Pollution Prevention Northwest, Summer 1999

Pollution Prevention Northwest Newsletter
Published by the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
Summer 1999

Sustainability & Green Buildings:
Getting Down to Brass Tacks
   "Sustainability:" It's a big word that can mean many things. This and the next two editions of P2 Northwest will provide practical focus to "sustainability."
   We start with buildings. There are 81 million in the U.S. today, and 38 million more expected by 2010. Their impacts are pervasive. Buildings use one-third of all energy consumed in the U.S. They account for 35 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Building just one wood-frame house can generate 3 to 7 tons of construction waste.Indoors, unhealthy construction materials, poor ventilation and bad lighting can affect productivity and health.
   The key to "greening" buildings is to think of them as systems. Lighting choices, for example, will influence the costs of cooling a building. Through intelligent design and material choices that take a whole systems approach, buildings can be "greened" into efficient, healthy places to live and work.

CONTENTS:

Why Green Buildings?

Green Building Plans Afoot

Making Green by Going Green

Overcoming People Barriers

NW Green Building Stories

Green Building Resources

P2 Digest

Green Building Quiz

PPRC News

About this Newsletter

P2 in the Next Century

Look into your crystal ball. PPRC wants to hear your P2 technology projections for the year 2050. Will our cities run on fuel cells? Will the "paper vs. plastic" dilemma be solved by grocery delivery services? What do you think? The most thought-provoking responses will be published in an upcoming issue of P2 Northwest. Contact:Jim DiPeso, 206-352-2050, jdipeso@pprc.org

Quotables:
Four Steps to Building Green:

1. Whole Systems Thinking
Identify solutions that address multiple problems.

2. Front-Loaded Design
Do your planning up front with all players at the table.

3. End-Use/Least-Cost Drivers
Focus on what end users really want and need in order to achieve the greatest benefit at the least cost.

4. Teamwork
"Linear" project development leaves key people out at crucial points. All project players need to communicate simultaneously.

Source: Green Developments CD-ROM,Rocky Mountain Institute, http://www.rmi.org

Why Green Buildings?
By Rick Barnett

        During the last decade, knowledge about the impact of construction on ecological and human health has expanded significantly. Alternative techniques and products, designed to reduce these impacts, have developed in an arena known as sustainable construction, or green building. Emphasizing a "whole system" perspective, green building looks past the construction process and first costs toward the life cycle of a building and the longer term interests of owners and occupants.
        A sustainable design process recognizes the consumptive aspects of construction and searches for improvement. Waste and pollution are identified and confronted, rather than simply accepted. To build in this fashion, one merely needs to establish sustainable goals as part of developing the project's concept.
        A construction project involves tons of materials, each of which represents a combination of impacts from extraction, processing, manufacturing, production, packaging, transportation, disposal or separation for secondary material markets. For a sustainably built structure, the net environmental cost is reduced through design, material substitutions, and project management. Materials and techniques are selected for their lesser impact, or "shorter loops." Sustainable techniques also are associated with improved occupant health and productivity.
        A green building has six features to reduce consumption and pollution:
        • Resource-efficient building techniques (durability, remodel-ability)
        • Resource-efficient materials (engineered lumber, bio-based products)
        • Use of site-generated scrap (reuse)
        • Designs minimizing materials and waste (resourceful)
        • Contracts assuring waste-minimizing site management (recycling)
        • Contracts that specify easily recycled products, with recycled content (purchasing)
        From this, we can project that considerable pollution can be eliminated by increasing the public's demand for green building products and services. Although only a small part of the construction industry as a whole, environmentally-oriented products and services are provided by a variety of building supply outlets and construction professionals. Based on numerous demonstrations, these green builders, designers and architects have access to a wide range of sustainable options. A steady stream of conferences, periodicals, books and web sites convey technical information about building with environmental sensitivity. Model specification language is available to guide large commercial projects, while numerous product guides can locate an expanding supply of "eco-friendly" materials.
        Major organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB green building resources on line at http://www.nahbrc.org/builders/green/index.html), several Northwest NAHB member organizations, and the Oregon Remodelers Association (http://www.llm.com/remodelers.htm), are making commitments to green building. Suppliers of green products and services appear ready for increased demand.
        In the public sector, from Seattle, we find a city-wide and a regional sustainable building plan. In Salem, a Green Building Task Force (http://www.hcs.state.or.us/
data_research/greenbuilding/index.html) of the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department has recommended a strong, department-wide green building program, while the City of Portland is looking at options for a municipal program. Oregon State University is launching a Green Building Initiative. The University of Portland has incorporated sustainable features into a new science laboratory. In view of this activity, the historically consumptive construction industry has an opportunity to achieve significant environmental gains, while addressing health and livability issues.
        To move toward green building's expanded role in reducing pollution, the demand for green building products and service needs to be stimulated. This should be achievable with conventional education and marketing strategies. In response to such outreach, consumers would demand that practices promoting a healthy and sustainable future be employed, replacing practices that excessively consume natural and human resources. If we want sustainability, perhaps we just need to learn how to ask for it.

