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Bill Walsh | July 19, 2005 | Policies
The race to the bottom of green building standards starts on July 25, 2005 when the American Institute of Architects (AIA) convenes a Sustainable Building Standards Policy Summit[1] that appears to have been scripted by the leading opponents of legitimate green building standards. Troubling conflicts of interest at the AIA suggest a relationship be...
Bill Walsh | June 29, 2005 | Materials
The Healthy Building Network released today the first study to rate plastic lumber strictly on environmental and public health priorities.[1] We found huge disparities in environmental quality, including recycled content that ranges from 0 to 100%. The good news is that the most environmentally preferable products are poised to become the industry...
Bill Walsh | June 17, 2005 | Materials
This article draws heavily from studies, analysis and commentary available on the searchable databases at www.ourstolenfuture.org[1] According to their manufacturers, the principle use of a class of chemicals known as phthalates (pronounced thall eights) "is to soften the popular plastic, polyvinylchloride" (known as PVC or vinyl) used in...
Bill Walsh | June 02, 2005 | Policies
Bill Walsh | May 19, 2005 | Policies
On May 11, 2005 the US EPA released the nation's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2003. Rich Puchalsky[1] of Grassroots Connection is one of the nation's leading experts on environmental data gathering and interpretation. He has developed search tools for the national Right-To-Know Network, RTK NET,[2] which provides the public with...
Bill Walsh | May 04, 2005 | Policies
[1] Jennifer Sass[2] is a senior scientist with NRDC's public health group, where her work includes oversight of toxic chemical regulations and investigations of corporate influences in government policy decisions. In May, 2005 she and two co-authors published a peer reviewed analysis in the influential journal Environmental Health Perspectives...
Bill Walsh | April 20, 2005 | Policies
New York-based architect Robin Guenther has devoted a 25-year career to designing healing environments. Founder & Principal of New York's Guenther5 Architects[1], member of the 2006 AIA Guidelines for Design & Construction of Health Care Revision Committee[2], and Co-Coordinator of the newly released Green Guide For Health Care,[3] Guen...
Bill Walsh | March 31, 2005 | Policies
Today, March 31, 2005, Firestone Building Products Company[1] will take its last order of PVC roofing membrane. In October 2004, the company announced it would phase out its PVC offerings in conjunction with a major expansion of its Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) lines to meet the demands of the "cool roof" market for white, reflective si...
Margie Kelly | March 22, 2005 | Materials
Chemicals From Common Products Create "Toxic Cocktail" in Homes Toxic chemicals common to home furnishings and electronic equipment have been found in household dust, including chemicals internationally recognized as harmful or toxic to the immune and reproductive systems; babies and young children are particularly at risk from exposure....
Bill Walsh | March 10, 2005 | Policies
