GreenClips.174 08.15.01 NATURAL RUNOFF MANAGEMENT TAKES CUES FROM MOTHER NATURE As rainwater streams over impervious surfaces such as streets and roofs, it picks up sediment, oils, metals and airborne particulates that often flow untreated into natural bodies of water. Studies show that runoff is a major cause of impaired water quality and harm to aquatic plants and wildlife. But intentionally constructed wetlands and other natural runoff treatment systems can reduce the amount of runoff leaving a site while also cleansing it of harmful substances. "The best way to manage runoff is to use every square foot of a site wisely," says Wendi Goldsmith of the Bioengineering Group in Salem, Massachusetts, who designs natural runoff-management solutions. "Green roofs [roofs planted with vegetation] are an excellent way to capture and hold runoff from a rooftop. Porous pavements allow parking lot runoff to percolate through the soil. Water can be captured in underground filtration beds and allowed to trickle back into the ground, or caught in roof cisterns and used for on-site irrigation." Lance Davis of RTKL Associates in Washington, D.C., recommended wetlands and a green roof for the upcoming renovation of the Walter Reed Community Center in Arlington, Virginia. "It turns out we won't have to install pipes or storm sewers, which is a huge benefit, because it offset the cost of implementing the green features," he says. Architectural Record, Aug 01, by Deborah Snoonian. [Full text: http://www.archrecord.com/CONTEDUC/ARTICLES/08_01_2.asp] CONGRESS CONSIDERS SEVERAL BUILDING TAX CREDIT BILLS Several building-related tax credit bills are under consideration in the US Congress. A bipartisan measure known as the Smith-Feinstein bill in the Senate (S.207) and the Cunningham-Markey bill in the House (H.R.778), would provide tax credits for purchasing certain renewable energy equipment and energy-conserving products for businesses or residences. It would also provide a tax credit for new homes that achieve certain levels of energy performance. The other bills include the Murkowski bill (S.389) and its companion in the House, the Weller bill (H.R.2147), both from the Republican Party, and the Bingaman bill (S.596) and its companion in the House, the Matsui bill (H.R.2108), both from the Democratic Party. Under these bills, tax credits paid to owners of existing homes would be based on the expenditure made, rather than the energy saved. Expenditure-based tax credits tend to maximize the expenditure irrespective of performance, while performance-based credits encourage installation of the most cost-effective equipment and products. Like S.207/H.R.778, S.389/H.R.2147 and S.596/H.R.2108 would provide a tax credit for energy-efficient new homes. These tax credits would be paid to the builder rather than the homeowner, however, and the amount of the tax credit would be significantly higher. For information on S.207/H.R.778: http://floridagreenbuilding.org. [For full text of all the bills: http://thomas.loc.gov.] Environmental Building News, Jul-Aug 01, p 4, by Alex Wilson. FTC PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS Products bearing irresponsible environmental claims, a practice known as "greenwashing," can jeopardize the efforts and reputations of designers who try to make environmentally responsible specifications and recommendations. One tool that helps hold manufacturers accountable for their environmental claims is the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims." The FTC guidelines address the basis and clarity of environmental claims; qualifiers and disclaimers; and terms such as environmentally friendly, recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and photodegradable. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a third-party testing and certification organization, follows FTC guides in evaluating manufacturers' marketing claims. In June, C&A Floorcoverings, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial floor coverings, received certification from SCS of its recycled content and recyclability assertions. C&A's ER3 modular tile products now carry a label certifying their recycled content. Green@Work, Jul-Aug 01, p 41. [Text of FTC guidelines: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm] SELF-SUFFICIENT HOME MAKES THE MOST OF RAIN, SNOW AND WASTEWATER Ten years ago, home builder Rolf Paloheimo and architect Martin Liefhebber won a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) competition to design and build a healthy and environmentally friendly home. Mr. Paloheimo built two four-story 1,700-square-foot "Healthy Houses" in Toronto on small lots that weren't suitable to be connected to the city's water and sewage systems. Mr. Paloheimo and his family have occupied one of the homes since 1996. Both homes were outfitted with a water system that collects rainwater and snow on the roof and pipes it into a 27-cubic-meter cistern. The water then passes through a slow sand filter, which mimics the natural filtration water receives when it flows through soil. The water then runs through a charcoal filter and an ozone treatment system for final disinfection. The home's wastewater is purified through a biological filtration process and is ozonated again. The recycled water is used for flushing toilets, bathing and washing clothes. The water system cost about $15,000 [Canadian], although Mr. Paloheimo believes if they were manufactured on a larger scale the cost would be about $7,500 -- competitive with well-water and septic systems or serviced lots. And the lots cost about $100,000 [Canadian] less than lots in Toronto that are serviced with water and sewage pipes. Mr. Paloheimo is working on other Healthy Homes projects outside Toronto. The Ottawa Citizen, 13 Aug 01, by Philip Lee. [More about CMHC's Healthy Houses: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/popup/hhtoronto] ASSEMBLE IT YOURSELF WITH CERTIFIED AND SALVAGED WOOD Tamalpais TimberWorks of San Rafael, California has introduced a new line of natural furniture kits called BYO (build your own). For its eco-friendly table, bed and bench kits, the company has partnered with lumber companies specializing in FSC-certified wood and with local deconstruction and salvage suppliers such as the San Francisco Bay Area's Community Woodworks. "Our kits mean that anybody can build a bed, table or bench they can be proud of in an hour or two," says designer Bill Callahan. More: http://www.tamalpais.com. In Business, Summer 01, p 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GreenClips is free of charge thanks to individual members and these sponsors: C&A FLOORCOVERINGS 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 GREEN BUILDING SERVICES http://www.greenbuildingservices.com Green Building Services offers environmental design and energy efficient consulting services to help you design, build and market high-performance commercial buildings, through design charrettes, energy analyses and the entire LEED certification process. JONATHAN ROSE & COMPANIES http://www.rose-network.com We are a network of planning and development firms with practices in New York City, the Hudson River Valley, and the Rocky Mountains. Our work includes planning and developing diverse, mixed-use, and transit accessible communities. We also develop plans to preserve surrounding farms and open spaces and practice environmentally responsible development in all our projects. 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