On May 15, the first-in-the-nation, comprehensive green building tax credit was signed into New York state law (see

EBN

Vol. 8, No. 5). A modest fund—$25 million over nine years—has been established to support the program. “The significance does not lie in the amount, it lies in the... Read more

With some tree and shrub species, whether you specify males or females can make a huge difference for allergy sufferers. This point is one of the most intriguing to emerge from recent work of Thomas Ogren, a San Luis Obispo, California-based expert on flowering plants and pollen-related allergies.... Read more

2nd edition, 2000. Austin Energy, PO Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767-8844; 512/505-3700, 512/499-2859 (fax). 3-ring binder format, 266 pages, $60.

The

Sustainable Building Sourcebook came out in 1993 (see

EBN

Vol. 3, No. 1) as one of the leading resources on green building, providing... Read more

The secondary mortgage lending market is complex and can be confusing. While sale of mortgages on the secondary market can actually limit green options (with the requirements for conventional heating and wastewater systems, for example), it can also be a way of encouraging green—at least if Fannie Mae’s new Green... Read more

By the time you read this,

EBN’s Internet presence, including our Web site and e-mail addresses, will be at the BuildingGreen.com domain. Ebuild.com, the cyber-identity we grew up with, is being sold to a leading publisher in the homebuilding industry. We’re excited about the change for two reasons: 1) the... Read more

A new

Gallup poll on the environment shows continued broad support for the goals of the environmental movement—but not as a top priority. Of the 1,004 adults polled during April 3-9, 83% agree with the goals of the environmental movement, including 43% who “strongly agree.” Among those surveyed, 55% describe current environmental... Read more

The executive committee of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) has selected its ten recognized projects for Earth Day 2000. More details and contact information are available from Mike Janes of The AIA press office at 202/626-7467 or mjanes@aia.org.

Washington state is following the lead of Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and others in moving toward

certification of state-owned forestland. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced in late March that it would like to have up to 1.1 million acres (445,000 ha) of state land certified under the Forest Stewardship Council... Read more

EBN

Vol. 8, No. 5) as their first climate-neutral product, and Saunders now offers climate-... Read more

1999 energy consumption in the United States increased 1.6% over 1998, according to the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (EIA). Total consumption was 92.72 quads (97.9 x 1018 J). At the same time, domestic energy production dropped 0.86% and net imports increased 2.59%. Dependence on petroleum... Read more

On April 4, 2000 the San Jose, California City Council approved a series of recommendations aimed at

promoting green building practices in the city. With an estimated $1.4 billion in total value of building permits issued during fiscal year 1997/98, this new program could affect a lot of construction. The recommendations approved by the... Read more

In a major achievement for environmental activists, two of the nation’s largest homebuilders, Kaufman & Broad (K&B) and Centex Homes, have publicly committed to eliminating their use of wood from endangered forests. Both statements arrived just days before an April 1 “Day of... Read more

Solatube International, the Australian company that launched the tubular skylight industry in 1989, has acquired the Phoenix-based SunLight Systems, Inc. and their SunStar product line. SunStar tubular skylights are among the most advanced in the industry and include an extra layer of glazing to boost energy... Read more

The letter from Cliff Goldman, Carnegie Fabrics (

Vol. 9, No. 2), smeared vinyl without offering any evidence to support the allegations. Obviously, Goldman’s main point was to flack his own competing product. I challenge Goldman to offer any credible, scientific evidence that vinyl products harm health or the... Read more

In what is believed to be a first, a municipal government in the United States is joining with an international alliance of island nations to combat global warming. The Monroe Board of County Commissioners in the Florida Keys passed a resolution in mid-March acknowledging the likelihood of significant impacts from global warming and agreeing to... Read more

by Chris Magwood and Peter Mack, 2000. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada.

Paperback, 234 pages, $24.95.

Straw Bale Building makes a substantial contribution to the literature in many ways.

First and foremost, the book is authored (and published) by Canadians with a definite focus... Read more

We’re pleased to announce that Dan Woodbury is moving from the role of marketing director to that of publisher! Dan has proven himself invaluable in expanding our circulation and helping to produce and sell our other products, and we’re excited that the responsibilities of publisher will now be in such capable... Read more

The first quarter of 2000 was the

warmest first quarter ever recorded in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature for this period, 41.7°F (5.4°C), exceeds the previous record (1990) by a full degree Fahrenheit.

Natural Home magazine is sponsoring a

“Natural Home of the Year” contest for both new construction and remodeled residences and single rooms. The winning homes will be featured in the magazine’s November/December 2000 issue and will receive additional national press exposure. There is no charge to enter, and... Read more

Initial efforts to repeal portions of the 1992 Energy Policy and Conservation Act that mandate

low-flow toilets and other water-conserving plumbing fixtures have failed. A House subcommittee voted 13-12 on April 12 to keep the water conservation standards. Joining the 11 Democrats on the vote were two Republican lawmakers from quickly... Read more