More tenants required to lease in green buildings

Orlando developers and contractors should prepare themselves for an expected onslaught of major companies requiring their offices and retail stores to lease only eco-friendly space.

Such interest already has been expressed by Orlando-based Wyndham Vacation Ownership Inc., as well as Microsoft, Office Depot, Starbucks, Wal-Mart and government entities, says Denise Pickles, project manager of CB Richard Ellis Orlando. These “conversations come up daily now because it’s not a bragging point — it’s a business model.” Click here for the rest of the article.

Orlando Business Journal - May 16, 2008.

National Green Building Standard™ Submitted to ANSI

The National Green Building Standard(TM) for single-family homes, apartments and condos, and residential remodeling and renovation has been submitted to the American National Standards Institute for approval. To ensure uniformity in everything from the size of electrical outlets to testing medical devices, ANSI only approves one standard for any product category. The National Green Building Standard will be the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes. It will provide the residential building industry with the only nationally recognized, third-party validated rating systems choice in the voluntary, market-driven NAHB National Green Building Program.  Click here for the rest of the article.

Business Wire - April 28, 2008.

Freezing to show warming trend: Though dismissed in Russia, scientist’s climate research in remote Siberia is heating up discussions in the West

Sergei Zimov waded through knee-deep snow to reach a frozen lake where so much methane belches out of the melting permafrost that it spews from the ice like small geysers.

In the frigid twilight, the Russian scientist struck a match to make a jet of the greenhouse gas visible. The sudden plume of fire threw him backward. Zimov stood up, brushed the snow off his parka and beamed. Click here for the rest of the article.

The Chicago Tribune - May 5, 2008.

Code Would Force More Green Building Designs in Houston

Houston builders will have to incorporate “green” design techniques such as heat-trapping vestibules and “cool roofs” that deflect sunlight under a proposed new energy code for commercial buildings.

The City Council could pass the new code for commercial buildings today. Click here for the rest of the article.

Dexinger - April 30, 2008.

National Association of Home Builder’s Green Home Building Guidelines

his publication contains guidance for builders engaged in or interested in green building products and practices for residential design, development and construction. This publication is not intended to be exhaustive and all-inclusive and the enclosed guidelines are not to be considered the only method of green building. These guidelines for green building originate from the collective experience of leading personnel in the green building movement (marketplace), but must, due to the nature of the responsibilities involved, be presented only as a guide for the use of a qualified developer, builder, remodeler, or design professional. Click here for the rest of the article.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 2006