Environmental Building NewsTM The Leading Newsletter on Environmentally Responsible Design & Construction

A Publication of BuildingGreen, Inc. www.BuildingGreen.com Volume 15, Number 9 · September 2006

Get a Whiff of This In This Issue The Lowdown on Product Emissions Testing Feature Article ...... 1 • Get a Whiff of This: The Lowdown on Product F THERE IS A MORE TEDIOUS JOB look at what goes into a product when it Emissions Testing than watching paint dry, it might be is manufactured (or what the constituent mail@BuildingGreen .. 2 Isitting outside a stainless-steel chamber materials might contain). For example, we • Concerns About Broadening while paint is drying inside it. But analyti- may examine manufactured wood prod- LEED’s Wood Credit cal chemistry tools are now available that ucts in terms of whether they are produced • More on the Challenges of M&V make it possible for technicians to “see” with non-formaldehyde MDI binder or • Watch NAHB in the what comes off of drying paint—and many urea-formaldehyde binder. Or, we can look ANSI Process other building products—in ways that at what comes off of, or is emitted from, a What’s Happening ...... 3 weren’t possible in the past. Only a small material when it is in use. The latter is what • U.K. Homes Rating System number of labs are dedicated to this impor- product emissions testing is all about. Recognizes FSC and SFI tant task, but the results of their work are • National Center for Healthy already leading to healthier products and It doesn’t take the most sensitive of noses Housing Rates Green healthier buildings. to recognize that many building materials Building Programs and furnishings release various substances • Clinton, Large Cities Group, What Product Emissions Testing into the air, especially when they’re new. Act on Global Warming Unfortunately, our noses don’t detect ev- • FSC to Certify Buildings Is All About erything that’s released, and they don’t tell • Sustainable Projects Increase Firm Profi ts There are two ways to examine potential tox- us when something is hazardous to our • Newsbriefs icity hazards of building products. We can health, reducing our productivity or affect- ing our learning performance. We Awards & Competitions ...... 9 can guess at what we are smelling (or not smelling, but still breath- Then & Now: 1996-2006 ...... 9 ing) by combing through mate- • Patagonia Grows into a rial safety data sheets (MSDS) or New Building other data from manufacturers, Product News & but the only way to really know Reviews ...... 10 what compounds are offgassing • Climate Energy Brings Com- is to capture and analyze product bined Heat and Power Home emissions. That’s where chamber • Nail Kicker Aids Wood Reuse testing comes in. From the Library ...... 19 Chamber testing basics • Design Like You Give a Damn Calendar ...... 20 Using methods developed by the U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) and others, Quote of the month: and pioneered commercially by Marilyn Black, Ph.D., founder “An internal study at HOK and president of Air Quality of the fi rm’s profi tability on Sciences Inc. (AQS), products 15 green projects found that they were, on average, are tested by placing them in 25% more profi table than Chair in a mid-sized emissions-testing chamber at Air Quality sealed stainless-steel chambers. conventional projects.” Sciences lab. Photo: Courtesy Greenguard Environmental Institute (continued on p. 12) (page 6) mail@BuildingGreen

Environmental Building News Executive Editor · Alex Wilson Editor · Nadav Malin mail@BuildingGreen Managing Editor · Jessica Boehland Associate Editor · Mark Piepkorn Associate Editor · Tristan Roberts Editorial Intern · Allyson Wendt Concerns About Broadening Contrary to the approach Wilson Art Director · Julia Jandrisits LEED’s Wood Credit proposes, I recommend improving Marketing Director · Susan Way the integrity of the MRc6 credit by Outreach Director · Jerelyn Wilson I have been following the struggle eliminating those products currently Director of Online Services · Jim Newman that the U.S. Green Building Coun- allowed under “rapidly renewable Webmaster · Ethan Goldman cil (USGBC) continues to have with materials” that are found to be un- Circulation Department Charlotte Snyder, Mgr. · Martha Swanson the timber industry concerning the sustainable, rather than reward- rigidity of the LEED® Rating System, ing the unsustainable, self-certifi ed, Advisory Board traditional forestry of the timber John Abrams, Chilmark, MA and I am writing today to express Bob Berkebile, FAIA, Kansas City, MO my sincere concerns about Alex Wil- industry. Determining that points John Boecker, AIA, Harrisburg, PA son’s recommendations for adjusting have been erroneously awarded for Terry Brennan, Rome, NY agricultural practices that have more Bill Browning, Hon. AIA, Rappahannock, VA MRc6 and MRc7 of LEED [see EBN Nancy Clanton, P.E., Boulder, CO Vol. 15, No. 6]. negative impacts than traditional Raymond Cole, Ph.D., Vancouver, BC forestry does not compensate for the David Eisenberg, Tucson, AZ Drew George, San Diego, CA I have studied the white paper that unsustainable aspects of traditional Harry Gordon, FAIA, Washington, DC Alex Wilson wrote for USGBC’s board forestry. Will the Council subse- John L. Knott, Jr., Dewees Island, SC (“Dealing with Wood and Biobased quently be expected to adjust LEED Malcolm Lewis, Ph.D., P.E., Irvine, CA Gail Lindsey, FAIA, Raleigh, NC Materials in the LEED Rating Sys- to award points for vinyl siding be- Joseph Lstiburek, P.E., Westford, MA tem”). The paper is extremely well- cause it is more durable than many Sandra Mendler, AIA, San Francisco, CA other siding materials even though Greg Norris, Ph.D., N. Berwick, ME written and makes many good points Russell Perry, AIA, Washington, DC about the shortcomings of the existing we are all aware of its toxicity? Peter Pfeiffer, FAIA, Austin, TX MRc6, but in my opinion the recom- Bill Reed, AIA, Arlington, MA Let’s stick to our original commit- Jonathan Rose, Katonah, NY mendations (if adopted by the mem- ment to celebrate only truly better Marc Rosenbaum, P.E., Meriden, NH bership) may not be in the long-term ways of building rather than allow- Michael Totten, Washington, DC interests of either USGBC or LEED. Gail Vittori, Austin, TX ing ourselves to be worn down by As we all know, credibility is very well-orchestrated and well-fi nanced ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING NEWS (ISSN 1062- lobbying efforts. The consumers who 3957) is published monthly by BuildingGreen, Inc. hard to gain, but so easy to lose! Two EBN does not accept advertising. Subscriptions are organizations that have earned cred- are actually driving this transforma- $99/year. Outside North America add $30. Periodicals tion of the building industry are postage paid at Brattleboro, Vt. and at additional ibility concerning green building in mailing offi ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes recent years are USGBC and Environ- counting on us to get it right. We can- to Environmental Building News, 122 Birge St., Ste 30, mental Building News. Both organiza- not afford to lose their confi dence. If Brattleboro, VT 05301. tions are known to “call it as they see we do, “greenwashing” will prevail, Copyright © 2006, BuildingGreen, Inc. All rights and true sustainability will suffer. reserved. No material in this newsletter may be it” and, considering the complexity photocopied, electronically transmitted, or otherwise of the issues associated with green reproduced by any means without written permission Bill Edgerton, AIA, President from the Publisher. However, license to photocopy building, they should each be very The Oak Hill Fund items for internal use or by institutions of higher educ- proud of the courage that they have tion as part of collective works is granted, provided Charlottesville, Virginia that the appropriate fee is paid directly to Copyright demonstrated by taking uncompro- Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, mising positions over the years. MA 01923, USA; 978-750-8400. More on the Challenges Disclaimer I am concerned that if LEED is Every effort has been made to ensure that the infor- adjusted to include traditional for- of M&V mation presented in EBN is accurate and that design estry products as acceptable “rapidly and construction details meet generally accepted Thank you for your excellent article standards. However, the information presented in renewable materials,” and in so do- on measurement and verification EBN, by itself, should not be relied on for fi nal design, ing allow a point for programs that [M&V; see EBN Vol. 15, No. 6]. My engineering, or building decisions. Wilson’s report says are “less robust” experience is that getting this data Editorial & Subscription Offi ce than the Forest Stewardship Council and actually using it is really diffi - 122 Birge St., Suite 30, Brattleboro, VT 05301 (FSC) certifi cation program, USGBC cult to accomplish. The NRG Systems 802-257-7300 · 802-257-7304 (fax) may be opening a Pandora’s box that building the article mentions is such [email protected] · www.BuildingGreen.com will begin to erode the credibility an unusual case. The building own-

Printed on New Leaf Opaque paper, 100% post-consumer, that it has worked so hard to gain. ers are leaders in their sector of the process chlorine free with soy-based inks. FSC certifi ed. renewable energy business and 101%

