An international wine trade group has adopted a standard for calculating the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions, Off License News reported. The International Organisation of Vine & Wine said its greenhouse gas accounting protocol has two elements: a tool that allows companies to measure the greenhouse gases of their growing and producing activities and general guidance on emissions produced from individual wine products.
The EPA announced that it has updated Energy Star’s national energy performance scale methodology for hospitals in the program’s Portfolio Manager. The agency said the updated methodology now includes data inputs for the number of MRI machines, personnel and adjustments to weather normalization and removes the 5 million square foot size cap to allow larger hospitals to use the tool.
High-powered Washington D.C. law firms are changing cultures, trading soaring towers and large oak offices for practical LEED certified buildings, The Washington Post reported. Squire Sanders & Dempsey is gunning for LEED platinum accreditation for its new central business office, while Vinson & Elkins and McDermott Will & Emergy, among others, recently became the lead tenants at green properties.
NSF International and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute have developed an American National Standard in a bid to provide a standardized way to define and report the environmental and human health hazards associated with a chemical product and its manufacturing process impacts, Cosmetic Design reported.
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted in favor of the second reading of the WEEE Directive that would strengthen existing recycling rules, New Electronics reported. The 52-1 vote does not necessarily reflect smooth sailing for the second reading, as consensus from the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers is needed. The Council of Ministers reportedly wants to reduce the proposed 85 percent target.
Panasonic said it will move forward with plans to build a large electronics recycling plant in Thailand, but only if the country’s adopts its proposed WEEE standards, The Bangkok Post reported. Thailand’s draft WEEE legislation, which would be modeled on Europe’s directive, has been stalled for eight years.
The National Housing Endowment announced that 25 new Habitat for Humanity homes in several cities will be certified to the ANSI/ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard. The endowment said that a grant from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative will pay for the certifications.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced that its Fab 12 Phase 4 data center has become the country’s first high-density center to complete ISO 50001 certification. The company said it plans to conserve 2.21 million kWh of electricity and eliminate 1,350 tons of carbon emissions per year.