I have read your article in the March 1997 issue of Environmental Building News, concerning CCA-treated wood and its disposal at the end of its service life. I have also read the letter to you written by Mr. Gene S. Bartlow, President and CEO of American Wood Preservers Institute (AWPI).

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-... Read more

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... Read more

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is leading a boycott of old-growth redwood in an effort to secure protection of the nation’s remaining old-growth redwood forests. To launch the campaign, RAN, along with the Sierra Club and Greenpeace U.S.A., held a star-studded press conference in Los Angeles and ran a full-page... Read more

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,... Read more

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... Read more

Your recent article (

EBN, March 1997), calling for the phase-out of CCA-pressure-treated wood because of the potential disposal problems associated with CCA-treated wood coming out-of-service, is a well written survey of the issue. While we disagree with several points made in the article, it is a... Read more

by Bill Lawson. Published by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, P.O. Box 3373, Manuka, ACT 2603, Australia; +61-6-273-1548, +61-6-273-1953 (fax). 135 pages, paperback, AUS$39.95 +$10 for overseas shipping.

This environmental overview of building materials is—quite appropriately—... Read more

Cross Creek Initiative (formerly Sus-tainable Development & Construction Initiative), 117 NW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601; 352/371-3718, 352/378-6008 (fax). Approx. 150 pages, spiral-bound, $50.

Green Building Materials ’96 provided a forum for building material manufacturers and their... Read more

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... Read more

Applications are now available for the 1998 EnergyValue Housing Award, which recognizes the successful integration of energy efficiency into new home construction. The Award is administered by the NAHB Research Center, together with the National Association of Home Builders Energy Subcommittee,  Professional Builder... Read more

by Wenche Dramstad, James Olson, and Richard Forman. Harvard University Press and Island Press (Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009), 1996. Paperback, 80 pages, $17.95.

This little book is a real treat. With rare brevity, authors Dramstad, Olson, and Forman present key principles of landscape... Read more

CD-ROM by ACEEE Publications, 2140 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 202, Berkeley, CA 94704; 510/549-9914, 510/549-9984 (fax), aceee@ix.netcom.com (e-mail), www.aceee.org. $150.

Given the alarming situation that has arisen with disposal of CCA-treated wood over the past two decades (see page 1), the editors of

Environmental Building News are taking the unusual step of proposing a phase-out of this product. This recommendation is driven not by the toxicity of CCA-treated wood in use, but by concerns relating to... Read more

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... Read more

EBN had an opportunity to try out the new straw-based particleboard made by PrimeBoard, Inc. in Wahpeton, North Dakota. We hired a local cabinetry firm to shop-fabricate and install a wall of modular shelving from several 5’ x 10’ (1.5 x 3 m) sheets of 3⁄4”-thick (19 mm) WheatBoard™. We wanted to find out from professional... Read more

by Tracy Mumma (1997). Center for Resourceful Building Technology (CRBT), P.O. Box 100, Missoula, MT 59806; 406/549-7678, www.montana.com/crbt. Paperback, 115 pages, $28 postpaid.

GREBE in... Read more

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... Read more