2 Environmental Building News · September 2006 mail@BuildingGreen — What’s Happening

committed to leading-edge energy developing committees, so no one Guide, the NAHB Research Center, performance. The company is staffed entity can grasp the process and sent representatives to ASTM E.50 with highly competent and moti- totally control it. LEED® for Homes meetings claiming that “too little is vated engineers who understand has been developed by the U.S. known about green building,” and controls better than the controls Green Building Council in a process such a standard guide “would cause contractors, and their time has been that has been open and unbiased. economic damage to the housing committed to building optimiza- industry.” They offered no data to American National Standards Insti- tion; also, the owner has a long-term support their generalizations while tute (ANSI), however well meaning, relationship with the capable and repeatedly making claims that they may be manipulated by large trade extremely detail-oriented energy were “going to get federal funding to groups. There is a rich history of consultant and is willing to pay the properly study green building,” and standards that get ANSI approval consultant for ongoing services to ASTM needed to wait for “credible after being developed behind closed get the building optimized. information.” Their tactics worked, doors, or with special hand-picked even though the ASTM standard In most cases I see, the people operat- “stakeholders,” and very limited guide format is the least binding ing the building either cannot under- access to background information of ASTM documents and is not de- stand the data trends and put them by outsiders. A key issue for green signed to foster codes language. to good use or are spread so thin that builders is whether National Asso- they haven’t the time to look at any- ciation of Home Builders (NAHB)— NAHB is interested in green build- thing that isn’t an immediate prob- the largest trade association in the ing now to profit from the hard lem. I believe that money spent on construction industry—is an inde- work of others toiling since the late an M&V system isn’t worth it with- pendent and honest enough broker 1980s to bring a vital transformation out an overhaul of how we operate to take a full-nelson hold on the defi - to the marketplace. Now, once the buildings. Operations are woefully nition of a green home for American early-adopter risks and hard work underfunded in most buildings, and consumers [see “NAHB Seeks ANSI are largely over, NAHB members that needs to change if this data is Accreditation for Green Guidelines,” will benefi t by skimming off high- to be put to good use. It’s rare that EBN Vol. 15, No. 8]. profi t greening approaches. Clearly operations folks are included in the it will be in the best interests of real In my experience serving on ASTM design process on a level where they green building to keep a very watch- committees, I have witnessed how ef- understand how high-performance ful eye both on the process within fectively NAHB can hijack standards buildings are intended to perform. ANSI and on public claims NAHB and codes development processes. In may make that it has miraculously Much can be learned from just the ASTM Committee E.50 between 1993 become the font of all knowledge on monthly billing data. More detailed and 1998, I saw NAHB block a green green homes. M&V is most useful where you have homes standard guide several times real energy goals you want to meet despite the near consensus in bal- Bion Howard, President and therefore need to be able to go loting among the actual experts on Building Environmental Science in and see what’s happening if the the topic. The very group involved & Technology bills tell you that you are not meeting in developing the current NAHB Hilton Head Island, South Carolina the goals. Marc Rosenbaum, P.E. Energysmiths Meriden, New Hampshire What’s Happening

Watch NAHB in the ANSI U.K. Homes Rating System (SFI). The move is making waves Process across the Atlantic because FSC, an Recognizes FSC and SFI international movement that pio- At some point in the development of neered modern wood certifi cation, is a standard like one for green build- The Building Research Establish- currently the only certifi cation pro- ing, a trusted organization needs to ment’s (BRE) EcoHomes environ- gram recognized in the U.S. Green provide independent and unbiased mental rating system for homes in Building Council’s LEED® Rating oversight. At American Society of Great Britain recently gave equal System, but a recent proposal could Heating, Refrigerating and Air Con- weight in its procurement guide- give second-tier recognition to SFI, ditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), for lines to wood certifi ed by the Forest an industry-led program, and others example, there is proven balance Stewardship Council (FSC) and by (see EBN Vol. 15, No. 6). to the memberships of standards the Sustainable Forests Initiative

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 3 What’s Happening

Issued in April 2006, the new its attention to indigenous peoples’ green building, and government pro- EcoHomes guidelines from BRE rights and workers’ rights, goes curement,” said Virga, adding that establish a four-tier system, with beyond other programs. In the SFI’s interest in EcoHomes was “not more points available to projects that EcoHomes guidelines, BRE included just because of supply reasons.” use wood from higher-tier programs. one social criterion: the need for a Woodrow acknowledged challenges FSC, SFI, and the Canadian Standards consultation process between the to FSC represented by the decision. Association (CSA) program are the local community and the forest man- In addition to noting the lack of ac- three top-tier standards. In forming agement company. ceptance by European governments its guidelines, BRE chose to follow the Michael Virga of the American For- of social criteria, she said, “Now that lead of the Central Point on Expertise est & Paper Association (AF&PA), many major timber suppliers have in Timber Procurement (CPET), a which developed SFI, applauded the multiple-scheme chain of custody, it’s British government program that as- change in EcoHomes. “Whether it’s tough to differentiate ourselves.” sesses the sustainability of the forest a procurement policy by a retailer certifi cation schemes most commonly — Tristan Roberts or a government, we like to see an encountered in the British supply inclusive approach,” he told EBN. chain. CPET analyzed FSC, SFI, and For more information: Noting BRE’s emphasis on life-cycle the other programs on such criteria Forest Stewardship Council UK assessment (LCA), and resulting as legal compliance, sustainability, Working Group guidelines that are generally favor- Llanidloes, Powys, Great Britain accreditation, and chain-of-custody able to wood, Virga said, “We think +44 (0) 1686 413 916 processes. Following an initial as- it’s been a pretty legitimate and cred- www.fsc-uk.org sessment, SFI needed to make im- ible exercise.” American Forest & Paper Association provements and to be re-assessed six Washington, D.C. months later, but it now exceeds FSC’s Rob Watson, senior scientist at the 202-463-2712 overall score within CPET. Natural Resources Defense Council Building Research Establishment (NRDC), argued that BRE’s decision Beck Woodrow of FSC-UK said that Garston, Watford, Great Britain skated over a clear and deep di- +44 (0) 1923 664 127 EcoHomes’ equal recognition of the vide, while recognizing that SFI has www.bre.co.uk different certifi cation programs was brought improvements to some for- inevitable following the results of ests. “Any recognition of equivalence CPET. “The pressure on BRE to come between SFI and FSC,” said Watson, in line with this was huge, both from National Center for Healthy “refl ects a fundamental confusion of the timber trade and from the vari- Housing Rates Green forests not being living ecosystems, ous other certifi cation schemes,” she rather mere outdoor ‘factories’ of Building Programs told EBN. Woodrow also noted that products for human consumption.” European procurement rules for all The National Center for Healthy public projects preclude consider- The immediate effect on the market of Housing (NCHH) has given top ing social criteria in forest manage- the EcoHomes guidelines may not be honors to the American Lung As- ment—an area in which FSC, with signifi cant, considering that SFI ap- sociation’s Healthy House Builder plies largely to Guidelines (see EBN Vol. 11, No. 11) wood from U.S. and the U.S. Environmental Protec- ® manufactur- tion Agency’s ENERGY STAR with ers, imports of Indoor Air Package (see EBN Vol. 12, which account No. 5) for protecting the health and for only 8% of safety of residents. The kudos came the market in in a recently published report com- Great Britain, paring the degree to which major na- according to tional green building and indoor air Virga. The de- quality guidelines uphold NCHH’s cision may be own set of healthy housing recom- a harbinger, mendations, which were developed however. “The through a cooperative agreement U.K. sets a lot with the Centers for Disease Con- of precedents trol and Prevention. The nonprofi t internationally NCHH, based in Columbia, Mary- land, also considered the U.S. Green SFI-certifi ed wood, like FSC-certifi ed wood, can now earn builders when it comes Building Council’s LEED® for Homes points in BRE EcoHomes, a major British rating system. Photo: AF&PA to certifi cation,

4 Environmental Building News · September 2006 What’s Happening

(see EBN Vol. 14, No. 7), the National for improvement. Association of Home Builders’ Green None of the pro- Home Building Guidelines (see EBN grams adequately Vol. 14, No. 2), and Enterprise Com- addresses safety, munity Partners’ Green Communi- failing to recom- ties Criteria (see EBN Vol. 14, No. 3). mend that grab bars be installed inside NCHH grouped its 38 recommen- and outside show- dations into seven fundamental ers and that locks be principles of keeping homes dry, installed on medi- clean, well-ventilated, safe, free of cine cabinets, for contaminants, free of pests, and well- example. While the maintained. In each area, NCHH green building com- awarded each program up to three munity has adopted points depending on the degree to human health con- Photo: Dan Avila, Clinton Foundation which it refl ects NCHH’s own rec- President Clinton, representing the Clinton Climate Initiative, siderations where and London Mayor Ken Livingstone, representing the Large ommendations. they overlap with Cities Climate Leadership Group, sign an agreement, with British The results refl ect NCHH’s choice environmental con- Prime Minister Tony Blair, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarai- to award more points to manda- siderations, it tends gosa, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom looking on. tory criteria. Since none of NAHB’s to ignore them in recommended actions are manda- other instances. The tory, for example, it scored relatively report also notes that the Green the Clinton Foundation. In partner- poorly in all areas, regardless of how Communities program is the only ship with the Large Cities Climate well the voluntary measures may ad- one to consider affordable housing Leadership Group, an organization dress health. The ranking also fails and existing housing. of major cities around the world that to credit third-party verifi cation of have pledged to reduce greenhouse The report is effective in terms of its gas emissions, it has promised to im- achievement, which LEED is the only overall goal: to point out common program to provide. prove energy effi ciency and reduce ground between green building and greenhouse gas emissions in cities. The report also has some other healthy housing and to encourage According to the initiative, cities weaknesses. It acknowledges the further convergence. “NCHH hopes are responsible for 75% of those need to consider the public health this review will promote the prolifer- emissions. impact of a building throughout its ation of these programs and will spur lifecycle—including impacts rang- a greater commitment to resident In an August 2006 announcement, ing from water pollution caused by health as these programs evolve.” Clinton promised to apply the same “business-oriented approach” that mining its constituent materials to — Jessica Boehland air pollution caused by powering his foundation has used to help make it—but does little to account for these For more information: HIV/AIDS treatment more accessible and to take sugary drinks out of U.S. factors. In limiting its scope to health National Center for Healthy Housing impacts within a building, the report schools. The initiative will create a Columbia, Maryland purchasing consortium to lower the also fails to address site-selection 410-992-0712 and land-use considerations, such www.centerforhealthyhousing.org prices of energy-saving products and as access to pedestrian pathways technologies for participating cities, and reduced sprawl, which can in- it will help provide technical exper- fl uence public health concerns such Clinton, Large Cities Group, tise to those cities, and it will deploy measurement tools and systems to as obesity. The report also does not Act on Global Warming consider program feasibility or ef- help cities establish a baseline under- fectiveness, even as it concedes that At the same time that his former standing of their emissions and to “simply strengthening program cri- vice-president’s documentary fi lm, measure the effectiveness of efforts teria without corresponding behav- “An Inconvenient Truth,” is raising to reduce emissions. Ira Magaziner, ior change among builders will not awareness of global climate change, Clinton’s former chief Internet policy achieve healthier homes.” former President Bill Clinton re- advisor, was tapped to head CCI, and, cently helped launch a partnership according to The New York Times, the Despite these weaknesses, the report that takes aim at a major contributor project has received major donations effectively compares green building to global greenhouse gas emissions: from entertainer Barbra Streisand, programs through the lens of oc- urban areas. The Clinton Climate news magnate Rupert Murdoch, and cupant health, and suggests areas Initiative (CCI) is a new program of investor Anson Beard, Jr.

