'Green' News Roundup

A nationwide green remodeling program will be launched by the U.S. Green Building Council in partnership with the American Society of Interior Designers. The program is called Regreen and offers a set of best practices to guide contractors and homeowners taking a “whole house” approach to remodeling existing homes with green/sustainable intentions.

The guidelines currently are in draft form. They incorporate energy efficiency, sustainability and green design. Separate Web sites will direct professionals and consumers to suitable resources for green home renovations.

The final guidelines will be released in March 2008, but they can be viewed now at www.regreenprogram.org.

In anticipation of a greener future, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago has formed a steering committee to set and accomplish green building objectives. This committee makes recommendations to the association on what contractors and end-users need to know about green building, and also suggests methods for sharing that information.

The committee includes Dan Bulley, senior vice president of the MCA of Chicago; Kathy McCauley, president of McCauley Mechanical; Selena Worster of Mechanical Inc.; Tom Kelleher of AMS Mechanical; and Chuck Funke of Soderlund Brothers. Bulley and McCauley have LEED professional accreditation, and many others on the committee have ties to green building organizations.

In recognition of the phenomenal growth of green building, the National Association of Home Builders will celebrate “Green Day” on Feb. 14, 2008, at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. For registration information, visit www.buildersshow.com.

On Green Day, the association will officially launch the NAHB National Green Building Program and will unveil the new Certified Green Professional educational designation for home builders, remodelers and other industry professionals.

Also on the docket: a full day of green educational seminars on topics from market trends and consumer research to innovative design and new products. Information about the 10th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference will also be available. Noted green architect and educator William McDonough is a featured speaker and also will conduct an in-depth session on “Cradle to Cradle” environmentally and ecologically efficient building practices.

The Massachusetts legislature announced joint legislation to promote advanced biofuels as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, capture clean-air benefits, and capitalize on clean-fuel research for economic growth and jobs. The bill will require all diesel and home-heating fuel sold in the state to contain a minimum amount of renewable, bio-based alternatives in their blends, with that amount rising from 2 percent in 2010 to 5 percent in 2013.

While several other states have biodiesel content standards, Massachusetts would be the first to establish a biofuel standard for home heating oil- of particular significance since the Northeast makes a greater use of oil for home heating than other parts of the country.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials recently announced a promotional partnership with the EPA WaterSense program, distinguishing IAPMO as the first association of code officials to be accepted as WaterSense partners.

Sloan Valve Co. received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Leadership Award for the company’s green power purchase. Sloan offsets 100 percent of the energy used in its Franklin Park, Ill., facility with renewable energy.

The EPA presented Sloan with the Green Power Purchaser Award as part of a national competition that recognizes the leading market-based deployments of renewable energy technologies. The Green Power awards ceremony was held Oct. 22, 2007, during the National Green Power Marketing Conference in Philadelphia.

A new brochure available from FlexHead Industries shows that the choice of commercial sprinkler connections can impact a building’s qualification for LEED certification. Copies of the brochure, which covers six LEED-related areas, are available from the company through its Web site, www.FlexHead.com.