Rick Barnett owns Green Builder, an environmental consulting firm in Corvallis, Ore.

Sustainable Building Plans Afoot in the Region
By Peter Hurley

        This morning I was in another meeting. The air was stuffy. Inches away, outside, the air was just perfect. We, however, were sealed in, on the 34th floor of Key Tower. The only way to open a window would be to throw a chair through it.
        Ironically, we were discussing Seattle City Light's plans to address customer requests for sustainable building assistance. One sustainable building technique is installing windows that open, both to reduce energy consumption by using natural ventilation, and to improve employee health and productivity with fresh air.
        How is green building different from traditional energy, water and material conservation programs? Sustainable building encourages design, construction and operation professionals to optimize a building's environmental, social and economic performance. This requires industry professionals to think and act more holistically.
        For example, the Port of Seattle saved several million pounds of waste and thousands of dollars in dump fees by re-designing an old warehouse to serve as its new headquarters instead of tearing the building down and starting over. The 4 Times Square office building in New York incorporates photovoltaics into the building envelope and a fuel cell, thus becoming a clean energy resource. In Austin, Texas, the city has partnered with a social services agency to create Casa Verde Builders. At-risk youth are taught green construction skills, and build healthy homes for low-income residents.
        There are environmental benefits from building on existing lots in the city: reducing habitat destruction from sprawl, and air and water pollution from auto use. There are economic benefits: reducing infrastructure demands for the city and residents' utility bills. There are social benefits: employing at-risk youth; allowing low-income children to grow up in healthier homes, and reducing the likelihood of respiratory illness.
        Over the past two years, the City of Seattle has initiated several green building actions. In October 1997, the city co-sponsored the first Northwest Sustainable Building Conference. Simultaneously, Seattle Public Utilities was leading a forum of public and private sector experts to develop a Sustainable Building Action Plan (http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/
RESCONS/susbuild/default.htm).
        Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of Energy, through the Urban Consortium Energy Task Force, awarded a $75,000 grant to the city to fund development of the first regional sustainable building action plan in the U.S. In 1998, the city, our partners and nearly 200 industry professionals attended a series of six workshops to develop the Northwest Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan. It recommends seven strategies to promote sustainable building in the region over the next two years (http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/
conserve/sustainability/cv5_fpln.htm).
        For 1999, DOE awarded Seattle $62,900 to fund Project GreenBuilt. In partnership with the cities of Bellingham and Issaquah, we are developing model municipal green building guidelines, conducting an eco-design charette for a major project in each city, and developing green building marketing materials.
        Seattle has committed to green design and construction of our largest proposed new building: the Civic Center Campus. With support from Mayor Paul Schell, the City Council recently voted to set aside 4 percent of the budget for sustainability measures. We are working to determine what measures make sense as we attempt to achieve a "silver" rating using the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. (To find out more, visit http://www.usgbc.org/programs/index.htm).
        Finally, the city is participating in formation of the Cascadia regional chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, covering Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho and Montana. The chapter plans to lead implementation of the Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan.
        Maybe one of these years I'll be writing from a building with extensive natural light and ventilation. Until then, I hope you are.

