To achieve the rating, Gottfried renovated a... Read more

Recent research published in the journal

Psychological Science gives a boost to the

biophilia hypothesis, which suggests that humans have an innate affinity for nature and that we benefit from exposure to nature—even through images (see

EBN

Vol. 15, No. 7).

Subjects in a University of Michigan study were... Read more

Since

EBN reviewed micronized copper as an environmentally preferable alternative to soluble copper formulas in treated wood (see

EBN Vol. 17, No. 2), those products have won over most of the U.S. market. According to Richard Kleiner, director for treated wood markets at the Southern Forest Products Association, most major wood... Read more

Eli Zabar’s bakery and market on East 91st Street in Manhattan seems like a classic New York market. On my half-dozen visits over as many years, I’ve reveled in the gorgeously displayed vegetables and fruits, the vast array of cheeses, and the wide assortment of breads and pastries baked next door. But Zabar’s market, the Vinegar Factory (... Read more

Can the presence of porches and stoops affect people’s health? Numerous designers, researchers, and authors have explored the connection; Jane Jacobs famously wrote about the benefits of “eyes on the street” and the architectural features that support them. A team led by Scott Brown of the Miami Miller School of Medicine recently published... Read more

The “Eco-Labeling Act of 2008” is far from becoming the law of the land, but U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is crafting federal legislation under that name to rein in the confusing proliferation of environmental product labels.

The potential environmental benefits of nanomaterials may be significantly offset by the intensive demands of their manufacturing processes, according to research recently published in the

Journal of Industrial Ecology.

EBN

Vol. 17, No. 3) for... Read more

GE Consumer and Industrial is seeking approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use the hydrocarbon isobutane in household refrigerators, according to a recent report in

Appliance magazine. Isobutane is neither an ozone-depleting compound nor a greenhouse gas, which sets it apart from the HCFCs and HFCs used in... Read more

In a recent ruling, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) updated the energy code used by states in crafting their own codes for commercial buildings. All states now must have codes equal to or more stringent than ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 or apply for an exemption; the previous requirement referenced the 1999 version of the standard. The... Read more

A recent review in Environmental Health Perspectives of 41 scientific papers found sparse but suggestive evidence for a connection between phthalate exposure and asthma and allergies. The reviewers examined evidence that phthalates, commonly used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, increase the risk of asthma and allergies and... Read more

Long before the invention of portland cement, the Romans created impressive concrete structures using lime and a volcanic ash (with properties that were first discovered in Pozzuoli, Italy) that reacted with the lime and hardened the concrete. Coal fly ash, which is the particulate matter collected by pollution-control equipment from... Read more

When NTI founder Kevin Dennison visited western Canada in 1999, he found slab-on-grade houses with air conditioning and heat-recovery ventilation for the summer as well as radiant floor heating for the winter. Looking at all of the separate equipment and the space it required, Dennison wondered, “Why couldn’t we develop a unit that did... Read more

Cyclists were already in line before... Read more

Continuing in the recent thread of examining various power generation technologies, this week I'll weigh in on nuclear power. I do this against my wife's better judgment, and perhaps out of concern that my columns haven't been generating enough controversy.

Let... Read more

Continuing in the recent thread of examining various power generation technologies, this week I'll weigh in on nuclear power. I do this against my wife's better judgment, and perhaps out of concern that my columns haven't been generating enough controversy.

Let... Read more

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