsible Wood and finishes
(membership required) Ebtron High-Performance Duct and Plenum Airflow Measurement Device Enterprise Wood Products Reclaimed Character Flooring Siphonic Roof Drains from Zurn Use Higher Flow Rates to Reduce Clogging
(membership required) More New Listings
(membership required)

Case Study Highlight The Lacks Cancer Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Treating cancer is the purpose of this facility, and the healthcare professionals at the Center did not want the building to work against their efforts in any way. Check out more case studies in the High-Performance Buildings Database

BuildingGreen's Blog Follow LEED AP News, LEED Credit Tips - on Twitter @LEEDuser How Green is Polystyrene Insulation? EBN's Position, and How It Affects GreenSpec-Listed Products One-Stop Shopping for Critiques of LEED More blog posts

Featured Event West Coast Green; San Francisco, CA; Oct. 1-3. West Coast Green is a business-to-business conference in San Francisco for building industry professionals who want to explore green innovations to propel their businesses forward. You get a 20% discount with this link. View All Events

BuildingGreen Bulletin: Problems with Polystyrene — August EBN

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:46:00 GMT

BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin
— an overview of some of the fresh information in BuildingGreen Suite. The mission of BuildingGreen, LLC is to facilitate transformation of the North American building industry. Join us in that mission by becoming a member of BuildingGreen Suite to access information critical to your green design and construction work. The August 2009 issue of Environmental Building News (EBN) is now available online! Breaking News from BuildingGreen.com
· LEED-AP Credential Maintenance Program Launched
· EPA's Portfolio Manager Slated for Improvements Quote of the Month
"It is absolutely essential that we introduce this issue of performance into LEED."
— Scot Horst, U.S. Green Building Council, on new energy- and water-performance requirements This Month's Feature Story
Polystyrene Insulation: Does It Belong in a Green Building? Polystyrene is widely used as a rigid insulation in North America, offering high insulation values, moisture resistance, strength, and affordability. But a flame retardant in the material, as well as its life-cycle impacts, raise questions about whether it should be used at all. (membership required) This Month's Primer
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater. Constructed wetlands, when used to treat wastewater, can keep nitrogen and phosphorous from the water supply and cut costs by controlling the size of needed drainfields. News in This Issue
· Cap-and-Trade Bill Includes Federal Energy Code
· ICC Announces Plan for Green Construction Code (membership required)
· Austin Requires Energy Audits and Labels
· Reader: R-etro Leaves Some Gaps Unfilled (membership required)
· Table of Contents... Featured Product Review
Capturing Concrete Washout Pollutants. Atlantic Concrete Washout uses portable, sealed containers and specially designed trucks to collect and dispose of waste products left over after washing down concrete equipment at construction sites. (membership required) Case Study Highlight
Home on the Range — Billings, MT. Formerly an uninsulated concrete block grocery store with few windows, the building was renovated to house energy-efficient, daylit offices. Check out more case studies in the High Performance Buildings Database BuildingGreen.com Blog
· New LEED AP Exam Writer Tells All
· Avoid Polystyrene Insulation
· McKinsey Report: Energy Efficiency is a Big Deal
· See all Blog Posts... Featured Events
· West Coast Green - San Francisco CA, Oct. 1-3. West Coast Green is a business-to-business conference in San Francisco for building industry professionals who want to explore green innovations to propel their businesses forward. You get a 20% discount with this link.
· The LEED Implementation Process - Rutland VT, Sep 11. This workshop is intended for professionals who are new to implementing LEED-NC or LEED-CS or looking to brush up on implementation best practices.
· Understanding LEED Project Costs and Returns - Philadelphia PA, Sep 25. This workshop will help LEED project teams learn how to handle cost issues.
· BuildingGreen.com Calendar...

