What's Happening

Televisions Must Meet New Requirements to Earn Energy Star

Environmental Building News—April 1, 2008

Low Emissions, Quick Energy Payback for Thin-Film PV

A new study shows all current photovoltaic technologies offer at least an 89% reduction of air emissions compared with conventional electricity while also offering an energy-payback time of less than three years.
BuildingGreen.com—March 24, 2008

New Type of Waterless Urinal Cartridge Focus of Lawsuit

A new type of cartridge for waterless urinals uses an elastomeric membrane as a trap and potentially lasts much longer than conventional cartridges. But it has been at the center of a legal settlement in which its manufacturer agreed not to sell it for use with certain urinals.
BuildingGreen.com—March 8, 2008

BIM Companies Acquiring Energy Modeling Capabilities

Major building information modeling (BIM) software companies Autodesk and Bentley Systems have announced acquisitions that will give them energy modeling and other sustainable design capabilities.
Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

NAHB Launches National Green Building Program

The National Association of Homebuilders has unveiled its National Green Building Program, along with a Certified Green Professional program.
Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

Wal-Mart Introduces Second Generation of High-Efficiency Stores

Following a long program of testing green practices in experimental stores, Wal-Mart is now building high-efficiency stores that are expected to be 25% more energy efficient than conventional stores, but critics say that’s not enough.
Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

PV Prices Rising

Contrary to predictions that increased demand for PV systems would result in continuing price reduction, the average cost of PV installations has risen slightly in the last three years.
Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

Study Finds Elevated PCB Levels in Homes

Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

Northern Arizona University Research Facility Earns LEED Platinum

Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008

National Design Associations Propose National Academy

Environmental Building News—March 1, 2008
Member Comments

More Solar Gain, Not R-Value, Better for Heating Climates

Steven Konstantino says, “Thermotech has been manufacturing windows with very low U-Values for years and has always addressed solar orientation in selection of...” More...

pat sapinsley says, “WIndows, solar heat gain and R value Posted by pat sapinsley on May 2, 2008, 06:25 PM The...” More...

pat sapinsley says, “The real solution was discussed in a June 2006 EBN article. Dynamic glazing, which allows solar heat gain to enter...” More...


Boulder County Limits Energy Use for Homes

Kim Calomino says, “The BuildSmart code enacted by Boulder County, Colorado, is unreasonable, impracticable, over reaching, and is going to be very costly...” More...


Universities Gain New Sustainability Reporting Tool

Allyson Wendt says, “A draft of STARS is now available for public comment from AASHE. The public comment period goes through May 9...” More...


How the Sun's Path Can Inform Design

Mark Smith says, “Using the sun instead of roads as the primary organization principle, solar orientation can be applied to production SFD and...” More...


Revolutionary Vacuum Glass Coming from Guardian

Laura Catanzaro says, “What would the R-value be of the frame of such a window?” More...


Incorporate Passive Survivability into Building Codes

Claire Barnett says, “This is a particular strong issue for schools everywhere, since schools are large community facilities often used as shelters in...” More...


LEED Delivers on Predicted Energy Savings

Nadav Malin says, “The complete report based on the data mention in this article is now available for download from New Buildings Institute:...” More...