GreenClips.8 09.28.94 GREEN RATING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS The US Green Building Council proposes a rating system for buildings based on scores for indoor air quality, temperature, energy conservation, asbestos, and day lighting. According to The Council's David Gottfried, green ratings could increase resale value of buildings, and encourage owners to build or retrofit buildings with environmental impact in mind. -Engineering News Record, September 19, 1994, p. 10. CITY SUED BY DEVELOPER AND CITIZENS Nine citizens sued the City of Minneapolis and Minnesota Environmental Quality seeking to overturn a recent City Council decision that would allow construction of ten luxury homes near a 1.75-acre urban wetland. The citizen's suit contends the City Council could not objectively decide on the adequacy of the project's environmental review since it was being sued by the project's developers. The developers had sued the City because they objected to the environmental assessment. -St. Paul Pioneer Press, September 22, 1994, p. 2C, by Dennis Lien. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA Jerai International Park (JIP) in northern Malaysia will be an ambitious working example of sustainable development that uses today's tools and technologies. JIP's various elements-an international cultural park, stadium, government offices, and college-will work together on the site in a symbiotic manner. Solid and liquid site wastes will generate electricity through incineration and digestion, making JIP energy self-sufficient. JIP is designed to be a veranda city, with shaded open space a natural extension of building interiors. –The Architectural Review, September 1994, p. 77, by Guy Battle and Chris McCarthy. INTERVIEWS WITH BROWNER, BEATTIE, AND THOMAS EPA Administrator Carol Browner, US Fish and Wildlife Director Mollie Beattie, and US Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas discuss the Clinton Administration approach to balancing economic needs with environmental law, and what that means for builders. Carol Browner discusses an EPA and Chicago Board of Trade project to connect builders with construction waste recyclers. Builders will post available recyclable waste information on an online bulletin board where recyclers can access it. -Builder, September 1994, p. 69, by Brad German. LOW-FLOW FAUCETS The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandates water-conserving fixtures. But many manufacturers have merely added flow-reducing devices to faucets, allowing only marginal flow under reduced pressure. Plumbing engineer Julius Ballanco suggests that pressure-compensating aerators are more effective conserving water under varying pressures. -The Construction Specifier, September 1994, p. 114, by Julius Ballanco. ALTERNATIVE LUMBER Trex lumber is an alternative decking material made ofrecycled plastic grocery bags, industrial stretch film, sawdust from furniture factories, and used wood pallets. Like wood, Trex lumber can be drilled, sanded, and painted. The author chose Trex for an underwater installation over pressure-treated wood. It is not, however, as strong as as wood. -Journal of Light Construction, August 1994, p. 40, by Harold Chapdelaine.