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 5 What’s Happening

Among the partners Clinton has meets FSC’s basic criteria for wood Sustainable Projects enlisted in the initiative are the U.S. harvested legally and within a set of Green Building Council (USGBC) environmental and social conditions Increase Firm Profi ts and the World Green Building Coun- but is not FSC-certifi ed (see EBN Vol. There is a widespread belief that cil. Michelle Moore, vice-president at 14, No. 2). sustainable design is more time- USGBC, said that USGBC will reach consuming for the design team and While FSC’s stamp of approval has out to participating cities to identify therefore not as profi table as con- been available for years to manu- the most effective local strategies ventional projects. But that isn’t the facturers of building materials and to advance CCI’s agenda. Top goals case, at least according to one fi rm’s other wood products such as furni- include fostering local and national data. An internal study at HOK of ture from FSC-certifi ed lumber, this green building councils and increas- the fi rm’s profi tability on 15 green ® program for the fi rst time allows ing licensing of the LEED Rating projects found that they were, on System, which is already used in building owners and developers to average, 25% more profi table than 20 countries, Moore said. Underlin- advertise their choice of FSC-cer- conventional projects. ing the role of green building in tifi ed wood. “A manu- his climate initiative, Clinton, who facturer can label a 2x4 saw his presidential library in Little FSC-certifi ed, but those Rock, Arkansas, certifi ed LEED Sil- 2x4s go in the wall and ver, said, “It doesn’t make sense for get covered up,” said Ka- anyone to build any buildings again tie Miller, of FSC’s U.S. in America that don’t meet LEED offi ce. “The homeowner standards.” could say, ‘I used FSC wood,’ but you can’t see — Tristan Roberts it.” The new full project For more information: certification will track Photo: Cesar Rubio wood use in all phases The San Mateo County Forensics Lab, which was recognized Clinton Climate Initiative of a project so that an Clinton Foundation as an AIA Top Ten project in 2003, was among the sustain- Little Rock, Arkansas owner can legally use able design projects in HOK’s profi tability study. www.clintonfoundation.org the FSC trademark in connection with the U.S. Green Building Council “We did this study because I wanted Washington, D.C. building or other project. www.usgbc.org to fi nd out if we always lost money on As with other FSC standards, project these jobs, or if there are any trends certifi cation will be carried out by we could fi nd,” said Mary Ann Laza- FSC-accredited certifi ers, according rus, AIA, director of sustainable FSC to Certify Buildings to standards issued by FSC. Miller design at HOK, which has 24 offi ces The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), said that partial certifi cation will worldwide. Instead she discovered a nonprofi t that offers third-party cer- be a straightforward process, with that the sustainable projects did bet- tifi cation standards for wood from increasing complexity for full cer- ter than the average for conventional responsibly managed forests, has tifi cation of large projects. So far, projects completed during the same released a new international certi- a 55-home development in Rotter- period. The study did not look into fi cation standard for buildings that dam, the Netherlands, has received the reasons for this difference, but use FSC-certifi ed wood. Announced partial certifi cation, while a multi- Lazarus speculates that integrated in July 2006, with three projects in story apartment building and a clin- design helps the fi rm reduce costs Europe already certifi ed through a ic, both in London, have received while delivering a better product. pilot program, the initiative creates a full certifi cation. Other possible factors include more two-tiered system. Partial certifi cation motivated clients, a more focused — Tristan Roberts will be granted to projects that use design team, or a higher fraction of institutional projects with bigger FSC-certifi ed wood in one or more For more information: specifi c applications, such as fl ooring budgets. The main lesson, accord- Forest Stewardship Council or decking. Full project certification ing to Lazarus, is that many factors Bonn, Germany affect profi tability for a design fi rm, will indicate that at least 50% of all +49 (0) 228-367-660 the wood used in a project is either www.fsc.org and incorporating a sustainability focus doesn’t appear to have a FSC-certifi ed or post-consumer re- Forest Stewardship Council – U.S. negative effect—and it may even claimed wood, while the rest of the Washington, D.C. increase profi ts. wood complies with FSC’s controlled 202-342-0413 wood standard. Controlled wood www.fscus.org — Nadav Malin

6 Environmental Building News · September 2006 What’s Happening

Newsbriefs identifi ed by their designer or owner to 1990 levels by 2020, among other as “green.” Although acoustics was rules. Jeffords is not running for re- IRS Issues Guidance on Energy Ef- a trouble spot identifi ed by a recent election this year, and prospects fi ciency Deduction for Commercial post-occupancy evaluation (POE) by for this legislation being enacted Building Owners—Building own- the Cascadia Green Building Council during this legislative session were ers or leaseholders can deduct the (see EBN Vol. 15, No. 4), and light- unknown at press time. cost of energy-effi cient property in- ing was an additional concern in an stalled in commercial buildings, and earlier release of data from CBE (see recent guidance issued by the Inter- EBN Vol. 14, No. 6), the newer results Greenguard Mold Protection Pro- nal Revenue Service (IRS) describes seem to indicate fewer problems in gram Takes Off—Announced in what taxpayers need to do to qualify. both areas for green buildings but February 2006 (see EBN Vol. 15, No. Qualifying for the deduction, enact- plenty of room for improvement. 3) by the Greenguard Environmental ed in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Institute™, the Greenguard Mold and currently set to expire at the end Protection Program™ recently signed of 2007, means receiving certifi cation Senator Jeffords Introduces Green up its fi rst buildings, two luxury con- of energy savings from a qualifi ed Building and Climate Change dominium towers under construction source. IRS will work with the De- Legislation—U.S. Senator Jim Jef- in Orange Beach, Alabama. Certi- partment of Energy to maintain a fords (I–VT) recently introduced the fi cation requires the developers to list of software that can be used to High-Performance Green Building follow best-practices guidelines set calculate the savings for certifi cation Act of 2006, which would authorize by Greenguard, including steps dur- purposes. The amount deductible spending of $50 million over fi ve ing building design, construction, may be as much as $1.80 per square years to codify existing federal green and maintenance to reduce risk of foot of fl oor area for buildings that building initiatives and enhance mold hazards. Although awareness achieve 50% energy savings, down federal promotion of green build- of the hazards of mold in buildings is to $0.60 per square foot for achiev- ing. The bill would require envi- perhaps greatest in the southeastern 2 ing 16 ⁄3% savings. More informa- ronmental and effi ciency standards U.S., Greenguard recently announced tion is online at www.irs.gov/pub/ for all buildings procured by the state-by-state rankings of mold risk, irs-drop/n-06-52.pdf. federal government, and it would di- derived from insurance claims, rect funding to the General Services showing relatively dry states such Administration to oversee efforts of as Nevada and South Dakota with CBE Releases Occupant Satisfac- government agencies to construct surprisingly high relative risk, due, tion Study for Green Buildings— and use green buildings. The Global Greenguard claims, to poor building Occupants of green buildings are Warming Pollution Reduction Act, practices with respect to ventilation more satisfi ed with thermal comfort separate legislation recently intro- and building envelopes. and air quality, on average, than oc- duced by Jeffords, would require the cupants of conventional buildings, U.S. to reduce its carbon emissions while occupant satisfac- Logan Airport’s Termi- tion with lighting and nal A Earns LEED Certi- acoustics is comparable fi cation—Delta Air Lines’ between green and non- Terminal A at Boston’s Lo- green buildings. That gan International Airport is the chief fi nding of a has become the fi rst airline study released in June terminal to earn LEED® 2006 by researchers at certifi cation from the U.S. the Center for the Built Green Building Coun- Environment (CBE) at cil. The terminal, which the University of Cali- earned 26 points in LEED, fornia, Berkeley. The or a Certifi ed-level rating, findings reflect results was designed by HOK and from 33,285 respondents C&R/Rizvi, Inc., and guid- and 181 buildings, 15 of ed by Delta and the Mas- them certifi ed through sachusetts Port Author- the U.S. Green Building ity. The 640,000 ft2 (60,000 Council’s LEED® Rating Senator Jim Jeffords addresses a rally for the Global Warming Pollution m2) project, including two System and another six Reduction Act with (from left) Senators Frank Lautenberg, Daniel Akaka, structures connected by an Patrick Leahy, and Barbara Boxer. Photo: Jeffords Press Offi ce

