EGB, February 18, 2009

Modern Green-Building Fire Protection
By Kate Houghton
The selection of an environmentally friendly fire-suppression system can help a project earn LEED credits...MORE

15 Years, 15 Stories
To commemorate its 15-year anniversary, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released the report "15 Years, 15 Stories." The report highlights the perspectives of 15 individuals who have been involved in the green movement since its inception. The Web version of the report includes video clips of these individuals and the USGBC's annual report for 2008...MORE

Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) will present the Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition (RETECH) Feb. 25-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. RETECH 2009 offers an educational program for professionals wanting to stay current on the renewable-energy industry. Sessions offered will address President Obama's call to double the production of renewable energy within the next three years. At RETECH, industry leaders will begin to discuss how to achieve President Obama's goal...MORE

American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan
President Obama spoke to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Feb. 5 about the role of energy efficiency and renewable-energy technologies in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. In a memorandum, Obama instructed the DOE to set standards for nine appliances, including commercial boilers and commercial air conditioners by August...MORE

Building-Energy-Labeling Program
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) proposed a building-energy-labeling program during its 2009 Winter Conference in Chicago last month. The program would include a method of rating the energy performance of buildings covered by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; qualification criteria for raters and assessors; asset and operational ratings to cover both design and operations; and a process for approving alternative methods...MORE

Demand for Secondary Loop Refrigeration Grows
The Dow Chemical Co. reported that the demand for its heat-transfer fluid for secondary-loop refrigeration applications grew to approximately 120 percent in 2008. Dow Chemical predicts that the demand will continue to grow in 2009, as large supermarkets use secondary loop refrigeration to minimize energy consumption and its environmental impact...MORE Green Power Partners Cut

Greenhouse-Gas Emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that members of Green Power Partners in Illinois reduced their greenhouse-gas emissions in 2008 by buying more than 445 million kwh of electricity from renewable resources, such as solar and wind power. The partners buying the most green power included the City of Chicago, PepsiAmericas, Northwestern University, and Baxter International...MORE