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A resource for green news, analysis and trends in the home channel
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GREEN FEATURE OF THE WEEK:
AZEK turns on sustainability microsite
Scranton, Pa.-based AZEK Building Products, manufacturer of PVC decking, trim and other building products, launched a microsite with its parent company CPG. The site will present the company's views on the environmental impact of various building materials during the entire lifecycle of the product.
Click here for the full story
GREEN NEWS
Beazer unveils first green model home near Indianapolis (Sept. 1) Atlanta-based home builder Beazer Homes has debuted its high-performance, energy-efficient eSMART Green showcase home in Fishers, Ind., at South Avalon Estates, near Indianapolis. Full story
Montana lumber mill gets alternative energy project (Aug. 30) Stoltze Lumber, a family-owned lumber production facility in Northwest Montana, will participate in an alternative energy project utilizing algae, wood chips and methane gas. Full story
HD offers affordable LED lights (Aug. 23) Atlanta-based Home Depot announced it has released an affordable line of LED bulbs under its EcoSmart line, including a 40-watt equivalent for $19.97. Full story
Maryland hosts lawn mower exchange (Aug. 16) Hundreds of homeowners showed up to exchange their gas-powered lawn mower for a greener battery-powered one at the Great Maryland Lawn Mower Exchange of 2010. Full story
Congress enters certified wood controversy (July 16) A letter signed by 79 members of Congress was delivered to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), urging the agency to recognize a number of third-party wood certifications when awarding LEED credits. Full story
Building Star program announced at Vermont Ace (July 14) Vermont Congressman Peter Welch (Dem.) used a visit to local Barre, Vt., hardware store Nelson Ace Hardware to announce new legislation aimed at improving energy efficiency of commercial buildings and apartments. Full story
Owens Corning releases 2009 sustainability report (July 6) Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning released its fourth annual sustainability report, highlighting the company’s efforts in 2009 to reduce its environmental footprint, greening its product lines, providing energy-efficiency solutions for the built environment and supporting renewable energy sources. Full story
A. O. Smith plant in Juarez earns certification (June 21) The The A. O. Smith Water Products Co. plant in Juarez, Mexico, recently was certified as part of the State of Chihuahua’s Volunteer Program for Environmental Regulation. Full story
Beazer introduces solar-powered home (June 8) The energy-saving features of the eSMART Green model homes at Terraza at Villago make the homes up to 46% more energy efficient than comparably sized houses built to standard code. Full story
Water, dollars and the green movement (June 3) When it comes to water, Americans don't know how good they've got it. And in many cases, the low-cost water supply here leads to irresponsible and inefficient use of water, according to Azusa, Calif.-based irrigation manufacturer Rain Bird. Full story
Leviton headquarters goes green (June 2) In Melville, N.Y., Leviton Manufacturing Co. collaborated with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to launch long-term sustainability initiatives within its 140,000-sq.-ft. facility. Full story
US GreenFiber joins, praises CIMA (June 1) The Charlotte, N.C.-based insulation company pointed specifically to the association's "Greenest of the Green" campaign as an example of its strong education efforts. Full story
Osmose products receive GreenGuard certification (May 18) The GreenGuard Environmental Institute awards the certification after rigorous testing to meet stringent low-VOC levels. Full story
LED light competition turns on (May 11) General Electric has plans for an Energy Smart LED light, expected to be available later this year. The company said it can provide light for a child's lamp from birth through high school graduation. Full story
Whirlpool RDCs receive LEED certification (April 7) Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool announced that its regional distribution centers facilities in McDonough, Ga., and Spanaway, Wash., have been awarded Gold LEED certifications, and its RDCs in Columbus, Ohio, and Denver have been awarded LEED Certification. Full story
KB Home partners with WaterSense (April 2) The WaterSense label is granted to homes that use 20% less water than a conventional new home and save the homeowner more than 10,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA. Full story
Energy Star slammed by GAO (March 29) An undercover investigation finds fake products received real certification. Full story
P&G expands Future Friendly (March 17) Future Friendly is an educational platform designed to help educate consumers on how to use such leading P&G products to achieve savings in water, waste and energy. Full story
Delta showerheads meet new WaterSense standard (March 11) The new WaterSense specifications, aimed at conserving water usage, sets the bar for showerheads to flow at a rate of 2 gallons per minute or less. Full story
