March 28, 2007

Add a Bathroom, Cut Water Use and Help Save the Planet!

GUELPH, Ontario, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding a modern bathroom addition is a smart way to increase the value of your home, cut your water bills, and protect our nation's natural resources.

Installing a low-consumption toilet -- even in the basement using new above-ground plumbing from Saniflo -- a family of four can save 50 gallons a day, or nearly 20,000 gallons a year.(1) According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential toilets account for about one-third of indoor household water use -- or more than 2.1 trillion gallons annually.(2) See http://www.saniflo.com/.

If your home was built before 1992, when the federal government began mandating low-flush toilets, your existing toilets likely use 3.5 gallons per flush (gpm). (If your home dates back to the 1950s or earlier, you may have a 5.5-gpm or even a 7-gpm guzzler!)

But what if you want to add a bathroom in the basement or garage where none currently exists? The high cost of pounding through cement to install drainage lines can easily out-pace the money you'll save on your water bill. The simple solution? Saniflo above-floor plumbing.

With Saniflo's modern, low-consumption toilet systems that use special plumbing technology, there's no need to dig up the basement floor to install drainage for a new bathroom.

"Installing a sub-level Saniflo system not only solves a costly plumbing problem, it also makes it easy to reduce water usage," says Saniflo national sales manager Bob Lechner. "All Saniflo toilets are low-consumption, and one model, the Sanicompact, uses only one gallon per flush."

Looking very much like a conventional toilet, a macerating toilet takes up roughly the same amount of floor space. But instead of routing the flush water through a drain beneath the toilet in the floor, the system moves it to a macerating pump, usually located on the floor between the toilet and the wall. (It can be hidden behind the wall if you prefer.)

The pump mechanism uses a fast-rotating blade to liquefy waste and toilet paper in the flush water, releasing the waste under pressure through small-diameter piping to the sewer or septic tank. There's no special maintenance, and the pump is sealed for life. The fixtures will work up to 12 feet below and as far as 150 feet away from a septic tank or sewer line.

If you've never stopped to think about how much water you use at home, Earth Day on April 22 is a great time to start. At greatly reduced labor costs and with superior installation flexibility, Saniflo low-flush systems are an excellent way to make a local difference that can have a global effect -- on Earth Day and everyday!
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March 28, 2007

Can I Get a Little Peace and Quiet?

Windows Help You Tune Out the World's Distractions

MILWAUKEE, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Barking dogs, loud stereos, lawnmowers, airplanes -- just a few of the distractions that detract from the quality of our daily lives. Imagine what you could get done in a world without all this noise.

Just as heat and light can be transmitted through windows, noise pollution can stubbornly find its way through and impose itself on your household. The good news is that replacement windows can have a significant impact on reducing the clatter and din that increasingly is intruding upon our daily lives, according to Bill Holz, General Manager of Stanek Windows.

"If you currently have old single or double pane windows, you can expect that noise pollution is going to interfere with your peace and quiet," says Holz. "These windows just don't provide the barrier against noise; more often than not they aren't efficient enough to keep out the heat and cold either. Upgrading to an energy-efficient window can do a whole lot to enhance your life, and save you money."

Known for its energy-saving properties, Stanek's Heat Mirror(R) line of windows is also an excellent sound barrier, Holz explains. "We just had a client tell us he literally used to sleep with ear plugs to block out the noise from outside. He had a slider door with Heat Mirror installed in his bedroom and he told us it virtually eliminated the outside noise," said Holz.

So what exactly is noise pollution? Noise pollution is human-created noise that not only irritates, but is also potentially harmful to your health. In today's environment, noise has become a constant factor. Studies show that the world is getting noisier, and escape from the noise is getting increasingly difficult. Even in your own home.

The dominant form of noise pollution is produced by transportation sources, such as cars, aircrafts and railways. Construction equipment, office equipment, factory machinery, appliances, power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems also add to the build-up. The city is not the only problem area. Noise from recreational vehicles has become a serious dilemma in rural areas.

In addition to simple aggravating annoyance, noise pollution can have significant affects on health. Subjected to 45 decibels of noise, the average person can't sleep. According to a recent study, high levels of noise have also been proven to cause a statistical rise in blood pressure, a clear and measurable increase in stress. Other consequences include lack of sleep, irritability, heartburn, indigestion, ulcers, high blood pressure, and possibly even heart disease.

