BuildingGreen Bulletin: Problems with Polystyrene — August EBN

Twice each month, BuildingGreen publishes an email news bulletin with current news and product information briefs. Sign up here — it's free. We will never share or sell your email address, and you may unsubscribe at any time. Here's an unformatted, text-only version of the current bulletin: BuildingGreen Email News Bulletin— an overview of some of the fresh information in BuildingGreen Suite. The mission of BuildingGreen, LLC is to facilitate transformation of the North American building industry. Join us in that mission by becoming a member of BuildingGreen Suite to access information critical to your green design and construction work. The August 2009 issue of Environmental Building News (EBN) is now available online! Breaking News from BuildingGreen.com· LEED-AP Credential Maintenance Program Launched· EPA's Portfolio Manager Slated for Improvements Quote of the Month"It is absolutely essential that we introduce this issue of performance into LEED."— Scot Horst, U.S. Green Building Council, on new energy- and water-performance requirements This Month's Feature StoryPolystyrene Insulation: Does It Belong in a Green Building? Polystyrene is widely used as a rigid insulation in North America, offering high insulation values, moisture resistance, strength, and affordability. But a flame retardant in the material, as well as its life-cycle impacts, raise questions about whether it should be used at all. (membership required) This Month's PrimerConstructed Wetlands for Wastewater. Constructed wetlands, when used to treat wastewater, can keep nitrogen and phosphorous from the water supply and cut costs by controlling the size of needed drainfields. News in This Issue· Cap-and-Trade Bill Includes Federal Energy Code· ICC Announces Plan for Green Construction Code (membership required)· Austin Requires Energy Audits and Labels· Reader: R-etro Leaves Some Gaps Unfilled (membership required)· Table of Contents... Featured Product ReviewCapturing Concrete Washout Pollutants. Atlantic Concrete Washout uses portable, sealed containers and specially designed trucks to collect and dispose of waste products left over after washing down concrete equipment at construction sites. (membership required) Case Study HighlightHome on the Range — Billings, MT. Formerly an uninsulated concrete block grocery store with few windows, the building was renovated to house energy-efficient, daylit offices. Check out more case studies in the High Performance Buildings Database BuildingGreen.com Blog· New LEED AP Exam Writer Tells All· Avoid Polystyrene Insulation· McKinsey Report: Energy Efficiency is a Big Deal· See all Blog Posts... Featured Events· West Coast Green - San Francisco CA, Oct. 1-3. West Coast Green is a business-to-business conference in San Francisco for building industry professionals who want to explore green innovations to propel their businesses forward. You get a 20% discount with this link.

· The LEED Implementation Process - Rutland VT, Sep 11. This workshop is intended for professionals who are new to implementing LEED-NC or LEED-CS or looking to brush up on implementation best practices.

· Understanding LEED Project Costs and Returns - Philadelphia PA, Sep 25. This workshop will help LEED project teams learn how to handle cost issues.

· BuildingGreen.com Calendar...