Peter Hurley coordinates the Sustainable Building Action Plan for the city of Seattle.

Build Up Your Knowledge

1. How much lighting energy can be saved through daylighting?
  a. 10-40 percent
  b. 50-80 percent
  c. This is the Northwest; sunlight is a myth

2. How much water could a typical home save with efficient fixtures (shower, washer, toilet, faucets)?
  a. 5.3 gcd (gallons per capita per day)
  b. 12.1 gallons gcd
  c. 17.4 gallons gcd

3. Which of the following wastes can be reused in concrete?
  a. Old school lunches
  b. Used toner cartridges
  c. Boiler fly ash

check your answers

Green Buildings Can be Money Spinners

        Sunlight is good for people. Just ask anyone on the west side of the Cascades still reeling from the greyest winter in decades. Sunlight is so good, in fact, that there are indications that lighting buildings naturally can boost productivity in offices, increase sales in stores, and improve test scores in schools.
        Daylighting is one of many indoor environmental improvements that researchers believe can benefit the bottom line, as well as prevent pollution and make more efficient use of energy, water and natural resources. Good lighting, ventilation and indoor air quality can result in productivity increases of 6 to 16 percent, according to the U.S. Green Building Council's Sustainable Building Technical Manual.
        While the energy savings a daylighting plan can achieve are attractive, the clincher is productivity benefits, because an office's labor costs far outweigh its energy costs. For a company paying $200 per square foot for labor and $2 per square foot for energy, a 1 percent productivity boost totally offsets the energy bill. "Not to diminish energy savings, but once you realize the larger picture, the holistic approach becomes more compelling," Seattle green buildings consultant Tom Paladino said.
        Studies show that people prefer daylight. "Most people believe that daylight is part of a psychologically more comfortable and healthier workplace," according to Daylight and Productivity: Is There a Causal Link?, a paper co-written by an architect and lighting designer at New York's New School of Social Research.
        Anecdotal evidence illuminates correlations between daylit buildings and improved performance. The remodeled Oregon Market at Portland International Airport features skylights and an innovative steel "cloud" that is used to keep out glare and simulate various lighting effects. Retailers report sales per square foot doubled after the remodeling.
        Moss Alley Motors, a Seattle auto repair shop experiencing high turnover of mechanics, decided to improve its competitive position by remodeling a 75-year-old garage with skylights and efficient fluorescent lighting that can be switched off during the day. The shop owner reports it's easier now to attract mechanics and keep them on the payroll.
        Research is underway to see whether there are statistically significant links between daylighting and improved performance. Heschong/Mahone Group, a Sacramento architectural and energy consulting firm, is analyzing test scores from schools in Seattle, California and Colorado to determine whether there is a statistically significant link between daylit classrooms and higher test scores. Results are due this summer.
        While the link between daylight and performance may not yet be conclusively proven, "many companies are moving to daylight. They have enough evidence," said Barbara Erwine, until recently the Lighting Design Lab's daylighting specialist.

CONTACTS:
Lighting Design Lab: http://www.northwestlighting.com
Exemplary Buildings Program: http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/
exemplary/eb_body.htm
Tips for Daylighting:
http://windows.lbl.gov/pub/
designguide/designguide.html

Quotables

'Recently completed analyses suggest that improving buildings and indoor environments could reduce health-care costs and sick leave and increase worker performance, resulting in an estimated productivity gain of $30 billion to $150 billion annually.'
Center for Building Science News, Spring 1997, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (http://eande.lbl.gov/
BT.html)

'The (green building) client has to take a hard stand: "if you want to play, play it my way." Then, when the architect, engineer and builder understand that a different outcome is required, they can adjust.'
Tom Paladino, green building consultant

Overcoming Those Human Barriers
        Pulling off a successful green building project means more than coming up with the right design. There is a human element to it, as EPA found out when remodeling 2,035 square feet of the Region 10 executive offices in Seattle. The recently completed project features reused materials, wood from certified forests, low-VOC finishes, indoor air quality protection, and energy efficient lighting, including daylight, compact fluorescent lamps, and dimmers. Building waste was recycled.
        Here are three lessons that can be gleaned from the project:

Make a Plan - Set goals and priorities, knowing that many decisions will have environmental trade-offs. Example: Should you reuse two water-hogging toilets, or toss them in favor of water-efficient models? EPA reused one of the commodes and replaced the other.

