| GreenClips.241 05.26.04 SEEKING A JOB IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING? Scroll down to our sponsors' section for details about two exciting new opportunities at Keen Engineering and First Community Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW EPA RULE FAVORS PLYWOOD MAKERS, IGNORES LEUKEMIA LINK Pushing aside new scientific studies of possible health risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved an air pollution regulation this year that could save the wood products industry hundreds of millions of dollars. Critics say the new rule may violate the Clean Air Act. The regulation addresses emissions of formaldehyde, a chemical used by plywood manufacturers and other industries. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause cancer and lead to nausea and eye, throat and skin irritation; new studies indicate it might also cause leukemia in humans. The EPA rule, signed in February, did not mention the possible link to leukemia. Instead, the agency relied on a risk assessment generated by a chemical industry-funded think tank, and adopted a standard for exposure based on a cancer risk model that is about 10,000 times less stringent than the level previously used by the EPA in setting standards for formaldehyde exposure. Ultimately, 147 or more of the 223 wood-products plants nationwide could avoid pollution-control requirements. The exemptions will save the industry as much as $66 million annually for about 10 years. The regulation was ushered through the agency by senior officials with previous ties to the timber and chemical industries. The officials say they advocate a balanced approach to environmental regulation. Their critics say science and public health are losing out. Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2004, by Alan C. Miller and Tom Hamburger. [More: http://epa.gov/airlinks/plywoodfinalrule.pdf] ADOPTION OF FUEL CELLS IN BUILDINGS SLOWER THAN ANTICIPATED Five years ago, advocates of fuel cells in commercial buildings had a striking poster child: a small installation in the Durst Organization's Conde Nast Building at 4 Times Square in Manhattan. Today, that is still one of the few stationary applications of fuel cells. Fuel cells seem nearly ideal energy sources -- clean hydrogen and oxygen input yields water vapor plus electricity. But most installations "crack" the hydrogen by burning fossil fuels or derive hydrogen indirectly from hydrocarbons. And the confusing welter of approaches -- including phosphoric acid fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, and proton exchange membrane types -- makes it difficult for architects and developers to commit to a particular technology. Then there is the question of cost. Fuel cells are providing power at an installed cost ranging from $4 to $6 per watt, compared with $1 to $1.50 per watt for conventional gas turbines. "We're still positive and supportive," says Ashok Gupta of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which served an advisory role in the design of the Conde Nast building. "But we know we can't oversell it. We should not forget conventional technology -- good old energy efficiency, daylighting, natural ventilation." For now, space can be designed in for when fuel cells are commercially ready, as Cosentini Associates has done in a residential tower the Dursts are putting up in New York's Battery Park City development. Architectural Record, May 2004, p 169, by Gerry Khermouch. [Full text: Go to the continuing education section of http://www.archrecord.construction.com (requires free registration)] RURAL STUDIO EXHIBITION OPENS IN D.C. A new exhibition, "Samuel Mockbee and the Rural Studio: Community Architecture," opened on May 22 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibition takes visitors on a quick if gratifying tour through the work of the Rural Studio and its late founder, architect Samuel Mockbee, who advocated architecture that uses art to improve people's lives. Through Sept. 6. More: http://www.nbm.org. Washington Post, 22 May 2004, p C1, by Benjamin Forgey. ADVANCES IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION IN CANADA On the heels of a symposium held at the Universite de Montreal in 2002 called Greening the Curriculum, students, faculty and practitioners from across Canada started an initiative to explore ways of introducing environmental and sustainability issues into architectural education. The organizational committee includes Ray Cole (University of British Columbia), Danny Pearl (Universite de Montreal), Andre Porvin (Universite Laval) and Richard Kroeker (Dalhousie). This initiative has led to a variety of offerings. At UBC, for example, professors Ray Cole and Patricia Pakau recently conducted an advanced design studio challenging conventional expectations concerning both material and social attributes relating to sustainability. The students in Cole's advanced environmental topics seminars gain LEED certification as a matter of course, entering the workforce with demonstrated green design expertise in conjunction with their conceptual training. Student projects