GreenClips.247 09.01.04 HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREENCLIPS! This year is GreenClips' 10th birthday! Celebrate by donating to GreenClips. Your donations keep us going year after year. Visit www.greenclips.com for info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATES USE PUBLIC NUISANCE LAW TO SUE COMPANIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE The attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, along with the counsel of New York City, caused a stir in July when they sued five energy companies for contributing to climate change. The lawsuit was filed in New York's federal district court under public nuisance law, which allows states to sue for pollution emanating from sources in other states. While nuisance law is frequently used in environmental cases, this is the first time it has been invoked to limit climate change. It is also the first time government officials have sued private companies for their contribution to climate change. Environmental Building News, Sep 2004, p 3, by Jessica Boehland. [See New York State press release: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/jul/jul21a_04.html] GREEN SEAL REPORTS ON FLOOR-CARE PRODUCTS FOR RESILIENT FLOORING As part of its Choose Green series of reports, Green Seal recently published recommendations for selecting environmentally responsible finishes and strippers for resilient/vinyl tile flooring. Green Seal recommends selecting products that do not contain carcinogens, reproductive toxins, zinc or other metals, ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium salts, dibutyl phthalate, or alkylphenol ethoxylates. In addition, choose finish products with a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration no more than 7 percent by weight and strippers with no more than 7 percent VOCs when diluted for use as directed. Also, choose products with a total phosphorus concentration of 0.5 percent by weight or less, with a pH no higher than 11.5, and a flash point above 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, choose products in recyclable or refillable containers. The Green Seal report includes specific product recommendations by manufacturer and brand. Green Seal Choose Green Report, "Floor-Care Products," June 2004. Download report: http://greenseal.org/recommendations.htm#product LOW CORROSION AND HIGH RECYCLABILITY GIVE STAINLESS STEEL AN ADVANTAGE While the lifecycle data on the environmental performance of metals used in construction is difficult to come by, stainless steel does have attributes that compare favorably to other metals. Stainless steel's high scrap value and low corrosion rate ensure the recycling rate for architectural products is very high even after a long service life. In 2002, the International Stainless Steel Forum estimated the typical recycled content was about 60 percent. Stainless steel is 100 percent recyclable with no downcycling, regardless of how many times it has been previously recycled. And stainless steel, without relying on coatings, is more corrosion-resistant than other common architectural metals. Coatings are necessary for some metals but they may outgas and may affect recycling potential. In a Swedish study of atmospheric corrosion's influence on roof runoff levels, bioavailability, and eco-toxicity, researchers compared runoff from stainless steel, copper, and zinc coatings on galvanized steel and zinc sheet. The study suggested that nickel and chromium are released from stainless steel roofs at such low rates that they do not cause eco-toxicity. The zinc and copper runoff levels were approximately 10,000 times higher, and in a bioavailable form. More: chouska@tmr-inc.com. The Construction Specifier, Aug 2004, p 52, by Catherine Houska. DEEP WATER COOLING PROJECT OPENS VALVES, COOLING TORONTO BUILDINGS Air cooled by frigid waters deep in Lake Ontario recently provided relief to buildings in downtown Toronto after the valves were symbolically opened on a multi-million-dollar project called Deep Lake Water Cooling. The project, which is run by Enwave, a company co-owned by the City of Toronto and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, could be cooling significant parts of downtown Toronto by next summer. Believed to be the first of its kind in North America, the project will draw cold water from far out in the lake, using three intake pipes 83 meters (272 feet) below the surface to collect fluid that is barely above freezing. The lake water is brought to a pumping station and used to cool down other water that is then used to lower the temperature in downtown buildings. The original water continues on into the city system, is treated and enters the drinking supply. Compared to traditional air conditioning, Deep Lake Water Cooling reduces electricity use by 75 percent and will eliminate 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 8,000 cars off the streets. The company says they have the capacity to air condition 100 office buildings or 8,000 homes -- the equivalent of 32 million square feet of building space. The Toronto Globe and Mail, 17 Aug 2004, by Oliver Moore. [More: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/water/deep_lake/] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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; 20 million square feet recycled to date. ASPEN GREEN BUILDING CONFERENCE www.AspenGreenBuilding.com Join a growing network of development professionals under fall mountain colors at Snowmass, Colorado October 6 - 8 to learn from regional and national experts including Ed Mazria, Joe Lstiburek and Paula Baker-Laporte. Topics include building science, green building codes, community planning, solar designs, LEED tours, building for health, commissioning, and resource efficient deconstruction. Sponsored by USGBC Colorado, Aspen Skiing Company, and Intrawest Placemaking. Email John@SustainableBusinessSolutions.net. 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. WSU ENERGY PROGRAM http://www.energy.wsu.edu Providing objective research, information and solutions. Washington State University 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/read/?forum=greenclips (keyword search) http://www.greenclips.com (browse contents) REDISTRIBUTION Please do not redistribute or post copies of GreenClips regularly. 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