Be Persistent - Don't take suppliers' word that "it can't be done." Do your own research if necessary. Example: A furniture manufacturer resisted using certified wood. EPA didn't back down. "We pushed back," said EPA project manager Judith Leckrone. A certification agency helped by putting the manufacturer in touch with vendors selling certified wood.

Communicate Clearly - Write very clear specifications for all tasks, no matter how small the job, and make sure crews know what's expected of them. Example: Drywallers persisted in using a high-VOC mud and didn't listen to stop orders until project managers were forced to remove the stuff from the job site.

CONTACT: Judith Leckrone at 206-553-6911, or leckrone.judith@epa.gov

Green Carrots

Barrier: Lack of information
Solutions: Green building specs, info packets for lenders, insurers

Barrier: Concerns about initial costs of green measures
Solution: Life cycle costs education

Barrier: Disconnect between builder, occupant concerns. Builder concerned about initial costs, occupants concerned about operating costs
Solutions: Pay for building comfort service by leasing components such as HVAC. Try pay-for-performance incentives for architects, engineers.

Barrier: Permit fee structures hinder systems approach
Solution: Reduced fees for green buildings

Source: City of Portland, http://www.ci.portland.
or.us/energy/green%20building.html

On the Ground: NW Green Building Stories

Office: An 84,000-square-foot building at the Crestwood Corporate Centre in Richmond, B.C., used a "whole systems" design approach to achieve energy savings 50 percent above accepted engineering standards. Extra insulation and advanced windows allowed designers to reduce the capacity of the air conditioning chiller by 75 percent. Windows cover 60 percent of the exterior and ventilation brings in 50 percent more fresh air than standard. Simple payback based on energy savings is 4.4 years ... Sellen Construction saved $186,000 by recycling 2,300 tons of construction materials from a Microsoft remodeling project. Good ideas were generated by involving subcontractors in recycling discussions.
CONTACTS: Rocky Mountain Institute, "Green Developments: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate," http://www.rmi.org
King County Green Works Program, http://www.metrokc.gov/dnr/swd/greenwrk

Retail: Norm Thompson Outfitters, a retailer and mail order company in Beaverton, Ore., built a headquarters building oriented to bring in solar heat and daylight. Landscaping emphasizes native plants, which require little irrigation and maintenance once established. Inside, the building features efficient water fixtures, formaldehyde-free particle board and hardwood flooring made of wood salvaged from old railroad cars. Cost of construction: $67 per square foot. Payback on the energy measures is an estimated 4 years.
CONTACTS: Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST), http://www.ci.portland.or.us/energy/bestmain.html

Industrial: Northwestern Industries, a Seattle glass fabricator, built a 60,000-square-foot production facility next to an existing warehouse. A combination of skylights and efficient metal halide lamps greatly increased light levels above the warehouse's, with an electricity load a third or more below the energy code ... GTE used re-patterned 10-year-old carpet tiles at its Everett plant, at half the cost of buying new carpet.
CONTACTS: Lighting Design Lab, http://www.northwestlighting.com
King County Green Works Program, http://www.metrokc.gov/dnr/swd/greenwrk

