In

The Ecology of Commerce, Paul Hawken promotes the idea that manufacturers be held responsible for the ultimate disposal/recycling of their products. A new regulation in British Columbia takes a big step in that direction by requiring paint manufacturers to collect, at no charge, all unused paint. The regulation also requires periodic reports from the manufacturers on their progress in recycling the collected paint. The program is to be fully operational by January 1995, and other provinces are expected to be closely monitoring its success.

Total U.S. energy consumption jumped to a record 84.0 quadrillion Btus (quads) in 1993, up 2.2% from 1992, according to the just-released

Annual Energy Review

1993, published by the U.S. Department of Energy. A corresponding drop in domestic energy production to 65.8 quads (down 1.6% from 1992—the third consecutive drop) meant growing dependence on imported energy. Net energy imports increased to 16.9 quads (96% of which was petroleum), the highest level since 1978. Dependence on imported petroleum (net imports divided by total consumption) increased to 43.8% in 1993 (the second highest level in history—1977 was higher). Meanwhile, U.S. consumption of electricity increased 3.7% to a record 2,865 billion kWh, and residential electricity consumption increased 6.2% to 994 billion kWh.

The New York-based organization East Meets West is looking for U.S. manufacturers interested in joining several research institutions working on new applications for jute fiber. The program is in support of ongoing efforts by the United Nations Development Program and the Government of India. Experimental uses include the replacement of glass and polymer fibers in a wide range of high-tech manufacturing processes. Contact Anneke van Waesberghe at 212/477-3239, 212/598-9031 (fax).

Newsbriefs

The Michigan Environmental Science Board has produced a report for the governor that is critical of the blanket chlorine phase-out recommended by the International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes (see

EBN Vol. 3, No. 1). While acknowledging that serious health and environmental concerns exist for some chlorinated compounds, the Board has essentially taken the chlorine industry’s position that individual compounds should be assessed separately and that anticipated problems with potential replacements must be included as a part of any phase-out decision.

Green Seal, the national environmental labeling organization, has added windows and window films to the list of products for which it has established minimum standards for certification (see EBN

Vol. 2, No. 6 for other products). The window standards address energy performance by considering U-values, Solar Heat Gain Coefficients, Visible Light Transmission Coefficients, and air leakage rates. The standards also look at possible heavy metals in frame components, toxics in product packaging, and consumer education activities. For window films, energy performance is rated based on solar heat gain and visible light transmission alone. For a copy of any Green Seal standards contact Amy Kostant, Director of Communications, Green Seal, 1250 23rd Street, NW, Suite 275, Washington, DC, 20037-1101; 202/331-7337; 202/331-7533 (fax).

An East-coast version of ReCraft 90, the resource-efficiency demonstration house constructed by Steve Loken and the Center for Resourceful Building Technology, is now under construction. Following several years of research, architect Kate Warner has designed a “modest, traditional New England home” on Martha’s Vineyard, using the most environmentally sound materials available. Two open houses are planned during construction for the trade, and one for the general public upon completion. Contact: Kate S. Warner, Architect, PO Box 172, West Tisbury, MA 02575; 508/693-3820.

In what the plastics industry is calling a landmark decision, the German town of Bielefeld has lifted its seven-year-old prohibition on PVC products in publicly funded buildings. According to

Plastics News, the move came “after a re-evaluation of the products, taking into account their long life expectancies, industry recycling programs, and swing away from cadmium stabilizers.” At the same time a policy advisory group in Sweden has recom­mended a phase-out of many PVC products. The group is concerned about additives used in PVC, primarily plasticizers in flexible products.

On May 10 The Home Depot home improvement retail chain announced $228,500 in donations to environmental causes. Of the donations, $75,000 went to support environmental building practices, $50,000 to promote recycling, $53,000 to forest conservation and preservation efforts, $35,000 to lead-poisoning prevention, $10,000 to energy conservation, and $5,000 to Earth Day New York. The energy conservation grant will help fund publication by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy of the

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, written by EBN Editor Alex Wilson.

NewsBriefs

News stories, product reviews, and resource reviews from back issues of EBN are now accessible via computer on Energy Design Online, a new computer information service. The service also offers back issues of

Energy Design Update, a newsletter on residential energy issues, and product listings from Iris Communications’

Energy Source Directory (reviewed in EBN

Vol. 1, No. 1). Energy Design Online can be accessed by dialing directly 212/662-0388. The $25 per month user fee includes up to two hours online. For more information, contact Energy Design Associates at 212/662-7428.

The U.S. EPA is joining with the National Particleboard Association to study the impact of urea-formaldehyde-bonded wood products on formaldehyde levels in new homes.