Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

ASHRAE 189.1 the First Green Construction Standard to Enter National Code Stage

A new standard for the design of high-performance green buildings is set to revolutionize the building industry.
Published by ASHRAE in conjunction with IES and the U.S. Green Building Council, Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United [...]

Litecontrol Announces Elimination of PVC from Luminaire Wiring

With the recent development of LiteCycle wiring, Litecontrol is the first lighting company to eliminate PVC from fixture wiring.
LiteCycle wiring removes the toxicity and environmental concerns of PVC and meets the C2C product environmental rating system’s tough standards. LiteCycle wiring is UL-approved and is now provided in all Litecontrol luminaires.
The first LiteCycle material, LiteCycle [...]

Code Watch: Green Construction Standards Enter National Code Stage

Green construction codes and standards are beginning to emerge on the national code stage. The standards go beyond energy standards such as 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to cover additional areas such as site sustainability, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and materials and resources.
This is the subject of a new whitepaper I [...]

DOE’s Jim Brodrick Responds to IDA on Blue Light Question

In late January, LightNOW published a short article about the International Dark-Sky Association’s position on blue light at night: In short, IDA said blue light produces higher light pollution with significant environmental impact, and discouraged the use of bluish-white light sources with >3000K color temperature.
The post generated some very thoughtful discussion, and interesting points [...]

What Happens to Lamps When They Are Recycled?

Air Cycle Corporation’s short video discussing lamp recycling and promoting its “Bulb Eater” product:

Bookmark to:

The “Green Police”: They Really Do Live Inside Your Head

Audi’s Super Bowl commercial on the “green police” shows cops storming homes because they find batteries in the garbage and arresting homeowners because they have incandescent light bulbs installed.
It’s humorous, but unfortunately, a lot of people think this kind of thing is real.
It’s also strange that people who don’t mind trading ancient liberties such [...]

Scrap Lights, Made from Twice Recycled Cardboard

Scrap lights, made from twice recycled cardboard.
Check it out here.

Bookmark to:

DOE Projects Greater Use of Renewables and Reduced Oil Imports

The Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Outlook 2010 presents updated projections for U.S. energy consumption and production through 2035.
Existing policies that stress energy efficiency and alternative fuels, together with higher energy prices, will curb energy consumption growth and shift the energy mix toward renewable fuels. Fossil fuels, however, would still provide about 78% of all [...]

Buildings Seeking LEED to Provide Performance Data

As part of LEED v3 (LEED 2009), the latest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s program for green building design, construction, operations and maintenance, buildings seeking LEED certification will begin submitting operational performance data on a recurring basis as a precondition to certification.
Projects can comply with the performance requirement in one of [...]

Doomsday Clock Moves One Minute Back From Five to Six Minutes From Midnight

Citing a more “hopeful state of world affairs” in relation to the twin threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the minute hand of its famous Doomsday Clock one minute away from midnight. It is now 6 minutes to midnight. The decision by the Bulletin of [...]