Category: News

On June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release for independent peer review and public comment a draft human health assessment for formaldehyde that focuses on evaluating the potential toxicity of inhalation exposures to this chemical. Formaldehyde is widely used and can be found in many consumer products. 

 This assessment will help EPA and others to determine the level of risk it poses to Americans’ health. EPA undertook this assessment because there have been a number of potentially significant new studies published since EPA’s last review of formaldehyde toxicity.

 EPA’s draft formaldehyde assessment will be reviewed by an expert panel convened by the National Academy of Sciences.  EPA will consider all public comments on its draft and will use the guidance from the National Academy of Sciences as it completes its IRIS Health Assessment for Formaldehyde.

 EPA will accept written comments on the draft assessment for 90 days after it appears in the Federal Register on June 2.

 More information: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/recordisplay.cfm?deid=223614

National Insulation Association Says Mechanical Insulation Saves Money
While an economic recovery in the United States remains tepid despite relatively positive economic news for the first few months of 2010, commodity prices have rebounded significantly. Energy prices for oil and industrial natural gas are substantially higher than their 2009 lows.1 High energy prices could undermine any sustained recovery and especially dampen any rebound for manufacturers already battered by the recession. Faced with uncertain energy prices for the foreseeable future, manufacturers and energy managers may want to consider options to reduce price volatility in their energy supply inputs. They may not be in a position to invest in a capital project that uses up scarce resources during a slow business climate.2 They may likewise need options that generate a payback under short time horizons. One such (often overlooked) energy efficiency strategy option is mechanical insulation.

If wide application of mechanical insulation systems doesn’t generate interest in itself, then one should consider the effect they can have on the annual operating budget. Often, mechanical insulation systems have a payback period of 12 months or less,⁶ which equates to a 100% annual return.

Energy Matters Best Practices

A new 30-page guide from Onset details how portable data loggers can be applied in a number of building monitoring applications, such as HVAC systems monitoring, commissioning, Measurement & Verification, and load profiling. The guide offers practical tips and techniques on a range of topics, including data logger installation, monitoring plan development, safety, and data interpretation.  Click here to download the free guide today!

Starting May 1, 2010, it got harder for a TV to earn the ENERGY STAR. Now, TVs that carry the government’s ENERGY STAR label are on average, 4 percent more efficient than conventional models. Available in stores nationwide, these TVs will help consumers save even more energy and money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and still deliver all the features and performance quality they expect.  Find an ENERGY STAR Qualified TV

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes that earn the Energy Star label. Compared to the current Energy Star guidelines, the new requirements will make qualified new homes at least 20 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – slashing utility bills for qualified homes by 15 percent compared to IECC code-built homes.

The updated requirements will ensure that the government’s Energy Star label continues to deliver a significant increase in energy efficiency over homes that are built to code and standard builder business practices. These guidelines will go into effect in January 2011, although some builders may choose to adopt the new requirements earlier.

Key elements of the new guidelines for Energy Star qualified homes include:

· A Complete Thermal Enclosure System: Comprehensive air sealing, properly insulated assemblies and high-performance windows enhance comfort, improve durability and reduce utility bills.

· Quality Installed Complete Heating and Cooling Systems: High-efficiency heating and cooling systems engineered to deliver more comfort, moisture control and quiet operation, and equipped with fresh-air ventilation to improve air quality.

· A Complete Water Management System: Because Energy Star homes offer a tightly-sealed and insulated building envelope, a comprehensive package of flashing, moisture barriers, and heavy-duty membrane details is critical to help keep water from roofs, walls, and foundations for improved durability and indoor air quality.

· Efficient Lighting and Appliances: Look for Energy Star qualified lighting, appliances and fans helping to further reduce monthly utility bills and provide high-quality performance.

· Third-Party Verification: Energy Star qualified homes require verification by independent Home Energy Raters who conduct a comprehensive series of detailed inspections and use specialized diagnostic equipment to test system performance.

For more details see: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_2011_comments

Source: EPA

Through a grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the University of Maine’s Center on Aging has completed the first statewide mail-back pilot program for managing pharmaceutical waste from consumers.  Studies show that pharmaceuticals are present in our nation’s water bodies and that certain drugs may cause ecological harm.  EPA is currently evaluating the potential risks associated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products on public health and aquatic life.

”This pilot is important because it has filled research gaps about the volumes and types of medications that can end up in our waters, and affect our ecosystems,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.  “The pilot also gave residents a way to serve as environmental stewards to reduce water pollution.”
Continue reading Report Released on Pharmaceutical Mail-back Pilot Program Funded by EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find chemical information online. EPA is releasing a database, called ToxRefDB, which allows scientists and the interested public to search and download thousands of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. ToxRefDB captures 30 years and $2 billion of testing results.

ToxRefDB provides detailed chemical toxicity data in an accessible format. It is a part of ACToR (Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource), an online data warehouse that collects data from about 500 public sources on tens of thousands of environmentally relevant chemicals, including several hundred in ToxRefDB. Those interested in chemical toxicity can query a specific chemical and find all available public hazard, exposure, and risk-assessment data, as well as previously unpublished studies related to cancer, reproductive, and developmental toxicity.

The first step is to determine which products going into the trash are recyclable and which ones you want to include in the recycling initiative. Paper products and beverage containers are typically good places to start.

Step two is to encourage employee participation, which can be increased by strategically placing your recycling bins in areas where most of the trash is generated such as copy rooms, break rooms and cafeterias. Other ways to increase participation include consistent communications.

Step three is training janitorial staff about your recycling initiative by reaching out to building management or the building’s landlord to notify them about your recycling initiative.

Step four details how to collect and dispose of the recyclables, which may include hiring an outside service and donating to charities particularly for electronics products.

Step five is taking more steps to recycle, reduce and reuse by expanding your company’s efforts to reduce office waste and reuse existing products.
Click here to start an office recycling program