| GreenClips.146 06.14.00 US RELEASES CLIMATE WARMING REPORT A study released by the Clinton Administration this month is the first thorough federal assessment of the possible effect of global warming on the country's forestry, fresh water, farming, coasts and human health. One likely consequence from continued warming would be coast erosion and storm surges as sea levels steadily rise. But one benefit of continued warming is likely to come from the positive effect of rising carbon dioxide concentrations on plants which rely on it for photosynthesis. The study, now open 60 days for public review, was ordered by Congress in 1990 to help lawmakers identify vulnerabilities and potential benefits of the warming trend. But it kicked into high gear only three years ago when computer models grew sophisticated enough to analyze links between the atmosphere and oceans and local systems like crops and forests. Scientists from dozens of government agencies, universities, private groups and industries conducted the studies and more than 300 reviewers offered comments. As the report moved from early to final drafts in the last few months, the politics of climate intruded. But Thomas F. Cecich, vice president of environmental safety at Glaxo Wellcome said that everyone involved tried to filter out politics and preconceptions. "I think it's been a fair and open and scientifically valid process," he said. The 145-page assessment includes an illustrated summary and a series of technical analysis of the effects of global warming on the country, region by region. For a copy of the report: http://www.nacc.u sgcrp.gov. The New York Times, 12 June 00, p 1, by Andrew C. Revkin. BENGEL WILDLIFE CENTER TO TEACH SOUND BUILDING PRACTICES The $1.4-million Bengel Wildlife Center in Lansing, Michigan opened this month to teach sound building practices and broker the often uneasy peace between business and conservation interests. Architects, real estate agents, developers, engineers, zoning experts and local officials will meet in seminars to learn better ways to build houses, streets and parking lots. "Our mission is to reach out to the people who are changing our landscape every day," said Dennis Fijalkowski, the center's director. "Legislators tell these people what to do. Others throw bricks at them. Who's out there to really help and instruct them?" Funded by family foundations such as the Bengel Foundation, Kresge Foundation, DeVlieg Foundation and Townsley Foundation, the Center will be run by the nonprofit Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation. The [8,700 square foot] Bengel Center, located on a reclaimed 296-acre site, will showcase composting toilets, home insulation, removal of exotic plant species and even techniques for building less damaging logging roads. The Detroit News, 13 June 2000, by Jeremy Pearce. [More: http://mwhf.org/bengelwebpage.htm] CHECKLIST FOR BUILDING DECONSTRUCTION Despite entrenched myths that building deconstruction and recycling always cost more than demolition, innovative approaches to salvaging building materials abound. But the way we build today--both in terms of design-for-disassembly and designing-in salvaged materials--will have a profound impact on deconstruction's potential for tomorrow. The following strategies provide guidance to building designers, owners and demolition contractors interested in maximizing deconstruction's potential: (1) Treat existing buildings as resources. Explicitly address their removal as part of any redevelopment plan. (2) Design new buildings to make use of resources from old ones. (3) Design for disassembly. Select systems that can be deconstructed at the end of the building's useful life. (4) Select demolition firms that have demonstrated ingenuity and flexibility on past projects. (5) Look for integrated demolition firms that have deconstruction operations linked to retail salvage or construction operations. (6) Use contract language to maximize reuse potential. Treat the specification process for building removal with the same level of detail as specification for construction. (7) Consider deconstruction for homes. A growing number of deconstruction firms are making small projects viable. (8) Use the Internet to reach the used building materials market. (9) Maintain environmental and energy standards. There may not be a net environmental benefit to reusing some building materials, such as trim with lead-based paint or single-paned, energy-wasting windows. Environmental Building News, May 00, p 1, by Peter Yost. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR BETTER INDOOR AIR QUALITY US companies could save $58 billion annually by preventing sick-building illnesses and an additional $200 billion in worker performance improvements by creating offices with better indoor air, say researchers William J. Fisk and Arthur H. Rosenfeld of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. Molds and bacteria in HVAC systems, carbon monoxide from parking garages, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from building materials and office furnishings may cause health problems ranging from headaches and nausea to possible damage to nervous and respiratory systems. The same VOCs that affect people can also harm expensive equipment. They create a film that covers computer circuit boards and telephone switches, causing them to blink or conk out. The financial benefits of improving office climates can be 8 to 17 times larger than the costs of making those improvements. Last year, in a landmark case, the Ohio State Supreme Court awarded an employee $400,000 from her employer after she became ill from chemical fumes in new office carpet. Time off due to illness can be cut by as much as 30 percent if workers simply have control over their office air, one study shows. Just like stock options and signing bonuses, workers are certain to start demanding fresh air and sunlight once they discover that other employees are getting them. Business Week, 5 Jun 00, p 114, by Michelle Conlin with John Carey UCSB BUILDING EARNS LEED CERTIFICATION The Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, the building will be naturally lit, heated and cooled including an office wing that has operable windows instead of air conditioning. The school is also planning to generate its own electricity with a fuel cell and photovoltaic tiles. The 84,672 square-foot building will be constructed with a long list of materials manufactured from recycled and renewable sources. Toilets will flush with reclaimed water. When completed in 2002, the building will provide space for the University's programs in ecology, earth systems sciences, environmental engineering and other environmentally related programs. Seattle Daily Journal of Commercial, 7 June 00, p 5. [More: http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/brenhall/default.htm] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GreenClips is free of charge thanks to individual members and these sponsors: CALIFORNIA INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD For information on Sustainable Building Grants, for state and local governments in California, visit our Green Building website at: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/Grants/ CALIFORNIA INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD To find out more about the upcoming Green Building Track at the July 25, 2000 California Resource Recovery Association Conference (CCRA), visit http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/Events/ COLLINS & AIKMAN FLOORING We choose not to just make carpet but to also make a difference. http://www.powerbond.com EPA'S ENVIRONMENTALLY-PREFERABLE PURCHASING PROGRAM Greening the government, one purchase at a time. http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp INTERFACE, INC. More than a carpet company. Much more. http://www.interfaceinc.com WSU ENERGY PROGRAM http://www.energy.wsu.edu Providing objective research, information and solutions. Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program in Olympia, Washington. Subscribe to GreenClips and other mailing lists on energy and the environment at http://listserv.energy.wsu.edu/guest/RemoteAvailableL ists Chris Hammer GreenClips and Sustainable Design Resources San Francisco, California 415 928 7941 voice fax |