Institutional: The new King Street Center, which houses King County's Natural Resources and Transportation departments, features a rainwater collection system that will meet 60 percent to 80 percent of toilet water demand. Eighty percent of construction waste was recycled. The building features remanufactured carpeting, low-VOC paints and adhesives, and lighting systems that cut the lighting electricity load nearly a third below code ...... Operating costs of the renovated Portland City Hall were reduced an estimated 24 percent as a result of energy and resource efficiencies. Building comfort was enhanced through installation of double-glazed windows, re-opening of two 1930s-era atrium skylights, and use of low-VOC paint and flooring finishes. Nearly 90 percent of construction wastes were recycled, saving taxpayers $221,000 in disposal costs.... The C.K. Choi research building at the University of British Columbia has composting toilets that cut water consumption by 1,500 gallons daily and reduce the burden on the campus wastewater system. The King County Regional Justice Center in Kent used 28,000 tons of recycled concrete aggregate acquired from demolition waste. Benefits included reduced disposal costs, and avoided costs of purchase and trucking new material. Engineers said recycled aggregate stayed drier than new material.
CONTACTS: King County Green Works Program, http://www.metrokc.gov/dnr/swd/greenwrk
Portland General Electric Earth Smart, http://www.pge-online.com
Rocky Mountain Institute, http://www.rmi.org
King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials, http://www.metrokc.gov/market/

Residential: The 900-unit Hidden Springs housing development near Boise is using an advanced 2 x 6 framing technique, reducing wood requirements and increasing energy performance without compromising structural integrity. Advanced framing can reduce material costs by $500 for a 1,200-square-foot house. Hidden Springs is a Building America project, incorporating a systems design approach to reduce material use and improve energy efficiency ... Habitat for Humanity built a home in Portland out of certified wood. Hardboard siding was made of forest thinnings and sawdust. The Bonneville Power Administration has built a demonstration home in Post Falls, Idaho that will cost $200 per year to heat and cool. Hardwood flooring was made from salvaged wood.
CONTACTS: National Association of Home Builders Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, http://www.nahbrc.org/
path/tech/abstracts/designab1.html
Building America, http://www.eren.doe.gov/
buildings/building_america

  Efficient Homes Rate

Home energy ratings were used as a marketing tool to transform Alaska's housing market. In 1992, 9 percent of new Alaska homes were more efficient than energy codes. By 1994, 74 percent were more efficient than code.
Source: Home Energy Ratings Primer, http://www.natresnet.org/
herseems/HERSPrimer/
HP04.htm

  Saving Energy: Go Figure

How much energy can you save in your home? Call up the Home Energy Saver at http://hes.lbl.gov, punch in your Zip Code, and find out.

  Build a Better Home

Build a Better Kitsap is a network of architects, contractors, suppliers and real estate agents helping home builders with energy efficiency, indoor air quality, recycled product use, and construction waste reduction.
Contact: http://www.kitsaphba.com

  Build Wise in Bellevue

BuildWise teaches architects about sustainable practices.
Contact:Vikki VanDuyne, city of Bellevue, 425-452-7103, or vvanduyne@
ci.bellevue.wa.us

Quiz Answers

1. 50-80 percent
Source: "Sustainable Building Technical Manual," U.S. Green Building Council, http://www.usgbc.org

2. 17.4 gallons gcd. In one year, a family of 4 could save enough to fill a 26 x 26 pool 5 feet deep.
Source: WaterWiser, http://www.waterwiser.org/
wtruse98/indoor.html

3. Fly ash. Not a new technology. The Romans used volcano ash in their concrete.
Source: King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials, http://www.metrokc.gov/
market/map/cement.htm

Green Building Resources

GENERAL RESOURCES

U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org
Publications, a green building forum, software, building rating system

Oikos Green Building Source
http://oikos.com
News, searchable products database, library

Northwest Ecobuilding Guild
http://www.ecobuilding.org
Educational forum for designers, contractors, trades workers, suppliers and building owners. Includes news, publications and links.

NEW - Building Green on a Budget
Sustainable Business.com News Feature from Environmental Building News,
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/
insider/august99/budget.cfm

ARCHITECTURE

Sustainable Architecture Compendium
http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/
resources/compendia/
architecture.html
Downloadable bibliographies with hundreds of publications and articles

Green Design Network
http://www.greendesign.net
Newsletters, publications, databases

ENERGY

EnergyStar Buildings
http://www.epa.gov/buildings
Partnerships, building ratings, benchmarking, supplier directories

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network
http://www.eren.doe.gov/
EE/buildings.html
Loads of useful links. Ask an energy expert.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

EPA's IAQ Home Page
http://www.epa.gov/iaq
Publications, hot lines, links

Healthy Buildings and IAQ
http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/
greenfed/lit_rev/lr3.htm
Bibliography of books, articles, periodicals

Health House
http://www.healthhouse.org
Demonstration and education program for building homes with healthy indoor air

WATER

Seattle Technical Assistance, Financial Incentives
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/
util/RESCONS/default.htm
(scroll down) Get a rebate for water-efficient technologies.

Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/
efficiency/weinfo.htm
Articles, publications, success stories, codes, links to other water efficiency sites

MATERIALS

SmartWood Certified Product Finder
http://www.smartwood.org/
product-finder/index.html
Find vendors of certified wood products

enCompass: Recycled Content Buildings
http://www.metrokc.gov/
market/map/index.htm
Recycled products: what they are and where they've been used in King County projects

Green Works Recycled Content Product Guide
http://www.metrokc.gov/
greenworks/recycontent.htm
Detailed vendors directory

HOK Healthy and Sustainable Materials Database
http://www.hok.com/
sustainabledesign/database/
welcome.html
Recommendations for structural materials, sealers, flooring, insulation, and coatings.

CONSTRUCTION

Green Works
http://www.metrokc.gov/
dnr/swd/greenwrk/
Construction materials recycling guide, case studies, link to building materials exchange

Residential Construction Waste Management: A Builder's Field Guide
http://www.nahbrc.org/
builders/green/WASTEPUB.htm
How to manage and reduce home building construction waste.

Take a Look at PPRC's Revamped Web Site

NEW LOOK FOR WEB SITE:
We've been busy revamping the PPRC web site to make it easier to find the information you need. Here are some of the features you'll see with the new look.
        Check it Out!: Information on cross-cutting topics such as salmon and P2, adhesives, cleaning for manufacturing, and PBTs.
        Industry: Fact sheets, roundtable reports, workbooks and contacts. A quick "sector finder" will help businesses find information specifically tailored for their industry.
        Government: Resources for P2 program managers and assistance providers
        Contacts: P2 policy, technical assistance and compliance assistance contacts
        P2 For You: P2 around the house and in the yard, plus the Official PPRC P2 Quiz
        PPRC Resources: A one-stop catalogue of past P2 Northwest editions and PPRC publications
        Funding for You: The Request for Proposals Clearinghouse
        P2 Research: Research Projects Database and Technology Reviews
        See all this and more at http://www.pprc.org

NORTHWEST GUIDE TO PBTs:
Persistent, bioaccumulative toxins (PBT's) are highly toxic, long-lasting substances that can build up in food chains, endangering human health and causing environmental harm. The Northwest Guide to PBT's gives the lowdown on 53 substances targeted for reduction. Find out what they are, how they're used in industry, consumer products that may contain them, and how Northwest states rank in releases. The report also includes a resource list. Take a look at http://www.pprc.org/pprc/pubs/topics/pbt.html
Contact: Chris Wiley (cwiley@pprc.org)

ALTERNATIVE FUELS:
As clean air mandates kick in and concern grows about greenhouse gas emissions, alternative fuel vehicles are getting more attention. The Alternative Fuels for Fleet Vehicles report covers natural gas, propane, batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen, alcohols, and biodiesel. Find out how the alternatives perform, their environmental characteristics, costs, and where to find more information. It's on line at http://www.pprc.org/pprc/pubs/topics/altfuels.html
Contact: Catherine Dickerson (cdickerson@pprc.org)

MEASUREMENT REPORT:
Performance measurement is a leading topic at all levels of government. To help P2 programs get a handle on this topic, PPRC has published a topical report that provides an overview of measurement issues, guiding principles, questions to ponder, and benefits that programs can obtain through well constructed measurement programs. The report includes a directory of resources. Take a look at http://www.pprc.org/pprc/pubs/topics/measure.html