"A window's noise control ability is measured by Sound Transmission Classification (STC) ratings," explains Holz. "A small increase in STC ratings means much greater protection from outside noise. According to Southwall Technologies, the Heat Mirror glass used by Stanek Windows has an STC rating of 34, which means it can impact street noise and make a home the quieter refuge that the homeowners desire."

March 28, 2007

CarMax Home Office Receives National Green Building Designation

First Virginia Company with a LEED Silver Certified Corporate Headquarters

RICHMOND, Va., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) , the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today that its home office in Richmond, Virginia has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC's leading edge system for designing and constructing the world's greenest and energy efficient buildings. CarMax is the first company to construct a LEED Certified building in Virginia as its corporate headquarters. Construction on the CarMax home office was complete in 2005.

"Our home office is just another way in which we put our associates first," said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer at CarMax. "We have provided an open, and collaborative work environment, while also demonstrating our commitment to being a socially responsible company."

CarMax's 250,000 square foot home office building is located on 130 acres of land in Goochland County, just outside of Richmond, Virginia in the West Creek Industrial Office Park. The building features bright colors in a vibrant, informal and non-hierarchical layout. Environmental features include the preservation of the trees, wetlands, and natural areas; the natural enhancement of daylight inside the building; and the use of recycled materials.

"CarMax's achievement of LEED certification proves how much this company cares about its associates," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "LEED certification ensures that CarMax's home office conserves resources and provides a comfortable indoor environment for its occupants."

The CarMax home office includes office space for approximately 900 associates, a cafeteria and dining area, and training and meeting rooms. In addition to the main office building, the site features a fitness center, a multi-purpose basketball court, nearly two miles of walking trails and a parking garage.

CarMax and its new home office have been recognized with several green design awards including:

-- The 2006 Virginia Green Innovation Award for Best Commercial Project
from the Virginia Sustainable Building Network
-- The 2005 Go Green Award of Merit from the James River Green Building
Council
-- The 2005 Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award for Best Green
Building from the Charlottesville Waldorf Foundation


The companies credited with the CarMax home office building project are ADD Inc, Cambridge, Mass., master planning, architecture and interior design; Millennium Retail Partners, LLC, Richmond, Va., owner representative; Brookwood Program Management, Atlanta, Ga., construction manager; KBS, Inc., Richmond, Va., contractor; Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Richmond, Va. and Boston, Mass., landscape architect and civil engineer; AHA Consulting Engineers, Lexington, Mass., MEP/FP engineer; and McNamara/Salvia, Inc., Boston, Mass., structural engineer.

About CarMax

CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2007 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. CarMax currently operates 77 used car superstores in 36 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2006, the company sold 323,570 used cars, which is 94% of the total 342,482 vehicles the company retailed during that period.
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March 28, 2007

Echelon Wins Energy Award from the California Energy Commission

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON), a leading provider of networking technology that is used to manage and reduce energy consumption, today announced that it has been awarded an Early Adopter Innovator Award from the State of California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Demand Response Research Council (DRRC) in recognition of Echelon’s leadership and continuing support to reduce loads on California’s electricity grid by participating in the Automated Critical Peak Pricing Pilot Study. The DRRC is a joint research center of the CEC, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL). The study measured the potential energy savings that could be achieved through voluntary reduction in energy use by corporations in response to energy pricing signals from utilities. Under the 2006 study, Echelon’s corporate headquarters demonstrated the ability to quickly reduce energy consumption by over 30%—more than any other participant in the program—without impacting building occupants.

“When we were first introduced to Echelon’s technology, we knew these solutions were the future of energy management and of green buildings,” said Mark Kendall, founder and president of Kenmark Real Estate Group, which manages Echelon’s San Jose headquarters over the Internet from its offices in San Francisco. “No other system is capable of saving so much energy so smartly, nor does any other allow us to implement facility management programs as cost effectively and with as many benefits to the tenant. In Echelon’s building, we’re able to reduce energy and save our client significant operating costs, without ever impacting their work environment. That is our goal – maximum energy conservation with no negative impact on our clients.”