BuildingGreen Bulletin: LEED Energy Reporting Requirements — July GreenSpec

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:39:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin
Become a member of BuildingGreen Suite and get access to more tools and information critical to your green design and construction work. New product listings in the GreenSpec Directory are available online. Breaking News
· All LEED Projects to Provide Actual Performance Data
· Funding Cut for Toxics Reduction Read More News... Featured New GreenSpec Listing
Modular Greenwall Planting Systems (membership required).
The Tournesol VGM is a direct-planting system for exterior applications. The 4- or 8-inch soil depths allow a wide range of greenery in a variety of climates. TerraScreen is an easily installed galvanized grid for hanging containered plants in interior spaces. Select New GreenSpec Listings
· Lumiere Cambria 203 LED Accent Fixture for New or Retrofit Applications
· E-Krete Seals Aging Pavement Without Petroleum-Based Products or Solvents (membership required)
· Chute Source Eliminates the Need for Recycling Bins on Every Level of a High-Rise (membership required)
· Evolution Paper-Free ASJ Pipe Insulation (membership required)
· More New Listings... (membership required) Case Study Highlight
The EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College, NC.
The EcoDorm was designed to reflect the values of the college and to encourage a community of like-minded students to minimize their environmental impact. Check out more case studies in the High-Performance Buildings Database... BuildingGreen's Blog
· Ceiling Fans Not Made in the U.S.? A New Website Helps
· LEED User? LEEDuser.com
· B'eau-Pal Bottled Water - Dichlormethane, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chloroform... More blog posts... Featured Events
· CONSTRUCT2009; Indianapolis, IN; July 16-19
· Solar Financing: Shedding Light on Solar Incentives; Boston, MA; July 16
· USGBC - LEED-EBOM: Greening Existing Buildings: Good for your Bottom Line; Webinar; July 23 View All Events..

BuildingGreen Bulletin: Buildings On Ice — July EBN

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Free BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin - An overview of some of the fresh information in BuildingGreen Suite. The mission of BuildingGreen, LLC is to facilitate transformation of the North American building industry. Join us in that mission by becoming a member of BuildingGreen Suite to access information critical to your green design and construction work.
The July 2009 issue of Environmental Building News (EBN) is now available online! Quote of the Month
"This is a huge opportunity that continues to be missed." —Doug Reindl, P.E., Ph.D., on thermal energy storage (membership required) This Month's Feature Story
Buildings on Ice: Making the Case for Thermal Energy Storage. Thermal energy storage uses ice to shift daytime cooling loads to nighttime, when electricity costs are lower. You may be able to reduce the size of chillers as a result, saving money and energy and lowering the environmental footprint of a building. (membership required) This Month's Primer Thermal Bridging. When one material conducts heat much better than materials around it, can reduce the effectiveness of insulation to a surprising extent. News in This Issue
· Standard 189 Close to Complete
· The Level on BIFMA's Furniture Certification (membership required)
· Green Schools May Get a Boost in 2009 (membership required)
· Restrictions on Widely Used Chemicals Sought
· USGBC and CCI Partner to Promote Green Urban Development (membership required)
· BuildingGreen Launches LEEDuser, Providing Help for LEED Certification Table of Contents... Featured Product Review
Convia's Energy-Management Platform. Convia and Wiremold have partnered to provide a modular, highly adjustable energy distribution infrastructure and reporting tool. (membership required) Table of Contents... Case Study Highlight
University of Denver College of Law. Unlike many projects that are submitted to LEED with a "point buffer" to achieve a given level of certification, this project was submitted with only the 39 points it needed to achieve LEED Gold certification. The project achieved all 39 points. Check out more case studies in the High Performance Buildings Database... BuildingGreen.com Blog
· 13-Story Apartment Building Tips Over. Sideways.
· Trade Contractor Management for High Performance Homes
· Considerations of Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) See all Blog Posts... Upcoming Green Building Advisor Webinars (Free!)
· Smart Strategies to Market Your High Performance Homes, July 14
· Inspiring Sustainable Residential Interiors, July 21
· Delivering on our Promise: Sustainable Solutions to Achieve our Climate and Economic Goals, July 29 View all Events...