The nation’s most solarized electric utility is expanding its photovoltaic generation capacity—on the roofs of its customers. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has just announced an expansion of its “PV Pioneers” program. Under the program, environmentally committed SMUD customers... Read more

Balancing the rights of individuals to act freely, with the public’s interest in preventing potentially harmful actions, has been an age-old struggle of government. Private development on private property, and the regulation of such development by public laws, is a highly visible arena for that struggle. Our society is built around private... Read more

Wood frame construction has been the unchallenged norm for residential building in North America for decades. Over the last few years, however, volatile wood prices, declining quality of framing lumber, and environmental concerns have led many builders to consider alternatives to wood. A 1993 survey done by the National Association of Home... Read more

Solarex Corporation has been selected by Misawa Homes Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan to supply photovoltaic (PV) panels for new homes. The custom-made PV modules will be integrated into the south-facing roof of the houses, replacing the usual roofing tiles. Each house will generate a peak level of four kilowatts of... Read more

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is offering research funding for projects that improve the energy efficiency or environmental performance of buildings. A total of $750,000 is expected to be awarded under the program for such technologies as building products manufactured with recycled materials, recovery... Read more

Yes, it does. But not for the reasons most people think.

It is true that a lot of green building materials cost more than their conventional counterparts, so you can spend more for an environmentally sustainable building. But construction costs do not have to be any higher.

... Read more

Approximately 60% of all commercially incinerated hazardous waste is burned in cement kilns. Although small amounts of hazardous wastes may have been burned in cement kilns for decades, the practice became widespread in the 1980s as new regulations made landfilling more expensive. Although members of... Read more

An Austrian court has overturned a lower court's ruling and allowed billboards describing PVC as “an environmental poison” to stand. The industry is appealing the case to the Austrian supreme court.

One of the most promising developments over the past few years has been the introduction of borate-based pesticides for controlling termites and other wood-destroying organisms. The use of these environmentally friendly products has significantly reduced the need for more toxic products such as soil-treatment... Read more

If all goes as planned for Greenwood Cotton Insulation Products, Inc., there may soon be a major new competitor in the fiber insulation market. Greenwood Mills, Inc., of Greenwood, South Carolina has licensed the patent to make and sell cotton insulation from Cotton Unlimited of Post, Texas, makers of Insulcot. Greenwood... Read more

Greenhomeby Wayne Grady, 1993. Camden House Publishing, Camden East, Ontario. 208 pages, soft cover, $15.95.

Greenhome is a wonderful account of the design and construction of a demonstration house built through Canada’s Advanced Houses program. Through this program, 10 houses were built... Read more

Phase I Underway

This effort was instigated last year after President Clinton’s Earth Day address (see EBN

Vol. 2, No. 4). A group of... Read more

The “Record of Decision,” or final version of the Clinton Administration’s forestry plan for the Pacific Northwest, was released on April 14, 1994. Officially the plan is the same “Option Nine” that was released last year (see EBN

Vol. 2, No. 4), though some changes have been incorporated in response to... Read more

Co-founder of the Council David Gottfried is no longer on the staff, and the San Francisco office has closed. Gottfried is now vice chairman, and co-founder Michael... Read more

The Plastic Lumber Trade Association, announced in EBN

Vol. 2, No. 5, was formally established at a March 24 meeting in Montreal, Quebec. Charter member status is available to those who join by June 30. Contact the Association at 216/762-8989, 216/762-1613 (fax).

“People are more likely to suffer health effects from worrying about EMF than from actual biological effects.” I found the tone of this statement from your recent article, “Building Design and EMF,” to be rather cavalier and the type of thing an industry representative would utter. While I hope you will refrain from such... Read more

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Notes:

1. Assumes incandescent lamp cost of $2.75; fluorescent lamp cost of $2.95

2. Assumes 25 minutes to replace lamps @ $20/hr.

3. Electricity cost 8¢/kWh

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.

Notes:

1. Other insulation materials were listed previously.

2. When products have coatings, recommended levels are based on the weight of materials in the insulating core only.

3. American Society for... Read more

Two of the Best Just Got a Whole Lot Better

Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements, 4th Edition, 1994, from the Center for Resourceful Building Technology, P.O. Box 3866, Missoula, MT 59806; 406/549-7678. 94 pages, soft-cover, $25.The Center for Resourceful Building Technology (CRBT) did a superb job in... Read more