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 7 What’s Happening

certifi ed by the American operating offi cer. “USGBC’s mem- National Standards Insti- bers—who are some of the industry’s tute (ANSI). More infor- most experienced and dedicated mation is online at www. visionaries—are very excited about leonardoacademy.org. this opportunity to teach and in- spire the next generation of green builders.” To learn more, contact Lead Found in Asian Pamela Mullender at 203-323-8550 or Paint—Lead-containing [email protected]. paint, banned in the U.S. in 1978, is still common in several Asian countries, Emirates Green Building Council according to a study pub- Founded—In July 2006, the newly lished in the September founded Emirates Green Building 2006 issue of Environmen- Council (EmiratesGBC) held its fi rst tal Research. Researchers board meeting in Dubai, United tested new paint in China, Arab Emirates (UAE) with most of India, and Malaysia, and its six founders and 41 member or- found that two-thirds of ganizations in attendance. Mohsen it contained 0.5% or more Aboulnaga, Ph.D. was named the lead by weight, the U.S. chairman and CEO of the new or- threshold in defi ning lead ganization, which aims to increase paint in existing hous- the awareness and practice of green ing, and 78% surpassed building throughout UAE and the Photo: HOK the current U.S. limit for region. In a region where construc- Logan International Airport’s Terminal A, the fi rst major airport terminal to be built in the U.S. since 9/11, is also new paint of 0.06%. Lead tion is booming—the construction the fi rst airport terminal to earn LEED certifi cation. levels as high as 18.7% industry in Dubai grew at an aver- were sampled, accord- age annual rate of 27.7% between ing to Scott Clark, Ph.D., 2000 and 2004—the new council will underground moving walkway, fea- the study’s principal author. Since have many opportunities to promote tures a roofi ng membrane and pav- the study was performed, he said, green building practices. To date, ing designed to reduce the project’s similar results have been found in four projects in UAE are considered contribution to the urban heat-island paint samples from South America green; one of these, the District Cool- effect, a stormwater fi ltration system, and Africa. For comparison, when ing Chiller Plant in Dubai, achieved water-effi cient plumbing and irriga- lead paint was common in the U.S., LEED® Silver earlier this year. tion, extensive daylighting, high-per- it often contained up to 50% lead formance glazing, and recycled and by weight. Lead exposure can im- locally produced materials. pair mental development and cause AIA to Study the Effects of Trans- behavioral problems. The study is portation Projects—The U.S. Fed- online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ eral Highway Administration has Leonardo Academy Seeks to Devel- j.envres.2005.11.002. awarded The American Institute of op ANSI Standards for Offsetting Architects (AIA) and the University Emissions—Leonardo Academy, of Minnesota’s Center for Transpor- Inc., has announced its intention to USGBC Joins Mentoring Program— tation Studies up to $2 million to develop standards for quantifying The U.S. Green Building Council measure how transportation projects and documenting emission inven- (USGBC) has struck a partnership promote economic development; tories, offsets, and reduction credits. with the ACE Mentor Program of protect public health, safety, and A nonprofi t, the Leonardo Academy America, an organization dedicated the environment; and enhance the helps companies and organizations to attracting high-school students architectural design and planning of quantify their emissions footprints, into the architecture, construction, communities. Congress authorized calculate emission reductions from and engineering professions. The the study in the 2005 transportation energy-effi ciency projects, determine partnership provides USGBC mem- bill that requires the U.S. Depart- how to reduce the emissions foot- bers the opportunity to participate ment of Transportation to report on prints, offset emissions, and certify as mentors. “Students are the future the effects of federal transportation those emission reductions and off- of the green building movement,” spending on community design, sets. It intends to have the standards said Chris Smith, USGBC’s chief health, and safety.

8 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Awards & Competitions — Then & Now: 1996–2006

model enabled Tate, Snyder, Kinsey Architects of Las Vegas, Nevada, to Awards & Competitions follow expansion plans that were laid out ten years ago. “We were able to use planned cut-outs in the Award Briefs walls for new conveyor belts,” Abe- loe offered as an example, “because HGA Wins GE Award for Sustain- the way we handle product has re- able Design—General Electric Com- mained stable.” pany (GE) gave Hammel, Green, and Abrahamson, Inc. (HGA) its 2005 While many of the technologies in Award for Sustainable Design in the addition are similar to those used July 2006. Part of GE’s Edison Award in the original, they make use of im- program, the Award for Sustainable provements in energy effi ciency and Design was created to recognize design. Like the old building, the lighting designs that minimize the new building is heated with radiant use of energy, maximize the use of panels located just below the ceiling, daylight, avoid nighttime light pol- but new, 92% effi cient, gas-fi red boil- lution, and ensure system durability ers help achieve greater effi ciency. and maintainability, while providing Similarly, the new building improves high-quality lighting. HGA’s team upon the original night-fl ush cooling of Jill Cody, IALD, and Jay Oleson, HGA’s LEED Silver offi ces in Milwaukee system with more fans and more feature photosensors, occupancy sensors, P.E., was recognized for the lighting vents, using ten exhaust fans to pull and shade control. Photo: www.korom.com design in HGA’s LEED® Silver offi ces cool night air through 35 vents at a in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. HGA is rate of 300,000 cubic feet per meter online at www.hga.com. climate. Although there are no set (142,000 l/s). The newer cooling sys- criteria for the competition, entries tem works so much better than the should demonstrate a positive envi- old one, Abeloe said, that employees ronmental impact and the ability to have started taking their breaks in the RIBA-USA Announces Sustainable survive as self-sustaining communi- Communities Design Competi- cooler building—and they’ve taken ties. The competition is open to any their ping pong table with them. tion—The Royal Institute of British individual, but each entry must have Architects – U.S.A. (RIBA-USA) re- an accredited architect associated When EBN spoke with Abeloe ten cently announced “Building a Sus- with the design team. Registration years ago, he mentioned that the tainable World: Life in the Balance,” for the competition closes on October staff regretted not being able to use an international competition to de- 1, 2006; completed entries must be radiant heating in the office area velop concepts for sustainable com- received for display by November of the original building. Delays in munities, from small towns to large 1, 2006. For more information, visit programming the offi ces meant that urban subdivisions, that respond ef- www.riba-usa.org/Competitions/ the radiant heat system could not fectively to predicted shifts in global index.htm. be extended, so the area uses con- ventional rooftop heaters and air conditioners, which keep the space comfortable but are more expensive to run. Learning from this lesson, the Then & Now: 1996-2006 designers confi gured the new space in time to take advantage of the more effi cient radiant heating system to facilitate future expansions. Re- Patagonia Grows into a throughout. This includes the 8,000 cently, that planning paid off when ft2 (2,400 m2) retail outlet, which is New Building Patagonia doubled the size of the walled off from the warehouse part facility with a 171,000 ft2 (52,000 m2) When Environmental Building News of the building and uses energy-ef- addition that it hopes will qualify published a case study on the Patago- fi cient air conditioning in the interest for a Silver rating in the U.S. Green nia distribution center in Reno, Ne- of customer comfort. vada, ten years ago (see EBN Vol. 5, Building Council’s LEED® Rating No. 5), the outdoor clothing and gear System. According to distribution Another improvement in the company was just moving into its center director and project manager new building is a more sophisti- new building, which was designed Dave Abeloe, Patagonia’s business cated control system that monitors

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 9 Then & Now: 1996–2006 — Product News & Reviews

Massachusetts-based Climate Ener- gy, LLC was founded by Eric Guyer, Ph.D. in 2000 to develop and market micro-CHP systems for the residen- tial and light-commercial markets. A joint venture between HVAC equip- ment manufacturer ECR Interna- tional, Inc., and energy technology development company Yankee Sci- entifi c, Inc., Climate Energy now has 20 demonstration installations oper- ating in Massachusetts and is poised to introduce its product more widely in the fall and winter of 2006-2007. Installations in Massachusetts are The original Patagonia distribution center in Reno, Nevada, made extensive use of xeri- being handled exclusively by partner scaping, which has grown in well and continues to require little irrigation. Photo: Patagonia KeySpan Home Energy Services in Burlington, Massachusetts. temperature, lighting, and carbon fi gure of just under 1,000 MWh. This Climate Energy’s Micro-CHP system dioxide levels as well as water, gas, fi gure compares well to the base case combines a clean-burning, natural- and electricity usage. Part of this sys- fi gure we quoted ten years ago of gas-fi red Honda generator with an tem is automated lighting, with T-5 2,023 MWh per year. Patagonia hopes advanced Olsen forced-warm-air fl uorescent lamps along the storage to use only 713 MWh in the new addi- furnace made by ECR. (Initially, the aisles individually activated by mo- tion, and given how well the original system will be available with a fur- tion sensors, an improvement over has performed and the lessons the nace; a boiler for hydronic heating the older system, said Abeloe, which company has learned, that expecta- will be available later.) The Honda used metal halide lamps that had tion seems appropriate. generator produces 1.2 kW of elec- to remain partially on throughout When designing the new addition, tricity using 18,500 Btu/hour (19.5 the day and which were activated MJ/hr) of input energy, generating in groups. the company was once again think- ing ten years into the future, design- electricity at about 22% effi ciency. As we reported ten years ago, Patago- ing a space that would be fl exible Because 11,000 Btu/hour (11.6 MJ/hr) nia expected the original building to enough to handle the company’s of the heat produced in the process use 812 MWh of electricity per year; future growth. is captured for productive use, the with more employees and growth in combined effi ciency of the system the business, it has achieved an actual — Allyson Wendt jumps to about 81%. This heat pro- duced by the generator is used to heat the building via the warm-air distribution system. When necessary, the heat output from the generator is Product News & Reviews augmented by the integrated high- effi ciency condensing furnace that operates at a rated 93% effi ciency. mal energy, overall effi ciency can be Climate Energy Brings Climate Energy CEO Eric Guyer dramatically increased. Combined Heat and told EBN that “it’s analogous to the Power Home Most CHP systems provide from a hybrid automobile,” referring to the few tens of kilowatts to a few tens of fact that the technologies have been The idea of combining electricity megawatts of electricity. Technolo- around and are well tested. More generation with the production of gies range from natural-gas-fired than 30,000 Honda-based micro- useful heat—referred to as combined combustion turbines to reciprocating CHP systems have been installed in heat and power (CHP) or cogenera- engines and microturbines (see EBN Japan since the beginning of 2004, tion—has long been attractive. With Vol. 9, No. 10). Now, after many false he said, demonstrating the viability typical fossil-fuel-fi red, utility-scale starts over the past two decades, a of the system. power production, roughly 60 to viable residential-scale CHP system is 70% of the total energy is lost as The Climate Energy Micro-CHP waste heat. By capturing that ther- about to enter the market. system is designed for connection to

