Mayor Newsom signed the what many believe is the nation's most aggressive green building legislation requiring all new and renovated office buildings to meet minimum green standards by 2009 and the LEED Gold standards by 2010.

The Mayor signed the legislation following a tour of the newly renovated Matarozzi/Pelsinger Builders headquarters. That building is the first to receive priority permitting for green building. Under that program, projects seeking LEED Gold certification get "front of the line" privileges during the building permit application review.

The growing backlash against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gathered momentum when a collection of states and conservation groups announced their intent to sue the agency for delays in greenhouse gas regulation. 12 litigants declared proposed lawsuits over the EPA's failure to decide on whether or not it should regulate carbon emissions from the shipping and aviation industries.  The intent to sue is a response to the EPA's release of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on July 11, 2008, which effectively delayed any decision on regulating greenhouse gases until the next administration.

Just days after the EU outlined how it plans to auction carbon credits under the next phase of the EU's emissions trading scheme, reports have emerged of significant changes to the scheme that may increase the amount of credits sold at auction. The government is currently planning to auction 7% of the EU Emissions Allowances (EUAs) issued to carbon intensive businesses and energy companies during the next phase of the scheme running up to 2012 - a move that will net the Treasury an estimated £1.6bn over the next three years.

A resolution has been introduced into US Congress asking the US to ban the export of environmentally damaging electronic waste to developing countries.  If successful, it would bring the US in line with countries that ratified the Basel Convention, an agreement between 170 countries to regulate the international shipment of toxic waste.  Although the US has signed the Convention, it failed to ratify it, and still has many agreements with countries that receive its electrical waste.  According to the Resolution, 50%  to 80% of electronic waste collected for reuse or recycling in the US is exported to countries such as China, India, Ghana, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Increased awareness of building impacts on climate change is leading states and cities around the country to consider market-wide green building codes. In July, California's Building Standards Commission became the first jurisdiction in the nation to do so when it adopted the California Green Building Standards Code. The code requires green building techniques, such as energy efficiency measures, low- or no- volatile organic compound adhesives, paints and coatings, and high-efficiency air conditioning filters, for all new construction. The new standards take effect July 1, 2009, as guidelines and become code requirements incrementally over the next three years. They will apply to all new construction in the state, including single-family homes.
Related Articles:
"Another First for California: State Adopts a Green Building Code" (Green California)
"California Jumps on Green Building Bandwagon" (The Valley Post)

Conserval Engineering Inc. announced the launch of its SolarDuct line of rooftop solar air heating and PV/thermal systems. The SolarDuct is claimed to reduce onsite energy costs by heating ventilation air before it enters the air handling units.  SolarDuct is based on the SolarWall system. The technology has been engineered for roof settings and for applications where a traditional wall mounted system is not feasible. The new modular product line will meet the increased market demand for cost-effective solar systems using proven technology.