House Passes Solis' Green Jobs Bill

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) to help train American workers for jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries. The bill was passed as part of H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.

The Green Jobs Act (H.R. 2847) authorizes up to $125 million in funding to establish national and state job training programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, to help address job shortages that are impairing growth in green industries, such as energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles, and biofuels development. It also helps to identify and track the new jobs and skills needed to grow the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. Among other things, this effort would link research and development in the green industry to job standards and training curricula.

The Green Jobs Act is supported by a broad coalition of business, labor, environmental and civil rights organizations, including: Apollo Alliance, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, National Association of Energy Service Companies, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, and Sierra Club. Visit www.house.gov/solis for more information.

Student Design Competition Features environmentally Friendly Uses for Concrete

Renewable Energy Forecast: 40 Million Jobs in U.S.

Boulder, Colo. — The nation’s first comprehensive report on the size of the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries has been released. With appropriate public policies, by the year 2030 the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are poised to generate up to 40-million U.S. jobs, according to the study. The report was commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society. Download the full report at www.ases.org.

U.S. ESA, US BCSD Announce International Initiative

Chicago — In an effort to promote environmentally sustainable economic development worldwide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD) announced a far-ranging agreement to collaborate on international sustainable development projects, starting in China.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Sabrina Watkins, chairman of the US BCSD and environmental technology manager at ConocoPhillips, signed a memorandum of understanding today at the US BCSD Summer Meeting in Chicago to promote cooperation on environmental and sustainable development initiatives around the world.

The focus initially will be on China, where the parties will build on existing relationships with the China Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Chinese EPA to develop projects that assist in China’s transition to a sustainable economy that efficiently uses and reuses materials and is powered by renewable energy and other clean energy sources. Specifically, they will collaborate in three areas:

Creating a more sustainable strategy for cement production in China, the world’s leading producer;

Expanding development and deployment of clean technologies to convert biomass waste to renewable energy, and

Implementing byproduct synergy, a system that allows companies from one industrial sector to use the wastes, or byproducts of another sector as raw materials for other companies.

Visit www.usbcsd.org for more information.

Student Advocacy on Global Warming Explodes

Washington, D.C. — The Campus Climate Challenge wrapped its first year of explosive student activity that pushed campuses to become models for a clean energy revolution to stop global warming. The Challenge is a three-year campaign of the Energy Action Coalition to unite students to win 100 percent clean energy policies on their campuses.

Highlights from the first year of the Challenge include:

Two hundred fifty-one presidents of colleges and universities have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Presidents signing the commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time.

Students on more than 575 college and high school campuses across the United States and Canada organized events calling for immediate solutions to deal with the potentially devastating impact of climate change caused by global warming. An estimated 50,000 students were reached during this week.

Challenge partners organized 17 regional and state summits, bringing together more than 1,200 students to participate in skills-building sessions, strategy discussions and community service projects.

A new online advocacy community was launched to galvanize students around the Challenge.

Visit www.climatechallenge.org for more information.

The Green Patient Room

Houston — Environmental responsibility and healthcare are on the national conscience. Addressing these concerns is the Green Patient Room, a healthcare exhibit utilizing ecologically-friendly design and materials to show just how “green” hospital facilities can go. The Green Patient Room will be at the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo, Oct. 24-26, in New Orleans, La. The expo will be open Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For a complete list of exhibitors or more information, visit www.worldworkplace.org.

 

Pennsylvania University Implements $10 Million Contract

Dallas — East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) has signed a $10-million performance contract with the Energy Solutions division of TAC. TAC will provide facility upgrades to simplify operations and improve the comfort and efficiency of university buildings.

TAC will install a variety of energy conservation measures (ECMs) impacting 1.4 million square feet of university space. These ECMs will include HVAC system improvements and installing direct digital controls (DDC) based on open protocols. Open systems allow building owners to integrate components from a variety of sources and tie them together to operate seamlessly. TAC will also upgrade ESU’s boilers with controls and economizers, and will provide much-needed humidity control. Finally, energy efficient lighting and water saving plumbing fixtures will be added.

Visit www.tac.com for more information.

 

Facilities Strategic Plan Update for the UCCS

Colorado Springs, Colo. — Loebl Schlossman & Hackl announced that the Colorado Board of Regents has unanimously approved the Facilities Strategic Plan Update for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). This long-range master plan creates a vision for sustainable campus development, including a 5-Year, 15-Year, and 100-Year Plan for campus growth. Visit www.uccs.edu for more information.

 

Curtainwall Wraps Syracuse Students in First Amendment

Wausau, Wis. — Students of Syracuse University’s School of Public Communications literally will be wrapped in the First Amendment as it is inscribed on the glass exterior of the newest campus building, Newhouse III. Wausau Window and Wall Systems provided the curtainwall. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York, the project includes the construction of the 74,000-square-foot, $30-million Newhouse III as well as upgrades to the existing facility, Newhouse I and II. For more information, visit www.wausauwindow.com.

 

Discovering Green at Metalcon

Las Vegas — “The Architect Wants a Green Building…How to Successfully Achieve That Goal” is one of the many green sessions appearing this year at Metalcon. Moderated by ED+C Senior Editor Michelle Hucal, LEED AP, this session will show how green building is becoming part of most projects as more building owners and their architects realize the long-term benefits of building an energy efficient structure. A panel of experts including Dean Sandven of TectaAmerica, Domenic Morelli of Thermo Mfg., and Geof Garabedian of Weathertech Consulting Group will share their experiences to show you how contractors, architects, design teams and manufacturers can work together to create a successful sustainable project that often incorporates LEED or other green building guidelines. Visit www.metalcon.com for more information.

 

Clivus Multrum Composting Toilet System Wins Top 10 Award

Lawrence, Mass. — Clivus Multrum’s Composting Toilet System has been judged one of the “Top 10 Green Building Products of 2007” by Sustainable Industries — a Portland, Oregon-based green business magazine. The “Top 10 Green Building Products” recognize companies that are innovators, pioneers and proven performers in creating high-quality, high-value, resource-efficient products.

 

Ohio's First Green County Courthouse

Columbus, Ohio — County Commissioners and the Franklin County Courthouse project team were joined by members of the Common Pleas court and city officials to unveil the first green county courthouse in Ohio. Located immediately north of the current Franklin County Complex, the new Courthouse will seek the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification. The new building’s sustainable characteristics include a number of high-performance features that take advantage of an East/West site orientation to optimize daylighting and save energy, utilize high-efficiency HVAC systems, incorporate high ceilings that allow light into courtrooms, a civic plaza, a “green” lobby canopy and outdoor public spaces. Visit www.co.franklin.oh.us/commissioners for more information.

 

Green Building Website to Assist Sustainable Building Practices

Cambridge, Mass. — Grace Construction Products has expanded its green building initiative with the launch of a dedicated section on its website to green building products and practices. The new “Building Green with Grace” site links users with an interactive guide to products that help architects and specifiers achieve the prerequisites and points needed to meet LEED guidelines. Visit www.graceconstruction.com