A new 68,000 ft³ grocery store in Kitsap County, Washington is being used to demonstrate the use of recycled-content building materials that can be used in commercial projects. A key element of the project is public education and increasing awareness within the design and construction community. For information, contact Scott Thomas of the Clean Washington Center at 206/389-2529 or project consultant Kathleen O’Brien at 206/842-8995.

Newsbriefs

The Passive Solar Industries Council and the American Solar Energy Society will announce the first pilot sites for their Buildings for a Sustainable America: Education Campaign at the annual ASES conference in July. The campaign hopes to demonstrate the potential of passive solar and renewable energy strategies in buildings. For information, contact PSIC, 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, tel. 202/628-7400; fax 202/393-5043, or ASES, 2400 Central Ave., Suite G-1, Boulder, CO 80301, tel. 303/443-3130.

It has been widely reported in building trades magazines that the wood preservative ACQ Preserve™ (see EBN,

Vol. 2, No. 1) has been certified for its environmental features by Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. (SCS). That is not true. A study is being conducted by SCS that compares ACQ and CCA preservative, but that study has not been completed. Linda Brown of SCS told EBN that the project has grown into an industry-wide study that should address not only how ACQ and CCA compare, but also the overall environmental profile of preservative-treated lumber. She could not say when the study would be completed and environmental report cards on these products released. Tom Bailey of Chemical Specialties, Inc. (CSI), which manufactures both CCA and ACQ, said the study is being funded by all three major players in the industry: CSI, Hickson, and Osmose. Bailey calls it a very political issue.

Total 1994 energy consumption was 85.34 quads (90 EJ) (1 quad = 10

¹⁵ Btu), representing a 1.7% increase over 1993 consumption, which had also been a record. Net imports of energy were also at a record level (18.3 quads or 19 EJ), and dependence on imported petroleum—45.2%—continued its upward trend. Only in 1977 was the U.S. more dependent on imported petroleum (46.5%).

The AIA/Portland Chapter office is accepting submittals for the 1995 Architecture + Energy Design Awards. The competition covers completed nonresidential buildings in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana that highlight sustainable architecture and energy efficiency. Jurors include Robert Berkebile, FAIA, Susan Maxman, FAIA, and David Houghton, P.E., of E Source. Submittals must be received by June 5, 1995. AIA/Portland Chapter, 315 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204; 503/223-8757; 503/220-0254 (fax).

A jury in DuPage County, Illinois ruled on December 30, 1994 that the architects, engineers, and general contractor were not responsible for the extreme case of sick building syndrome experienced in the County’s new courthouse. While the County blamed faulty design and installation for the problems, the jury found that it was poor operation and maintenance of the building’s HVAC system that caused several hundred employees to suffer from various symptoms. Two weeks after the verdict was reached settlement was achieved in a separate personal injury lawsuit filed by 125 courthouse employees. Terms of the settlement were not released, but it was declared “reasonable” by the architects, Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) of St. Louis, Missouri.

“Post-consumer recycled” is a term we generally associate with consumer products like paper and plastic, but now a wood flooring has that designation, too, with official, third-party certification. International Wood Products, Inc., of Queen Anne, Maryland has been certified by Scientific Certification Systems for 100 percent post-consumer content in its Antique Oak, Antique Heart Pine, and Antique Chestnut flooring lines. The wood, which is remilled from the beams of 19th century buildings, is reportedly available at major retail chains and independent retailers. Although numerous other companies produce similar products, International Wood claims to be first to be independently certified for recycled content.

Newsbriefs

Dr. Christian Meyer of Columbia University has signed a 2-year, $230,000 research contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to test concrete masonry units made with recycled glass as the aggregate. Glass will be provided by the New York City Department of Sanitation, which will soon be collecting over 100,000 tons per year of mixed- color waste glass. (All 27,000 tons the City collected in 1993 went into glassphalt, but supplies are expected to quickly outstrip demand as collection increases.) In addition to reducing the landfill space needed for glass disposal, the “glasscrete” CMUs could reduce the environmental impact caused by mining natural aggregate. Barrasso & Sons, Inc. of Islip Terrace, New York will manufacture blocks for the tests.

Less than two years after the completion of its highly touted “EcoMart” in Lawrence, Kansas, Wal-Mart is continuing to experiment with energy-efficient technologies and design. A huge “Supercenter” in Moore, Oklahoma, has been announced as the next environmental demonstration store, and plans are reportedly in the works for a third in southern California.

Krylon’s Rust Tough^® latex paint for metal surfaces is the first paint to be certified by Green Seal, an independent environmental labeling organization. To be certified the paint had to meet Green Seal’s standards in areas including reduced VOCs, packaging, and performance. Contact Patricia Macko at Krylon: 216/498-2300.