GreenClips.185 02.13.02 EPA AND WOOD-PRESERVATIVE INDUSTRY AGREE TO CCA PHASEOUT Chemical and home-improvement industry executives have agreed to a two-year phaseout of the use of an arsenic-based preservative in pressure-treated wood that is widely used for fences, decks, playground equipment and boardwalks in homes and on playgrounds. Arsenic is a known human carcinogen, and the Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a study to determine whether children who repeatedly come in contact with the preservative -- known as chromated copper arsenate or CCA -- face a heightened risk of developing cancer, as some environmental and consumer groups contend. EPA officials state that it is premature to say whether CCA presents health risks. The agency will publish a preliminary risk assessment next year. "Basically, we did it for market reasons," said John Taylor of Osmose Inc., one of the three chemical manufacturers that agreed to discontinue production of CCA within 22 months. The agreement applies to treated wood products used for homes and playgrounds, but will not affect wood used for utility poles, guard rails and other commercial applications. The gradual phaseout gives the country's 350 wood treatment plants time to retool and begin using alternative preservatives such as ACQ (alkaline, recycled copper and quat, a fungicide), which contains no carcinogens or other dangerous substances. The Washington Post, 13 Feb 2002, p A02, by Eric Pianin, and The Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb 2002, by Elizabeth Shogren. MORE GREEN BUILDING PROGRAMS OFFER INCENTIVES Most municipal green building programs offer several types of incentives to encourage participation, such as money, increased project density, permit facilitation and technical advice. Monetary incentives are typically directed toward some portion of project first costs, development fees, or tax breaks. In addition, increasing numbers of green building programs are offering incentives for sustainable landscape architecture in commercial and residential projects. The City of Austin's program facilitates rebates for efficient irrigation and rainwater collection systems. Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services gives discounts on stormwater management fees for implementing sustainable stormwater management techniques. Seattle offers a water-efficient irrigation program that provides free assessments of existing and proposed systems, with incentives for upgrading to more efficient systems. And projects in Portland can receive an extra three square feet of building for every one square foot of green roof with coverage of 60 percent or more. Some programs also offer marketing services and green certification of participating projects. Landscape Architecture, Feb 2002, p 34, by Meg Calkins. [Austin: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder. Portland: http://www.cleanrivers-pdx.org/index.htm; http://www.sustainableportland.org. Seattle: http://www.cityofseattle.net/sustainablebuilding; http://www.cityofseattle.net/util/reSCONS/susbuild/policy.htm] EXPANDING RECOVERY OPTIONS FOR DRYWALL CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS Some farmers use scrap drywall from residential construction as a soil amendment, but until recently no one has studied the biological impacts of applying Type X drywall to agricultural land. The thicker, 5/8-inch Type X drywall, which is commonly used in commercial construction and is one-hour fire rated, is identical to residential drywall except for a small amount of fiberglass. So Dick Wolkowski, a soil scientist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducted an experiment using a standard soil testing method that exposed earthworms to varying amounts of Type X drywall in soil. Even at high application rates, 8 tons/acre, the drywall had no significant effect on the earthworms. While additional questions remain, these results indicate that land application of Type X drywall can be environmentally and economically beneficial. Instead of paying to purchase gypsum fertilizer, farmers can charge a fee to receive drywall from construction sites. If the farmer's fee is less than the landfill tipping fee, and the distance to the farm is equal or less than the distance to a landfill, this could also reduce costs for building owners and contractors. For information or to obtain a copy of the study, email wastecap@wastecapwi.org. Resource Recycling, Jan 2002, p 18, by Jenna Kunde and Sonya Newenhouse. LANDSCAPE CODES GO BEYOND AESTHETICS IN MORE COMMUNITIES Landscape codes specifying minimum standards for caring for the "green infrastructure" have been in existence in some U.S. cities since the 1970s. More and more communities are drafting landscape ordinances, but most focus on aesthetics and on construction of such features as parking lots, pavements and urban walls. Most codes also ensure that plants and some natural features are restored following site clearing and grading. But