10 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Product News & Reviews

the power grid through net-metering is used for power production; this “Everything is very well laid out,” arrangements. While net-metering is contributes to a projected two-year Szczechura said of the Climate an option for solar and wind electri- payback, according to Guyer. Energy design. “My electricians city in roughly 35 states, ten states can be working at the same time as Steve Szczechura, the commercial currently extend those net-metering everyone else.” As for problems, projects manager at KeySpan Home provisions to qualifi ed CHP systems, the only issue KeySpan has come Energy Services who has overseen all according to Climate Energy. The up against so far had to do with the of the Climate Energy installations power output is optimized for net safety controls. The units are set up to date, is very positive about the sys- metering, not peak output. “We’re tem from an installation standpoint. with carbon monoxide, smoke, and not going to power the entire home,” “It’s a relatively standard install,” gas-leak detectors, any one of which said Guyer. he told EBN. The furnace is much shuts down the system; in one case, a In a typical installation, the Climate like any advanced, sealed-combus- homeowner working with turpen- Energy system will produce up to tion furnace with an electronically tine tripped one of the detectors, 5,000 kWh of electricity per year, ac- commutated motor (ECM)—a type shutting down the system. cording to the company. An average of product the company has been It also takes some getting used to the U.S. home uses 8,000 to 10,000 kWh installing for years; the same vent- long run-time of the Climate Energy per year. ing rules and makeup air supply system, according to Szczechura. standards apply. The generator unit Under normal operation, the Climate “Most people weren’t expecting installs like other backup generators; Energy system operates only when to see the furnace running all the they are direct-vented but use indoor heat is called for in a home. However, time.” The long run-time during the supply air. It is the integration mod- Guyer noted that two situations can heating season maximizes power ule—which marries the generator to change this standard operation. The generation and the production of the furnace—that is different, but fi rst is during a power outage when heat. One installation crew, said even here, a fairly standard glycol- the system can be operated to provide Szczechura, thought the furnace was based liquid heat exchanger is used. emergency power to meet key needs. stuck in an “on” position. There are also some differences in The second, which will come into the controls, such as a seven-wire Szczechura said that while a stan- play only when far more systems are thermostat connection and a broad- dard 90% effi cient furnace takes one in operation, is during a peak pow- band Internet connection for utility day to install, the Climate Energy er demand period when the utility communication. system, with both furnace and gen- wants to reduce load. Under special dispatchable load arrangements with customers, a utility company will be able to turn on these micro-CHP sys- tems remotely to either reduce load or increase supply onto the power grid. In this case, the heat generated will be vented to the outdoors so as not to contribute to the cooling load in the home. Regarding cost, Guyer explained that a lot of factors, such as gas in- dustry and electric utility incentives for dispatchable load, will influ- ence the economics of the system for homeowners. “Our job is to make it available at the lowest increment when replacing a heating system,” he said. Guyer projects that the typi- cal installed cost will be $5,000 to $7,000 more than the cost of a heating system alone. The payback, however, will vary depending on incentives. In Connecticut, for example, highly The Climate Energy Micro-CHP system includes a Honda generator (the low box in the center), an ECR furnace (the taller box with the EnergyGuide label), and an integration discounted gas rates apply if that gas module (to the right of the furnace, next to the metal duct). Photo: Climate Energy, LLC

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 11 Product News & Reviews — Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

erator, takes two days. KeySpan has and air requirements to a standard, Product Emissions Testing already been receiving orders and mid-sized nail gun. The new version (from page 1) will begin furnace installations in is more reliable than the previous September 2006, in advance of the version, said Kane. “We really got generator shipments. The company the engineering down, and wear After the product has been in the expects to install 250 systems during and tear is far less,” she said, though chamber for a specific amount of the fi rst year. cautioning that, as with all air tools, time, air samples are drawn from the regular maintenance, including oil- chamber and analyzed, typically us- — Alex Wilson ing a gas chromatograph with mass ing, is critical to durability. Erich spectrometer, to fi nd out what’s in For more information: Kruger of ReNew Building Materials them. The results indicate the con- & Salvage of Brattleboro, Vermont, Climate Energy, LLC centration of each compound (or agreed, and noted the importance Medfi eld, Massachusetts group of compounds) in the air, ei- 508-359-4500 of proper hearing and eye protec- www.climate-energy.com ther in parts per million (ppm) or in tion and a dedicated work area for micrograms per liter (µg/l). Based on KeySpan Home Energy Services denailing. Kruger said that while these concentrations, the offgassing, Burlington, Massachusetts the removal of nails from dimen- or emission, rate can be derived. This 800-539-7726 sional lumber can require multiple emission rate is presented in micro- www.keyspanservices.com “hits” from the Nail Kicker and is grams of emitted compound per sometimes a two-step process with square meter of surface area of the a pry bar, the tool is particularly product per hour, and it generally Nail Kicker Aids Wood effective with plywood and tongue- decreases over time. and-groove fl ooring. “Nails fl y right Reuse out,” he told EBN. The tool offers To have comparable results, several huge potential savings for salvage factors must be consistent from one A unique and powerful tool that test to another. These include the operations and even for routine aids salvage and reuse of wood, size of the product sample in rela- construction; according to Reconnx, the Nail Kicker™ by Reconnx, Inc., tion to the size of the testing cham- 11% of new wood is discarded each of Boulder, Colorado, has recently ber—known as the loading—the year, often due to misnailing or been reissued. Like the original, the temperature and relative humidity, the temporary use of wood for new model NR101-V2, which retails and the rate at which the chamber for $250, works much like standard braces or forms that leaves it full is ventilated with fresh, pure air. pneumatic nail guns—but from the of nails. ASTM Standard D-5116 describes other end of the nail. The sleeve — Tristan Roberts how small-chamber testing is done, of the Nail Kicker slips over the and ASTM Standard D-6670 de- exposed pointed end of a nail, and For more information: scribes large-chamber testing. But with a pull of the trigger, a burst of Reconnx, Inc. neither of these is classifi ed by ASTM air “kicks” it out of the wood. Boulder, Colorado as a “test method” standard, so they 1-888-44-REUSE or 303-554-8557 are not specifi c enough to rely on for According to Reconnx, the Nail [email protected] repeatable results. Kicker is similar in size, weight, www.nailkicker.com Emissions Testing Programs Programs for certifying, labeling, or merely listing approved products based on chamber-testing of emis- sions are proliferating, each with its own specialty and emphasis. Green Label & Green Label Plus After chemicals offgassing from car- pet were implicated in some high- profi le cases of sick building syn- drome (most notably at EPA Head- quarters at Waterside Mall in 1988), carpet manufacturers came under An operator slides the sleeve of the Nail Kicker over the pointed end of a nail, straightens it, pressure to control those emissions. and fi res the gun to “kick” out the nail. Photo: Reconnx, Inc.

12 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

Greenguard Formaldehyde Summary Results the early 1990s, rec- target levels for formaldehyde, total ognized the value of other aldehydes, and TVOCs. For a registry of products most other compounds, Greenguard that qualify as “low- uses one tenth of the threshold limit emitting.” Based on value (TLV). the thresholds it had In 2005, Greenguard responded to developed for a pro- accusations that its thresholds are not gram in the State of restrictive enough to protect human Washington, AQS health by introducing a much more created the Green- rigorous program entitled “Green- guard registry in guard for Children & Schools.” Rela- 2000 and spun off tive to their size, children breathe the nonprofi t Green- pollutants at a higher rate than adults, guard Environmen- so in this new program Greenguard tal Institute (GEI) to established lower thresholds for its administer the pro- chemicals of concern. It also added gram in 2001 (see new categories to its thresholds to EBN Vol. 12, No. 10). match requirements in California and While GEI ostensi- to address emissions of phthalates bly operates as an (commonly used as plasticizers in This summary of test results for Greenguard certifi cation, from independent certi- polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other data provided by GEI, shows the wide variability in performance. fi er, the specifi c test Note that no fl ooring or wallcovering tested during the two-year materials), which are semivolatile protocols and meth- period exceeds Greenguard’s threshold for formaldehyde—though organic compounds not addressed by ods are controlled by some exceeded thresholds in other categories. other programs. AQS, which remains the only lab that per- Following negotiations with EPA On paper, the thresholds in this new forms tests for Greenguard. GEI and and others, in 1992 the Carpet & program (with the possible exception AQS both claim to be interested in Rug Institute (CRI) implemented of the threshold for formaldehyde) opening their program to other labs, the voluntary Green Label testing are the most rigorous for any pro- but their progress towards that goal program and contracted with AQS gram. No comparison of thresh- has been very limited. Greenguard’s to perform the tests. Products identi- olds between programs is reliable, thresholds for certifi cation focus on fi ed with the Green Label (carpets, however, because Greenguard and carpet pads, and adhesives) don’t emit more than the allowable levels Glossary of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), formaldehyde, and a small Emission rate: The rate at which a given agencies include only compounds that contribute to smog in their defi nition of number of other specifi c substances. compound or group of compounds off- gasses from a product or test sample. The VOCs. For indoor air quality purposes the In 2004, carpet manufacturers were emission rate is usually measured in micro- defi nition is not limited in that way. There faced with the proposition of doing grams of compound per square meter of are also semivolatile organic compounds additional testing to meet the needs product surface area per hour (µg/m2-hr). (SVOCs) that don’t become gaseous of several programs in California that It generally decreases over time, so it is as readily but are still found in indoor had established requirements based often shown as a curve on a graph. air. Those most commonly identifi ed as on different test protocols and more chemicals of concern are pesticides, fl ame Resulting concentration: The amount retardants, and phthalates. Finally, micro- comprehensive chemical thresholds of a compound or group of compounds bial VOCs are generated and released as (see below). To avoid that mess, CRI in an air sample or a room, expressed in a result of microbial growth. created Green Label Plus, which micrograms per liter (µg/l) or parts per complies with a modifi ed version of million (ppm). Threshold limit value (TLV): Guide- lines for allowable workplace exposure to California’s requirements (the details Loading: The size of the sample in a a list of chemicals, published annually by of which were worked out in nego- test chamber in relation to the volume of the American Conference of Governmen- tiations) while retaining some of the the chamber, or the amount of a product tal and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). strengths of the original Green Label installed in a room in relation to the size of the room. Chronic reference exposure level program (see EBN Vol. 13, No. 7). (CREL): Guidelines describing maximum Volatile organic compound (VOC): concentrations at which 79 substances are Greenguard Carbon-based substances that occur as safe for long-term exposure, according gases under typical ambient air tem- AQS, which has been the primary to the California Offi ce of Environmental perature and pressure. For the purposes Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). product emissions testing lab since of regulating air pollutants, EPA and other

