A nationwide battle over forest certification standards continues to be played out nationally and in Florida with legislation passed this month. HB 269 would revise a 2008 law that led the Florida Department of Management Services to adopt the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program as the standard for state office buildings.
Bill supporters say other certification programs, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, should be considered, and that LEED discriminates against Florida wood growers. In a related development, the group ForestEthics in Seattle filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint contending that the Sustainable Forestry Initiative represents “green washing” by the timber industry that violates federal certification standards.
Related Stories
| Feb 14, 2012
Skanska promotes Aparicio and hires Leintz in Southern California
Aparicio and Leintz are both based in Skanska’s Los Angeles office.
| Feb 14, 2012
The Jackson Laboratory announces Gilbane Building Co. as program manager for Connecticut facility
Gilbane to manage program for new genomic medicine facility that will create 300 jobs in Connecticut.
| Feb 14, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti names Al Hashimi vice president for its Middle East Operations
Al Hashimi is joining the company to help expand Thornton Tomasetti’s business in the region and support clients locally.
| Feb 13, 2012
WHR Architects renovation of Morristown Memorial Hospital Simon Level 5 awarded LEED Gold
Located in the Simon Building, which serves as the main entrance leading into the Morristown Memorial Hospital campus, the project comprises three patient room wings connected by a centralized nursing station and elevator lobby.
| Feb 13, 2012
Center for Sustainable Building Research launches CommercialWindows.org
Resource aims at reducing commercial operating costs and energy consumption.
| Feb 13, 2012
New medical city unveiled in Abu Dhabi
SOM’s design for the 838-bed, three-million-square foot complex creates a new standard for medical care in the region.
| Feb 10, 2012
Task force addresses questions regarding visually graded Southern Pine lumber
Answers address transition issues, how to obtain similar load-carrying capabilities, and why only some grades and sizes are affected at this time.
| Feb 10, 2012
Atlanta Housing Authority taps Johnson Controls to improve public housing efficiency
Energy-efficiency program to improve 13 senior residential care facilities and save nearly $18 million.
| Feb 10, 2012
Besculides joins New York Office of Perkins Eastman as associate principal
Besculides joins with more than 17 years’ experience in design, business development, and account management for the government, healthcare, and corporate practice areas with a particular focus on the financial and media sectors.
| Feb 10, 2012
Mortenson Construction research identifies healthcare industry and facility design trends
The 2012 Mortenson Construction Healthcare Industry Study includes insights and perspectives regarding government program concerns, the importance of lean operations, flexible facility design, project delivery trends, improving patient experience, and evidence-based design.