	P2 Digest
	House of Pollution Solutions The Lane Area Pollution Prevention Coalition will be constructing and presenting a "House of Pollution Solutions." The "house" will have facades of household appliances, an eco-lawn, recycled plastic decking, energy efficient lighting, a bicycle for transportation, and a gas stove. Signs will be placed around the house with tips describing the environmentally friendly choices people can make, such as using water-based paint. The house is designed to be reused at other events, such as home shows and local festivals. You can see the house from August 17-22 at the Lane County Fair in Eugene, Oregon. For more information, contact Kim Kagelaris at 541-726-3693 or kkagelaris@ci.springfield.or.us. BEST of the Bunch Awarded Six Portland area businesses have received the seventh annual Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) awards. They include: Energy Efficiency: Ash Grove Cement uses landfill gas to fire three lime kilns, saving $2 million and 650 million cubic feet of natural gas per year, enough for 13,000 homes. The landfill gas formerly was flared. Portland General Electric (PGE) replaced one line crew center with three smaller centers, saving $50,000 annually on building energy costs. The buildings feature extra insulation, daylighting, efficient windows, low-toxicity materials, and stormwater retention ponds. Transportation: The location of the Buckman Heights apartment project was selected in part to give tenants close access to light rail and major bus lines. The complex has 92 locking bike racks and three car sharing vehicles on site. Fred Meyer uses van pools to help employees commute to its main office and attend business meetings, avoiding 800,000 miles per year in vehicle miles traveled and $50,000 per year in gasoline costs. Water Efficiency: Crown Cork & Seal invested $12,000 in air-cooled equipment, saving $46,000 in water and sewer charges, and 8.5 million gallons of water per year. Waste Reduction/Recycling: Mt Scott Family Dental installed a separator to keep mercury out of wastewater, and a digital X-ray, which eliminated lead and silver wastes. The ReBuilding Center is a non-profit outlet that accepts reusable construction materials for resale at cost. In its first year, the center diverted 300 tons of material from the landfill. Find out more about BEST at http://www.ci.portland.or.us/ energy/bestmain.html BPA Releases Energy Survey To examine consumer attitudes about electric utility deregulation and the future of Northwest energy production, the Bonneville Power Administration reviewed public opinion surveys, and research and focus group reports. The research indicates that a large majority of consumers supports utility investments in energy efficiency and renewable resources. To view the full report, visit http://www.bpa.gov/Energy/ N/renewables/summary.htm. Water Quality Grants Available WaterWorks grants are available for community projects that protect or improve King County's watersheds, streams, lakes, wetlands and tidewater. Applications for general water quality grants below $5,000 may be submitted any time. The deadline for submitting applications for grants exceeding $5,000 is August 31, 1999. To find out more, call 206-296-8265 or visit http://splash.metrokc.gov, click Resources, then click Waterworks. P2 for Anyone with a Drain Imagine a wastewater treatment plant registering a high level of cadmium. Where is it coming from? Find information for questions like these and more at a new web site hosted by Texas Water Utilities Association. The site includes a pollutant index of major dischargers for 10 common pollutants, and P2 options by industry. You can also go to P2 tips and get user friendly advice for a variety of industries. Check out the site at http://www.twua.org/p2/ Pollutant_Index.html.		Which Choices Matter Most? A recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) concludes that the great majority of consumer environmental impacts is linked to cars, food choices, household appliances, lighting, home heating and cooling, home construction, and household water and sewage. Here's one tip that makes a difference: wash your clothes in cold water. To help individuals determine the relative impact of their purchasing decisions, UCS has published "A Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices." A summary and the first chapter of the book are online at http://www.ucsusa.org/ less/guide.top.html. Technology Assessment Planned New environmental technologies face a large hurdle: few want to risk using them until they are proved effective. To address this problem, the Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC) is partnering with the EPA's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program to provide an independent assessment of environmental technologies. The ETV program has 12 pilots for testing and verifying technologies. Pollution prevention technologies for metal finishing and coatings are among the pilots in the program. For more information, contact NEBC at 503-227-6361 or visit http://www.nebc.org. Click on the news and events button. Find the Wind Near You "Wind energy is the world's fastest growing energy source, and is clean and renewable. Want to know where wind energy projects are going up around the Northwest and elsewhere? Visit the American Wind Energy Association on-line database of wind energy projects and find out your state's current total wind energy generation, planned generation, wind energy potential, and the state's U.S. ranking. The web site is at http://www.awea.org/ projects/index.html. Hey, Lighten Up The Worldwatch Institute recently published, "Mind Over Matter: Recasting the Role of Materials in Our Lives," which looks at how nations and businesses are discovering ways to use materials more intelligently. By reducing wasteful use, and by steering production toward durable goods that are easy to reuse, remanufacture, or recycle, a few pioneering firms are recasting the role of materials in our lives. The report can be ordered on-line in paperback or in PDF format ($5 and $6, respectively), or by contacting 202-452-1999, or wwpub@worldwatch.org. To view a summary and the table of contents, visit http://www.worldwatch.org/ pubs/paper/144.html. Alternative Products Reviewed Have you ever wondered about the long-term effects of exposure to alternative cleaners, pesticides, or other household products? The California Peer Review Project has reviewed scientific information on the human health, environmental effects, and effectiveness of 12 common alternatives to traditional household chemicals. The project was developed to counter industry challenges to the accuracy and reliability of information about alternatives recommended by household hazardous waste program managers. The web site includes information on boric acid, vinegar, baking soda, borax, diatomaceous earth, pyrethrins, trisodium phosphate, d-limonene, pyrethrins with peperonyl butoxide, methoprene, hydrogen peroxide, and linseed oil. Visit the web site at http://www.peerreview.com. You can navigate the site with a Shockwave Flash plug-in, or visit the text-only version.

