Eco News stories from around the globe. Users are encouraged to share their opinions by logging in to leave comments on the eco news stories presented here.
Seattle, Washington February 3, 2010
Seattle area green building has taken many of its early steps toward urban development that includes broad use of sustainable materials, pervious paving, and low VOC finishes. We continue to see greater focus in Seattle’s walkable neighborhoods, a commitment to...
California led the nation in establishing the first mandatory green building code, Calgreen. While this move promises to slash water use and electricity consumption across the state, green groups say this could have dire implications for independent green building standards like the LEED program.
Just days before coming to vote, environmental groups like the Sierra Club are moving to stop new legislation in California that would make energy efficiency and water conservation part of the standard building code. Critics say that this code falls short of standards set by some municipalities, and...
PHOENIX, Arizona, November 17, 2009 (ENS) - More than one in five large U.S. cities surveyed by the American Institute of Architects has a policy of promoting green buildings, and the number of cities building green is on the rise. The AIA survey shows that 138 cities have green building programs, c...
ATLANTA, Georgia, November 11, 2009 (ENS) - Two related home building companies based in Atlanta have agreed to pay a $350,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
In addition to the civi...
WASHINGTON, DC, November 4, 2009 (ENS) - The United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 and 1980, according to water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30 percent population increase during the past 25 years, overall water use has remained fairly stable, according to a new U...
General Electric unveiled a zero-energy home design that they believe could be a blueprint for the future of the average home's interaction with the electrical grid. Appliances, on-site electricity, energy storage, and network aware electronics are the norm in GE's Net Zero Energy Home of the future...
WASHINGTON, DC, October 20, 2009 (ENS) - The emergence of a home retrofit market that would increase energy efficiency and cut home energy bills has been hampered by lack of access to reliable information, financing and skilled workers, finds a new report released today by Vice President Joe Biden.
WASHINGTON, DC, October 16, 2009 (ENS) - Team Germany, the student team from Darmstadt, Germany, won first place in the 2009 Solar Decathlon today by designing, building, and operating the most attractive and efficient solar-powered home, U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman ann...
A group of Israeli physicists brought solar power and high-efficiency lighting to impoverished Palestinian villages in the hope of reversing the trend of extreme poverty found in this war torn area. Comet-ME, a coalition of Israeli activists and scientists worked together to help the 500 or so Pales...