Two Quick Lead Test Kits

Lead poisoning is arguably the most significant health risk faced by remodelers and restoration contractors. According to HUD, 57 million homes in the United States contain at least some lead paint. To work safely in older houses, you have to know whether lead paint is present. Analysis using sophisticated x-ray... Read more

Don’t Forget Remodelers

Sirs,

I caution you not to ignore the unique needs of the eco-conscious remodeler. They are not the same as those of a new builder.

Thank you for your efforts.

David Jones

Rammed-Earth Demo Home

Rammed-earth construction may be the ultimate in local material use. Most of the mass in the 24"-thick walls comes from the house site itself. Combining rammed-earth construction with state-of-the-art energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and some advanced water conservation strategies, builder David Easton and... Read more

Recycling Portable Tool Batteries

Most builders today own one or more portable, battery-powered tools. While properly maintained nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) batteries should last for years (averaging over 650 charging cycles), the batteries do eventually wear out, and disposing of them can cause environmental problems.

Portable tool... Read more

Fresh Air Supply for Exhaust-Only Ventilation

Experts agree that controlled mechanical ventilation is key to ensuring good indoor air quality. This is especially true with energy-efficient, tight houses, but even in leaky houses relying on passive ventilation may not be sufficient, particularly on calm, milder days. Under such conditions,... Read more

Saving Water as it Warms Up

Waiting for hot water to get hot wastes about 10,000 gallons of water per year in an average household of four people. So says the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in a brochure suggesting that customers collect that water in a bucket for watering plants or flushing the toilet. That’s a great idea,... Read more

Don’t Put Drywall Scraps

in Wall Cavities

Dear Editor,

Thanks for your extensive coverage of construction and demolition waste in the Nov./Dec. ’92 issue (

Vol. 1, No. 3), particularly the table “Job-site Waste Suggestions by Material” on pages 7 and 8. However, within the category

Drywall, the following appears:... Read more

Mouse-Killing Carpets

By exposing mice to fumes from samples of carpet, scientists at Anderson Laboratories, Inc., have demonstrated significant toxicological effects. In the most severe sample tests, four out of four mice exposed to the fumes died. Of samples purchased at random off-the-shelf, 25% showed some effect, according to Mark Goldman... Read more

New Iso Foam Blowing Agent to be Short-Lived

On January 19th the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its proposed regulations for complying with the Copenhagen Amendments to the Montreal Protocol for phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (see EBN,

Vol. 2, No. 1). Under the proposed rules, HCFC-141b (the foaming agent being... Read more

First EPA Fine for Venting Refrigerant

The EPA has levied its first fine for illegal venting of CFCs or HCFCs into the atmosphere. The prohibition on refrigerant venting, which was part of the 1990 Clean Air Act, took effect on July 1, 1992. The violation occurred when a worker for Global Construction Corp. of Laconia, New Hampshire cut a... Read more

Timbrex

Timbrex™ is Mobil’s new name for a product that has been around for several years under the name Rivenite. In 1992 Mobil Chemical Company purchased the Rivenite technology (hiring its developer, Roger Wittenberg) and formed a Composite Products Division to produce and market the material. Although Mobil is working on possible... Read more

155 Pine St., Amherst, MA 01002; 413/549-3616. $15/year individual, $30/year group.

As a regional CoHousing newsletter, Northeast CoHousing Quarterly (NCQ) has two primary missions. The first is provide a forum in which the many CoHousing groups can network and learn of each other’s progress. The second is to provide general information... Read more

Editor's Note:For more information about concrete in green building projects, we recommend our 43-page special report, "What You Need to Know About Concrete and Green Building." The report is free with a trial membership to BuildingGreen Suite. Learn more.

Cement and concrete are key components of both commercial and residential... Read more

Selling Lumber on its Environmental Virtues

In what is described as a major policy change, the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) is launching a campaign to emphasize the environmental benefits of wood and appeal to growing public awareness about the environment. “We want the [building] industry to know that we’re concerned about the... Read more

Some Help on Lead

from NAHB

With the upcoming release of its booklet

What Remodelers Need to Know and Do About Lead, the Remodelers Council of the National Association of Home Builders is providing a valuable service. The booklet, to judge by a late draft, will be effective in educating builders and remodelers about the dangers... Read more

We use approximately 3.8 billion board feet of preservative-treated lumber per year in the building industry in North America, and treated wood accounts for over 21% of all dollars spent on timber products (figures from the American Wood Preservers Institute—AWPI). What is the impact of these materials on the environment? Do they release harmful... Read more

Fiberglass Manufacturers Incorporate Recycled Glass

All three of the major fiberglass manufacturers are now using some amount of recycled glass in their insulation. Manville, which has been most active in promoting its use of recycled glass, claims a recycled content of approximately 30%, all of which is post-consumer recycled glass... Read more

The Sourcebook for Sustainable Design.

Andrew St. John, Editor. Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad St., Boston, MA 02109; 617/951-1433 x221, 617/951-0845 (fax), $25.

The Sourcebook for Sustainable Design is a true labor of love. It is the first attempt we know of at a comprehensive listing of products and materials that are useful,... Read more

Faster CFC Phase-out

On November 25th, international delegates in Copenhagen, Denmark, completed negotiations on a second major revision to the Montreal Protocol for the phaseout of ozone-depleting substances. Under the Copenhagen Amendments, the schedule for eliminating CFCs is moved up to January 1, 1996, four years ahead of the schedule... Read more

Borate Preservatives for

Non-exposed Wood

Boron has long been recognized as an effective and very safe pesticide in wood. In part, it effectiveness comes from its ability to diffuse freely throughout the wood, thus protecting even the center of large timbers, which are not affected by pressure treating. Unfortunately, the diffusability... Read more