POLLUTION PREVENTION Northwest
Editor & Designer: Jim DiPeso
Technical Editors: Madeline M. Sten
Web Version Format: Crispin Stutzman
Pollution Prevention Northwestis published bimonthly by the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center. To receive a free electronic subscription, link to the newsletter order form or contact the PPRC, 1326 Fifth Ave.,
Suite 650, Seattle, Washington 98101
Phone: 206-352-2050; Fax: 206-352-2049
E-mail: office@pprc.org
http://www.pprc.org
About this Newsletter
Articles from this newsletter may be printed or distributed electronically only in their entirety with written permission from the PPRC. Please credit the author (if any), followed by "Pollution Prevention Northwest, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center."
About the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
       The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) is a nonprofit organization that is the region's leading source of high quality, unbiased pollution prevention information. PPRC works collaboratively with business, government and other sectors to promote environmental protection through pollution prevention. PPRC serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and also takes part in projects with benefits beyond the Northwest.
       Financial support for PPRC is broad-based, with contributions from organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Northwest states, The Boeing Company, Intel Corporation and others. The PPRC accepts environmental settlement moneys to further its work on pollution prevention.
       Significant in-kind support has been provided by organizations such as: Hewlett-Packard Company, Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Battelle Seattle Research Center, Microsoft Corporation, Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting, Ltd. and The Fluke Corporation.
Staff: Madeline M. Sten, Executive Director; Catherine Dickerson, Technical Lead; Chris Wiley, Industry Outreach Lead; Jim DiPeso, Communications Director; Crispin Stutzman, Research Associate; Cathy Buller, Research Associate; Mark Sten, Project Manager - Northwest Business Survey; Scott Allison, Chief Financial Officer; Natalie Sullivan, Administrative Assistant; Miyuki Ishibashi, Volunteer
Board of Directors: Richard Bach, President, Stoel Rives, Portland, Ore.; Joan Cloonan, Vice President, J.R. Simplot Company, Boise, Idaho; Kirk Thomson, Vice President, The Boeing Company, Seattle, Wash.; Dana Rasmussen, Secretary, Seattle, Wash.; William June, Treasurer, On Point Communications Strategists, Portland, Ore.; Rodney Brown, Marten & Brown, LLP, Seattle, Wash.; Charles Findley, U.S. EPA Region 10, Seattle, Wash; Scott Forrest, Forrest Paint Co., Eugene, Ore; Tom Korpalski, Hewlett-Packard, Boise, Idaho; Langdon Marsh, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Ore; Alan Schuyler, ARCO Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska; Jeff Allen, Oregon Environmental Council, Portland, Ore.

© 1999, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
phone: 206-352-2050, web: www.pprc.org