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 13 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

AQS haven’t published their load- they directed the contractor to esti- verify product content and manufac- ing factors. In the past, Greenguard mate resulting concentrations based turing procedures. has been careful to claim that its on the size of the space, the amount thresholds are based on good in- of product to be installed, and the Indoor Advantage and Indoor door emissions performance, rather ventilation rate, and to ensure that Advantage Gold than on specifi c health risks, and those concentrations didn’t exceed Expanding on its work with the State’s chronic reference exposure has argued that there is insuffi cient FloorScore, and mimicking Green- levels (CRELs). While elegant in con- data on the health effects of indoor guard, SCS announced its own indoor cept, this approach created a big job pollutants for anyone to claim oth- emissions certifi cation programs in for designers and contractors, as well erwise. With the new Children & 2005. These programs follow testing as frustrated product manufacturers Schools program, that distinction protocols based on California’s Sec- who had no way of knowing whether gets murkier: “We still like to refer tion 01350 and the associated Depart- their product would qualify until to it as performance-based, though ment of Health Services document. each space had been analyzed. These we use as benchmarks some of the They differ only in their thresholds requirements were subsequently health-based risk factors,” said GEI for performance: Indoor Advantage adapted for use in California’s CHPS president Carl Smith. was designed specifically to meet program by establishing standard LEED requirements, so its thresholds California Section 01350/ guidelines for classroom size, load- are based on Greenguard’s furniture Collaborative for High ing of materials, and ventilation rate. standard and, for paints, coatings, Performance Schools (CHPS) With those factors established, it was adhesives, and sealants, on Califor- possible for CHPS to publish a list of nia Air Resources Board (CARB) lim- California’s Specification Section products whose pollutant emission its for smog-generating VOCs. Indoor 01350 was originally written by ar- rate would meet the standard. The Advantage Gold was designed to chitect Anthony Bernheim, FAIA, test methods described in Section meet thresholds for CHPS and oth- architect and consultant Hal Levin, 01350 were subsequently refi ned and er programs following California’s and others as part of the bid package codifi ed by the State in its Depart- for a state offi ce complex in Sacra- ment of Health Services document model, so it includes CREL-based mento. Rather than setting allowable “Standard Practice for the Testing limits on individual VOCs. thresholds for individual materials, of Volatile Organic Emissions from the authors chose to focus on the de- Business and Institutional Various Sources Using Small-Scale Furniture Manufacturers sired end result—low concentrations Environmental Chambers.” of pollutants in the fi nished space. So Association (BIFMA) FloorScore As the trade association representing Although several of its mem- most North American manufactur- bers were already getting their ers of office furniture, BIFMA be- products certified through gan working on emissions standards Greenguard, the Resilient relatively early, in the mid-1990s. The Floor Coverings Institute organization didn’t develop a formal (RFCI), like the carpet indus- program, however, so it was caught try, faced problems of incom- fl at-footed when Greenguard became patible standards that were the de facto standard for furniture af- emerging in California. RFCI ter being cited in the LEED for Com- chose to adopt a program that mercial Interiors (LEED-CI) rating Scientifi c Certifi cation Systems system in 2001. EPA’s Environmental (SCS) of Emeryville, Califor- Technology Verifi cation (ETV) Large nia, was developing based on Chamber protocol, which BIFMA California’s test protocols and helped develop and AQS adapted for procedures. Unlike the Carpet its own use, was also endorsed by & Rug Institute, which admin- LEED-CI, but it wasn’t a viable option isters the Green Label program for manufacturers because no certi- itself, RFCI contracted with fi cation program existed to support SCS to serve as an indepen- it. Contributing to manufacturers’ dent, third-party certifier of dissatisfaction with their testing op- compliance with FloorScore. tions was Greenguard’s requirement Photo: Steelcase Workstation panels—like these under construction In addition to reviewing and that entire workstations be tested in at a Steelcase facility—are tested for compliance with authenticating test results, SCS large chambers, an expensive propo- BIFMA’s new furniture emissions standard. visits manufacturing sites to sition for which only one commercial

14 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

Overview of Emissions Testing Programs

CHPS/ Indoor CRI Green Label Greenguard FloorScore BIFMA CA 01350 Advantage Administered by Business Scientifi c Certifi ca- and Institu- Carpet & Rug Greenguard Envi- Scientifi c Certifi ca- Administrator None tion Systems for tional Furniture Institute ronmental Institute tion Systems the Resilient Floor Manufacturers Coverings Institute Association Green Label Plus Non-textile fl oor- covers carpet and coverings, including adhesives; Green Wide range Wide range Wide range Products resilient and hard- Furniture Label also covers of products of products of products surface fl ooring and carpet pads and adhesives vacuum cleaners 6 samples over 4 Chamber testing 4 samples over 5 samples over 14 days, with results 4 samples over 4 4 samples over 4 4 samples, 2 on schedule (for fi rst- 4 days (after days (for Green extrapolated to days (after 10 days days (after 10 days day 3 and 2 on time tests; retesting 10 days of Label Plus) get emission rate of conditioning) of conditioning) day 7 requirements vary) conditioning) at day 7 Furniture and Furniture and Documents compli- seating (in LEED seating, paints and Furniture and ance with LEED IEQ Carpet None Non-textile fl ooring* for Commercial coatings, adhesives seating credit requirements Interiors only) and sealants

*At press time, fi nal approval of FloorScore for fl oorcoverings other than carpet as an alternative compliance path for the carpet credit was pending.

testing lab—AQS—has the necessary accepted by the State of California for existed to link exposure to various facilities. its furniture purchase specifi cation VOCs to human health problems. and by SCS for conformance with Unlike Greenguard, Section 01350 In 2004 BIFMA began in earnest to its Indoor Advantage program. The was explicitly written to protect oc- develop certifi cation protocols that thresholds in BIFMA’s X7.1 meet the cupant health, based primarily on would be less expensive and open requirements of Indoor Advantage to more labs. With technical sup- California’s chronic reference expo- but not Indoor Advantage Gold, nor port from Jianshun (Jensen) Zhang, sure levels (CRELs). the State of California’s specifica- Ph.D., of Syracuse University, BIF- tions. Randy Carter of Steelcase, the TVOC or not TVOC? MA created two furniture emissions chair of BIFMA’s Furniture Emissions standards: M7.1 to document the Consistent with this “low-emitting Standards Committee, notes that the test methods, and X7.1 to establish product” paradigm, Greenguard uses advantage of having the two separate the thresholds for certifi cation. Both TVOCs for one of its thresholds, while standards is that it is easy to update were approved as BIFMA standards the authors of California’s Section one without the other. While ANSI in 2005 and are likely to be accepted 01350 argue that TVOC levels are not requires standards to be updated soon by ANSI as national standards relevant, since many VOCs are harm- at least every fi ve years, “I foresee following an extensive public com- less and there is no solid data linking the BIFMA X7.1 standard changing ment process. In the process of devel- TVOC to health effects. Nearly every- and evolving much sooner than fi ve oping these standards, BIFMA con- one agrees that measuring TVOCs is years,” said Carter, referring to the in- ducted extensive analyses of work- useful along the way, however. “We terest in having the BIFMA standard station confi gurations to determine look at TVOC as an analytical tool, meet California’s specifi cations. typical loading in a workspace and to make sure that we have captured how that loading is divided between How the Programs Differ everything at the individual VOC vertical and horizontal surfaces. level,” said Kirsten Ritchie, director of BIFMA’s effort to liberate furniture Greenguard has always been environmental certifi cation at SCS. described as a certifi cation program manufacturers from AQS’ monopoly Many of the most signifi cant differ- culminated in July 2006 when USGBC for “low-emitting products,” without any explicit claims as to the health ences between Greenguard and the approved the BIFMA standards as California-based programs are tied to “Option C” for Indoor Environmental benefi ts of those lower emissions. That made sense when Greenguard the fact that Greenguard descended Quality credit 4.5 in LEED-CI. BIF- from a history of dealing with sick MA’s M7.1 test method has also been was established, because little data