Demand response is considered a key component of energy management policy to ensure a balance between supply and demand while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In an electricity grid, any significant imbalance between electricity consumption and production can cause grid instability or severe voltage fluctuations and failures within the grid. Demand response is the reduction of energy usage at the end-user level in order to place usable megawatts back on a region's energy grid during periods of peak demand, eliminating the need to run inefficient peaking plants and reducing generation costs. In return, end-users are offered reduced electricity prices or other financial incentives. Demand response is particularly useful during hot, summer months when the need for electricity often surpasses a utility’s generation capability.

Echelon’s corporate headquarters, which contain over 1,100 smart devices from over 16 suppliers using Echelon’s LONWORKS® device networking technology in the heating, air conditioning, lighting and other building control systems, helped show that highly integrated building automation systems, such as Echelon’s LONWORKS based control system, were able to reduce demand significantly more than any other building automation system. Using the web services technology in Echelon’s i.LON® 100 Internet Server as the interface to a LONWORKS based control system, the building can drop electrical demand by 30% within moments of an energy demand notification from PG&E without any human intervention.

In addition to Echelon’s building, the study included numerous other buildings that utilize a full spectrum of demand response capabilities - from fully manual (facilities personnel manually shut down systems and offices) to system level response (each sub-system in a building reports to a central controller) to fully open and integrated device networks like LONWORKS (individual, connected devices respond intelligently to demand requests). The study showed a substantially improved savings for fully open, integrated buildings.

“Seventy percent of all electricity consumed in the U.S. is used by commercial buildings, and 70% of that amount is used by lighting and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems,” said Bea Yormark, Echelon’s president and COO. “Buildings owners report that LONWORKS based HVAC and lighting systems can reduce annual energy use by over 30%. Even if we were to save only 10% through LONWORKS based control systems in every U.S. building, the U.S. Climate Technology Cooperation has calculated that such a saving would reduce carbon emissions equivalent to reducing automobile gasoline usage by over 12 billion gallons per year.”

“The time to act is now. According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, more efficient use of energy can do far more in the coming decades to cut carbon dioxide emissions than either a shift to renewable energies or nuclear power. Smart, LONWORKS based control systems are already saving energy in thousands of buildings worldwide. Applying smart control technology to all of today’s buildings, utilities and homes would have tremendous, far reaching benefits to the environment, economy, and people’s everyday lives,” concluded Yormark.

Demand response is gaining acceptance and recognition with utilities worldwide as a way to conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gases, and lower costs for end-users. In a typical work day there are hours where electricity demand peaks significantly, resulting in a strain on overall grid capacity and costing commercial customers as much as 10 times the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as during non-peak times. This peak demand period may only last 2-4 hours and is quite predictable. Demand response programs were created by utilities such as PG&E to provide financial incentives to companies and building owners to decrease electricity consumption during peak hours. Automated demand response is a process wherein no human intervention is required to implement a lower electricity use strategy.

About Echelon

Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ:ELON) is a networking company that provides products and systems that can monitor and save energy, lower costs, improve productivity and enhance service, quality, safety and convenience by networking together everyday devices in utility, building, industrial, transportation and home control systems. Tens of millions of smart devices based on Echelon’s products and systems are in use around the world today bringing benefits to consumers and industry. More information about Echelon can be found at http://www.echelon.com.

Echelon, LONWORKS, i.LON, and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Pyxos is a trademark of Echelon Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties pertaining to the timing and level of customer orders and demand for Echelon products and services in demand response and other applications; risks that these products do not perform as designed, and that liability may accrue as a result of the use of Echelon products and services in demand response; risks associated with any changes that may occur in directives regarding demand response, safety or other policies, and acceptance by local, regional or other government agencies of LonWorks based demand response or other solutions; the growth of the LonWorks industry in general; and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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March 28, 2007

State Permitting Agency Concludes Exhaustive Review:

ELLENSBURG, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Horizon Wind Energy, one of the nation’s leading wind power developers, saluted the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for the agency’s announcement Tuesday evening that it will recommend that Governor Christine Gregoire approve Horizon’s proposed Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project (KVWPP) northwest of this small Central Washington city.

EFSEC, Washington State’s “one stop” permit review authority for utility-scale power plants concluded its exhaustive review of the proposed 65-turbine wind farm with a 6-1 vote in support of Horizon’s application. The lone dissenting vote came from Kittitas County’s representative who also opposed EFSEC’s recommendation to override the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners’ objections to KVWPP.

