The European Parliament voted in July 2005 to make permanent a temporary ban on the use of phthalates in toys. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive abnormalities in the development of boys. Three types of phthalates were banned from all toys and three others were banned from only those toys that children can put in their mouths. The Parliament is also looking into the use of fragrances in toys and the use of phthalates in other products.

Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn signed a bill in June 2005 requiring all state-funded projects to achieve LEED^® Certification, or equivalent, and requiring that every two years at least two public buildings whose construction will be sponsored by the State of Nevada achieve LEED Silver certification, or equivalent. The law also provides some tax abatement for private-sector buildings that achieve LEED Silver or higher. It also requires Nevada’s university and community- college system to provide education in the basics of green building and assist students in preparing to take the LEED accreditation exam. The bill is online at www.leg.state.nv.us/22ndSpecial/bills/AB/AB3_EN.pdf.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed a bill in June 2005 requiring retail electricity providers to meet all growth in demand through new renewable resources or renewable energy credits. The law affects growth through 2011. To read the bill, visit www.leg.state.vt.us (search bill S.52).

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has bid farewell to Alex Zimmerman, who had served as president of the nonprofit organization since August 2003. “I can’t say enough about Alex’s contributions to the CaGBC,” says Joe Van Belleghem, cofounder of the Council, noting that CaGBC now boasts more than 900 members and 140 registered projects. Zimmerman has returned to his former work with the British Columbia Buildings Corporation. Taking Zimmerman’s place as president is Thomas Mueller, currently division manager of business and community services at the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Mueller has previously served as a director of CaGBC, chair of its intergovernmental committee, chair of the LEED-BC steering committee (see

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Vol. 13, No. 5), chair of CaGBC’s Vancouver branch, and a board member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Cascadia chapter. Mueller officially begins work on July 6, 2005.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals to develop, demonstrate, or commercialize innovative building products and systems. Eligible projects must be new technologies or substantial improvements to existing technologies, according to NYSERDA, and must yield energy and environmental benefits in New York State. NYSERDA plans to award up to $750,000 through several awards of up to $200,000 each; projects are expected to match NYSERDA’s funding. Proposals are due September 12, 2005. For details, visit www.nyserda.org and search for PON 934.

In a June 13, 2005, decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals’ Seventh Circuit upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Construction General Permit (CGP). This permit streamlines the permitting process, allowing property owners and contractors to discharge stormwater runoff from their sites without obtaining individual permits or undergoing public hearings. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) fought against the CGP, claiming it violates portions of the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts. The National Association of Home Builders, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the Wisconsin Builders’ Association are celebrating the decision: in the words of AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr, “the industry would have ground to a halt” if individual hearings were required for each construction project. Nancy Stoner, director of the NRDC’s Clean Water Project, warns that, because the CGP was upheld, “we’ll continue to see degradation as a result of construction and development that’s not consistent with the Clean Water Act.”

In recognition of its 50th anniversary, the architecture firm Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) has agreed to donate $500,000 to the construction upgrades, outfitting, staffing, and launch of a solar-powered diagnostic and treatment center that the nonprofit Africa Infectious Disease Village Clinics, Inc., is building in rural Mbirikani, Kenya. “In its broadest sense, sustainability is about creating healthy, responsible, and economically viable communities, which can mean ensuring that basic human needs, such as access to quality healthcare, are satisfied,” says Bill Valentine, chairman of HOK. More information about the clinic is at www.aidvillageclinics.org.

The nonprofit SustainLane has released the results of a study ranking 25 U.S. cities based on performance in 12 sustainability categories: transportation, air quality, tap-water quality, LEED^® buildings, food and agriculture, zoning, land use, solid-waste diversion rate, land-use planning, city innovation, energy and climate, and knowledge base. San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, in a virtual tie, led the pack by a wide margin. Bringing up the rear were Detroit and, markedly worse, Houston. “We don’t mind sharing what we know and what we’ve learned, but let’s throw down a green gauntlet,” says Portland Mayor Tom Potter, encouraging friendly competition. To compare scores and learn about the methodology behind them, visit www.sustainlane.org.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed the “Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance” into law in June 2005, requiring city departments to consider public health and environmental responsibility when making purchases, which amount to about $600 million each year. “By exercising our economic power, San Francisco can encourage market development of new products which are healthier and more environmentally friendly,” according to Sophie Maxwell, who authored the bill. This is the first ordinance of its kind in the nation, but city officials hope the law will serve as a model for other cities. 

 

Each five-decibel increase in aircraft noise can delay a child’s reading ability by two months, according to a study of children living near airports in Europe, published in the June 4, 2005, issue of

The Lancet. “In practical terms, aircraft noise might have only a small effect on the development of reading, but the effect of long-term exposure remains unknown,” says Stephen Stansfeld, who led the research. The study is available online at www.thelancet.com. For information on building for noise management, see

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Vol. 10, No. 1.