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 15 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

Matrix of Programs by Protocol and Threshold Semivolatile organic compounds Greenguard CA CREL Combined thresholds (TVOC+) thresholds thresholds The inclusion of phthalates in Greenguard’s Children & Schools EPA/AQS CRI Green Label Greenguard Children — program likely represents the fi rst Protocols Greenguard & Schools attempt to include semivolatile or- ganic compounds (SVOCs) in a major CHPS/ CA 01350 emissions testing program in the CA DHS Indoor Advantage FloorScore U.S., and, given the toxicity of some Protocols — Indoor Advantage Gold pesticides and fi re retardants, that trend is likely to increase. Detecting Hybrid and measuring SVOCs is not easy, BIFMA CRI Green Label Plus Protocols — however—a recent Danish study reported that at least four different methods must be used to be com- building syndrome, which involves How the new furniture prehensive, according to Levin, “and acute reactions to short-term expo- standards fi t even then we don’t know what we’re sure (headaches and allergies from missing,” he said. Part of the dif- BIFMA M7.1 differs from Green- certain VOCs, for example), while fi culty, reported Levin, is that some guard’s process in a number of ways, California’s Section 01350 was created of these compounds are so toxic they some of which enhance its technical based on potential long-term health represent concerns even at hard-to- validity, while others make it easier effects. This distinction shows up in detect concentrations. Greenguard’s for manufacturers to use. In terms of the testing protocols: Greenguard competitors question whether the enhancing validity, BIFMA requires requires that products be tested fresh test methods that AQS is using for that product be in a testing chamber phthalates are sufficiently robust. off the production line and takes for a full seven days, while Green- According to Raja Tannous, lab di- measurements from day one (even guard tests for four days and ex- rector at Berkeley Analytical Asso- though it’s the emission rate at day trapolates the results to estimate an ciates, “No one has shown that they seven that must meet the thresholds). emission rate at day seven. BIFMA’s can detect and quantify these chemi- Section 01350, on the other hand, re- M7.1 is also the first standard to cals using these methods. There is no quires a ten-day conditioning period adopt the ventilation requirements foundation for that.” But Worthan, to eliminate the effects of any initial from the 2004 edition of ASHRAE president of AQS, defends their ap- offgassing, as it is concerned only Standard 62.1, which are much more proach: “Obviously, the testing and with emissions that are likely to con- sophisticated than the requirements analysis techniques that AQS uses tinue over a longer term, potential- in the previous edition. are consistent with ASTM standards ly causing lasting health problems that are out there,” he said. for occupants. On the ease-of-use side, BIFMA only requires sampling at two time in- While arguments have raged back tervals, while Greenguard requires Wet-applied products and forth as to which approach is four. More signifi cantly, BIFMA fol- Nearly all green building specifi ca- better, a consensus is emerging that lows California’s lead in allowing tions and rating systems deal with both have merit. Hence Greenguard’s workstations to be modeled in piec- wet-applied products—including new Children & Schools standard es, so that emission rates are derived paints, coatings, adhesives, and seal- incorporates California’s chronic for individual components, which ants—by restricting the amount of reference exposure levels thresholds, are then used to calculate emissions VOCs in the product, as opposed to while the authors of Section 01350 for entire workstations. The current those emitted from it. Unfortunately, are working on dealing with short- version of BIFMA’s thresholds stan- the only available information on term emissions in a next iteration of dard, X7.1, matches Greenguard’s re- VOCs in these products tends to be that specifi cation, which is being de- quirements (although there is some in relation to smog-generating VOCs veloped for inclusion in the design- disagreement as to whether having that are regulated by EPA and re- build bid requirements for another the same thresholds is meaningful, gional air quality authorities, so some given the changes in protocol). state offi ce complex. The need to be VOCs of concern for indoor air pur- testing for short-term exposures, ac- poses are omitted. According to an knowledged Hal Levin, is “an issue Emerging Issues online continuing education course that a lot of us have agreed needed The nascent fi eld of product emissions developed by Greenguard, one paint to be addressed for some time, but no testing is rife with unresolved contro- tested by AQS that was labeled as one has really addressed.” versies and new areas to explore. “zero-VOC” produced TVOC emis-

16 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

sions that were double the allowable while growing, is quite Greenguard threshold. small. Only a handful of labs have the equipment The situation is starting to improve. and experience to perform Some programs focus on emissions these tests. Three of these from adhesives, including CRI’s labs are commercial ven- Green Label for carpet adhesives and tures that are in the busi- FloorScore for fl ooring adhesives. In ness of testing products: addition, one paint line—Benjamin Moore’s Ecospec™—is Greenguard • Air Quality Sciences certifi ed, and several others are in- (AQS), of Marietta, Geor- cluded in the CHPS list of Section gia; 01350-compliant products. But there are complications with testing wet- • Berkeley Analytical As- Carpet samples for emission tests are fi tted into metal trays to minimize exposed carpet edges, which could applied products that the available sociates (BAA) of Rich- skew the results. Photo: Berkeley Analytical Associates test methods haven’t fully addressed, mond, California; and according to Levin: “You can’t test • Materials Analytical Services very early because you have so much (MAS) of Atlanta, Georgia. of results from one lab to another. water in the air that you can’t get a In connection with BIFMA’s Furni- good sample. So you have to wait Other high-quality labs exist at re- ture Emission Standards, Syracuse a while, but then it may be too late search institutions, including Geor- University is currently conducting for compounds of concern. Or, since gia Tech Research Institute and Syra- a round-robin testing program to some compounds are formed later in cuse University, and within EPA and validate results across multiple labs the curing process, it may still be too the California Department of Health and to accredit labs that meet its early for compounds of concern.” Services. In addition, several product standards. The Carpet & Rug Insti- manufacturers have limited testing tute is supporting a similar effort Interactive effects capability of their own. But, there is within ASTM to develop a standard no standardized accreditation pro- Testing products individually is an test method for carpet, with accred- gram to validate the quality of the important fi rst step, but chemicals in- ited labs. A drawback to round-robin work in any of these labs. teract with each other in complicated testing is that a small number of less competent labs producing in- ways. Paint in a can may emit one set Greenguard’s status as an indepen- consistent results can make all par- of compounds, but when curing on a dent program is challenged by other ticipating labs look bad. While AQS sheet of wallboard may react with the players in the industry, largely be- frequently participates in profi ciency paper or additives in the wallboard cause of GEI’s close affi liation with programs and round-robin studies, to emit entirely different substances. AQS, which does all the testing for according to Worthan, “We have To address this concern Section 01350 Greenguard. While SCS claims that it to be very selective in which stud- requires that paint samples be tested works with multiple labs, in practice ies we participate in,” he said. AQS on a substrate similar to the one on only Berkeley Analytical is actively declined to participate in both these which the paint will be applied. Simi- testing products for both FloorScore round-robin testing programs (al- lar chemical interactions may occur and the Indoor Advantage program. though it did change course and try with other building assemblies. For The other SCS-approved labs are to join the BIFMA program, but was example, the incidence of sick-build- AQS and MAS, but neither of these too late), leading to the possibility ing syndrome at EPA’s headquarters appears to be actively testing for that it could be passed over for test- in Waterside Mall that helped jump- those SCS-run programs. “The real- ing work that was once exclusively start the whole fi eld of product testing ity is that we would love to be able to its domain. appears to have been caused not by do some testing for FloorScore,” said the carpet alone but by interactions Martin Bennett of MAS, but he told The ability to qualify and accredit between the carpet and the leveling EBN that his attempts to contact SCS testing labs may get a boost from the compounds used on the concrete have not generated any response. He National Institute for Standards and slabs. Ultimately, it may be necessary did acknowledge, however, that he Technology (NIST), which is work- to test air samples from the actual hasn’t solicited manufacturers di- ing on calibration standards for test buildings to ensure that unwanted rectly offering to provide the testing chambers and equipment. Cynthia compounds haven’t been released they would need for the program. Reed, Ph.D., of NIST is developing a into the air. One of the barriers to more compe- standard reference sample that can Lab accreditation tition between the labs has been a be used to validate the performance lack of confi dence in the consistency of the testing labs, so it won’t always The fi eld of product emissions testing, of their practices and repeatability be necessary to run round-robin tests

