First, a convenient slideshow–TreeHugger shows you what the new Prez is going to help you buy, via tax credits in the new stimulus package.

Nick Grohe of Hansgrohe addresses low-flow, aeration and the various green benefits water products can provide in this handy-dandy Q&A.

The USGBC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (doesn’t that sound peaceful?) with BREEAM, Green Star, Green Building Council Australia and the UK Green Building Council to get the beginnings of a standard metric of CO2 emissions assessment in new home and building construction started.  Read it here.

Snaidero Greens Up, Christopher Peacock Cabinetry Gets Smart and Merillat and Quality Think About Tomorrow…

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So what the heck am I talking about?  Davis & Warshow, which has eight sales showrooms and four distribution centers in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, NY, is turning its original 8.5-acre Maspeth headquarters into what they are calling “Practically Green.”

“Practically Green” is D&W’s sustainability manifesto, a kind of small business model for committing to green in what the company calls a “pragmatic, progressive” way.

“There’s no way to flip a switch and be carbon neutral overnight,” says v.p. David Finkel.  The company has begun implementing the changes which it hopes will eventually lead the Maspeth location to qualify for LEED status.

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Enjoy!  If you miss it, or can’t make it, I’ll have the full rundown in the changes for next year available right here next week!

• Made a contact who’s going to give me the low-down on the new CARB regulations next week.  Get ready for everything you ever wanted to know about California air regs, but were too afraid to ask.
• Had a bang-up interview with the VP of Underwriters Laboratory about the soft launch of the company’s new environmental certifications program.  UL’s new program is going to be a one-stop shopping for manufacturers looking to conform to green standards and get a third-party seal of approval to take to market.  Very cool stuff.  More on that tonight.
• The AIA’s “Walk the Walk” program has a presence here; they’re fully launched now beyond their statement of purpose. For more info, go here–going to stop by and learn all about it, so more on that to come, as well.
• There’s insulation here made of sand.  I thought spray-foam was ingenious, so I’m totally bowled over by this.  This isn’t directly related to kitchens or baths, but as insulation is often the cheapest and easiest way to improve a home’s energy efficiency, this is a basic building block to get acquainted with. And, of course, there’s an organization just dying to tell you all about it: the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association.

The long-awaited photos will be up tonight.  Hope you’re all having a great show, and remember, if you’re not attending but want to stay connected, you can get a variety of content on Greenbuild365, including the opportunity to watch the remainder of speeches, as well as the closing keynote tomorrow, streaming live on your computer.  More info to come later.

Stay green and stay tuned!