some communities have gone further and enacted ordinances to protect the tree canopy, provide shade, prevent stormwater runoff, and cool pavements. In the past decade, landscape ordinances have increasingly tended toward habitat and natural resource preservation, land alteration restrictions, and water-efficient landscape design. Many communities in Florida, such as Lake Mary and St. Lucie County, base their ordinances on the need to conserve and reuse water. Davis, California, enacted a landscape ordinance for solar control, while Durham, North Carolina, enacted one to reduce parking lot temperature by planting trees. But landscape codes are not a panacea. Some communities model their ordinances after codes passed in nearby municipalities, a method fraught with risk because each community has different climate, soils, drainage and other criteria. Another danger of landscape codes is that they can lead to a deadly sameness of landscape expression. More: http://www.greenlaws.lsu.edu. Landscape Architecture, Feb 2002, p 53, by Buck Abbey. MINIMIZING CONSTRUCTION-RELATED AIR POLLUTION IN HEALTH-CARE FACILITIES When planning demolition, construction or renovation work in health-care facilities, it's important to reduce the threat of infection from construction-induced air pollution. The compromised immune status of some patients leaves them more susceptible to infections such as those caused by Aspergillus fungi, which are often associated with water-damaged building materials. In addition to water leakage with mold growth, construction procedures that can heighten infection risk include demolition using inadequate barriers, exterior wall removal, core drilling, poor ventilation, and utility outages. Other problems include: the migration of airborne particles to protected areas of the building caused by changes in internal pressure in ducts; infiltration of outdoor excavation or demolition debris to protected patient areas through open or leaky windows; and the entry of airborne contaminants into the building through the air-handling system. Avoiding hazardous conditions requires a formal risk assessment that considers the patient population, the extent of the project, the project's duration, the project's impact on mechanical systems, and whether the space will remain occupied during the project. The risk assessment should address the impact that demolition, renovation or new construction will have on air quality requirements, infection control, utility requirements, noise, vibration, and emergency procedures. HPAC Engineering, Feb 2002, p 27, by Andrew S. Streifel and Christine Hendrickson. [Full text: http://www.hpac.com/member/feature/2002/0202/0202streifel.htm] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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. INTERFACE, INC. More than a carpet company. Much more. http://www.interfaceinc.com THE MCADAMS GROUP www.fundinggreenbuildings.com Securing funds for green buildings is our business. Jan McAdams conducts workshops, consults, and publishes "The Energywi$e Construction Funding Directory for Green Buildings--2002 Edition." 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 GREENCLIPS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! Twice a month GreenClips is distributed electronically to over 10,000 readers interested in sustainable building design. But we can't do it without the financial support of our sponsors and members. If you find GreenClips valuable, please consider becoming a sponsor or voluntary member. Email chrishammer@greenclips.com for details. ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: Sustainable design consultant Chris Hammer publishes GreenClips in San Francisco. Ms. Hammer helps her clients with environmentally responsible approaches to urban planning and development, and to building design, construction, and operation. GreenClips is edited by Jennifer Roberts (jennifer@jenniferroberts.com), whose book on green home design will be published in 2003. To CONTACT THE PUBLISHER: Email chrishammer@greenclips.com or call 415.928.7941. BACK ISSUES Two Internet sites host GreenClips archives for reference and research: http://listserv.energy.wsu.edu/greenclips/visit.html (keyword search) http://www.greendesign.net/greenclips (browse contents) REDISTRIBUTION Please do not redistribute or post copies of GreenClips regularly. Encourage readers who receive GreenClips from you to subscribe directly. Continuing sponsorship depends on accurate reader counts. SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE To subscribe via e-mail send a blank message to subscribe-greenclips@listserv.energy.wsu.edu To unsubscribe via e-mail send a blank message to unsubscribe-greenclips@listserv.energy.wsu.edu .......................... Copyright 2002 Sustainable Design Resources. All rights reserved. Republishing GreenClips in print or on a web site, in whole or in part, or commercial distribution in any form requires advance permission of the publisher.