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 17 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing

and compare each lab’s results with more seeing this kind of testing as a facturers who are seeking to have the others. critical part of their product develop- their products tested and certifi ed. ment process,” said Worthan of AQS. As the representatives of the various Looking Ahead Whether through independent labs programs challenge each other for or in their own test facilities, manu- supporters, they are identifying each The amount of activity in the fi eld of facturers are clearly paying more others’ weaknesses, driving every- emissions testing is skyrocketing. In attention to what’s offgassing from one to improve and raise the bar. On spite of the arrival of competing pro- their products. the other hand, it’s a source of con- grams, Greenguard’s business con- fusion for specifi ers and consumers, tinues to grow at a rapid pace. “In the There are also more and more sources who are having trouble keeping past 15 months, we have more than of information on chemicals emitted track of all the programs and know- doubled the number of participating from both generic and brand-specifi c ing which ones to trust, and a source manufacturers,” Smith told EBN. products. One of the most compre- of uncertainty for manufacturers. Greenguard’s Children & Schools hensive sources is the Indoor Air program, introduced in August of Quality Emission Simulation Tool EPA, which pioneered much of the 2005, already has products certifi ed (IA-QUEST) software from National science behind the current emissions from 14 manufacturers. At the same Research Council Canada, which testing, has not been very visible in time, testing for FloorScore and In- both calculates predicted concen- the marketplace, largely because door Advantage is driving Berkeley trations in a building and provides Congress has not given EPA regula- Analytical to expand. “We’re con- access to the underlying data for nu- tory authority regarding indoor air stantly upscaling,” said lab director merous generic building products. quality. EPA’s role may become more Raja Tannous. Tannous reports that visible, however, as Bob Thompson, The number of emissions-based the company is building a large chief of EPA’s Indoor Environments programs for certifying or labeling chamber capable of testing full-size Management Branch, considers de- products is also growing quickly: workstations and is planning to add veloping an initiative that would what began with Greenguard in 1999 more mid-size chambers to keep up pull the various players together to has now become nine distinct labels with demand. consolidate testing and certifi cation or certifi cations from six organiza- protocols and methods for greater Perhaps most encouraging is the tions. On one hand, this explosion consistency and transparency. Even- increased use of emissions testing of programs indicates a healthy in- tually, according to Thompson, there before products even come to mar- dustry and comes from an interest could be an ENERGY STAR™-like “Air ket. “Manufacturers are more and in providing more options for manu- Star” label, cosponsored by EPA and stakeholders, to identify products Sample Mass Spectra Chromatogram that meet nationally accepted criteria for indoor air emissions. The Bottom Line Chamber testing is just one piece of the air quality puzzle. Our under- standing of the relative importance of emissions from building products and materials in the overall indoor air quality picture is evolving quick- ly. Other sources of contaminants, including cleaning products, occu- pant activities, pollutants introduced with ventilation air, and mold, also signifi cantly affect indoor air. The good news is that much progress is being made on most, if not all, of these fronts. While there are many areas of dis- agreement and distinction among the testing and certification pro- grams described above, they are all This chromatogram from a carpet sample prepared for round-robin testing has clear spikes technically sound, and they are all for a number of identifi ed VOCs. Source: Berkeley Analytical Associates

18 Environmental Building News · September 2006 Feature Article: Product Emissions Testing — From the Library

contributing to improved indoor air quality. The methods are not consis- tent enough to allow for precise com- From the Library parisons, but it’s safe to say that some programs, such as Indoor Advantage Gold, FloorScore, and Greenguard’s Design Like You Give make them adaptable without ask- Children & Schools, are more com- a Damn ing them to relinquish control over prehensive and have tighter thresh- them. The book focuses mainly on Architectural Responses to olds. These are likely to be more case studies in that spirit, looking at Humanitarian Crises dependable in terms of protecting the successes and failures of many edited by Architecture for Humanity. occupants from emissions than the designs in a balanced manner. The Metropolis Books, New York, New York, others, although there are certainly editors celebrate innovation even as 2006. Paperback, 336 pages, $35.00. exceptions, such as the possibility they keep the reader’s feet fi rmly on of reactions to short-term exposure the ground; good designs for emer- from newly installed products, which gency shelters, for example, must be Greenguard is better equipped to lightweight enough to make ship- capture than Indoor Advantage. In ping economical and should ideally addition, those programs that lack make use of materials readily avail- the oversight of independent cer- tifiers, including CHPS and CRI’s able after a disaster. Interviews with Green Label and Green Label Plus, several designers offer a deeper look are inherently less dependable. In into the design process and further practice, however, all these programs emphasize the need for design to are making our buildings healthier work with the practical realities of places to live and work, and, if cur- relief work. rent trends continue, these programs Although professing no special in- will only get better over time. terest in green or sustainable design, — Nadav Malin the book discusses many projects that have low environmental impact For more information: and are designed for passive sur- In 1999, Cameron Sinclair and his Air Quality Sciences, Inc. vivability (see EBN Vol. 15, No. 5). mentor Charles Lauster felt called www.aqs.com Furthermore, the focus of the book to respond to the confl ict in Kosovo, Berkeley Analytical Associates, LLC and the organization—on provid- which resulted in the damage or www.berkeleyanalytical.com ing for basic human needs through destruction of more than half of the humanitarian design—reinforces The Business and Institutional housing stock in the region. Their re- Furniture Manufacturers Association many of the lessons of sustainable sponse took the form of a design com- International building, including those of inte- petition for emergency housing that www.bifma.org grated design. In order to provide operated from a laptop computer in Carpet & Rug Institute effective emergency shelter, or to the corner of Sinclair’s offi ce cubicle; www.carpet-rug.org fully embrace the possibilities of it has since grown into a major non- green building, all of the members Collaborative for High Performance profi t organization, Architecture for Schools approved product list: www. of a project team must work together Humanity, that connects architects chps.net/manual/lem_table.htm from the beginning. and their designs with relief agencies Greenguard Environmental Institute around the world. In Design Like You All in all, this record of Architecture www.greenguard.org Give a Damn, the organization’s fi rst for Humanity’s history offers a well- Indoor Air Quality Emission book, Sinclair and others lay out the balanced look at the organization’s Simulation Tool (IA-QUEST) history of the group amid the larger efforts. Despite the design and im- http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ie/iaq/ iaquest_e.html history of affordable and disaster plementation challenges of emer- relief housing, and provide 80 case gency and transitional housing, the Materials Analytical Services, Inc. studies to illustrate the history of breadth of creativity showcased in www.mastest.com such initiatives. the book’s case studies offers hopeful Resilient Floor Coverings Institute new approaches to a form of shelter Architecture for Humanity empha- www.rfci.com increasingly in demand. Scientifi c Certifi cation Systems, Inc. sizes “open source” design, asking www.scscertifi ed.com/iaq/ architects to share their designs and — Allyson Wendt

Volume 15, Number 9 · Environmental Building News 19 28-30 • West Coast Green, San Francisco, Institute of America. Information: 202-686- CA. Organizer : West Coast Green, LLC. 6614; www.designbuildexpo.com. Calendar Information: 800-419-1282; www.westcoast green.com. NOVEM BER

OCTO BER 1-4 • International Sustainable Building SEPTEMBER Congress and Expo, Monterrey, Mexico. 4-5 • ACI New England 2006, Westford, Organizer: Mexico Green Building Council. 16-17 • 7th Annual Rocky Mountain MA. Organizer : Affordable Comfort, Inc . Info: www.sustainablebuilding.org.mx. Sustainable Living Fair, Fort Collins, CO. Information: 724-627-5200; www.affordable Organizer : Rocky Mountain Sustainable 10-12 comfort.org. • Green Festival San Francisco, Living Association. Information : 970-224- San Francisco, CA. Organizer: Co-op 3247; www.sustainablelivingfair.org. 4-8 • AIA South Atlantic Regional Con- America . Information: 202-872-5307 ; www. ference & Expo, Chattanooga, TN. Orga- greenfestivals.com. 18-19 • Engineering Green Buildings nizer: The American Institute of Architects . Conference and Expo, Austin, TX. Organiz- Information: www.aia.org. 13-15 • Brownfi elds 2006: Revolution in er: HPAC Engineering. Information: 800-438- Redevelopment, Boston, MA. Organizer : 6720; [email protected]; www.egb 6-7 • Green Building Expo, Scottsdale, International City/County Management registration.com. AZ. Organizer: Scottsdale Green Building Association, U.S. EPA . Info: 202-962-3674 ; Program . Information: 480-312-4202; www. www.brownfi elds2006.org. 19-22 • Rethinking Sustainable Con- greenbuildingexpo.com. struction 2006, Sarasota, FL. Organizer: 14-16 • Build Boston 2006, Boston, MA. University of Florida. Info : 352-273-1172; 6-9 • Green Solutions for a Blue Planet, Organizer: Boston Society of Architects . www.treeo.ufl .edu/rsc06 . Minneapolis, MN. Organizer : American Info: 800-544-1898; www.buildboston.com. Society of Landscape Architects . Information: 24-Oct. 1 • 2006 International Straw Bale www.asla.org. 15-17 • Greenbuild International Confer- Building Conference, Lakefi eld, ON, Can- ence and Expo 2006, Denver, CO. Organizer: ada Organizer: Ontario Straw Bale Building 10-12 • Excellence in Building 2006, U.S. Green Building Council . Info: 202-828- Coalition. Information: 613-658-2404; www. Norfolk, VA. Organizer: Energy & Environ- 7422; www.greenbuildexpo.org. strawbalebuilding.ca/isbbc.shtml . mental Building Association . Information: 952-881-1098; www.eeba.org. 29-30 • National GreenBuilding Confer- 27 • Construction Specifi cations Insti- ence, Toronto, ON, Canada. Organizer: tute Annual Trade Show and Education 11-12 • Architectural Record Innovation York Communications. Information: Conference, New York, NY. Organizer: Conference, New York, NY. Organizer: 416-512-1215; www.nationalgreenbuilding Construction Specifi cations Institute, Met- McGraw-Hill Construction. Information: expo.com. ropolitan New York Chapter. Information: 212-904-6819; www.construction.com. DECEM BER 845-352-3511; www.csimetronewyork.org . 14-15 • Green Festival, Washington, D.C. Organizer: Co-op America. Information: 4-7 • Ecobuild Federal 2006, Washing- 27-28 • Gulf Coast Green 2006, Houston, 202-872-5307; www.greenfestivals.com. ton, D.C. Organizer: Sustainable Buildings TX. Organizer : The American Institute of Industry Council. Information: 800-996- Architects, Houston Chapter. Information: 18-20 • 2006 Design-Build Expo Har- 3863; [email protected]; www. www.gulfcoastgreen.org . mony and Rhythm in Project Delivery, ecobuildfederal.com. Nashville, TN. Organizer: Design-Build

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