High Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007 Passed in Energy Bill

With President Bush's signing of the Energy Bill today, the High Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007 was passed. The widely-supported act authorizes US EPA to work with state agencies to address school environmental concerns and school siting, among other building-related goals.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Act:

• Defines a "high-performance green building" as one that, during its life-cycle: (1) reduces energy, water, and material resource use and the generation of waste; (2) improves indoor environmental quality; (3) improves impacts of the building on human health and the environment; (4) increases the use of environmentally preferable products; (5) increases reuse and recycling opportunities; and (6) integrates systems in the building.
• Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to state agencies for use in: (1) providing technical assistance for EPA's programs (including the Tools for Schools Program and the Healthy School Environmental Assessment Tool) to schools for use in addressing environmental issues; and (2) developing state school environmental quality plans.
• Requires the EPA to develop school site acquisition guidelines that account for: (1) the special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution exposure where the potential for site contamination exists; (2) available modes of transportation; and (3) potential use of the school as an emergency shelter.
• Requires the Director to ensure that the public clearinghouse established by this Act receives and makes available information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities.
• Requires the EPA to issue guidelines for states in developing and implementing an environmental health program for schools.

U.S. House of Representatives Green Schools Caucus Formed

Representatives from Congress have formed the Green School Caucus to raise awareness of the benefits of environmentally responsible schools, lead the policy discussion, create legislative opportunities, and provide members of Congress with constituent outreach resources. The Caucus was formed by Reps. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah. Caucus members will participate in educational programs to learn about green schools nationally and in their districts, including site visits to environmentally responsible schools and educational panels with teachers, design professionals and school officials from around the country.

CHPS Board Members Brian Dougherty and Stephan Castellanos were honored this past November by the California Architectural Foundation and the California Council of the American Institute of Architects, respectively, for their contributions to the field of architecture.

Mr. Castellanos (right, above) was presented with a Presidential Citation, in recognition for his leadership and dedication to a collaborative building process. For many years, Mr. Castellanos has served as a key component in bringing innovative methods to the forefront of the design process.  His intellectual leadership within the design and construction industry has brought together builders, academics, business and institutional clients, engineers, architects and manufacturers to bring higher levels of quality and efficiency to the building process. His award noted that his "efforts have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the profession, and the industry across the nation.  [Mr. Castellanos'] considerable contributions to the profession of architecture are respected and appreciated, and the architects of California commend you."

Mr. Dougherty (right, below) was honored for his years of service to the California Architectural Foundation. His recent contributions to the the William Turnbull, Jr. Environmental Prize competition were especially noted. With his contributions, the competition has now been re-envisioned as "Off Grid: Ideas for Building a Carbon Neutral Future", and is administered in conjunction with the AIACC Monterey Design Conference. For more information about the competition, visit: www.offgridideas.org.

For more information about the CHPS Board of Directors, visit: http://www.chps.net/overview/overviewWhoWeAre.

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