The American Institute of Architects/Portland (AIA/Portland) now has entry packets available for the 1997 Architecture + Energy Awards: Building Excellence in the Northwest. Any new construction and renovation projects in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington that are completed at the time of entry are eligible. Jurors for this fifth annual award program include

EBN Advisory Board members Bob Berkebile, FAIA and Harry Gordon, FAIA, along with other leading designers and advocates of energy efficient construction. Entries are due May 19. Contact: AIA/Portland, 315 SW Fourth Ave., Portland, OR 97204; 503/223-8757.

The U.S. team entered in the Green Building Challenge ’98 (GBC ’98), an international project to develop assessment methods for environmentally responsible buildings, is looking for buildings in the United States to assess for energy and environmental performance. Nominated projects must be elementary schools, medium to large office buildings, or multifamily residential buildings. They may be either built or in the design stage and may include substantial redesign and reconstruction of existing buildings. Buildings will be chosen from among those nominations based on their comparability to other buildings, regional diversity, and availability of data on which to base the assessment. The GBC ’98 will culminate in a major conference during October 1998 in Vancouver, British Columbia (online info: www.greenbuilding.ca). Submission information is available from the AIA at 202/626-7482 or on the Internet www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/. Submissions are due by July 1.

According to the February issue of

Planning, Governor Parris Glen-dening has proposed legislation for Maryland that would combat sprawl by providing economic incentives for businesses that move into abandoned industrial areas and paying for repair of existing roads and sewers instead of creating new ones. The measure would also establish “smart growth areas” to focus new development in areas where infrastructure is already in place, and earmark $163 million over five years for purchase of land and conservation easements for 90,000 acres of undeveloped land.

U.S. dependence on imported petroleum is nearing an all-time high. According to the DOE Energy Information Administration, total average petroleum imports in 1996 reached 9.4 million barrels per day (1.5 billion l/d), or 51.5% of total consumption. While total imports (both actual and percentage basis) were the highest ever, the

net imports, at 46.2%, were slightly below the peak in 1977. Exports of just under 1 million barrels per day (159 million l/d) in 1996 account for the difference between total and net imported petroleum dependence.

On January 1st, the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) approved steel framing for residential construction. The CABO listing provides prescriptive requirements for framing houses with light-gauge steel framing (span tables, etc.). Builders not in high-wind areas and high-risk seismic areas will no longer have to get steel framing plans approved by an engineer. Additional measures to streamline use of steel framing will likely be included in the 1997 revisions to the CABO code which come up for approval this year. The code language does not address energy efficiency and the need for a thermal break (rigid foam) if steel framing is used for exterior walls.

Newsbriefs

According to a new report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), investments in energy efficiency improvements in the three states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania could generate 164,000 jobs by the year 2010 and save more than $150 billion, while reducing air pollution emissions by 24%. The 130-page study, “Energy Efficiency and Economic Development in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,” is available for $33 from ACEEE Publications, 2140 Shattuck Ave., #202, Berkeley, CA 94704; 510/549-9914.

has introduced the “Build a Better Kitsap” program to recognize homes built to high environmental standards. Working with consultant Kathleen O’Brien, the Builders can select from a list of 85 options to achieve a one-, two-, or three-star rating. This is the second such program initiated by builders (after the Metro Denver Green Builder Program) rather than by local government. Contact the HBA of Kitsap County at 5251 Auto Center Way, Bremerton, WA 98312; 800/200-5778, 360/479-0313 (fax), hbakcty@silverlink.net (e-mail).

A Call for Papers has been issued for the November 1997 conference

“Environmental and Economic Balance: The 21st Century Outlook” sponsored by The American Institute of Architect’s Committee on the Environment, other AIA professional interest areas (PIAs), and the U.S. Green Building Council. Call the PIA Information Line: 800/242-3837. Deadline for papers is April 4.

Newsbriefs

Forintek Canada Corp.’s Sustainable Materials Pro-ject, a leading source of life-cycle information on building materials, has just been incorporated as the not-for-profit

Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (ASMI). The Institute should help address perceptions that the life-cycle data from the project is biased by its association with the forest products industry. ASMI has distributed a limited release of its Athena database and is exploring options for future development and distribution of the data. Contact the Institute at P.O. Box 189, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0, Canada, 613/269-3795, 613/269-3796 (fax), wbtrusty@fox.nstn.ca (e-mail).

Newsbriefs

The International Specular Reflector Association has broadened its scope and changed its name to the

Energy Efficient Lighting Association. According to David Brown, president of the two-year-old organization, “ISRA goals have been achieved—reflectors are now recognized as an effective tool to help achieve energy-efficient lighting; the industry is now ready for an association dedicated to all facets of energy-efficient lighting.” For information, contact the Energy Efficient Lighting Association, CN 727, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550; 609/799-4900; 609/799-7032 (fax).