will be displayed and a Greening the Curricula seminar for University faculty will be offered at Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Festival in Quebec City in June. Canadian Architect, Apr 2004, p 26, by Ian Chodikoff. [Full text: http://www.cdnarchitect.com] CANADIAN "DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY" BUSINESS CASE STUDIES Students in MBA and Masters of Environmental Studies programs at York University in Toronto have developed ten case studies that feature Canadian firms demonstrating leadership in sustainable design. The students were part of a new Design for Sustainability initiative that includes the Business and Sustainability Program at York's Schulich School of Business, as well as Canadian Business for Social Responsibility and other organizations. A number of the case studies focus on companies that are greening the built environment, including: Swedwood Canada, a supplier of furniture and wood-based board to IKEA; ReSource Rethinking, green building consultants; office furniture makers Nienkamper, Teknion and Knoll; Air Quality Solutions, which sells a botanical indoor air filter called Biowall; Wildflower Farm, a sustainable landscape design business; Dunlop Architects and engineers Halsall Associates, who collaborated on the sustainable design of the University of Toronto's new Student Centre; and Grassroots, a green general store in Toronto. For information, email Kevin McKague at kmckague@schulich.yorku.ca. In Business, Mar-Apr 2004, p 4. NEW BOOK PUBLISHER FOCUSES SOLELY ON GREEN DESIGN Ecotone Publishing Company, a new publisher of books about sustainable buildings, recently released its first book, "The Dumb Architect's Guide to Glazing Selection" by Jason F. McLennan. McLennan also wrote "The Philosophy of Sustainable Design," scheduled for publication in June. McLennan is the founder and CEO of Ecotone as well as the director of Elements, the sustainable design consulting division of BNIM Architects. Ecotone will begin accepting manuscripts by other green building experts in 2005. More: http://www.ecotonedesign.com. Environmental Design + Construction, Apr 2004, p 20, by Michelle Clark Hucal. [Full text: http://www.edcmag.com] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GreenClips is free of charge thanks to individual members and these sponsors: ARMSTRONG CEILING SYSTEMS http://www.armstrong.com/commceilingsna/article10790.html Armstrong offers an expanding portfolio of sustainable ceiling products. Through the Ceiling Recycling Program, an industry first and only one of its kind, old tiles are shipped to an Armstrong plant, not a landfill; 17 million square feet recycled to date. BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY http://www.energybuilder.com So, how green is it? B.E.S.T. provides consulting services to designers and builders of high-performance housing and light-retail developments. ECOSA INSTITUTE http://www.ecosainstitute.org/ Offering educational programs in sustainable design for the general public, students, builders, and architects. Featuring a new summer program: Hands-On Exploration of Sustainable Building Materials and Methods. Guest speaker is Pliny Fisk. Build with new and old materials including straw bale, adobe, rammed earth and more. EPA'S ENVIRONMENTALLY-PREFERABLE PURCHASING PROGRAM Greening the government, one purchase at a time. http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp FIRST COMMUNITY HOUSING SEEKING ENERGY ANALYST Located in San Jose, California, FCH seeks a full-time energy analyst with minimum 3 years experience to consult on energy and water use in multi-family housing. Responsibilities include: monitor effectiveness and energy savings of existing solar and photovoltaic system; analyze water and energy use, analyze reserve budgets related to initial first cost energy decisions, and participate with Reserve-Analysis team on energy savings and sustainability. No relocation benefits. Complete description: http://www.nonprofithousing.org/actioncenter/careers/posted/FCH_energy.pdf 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. GREEN ROOF BLOCKS http://www.greenroofblocks.com/pages/1/index.htm Green Roof Blocks are the easiest. and most affordable green roof, period! Set these self-contained units on any roof type and watch them grow. Green Roof Blocks: The simply affordable green roof strategy! KEEN ENGINEERING SEEKING MECHANICAL ENGINEERS http://www.keeneng.com/ Keen Engineering is a North American leading sustainable engineering design firm. Our offices in Seattle and San Francisco are always looking for top performers in the mechanical consulting field to join our green team. 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, author of "Good Green Homes: Creating Better Homes for a Healthier Planet" (http://www.goodgreenhomes.com). 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.greenclips.com (browse contents) REDISTRIBUTION Please do not redistribute or post copies of GreenClips regularly. Encourage readers who receive GreenClips from you to subscribe directly. 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