is leaving his position as research consultant for the Green Development Services division of the

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to work for a leading U.K. firm of green consulting engineers and landscape architects,

Battle McCarthy Ltd. After a stint in London, Shepherd will be setting up a U.S. office for that firm in New York City. Meanwhile, RMI is looking for someone to fill Shepherd’s shoes. Details are online at

www.rmi.org, under “About RMI” and then “Employment at RMI.” Applications are due by December 2nd.

Capital E is seeking

case studies documenting specific benefits of green buildings, as part of a contract with California’s Department of General Services and other agencies to analyze the full costs and benefits of green buildings. Documented examples of benefits that are not always recognized, such as enhanced occupant health, increased productivity, greater tenant satisfaction, greater rental value, and peak-power demand reductions, are especially welcome. The U.S. Green Building Council is a participant in this research effort, which aims to help the State of California and others make better-informed decisions about investing in green, high performance building design. Contributions will be acknowledged in the study, which should be publicly available by early 2003. Please contact project leader Greg Kats by November 30, 2002 at gkats@cap-e.com.

A single-family home near the Twin Cities in Minnesota is the first to be constructed according to the American Lung Association’s recently revised

Health House^® guidelines. The home, completed in September and open for tours, was designed with special attention to ventilation, air filtration, and moisture control. A second Health House, in St. Paul, Minnesota, is set to open in February 2003. The Health House program strives to educate the public about building, renovating, and maintaining homes for energy efficiency, durability, and occupant health. More information about the program and the houses is available online at

www.healthhouse.org.

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 30 entities in 19 states as part of the

Million Solar Roofs Initiative. The new partnerships will combine grant money with private funds to support solar energy through education, the development of financing options and building codes, and construction. Details can be found online at

www.millionsolarroofs.com/.

The

Oak Hill Fund, formed this year after the W. Alton Jones Foundation was split into three separate foundations, is seeking grant applicants for its Environmentally Sustainable Affordable Design Program. The program includes four initiatives:

•Sustainable and Affordable Housing Organizations, to promote sustainability and affordability;

•Environmental Products and Technologies, to provide the public in the Southeastern U.S. with access to green technologies; and

•Local Supplemental Grants for organizations in the Charlottesville, Virginia area.

The Oak Hill Fund expects to disburse $1.5 million during its first year. The Fund is not currently supporting capital campaigns (endowments), individuals, bricks and mortar projects, books, or films. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status are encouraged to submit letters of inquiry via the fund’s Web site:

www.oakhillfund.org.

Specialized, energy-intensive lighting techniques can benefit seniors, according to the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Researchers at the LRC developed a set of

lighting principles for older adults and put them to the test at two assisted-living facilities. The results of the study, published by the AARP Andrus Foundation as a booklet titled “Lighting the Way: A Key to Independence,” show how specific techniques can help seniors retain independence, improve quality of life, and reduce risk of injury. According to the study, ambient light for seniors should be at least 300 lux (30 fc)—50% more than the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America recommends for the general population. Task lighting for seniors should not drop below 1000 lux (100 fc), three times the standard level. Additional strategies, such as minimizing glare, avoiding decorative finishes, and using dimmers, are also explained in the booklet, which is online at:

www.andrus.org/Independence/pdf/lighting_pdf/andruslighting.pdf.

California, to the East Coast. Visitors to select Delaware, New Jersey, and New York Home Depot stores can now choose between AstroPower’s SunUPS^® and SunLine™ Solar Electric Home Power Systems. Home Depot is selling, installing, and servicing the systems under its “At-Home Services” initiative and offers two financing options to its customers. The expansion brings the total number of Home Depot stores offering photovoltaic systems to 61. For details, call Colleen Gourley at 302/366-0400 ext. 2025.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and The American Institute of Architects (AIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October, continuing and expanding their partnership that

promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in the built environment. Details are available from DOE’s Chris Kielich at 202/586-5806.

The

Clean Water Act celebrated its 30th birthday on October 18. The law has enjoyed bipartisan support and has accomplished much to protect America’s water resources. Since its inception in 1972, for example, the act has slowed the rate of wetland loss by 75% and doubled the number of households served by sewage treatment plants. Despite the act’s success, the day was marked by the environmental community with as much trepidation as celebration. Although 45% of the country’s assessed waters have been deemed unsafe for fishing or swimming (up 5% from 1998), the Bush administration is steadily weakening Clean Water Act protections. “The administration is hosting events nationwide to celebrate one of our most successful and popular environmental laws, and behind the scenes is trying to kill it,” said Nancy Stoner, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Clean Water Project. “It’s a plot worthy of Shakespeare.” Details are online at

www.nrdc.org.

Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region (SC-OR) wastewater treatment plant in Oroville, California, will begin operating on solar energy this month. A 3-acre (1.2 ha) field adjacent to the plant is home to a

520 kW solar power array, installed by Sun Power and Geothermal Energy of San Rafael, that will supply 80% of the plant’s energy needs. The system is the fifth-largest PV array in the nation and the largest dual-tilt array in the world. For details, call SC-OR at 530/534-0353.