GreenClips.11 11.23.94 PROPERTY OWNERS OPT FOR ECOLOGICAL PLANNING Long-time property owners in Grayslake, north of Chicago, blocked plans for a high-density housing development, buying the land and planning environmentally-sensitive housing instead. The new plan features an arrangement with Milwaukee Road and Wisconsin Central railroads to build new rail stations that will connect the development with north and south bound trains. The units, well-insulated and designed for cross ventilation, consume half as much fuel as conventional houses in the area. -The New York Times, November 13, 1994, p. 30, by Cheryl Kent. COMMONSENSE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY HEADQUARTERS Architect Richard Keating's competition-winning design for a State of Washington office building addresses environmental issues with common sense instead of complex solutions. Keating's design was the only one of five entries that did not consume most of the meadowed site with the building's footprint. The office building features renewable construction materials, sediment ponds and filtration vaults to collect and purify storm water, and daylighting to reduce cooling and lighting loads. -Architectural Record, October 1994, p.98, by Charles Linn. RESPONSES TO PCSD DOCUMENT The President's Council on Sustainable Development reviewed public responses to its "Vision Statement and Principles for Sustainable Development" at an October 27th meeting. The document generated considerable controversy. Some critics thought the document was "anti-growth", others thought it anthropocentric, and some said it lacked a global approach. Responses to the PCSD document came from non-government organizations, government sources, industry, and others. -The Earth Times, October 31, 1994, p. 5, by John Stanley. CASE STUDIES SHOW ENERGY CONSERVATION INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY Energy conservation measures can increase productivity between 6 and 16 percent, according to a recently released book by Joseph Romm-Lean and Clean Management: How to Boost Profits and Productivity by Reducing Pollution. One case study credits energy-efficient lighting for a 20 percent improvement in worker's ability to detect imperfections at a Boeing shop that produces interior sidewall panels for jets. Another case study shows sales at the "Eco-Mart" Wal-Mart in Lawrence, Kansas, are significantly higher in daylit areas. -Buildings, November 1994, p. 16. CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE TIDBITS Painted wood and pressure-treated wood present toxicity hazards and should be diverted from conventional wood recycling markets. Gypsum drywall is difficult to recycle into a marketable product due to the low value of sheetrock material and limited market applications. -BioCycle, October 1994, p. 90, by Robert Brickner and Sara Bixby. NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS A new formal public garden at Temple University, featuring 100 different native plants, seeks to educate the public about the use of native plants in landscape design. Native plantings require less maintenance and chemicals, and restore biodiversity to regions made static with the same plantings of trees and shrubs. -Philadelphia Inquirer, November 18, 1994, p. E01, by Catherine Quillman. CERTIFICATION OF AIR-CONDITIONING TECHNICIANS November 14 was the last day for US air conditioning technicians to be certified by the EPA. Technicians must successfully complete an EPA test for certification. Without it technicians cannot purchase CFC and HCFC refrigerant, install or service air conditioning and refrigeration systems. -Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20,1994, p. M04.