US SEEKS TO INCREASE COOLING EFFICIENCY
The US Department of Energy's proposal for new energy-efficiency standards for central air conditioning, published in the Federal Register on November 24, could increase equipment efficiency by as much as 30 percent. The proposal comes at a time when the nation's power grid is under increasing strain, with energy consumption rising faster than the nation's ability to  transmit power. The current minimum energy standard for central air conditioning is 10 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating), with equipment in use averaging slightly higher efficiency. The department's proposal suggests a new standard ranging from 11 to 13 SEER. The department is seeking  comments and calling on the energy industry, energy-efficiency advocates and environmentalists to collaborate on a final proposal, with the new standard slated to take effect by December 2000. "What is clear regarding power outages is that we've got to improve the reliability of the electricity supply and cut peak demand," said Dan Reicher, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy. "The most important way to cut peak demand is to cut air-conditioning load." - The Washington Post, 24 Nov 99, p E04, by Martha M. Hamilton. More: <http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes_standards/rules/central_air/index.htm >]

COLORADO GOVERNOR UNVEILS "SMARTH GROWTH" PLAN
On November 29, Governor Bill Owens announced "Smart Growth: Colorado's Future," a proposal to curb growth, protect open space and create jobs in Colorado. Owens' four-pronged plan calls for preserving open space by creating a tax credit for landowners who preserve wildlife habitat; building stronger neighborhoods by allowing counties to decide how they will grow but requiring regional cooperation on growth issues; building a "world-class transportation system"; and increasing job and business opportunities in impoverished areas by revamping the enterprise-zone system. The plan would allow ranchers and farmers to lease conservation easements on their land, which would prevent development for a specified period of time. It would also outlaw "flagpole annexations," where a city or county uses a loophole in the law to annex land far from its boundaries. Greenwood Village, a Denver suburb, recently took advantage of this loophole, allowing a developer to build on land that county planners didn't want developed. Democrats reacted cautiously to the Republican governor's proposal, noting that earlier this year Owens signed a law making it more difficult for local governments to control growth. "When it comes to allocating resources to this, then we'll  know how much emphasis his administration is giving to open space," says Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Denver. - The Denver Post, 30 Nov 99, by Mark Eddy.

MINNESOTA UTILITY PROMOTES ENERGY-EFFICIENT DESIGN
Energy Assets, a design-assistance program initiated in 1994 by Minnesota utility company Northern States Power and the University of Minnesota, has helped more than 100 mid-size buildings reduce their energy use. A computer energy simulation software designed by the Weidt Group helps local architecture and engineering firms select envelope, lighting and mechanical system options that reduce the energy consumption of building designs. NSP subsidizes the additional cost of energy-saving technologies in the proposed buildings. Herzog/Wheeler checks on these energy saving measures once installed to make sure they are operating correctly. A recent study of 90 buildings participating in Energy Assets revealed energy savings ranging from 20 to 45 percent over the Minnesota State Energy Code's standards. The projects that participated in the program as of mid-1998 constituted 12.4 million square feet of space and represented 20.8 million watts of annual energy savings and a reduction of peak power use of 1.7 watts per square foot. The numbers add up to equal the output of three small peak generator plants. - Architecture Minnesota, Nov/Dec 99, p 21, by Lance Lavine. [More: <http://www.northernstatespower.com/fb/fb_ps_as.htm>]

RECLAIMED TIMBER YIELDS QUALITY BUILDING AT COMPETITIVE PRICE
The City of Vancouver's new Asphalt Testing Plant is almost entirely constructed of recycled lumber, including structural timber salvaged from warehouses on site that were slated for demolition. Although the City had budgeted for a 3,500-square-foot pre-engineered building to accommodate offices and testing facilities, architects Busby + Associates believed that a building of higher quality at a competitive price could be built from 95 percent recycled material. A hypothetical model was created to establish a "shopping list" of materials and quantities that met the project's requirements. The model confirmed that the warehouses' heavy timber trusses, glulam purlins and tongue-and-groove decking could provide most of the structural material for the project. The structural timber was bought from  the demolition contractor for $2,000 (Canadian). Doors, windows and plywood sheathing were sourced through salvage companies at prices between 10 and 50 percent of the cost of new material. Bid documents included a schedule for comparing the prices of new and recycled materials, and cost allowances for special items. The project's contractor set up a mill shop on site to resize  and refinish the reclaimed timber, thereby avoiding costly handling and off-site shop charges. The project met budget and recycled material targets but difficulties inherent in acquiring the appropriate recycled materials in the necessary quantities caused schedule delays. - Canadian Architect, Nov  99, p 14, by Jim Taggart. [For more information email <cstrauss@busby.ca>]

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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 written by Chris Hammer and Jennifer Roberts.

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