Nominal 2x4 and 2x6 TimberStrand studs are now available in both standard and custom lengths.

TimberStrand was introduced in 1992... Read more

The field of practitioners and researchers dealing with issues of building and the environment has various factions. Many people have arrived at green building as an extension of their commitment to energy-efficient construction, while others are more focused on occupant health and well-being—the indoor environment. In recent years these... Read more

Energy consumption in the U.S. during 1995 totaled 87.2 quads or quadrillion Btu (92 x 1018 J), according to the March 1996

Monthly Energy Review, published by the DOE Energy Information Administration. This record level represents an increase of 1.8% over 1994 consumption.

Miraflex®, the new binderless fiberglass from Owens Corning Fiberglas (OCF), has done so well since its introduction that the company has been unable to keep up with demand and was forced late last year to curtail its distribution (see

EBN

Vol. 4, No. 1). The product should again be available nationally on May 1st. OCF plans to... Read more

ICI Paints of Cleveland, Ohio has expanded its Glidden line of zero-VOC paints with the recent availability of a full color line in the Lifemaster premium interior and Decra-Shield® exterior paints. With the introduction of solvent-free colorants, all colors are now available in VOC-free formulations. In the past, while VOCs had been eliminated... Read more

The First Annual National Environmental Sensitivity Award from the Construction Specification Institute was awarded to BSW International of Tulsa, Oklahoma. BSW is known for catering to corporate clients, such as Wal-Mart, with repetitive building programs. BSW’s Green Team prepared the winning entry in the form of their Environmental... Read more

Stramit USA, of Perryton, Texas, has ceased operations. After less than a year of production but several years of start-up, the plant has shut down. Stramit began production in the spring of 1995, producing 21⁄4”-thick (57 mm) compressed-straw, paper-faced panels for use as interior partition walls. The panels can be substituted for a 2x4 frame... Read more

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Navy are sponsoring a student design competition, Breaking Through Barriers: Balancing Ecology and Economics, to help identify options for what to do with a military base being decommissioned. A key requirement of the competition is that teams must be interdisciplinary, including (at a... Read more

James McElvenny has left his long-time position as assistant vice president of research and development with Wood Recycling Incorporated of Woburn, Massachusetts to become Director of Recycling Projects for the Wood Products Division of the J.M. Huber Company (508/524-8804). In his new position McElvenny will continue his ongoing efforts to... Read more

The NAHB Research Center is seeking applications for the 1997 EnergyValue Housing Award, a national award for builders who integrate energy efficiency into the design, construction, and marketing of their new homes. Applications are due August 2, 1996, and winners will be announced at the 1997 NAHB Builders Show. For information, contact:... Read more

Initial construction work will focus on infrastructure, including roads and an innovative ecological wastewater... Read more

Advisory Board member Michael Nicklas received the American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) highest award on April 22, for his contribution to ASES and to the field of solar energy. The 1996 Abbott Award is the first to go to a practitioner in the use of solar energy, rather than to a researcher. In his acceptance speech, Nicklas noted that... Read more

We were pleased

Environmental Building News (EBN) gave a positive review to the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA)

National Wood Recycling Directory but somewhat disappointed with your opinion of our industry’s recycling efforts.

The March 1996 issue of

Energy Design Update reports that fire tests at a laboratory in California have demonstrated that spray-applied cellulose insulation can be a more effective fire stop than conventional wood firestops in a 2x4 wall. The testing was done as part of an effort to gain Uniform Building Code (UBC) approval for the... Read more

by American Forests (P.O. Box 2000, Washington, DC 20013) and Home Builder Press of the National Association of Home Builders (1201 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005), 1995. 120 pages; paperback $12.

The eco-shake™ shingles have heavily textured wood grain to mimic the look of wood shakes. They are 22 inches (250 mm) in length, packaged in random widths of 5, 7, and 12... Read more

Electricity consumption from renewable energy sources is continuing to show strong growth in the United States. Wind energy has been growing the fastest, with consumption increasing 50% from 1990 to 1994 (from 0.024 to 0.036 quads), according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 1995

Renewable Energy Annual. The photovoltaics industry is... Read more

In spite of tight construction budgets, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based architecture firm Innovative Design, Inc. has convinced several regional school districts to incorporate roof monitors for... Read more

The President’s Council on Sustainable Development and President Clinton have selected 15 recipients of Presidential Honors Awards, exemplifying successful integration of economic viability, environmental integrity, and social well-being. Award winners in the building, design, and building products fields include:

Dutch publishers of a simplified guidebook for choosing environmentally preferable materials are being sued for suggesting that zinc roofing be avoided. An English translation of the book has just been published in the U.K. under the title

Handbook of Sustainable Building (James & James Ltd., March 1996), but will not be distributed... Read more