Sears launches Energy Star Rebate site (March 10) Sears launches an online tool to help its customers identify appliance rebates in their state. Full story
Masco launches home assessment program (March 4) Masco Home Services has announced the launch of WellHome to provide home assessments and energy-efficient improvement services for existing homes. Full story
KB Home to build to GreenPoint standards (March 2) The company said GreenPoint-rated homes are engineered to heat and cool efficiently and use less energy. Full story
Gold medal efficiency in Whistler, B.C. (Feb. 11) RDC Fine Homes of Whistler, British Columbia, is showcasing its Whistler Vision Net Zero House with the help of several industry suppliers intent on boosting their credentials as energy efficient. Full story
It's only "natural:" Term criticized as vague (Feb. 11) Upset with greenwashing, the Natural Products Association seeks to curb the misleading use of the word "natural." Full story
Motorized blinds get green (Feb. 9) Online window coverings retailer Blinds Chalet unveiled a motorized blinds product with the added benefit of environmental friendliness. Full story
EcoSmart Technologies finds shelf space at Home Depot (Feb. 4) Home Depot will add 10 new products from EcoSmart Technologies in the lawn and garden category. Full story
NAHB trumpets cost-effective green trend (Jan. 22) The key to the mainstreaming of green is to make sure that consumers understand the value of green upgrades -- and exactly how cost-effective that sustainable construction can be in the long run, according to green home building professionals. Full story
Recycled materials unveiled at Blinds Chalet (Dec. 29) Blinds Chalet has expanded its services to include drapery hardware with an environmental selling point -- recycled materials. Full story
Door manufacturer gets $1.3 million energy grant (Dec. 23) CMI, the Chicago-based door and millwork manufacturer, has been awarded more than $1.3 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to install a back-pressure steam turbine at its door, trim and panel manufacturing facility in Towanda, Pa. Full story
Whirlpool and Beazer Homes team up (Dec. 15) Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool will be the exclusive supplier of energy and water-efficient appliances for Atlanta-based home builder Beazer Homes. Full story
A greener shade of Sherwin-Williams (Dec. 3) Cleveland-based Sherwin Williams, ranked seventh in sales on the HCN Top 500 Scoreboard, has pledged to reduce its total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 4% from 2007 to 2012. Full story
Whirlpool issues sustainability report (Nov. 18) The company also produces an annual report, which it is making publicly available for the first time to communicate its commitment to environmental performance with its stakeholders. Full story
California to switch to lead-free plumbing (Nov. 16): Starting in January 2010, California law prohibits the sale or installation of any lead-containing pipe or fixture that delivers drinking water. Full story
Study: Green building boosts U.S. economy (Nov. 13) The Green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and push $554 billion into the American economy, including $396 billion in wages, from 2009 to 2013, according to a study from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton. Full story
Pulte Homes earns LEED award (Nov. 13): The USGBC’s Residential Market Development Team selected Pulte for its Las Vegas division’s achievements with the Villa Trieste project in Summerlin, Nev. Full story
Owens Corning ups recycling initiatives (Nov. 11): The company announced the amount of recycled material in its Fiberglas insulation has been increased by 10%, bringing it to 50% total recycled material. Full story
EPA orders new pesticide testing (Nov. 5): The Environmental Protection Agency is taking a serious look at the effect of pesticides and weed killers on the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. Manufacturers of 67 chemicals must begin testing immediately. Full story
Forest industry strikes back (Oct. 27): An industry coalition has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the Forest Stewardship Council and the U.S. Green Building Council for unfair business practices. Full story
Owens Corning plant receives LEED Gold certification (Oct. 26): A plant that manufactures Foamular extruded polystyrene rigid foam insulation is touted as the only LEED Gold-certified insulation facility in the United States. Full story
Universal to distribute Accoya wood (Oct. 26): Accoya is a modified wood made from certified sustainable sources, using an eco-friendly process. Full story
Builders FirstSource earns FSC certification (Sept. 24): Builders FirstSource will begin distributing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified building materials on a broker basis, the company announced, after completing the organization’s chain-of-custody requirements. Full story
Producers cite costs in green certification survey (July 28): Dual surveys by Random Lengths and the Southern Forest Products Association show wide variances in the acceptance of forest certification programs. Full story