Earth Pledge’s

Green Roofs Initiative, a program dedicated to greening the rooftops of New York City, recently convened representatives from 22 New York City, New York State, District of Columbia, and federal agencies to explain vegetated roofs’ potential for reducing energy consumption, urban heat island effect, and demand on the city’s combined stormwater and sewage system while purifying the air. The meeting was part of the two-day conference “Greening Gotham’s Rooftops.” Learn more at www.earthpledge.org.

In an effort to provide low-cost, locally appropriate housing while improving Cairo’s air quality, U.S.-based Horizon International is cooperating with the Arab Environment Association to

introduce straw bale building to Egypt. Over 90% of Egypt’s rice straw is currently burned in the fields, contributing to a recurring autumnal black cloud in Cairo. Straw-bale building would create a demand for this straw, reducing air pollution and bolstering the local economy. To learn more or to get involved, e-mail Jill_Schnoebelen@yahoo.com or visit online at www.solutions-site.org.

encouraging their employees to work at home. Using information such as employee’s commuting distance and the make, model, and year of his or her vehicle, Teletrips’ eCommute program calculates the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided when that worker stays at home or travels at off-peak times. Moreover, it translates these savings into tradable emission reduction credits and even brokers the exchange of credits from participating companies to polluters interested in negating their own emissions. The software was developed in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation. Pilot eCommute programs are running in the cities of Houston; Denver; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; and Philadelphia, as well as the province of Alberta. Learn more at www.teletrips.com.

Fifty schools throughout the state of New York will receive photovoltaic panels, thanks to a grant through the

Energy Smart Schools Program of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The PV arrays, each with a peak capacity of 2 kW, will be accompanied by curricular materials to help teachers explain the new arrays and solar energy. NYSERDA will provide $18,000 to each installation and AMERESCO, an energy services company, will offer $500. The remaining $1,500 per installation will be borne by individual school districts.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed an agreement in October formalizing their

partnership in the promotion of energy-efficient, environmentally responsive buildings. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) extends and expands on a 1996 MOU that had been allowed to expire. In listing past successes as a model for the future, the document recognizes the role of DOE financial support and AIA expertise in the creation of the LEED™ Rating System. For information, contact Joyce Lee, chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment: Leej@omb.nyc.gov.

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Big & Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century,” the National Building Museum’s newest exhibition, will open in Washington, D.C. on January 17. Big & Green will explore green architecture from design, historical, and technical perspectives and profile roughly 50 green projects from around the world. The exhibit and its companion catalog, to be published by Princeton Architectural Press, will be organized around five themes: Energy; Light and Air; Greenery, Water, and Waste; Construction; and Urbanism. The museum will host the exhibit and conduct public tours of local green building projects through June 22, 2003. Admission is free. The museum is online at www.nbm.org.

Americans may want to “live larger” but not necessarily in larger homes. Over 1,000 Americans were recently asked by Taylor Nelson Sofres Intersearch, on behalf of the industry trade group The Hardwood Information Center, to

describe the perfect house. Americans dream of an average 2,500 ft2 (230 m2) house, according to the survey—not much larger than the current average of 2,100 ft2 (195 m2) for new single-family homes. While 50% described a new, custom-built home, 20% would prefer a restored period house. A content 35% of those surveyed felt their current homes measured up to those of their dreams.

Over 80% of Earth’s land surface feels direct influence from humans, according to a comprehensive report from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Columbia University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network. Only parts of the boreal forests of Canada and Russia, the deserts of Africa and Australia, the Arctic tundra, and the Amazonian Basin remain largely unencumbered by our activities. More sobering, 98% of Earth’s viable farmland—land that can support rice, wheat, or maize—is directly influenced by our species. A downloadable PDF of the report, “

The Human Footprint and the Last of the Wild,” is available from BioScience journal, online at: www.aibs.org/biosciencelibrary/vol52/oct02.ldml.

“Does the presence of

lead pigment in paint and in coatings in homes, schools, hospitals, and other public and private buildings throughout the state of Rhode Island constitute a public nuisance?” A mistrial was declared in October when a six-member jury could not agree on the answer. Following seven weeks of testimony and four days of deliberations, the jury remained deadlocked with two supporting the lawsuit against lead-paint manufacturers and four opposing the lawsuit. The landmark case was the first in what may turn out to be an onslaught of similar charges. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia are all considering lawsuits.

The cement industry has announced the merging of two major organizations. The

American Portland Cement Alliance (APCA) will continue its work in government affairs as a division of the newly expanded trade group, the

Portland Cement Association (PCA). In conjunction with its reorganization, the PCA is launching a new logo and graphic identity. The PCA’s new Internet address is www.cement.org.