Chris Taylor, Horizon’s Northwest Development Director said, “We’re gratified by the Council's validation of our belief that the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project, particularly with passage of I-937, is important to the State of Washington.” Initiative 937, which Evergreen State voters passed last November, requires that by 2020, 15% of the state’s electricity be supplied by new renewable energy sources.

EFSEC reviewed well over a dozen independent studies of the Project site some of which were begun five years ago. The Council concluded that the KVWPP would create no significant negative environmental impacts. Horizon, in an unsuccessful effort to earn County government approval, downsized the original wind farm design it first announced in April 2002.

Regional environmental groups including the Cascade Chapter of Sierra Club, the Renewable Northwest Project, and the Northwest Energy Coalition, joined Kittitas County renewable energy advocates in actively supporting the proposed wind farm.

The Economic Development Group of Kittitas County also supported the proposed project citing the new family wage jobs that KVWPP would create and its annual infusion of $1.5 million in new property taxes.

“The dedication of our supporters was a constant source of encouragement,” said Taylor. “While EFSEC based its decision exclusively on the merits of our case, it helped immensely to know the breadth and depth of public support both in Kittitas County and beyond.”

EFSEC now forwards its recommendation to Washington’s Governor Christine Gregoire who must choose to approve, deny or remand EFSEC’s recommendation.

About Horizon Wind

Horizon Wind Energy develops, constructs, owns, and operates wind farms throughout the United States. Horizon-developed wind farms operate in Washington, New York, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, and the company has projects under construction in Oregon, Texas and Illinois. Horizon expects to have more than 1300 MW of wind projects in operation by the end of 2007.
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March 28, 2007

Building Green Made Easier with a New Roadmap

EUGENE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Looking to build with an environmentally smart and friendly approach? A University of Oregon professor has pooled virtually all available resources, including color images and diagrams, to help a designer pursue both passive and energy-efficient strategies.

The book – The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design (Architectural Press) – is not intended to serve as a green building checklist nor as a textbook for environmental technology, says Alison G. Kwok, a UO professor of architecture. “Instead it provides the necessary information to make judgments about the appropriate use of green strategies and to validate design decisions regarding these strategies,” wrote Kwok and co-author Walter T. Grondzik of Florida A&M University, a former visiting professor at the UO, in the preface.

Green architecture refers to a design and building process that incorporates economical, energy-saving, environmentally friendly and sustainable development. A passive approach uses no purchased energy such as electricity or natural gas, utilizes components like windows or floors that are part of another system and closely integrates the choices into the building. Active approaches may use pumps, piping and manufactured devices to collect, store and redistribute the sun’s energy.

The Green Studio Handbook targets students enrolled in design studio courses, recent graduates entering practice and even more-seasoned professionals who need quick schematic guidance.

The 372-page book contains 422 full-color photographs and line drawings illustrating the application of green strategies during the schematic design of buildings. Kwok and Grondzik identify some 40 environmental strategies, with brief descriptions of principles and concepts, step-by-step advice for integrating green strategies into the early stage of design, annotated tables and charts to assist with preliminary sizing, as well as a summary of key issues to be addressed and references to additional resources.

“The Green Studio Handbook was written to serve as a reference guide and source of inspiration for students in design studios and architects in professional practice,” the co-authors wrote. “It is founded upon the premise that there would be more green buildings if the techniques of green buildings – the underlying strategies that save energy, water and material resources – were more accessible to the designer.”

While there are a variety of resources available, Kwok said, the book is a one-stop library of knowledge. “It puts a lot of resources together in one book so the user doesn’t have to go all over to find the needed information.”

The book is widely available and is on the Royal Institute of British Architects International Awards 2007 long list, which features the highest standard of architectural writing and publishing.

Among case studies covered in the Green Studio Handbook are: One Peking Road tower in Hong Kong; the National Association of Realtors Headquarters, which is the first green building in Washington, D.C.; The Helena Apartment Tower in New York City; Arup Campus Solihull (UK); Beddington Zero Energy Development (UK); Druk White Lotus School (India); Habitat Research and Development Centre (Namibia) and the University of Oregon’s Lillis Business Complex.

Kwok, former president of the Society of Building Science Educators, also is the organizer of the annual Architectural Research Centers Consortium Spring Research Conference. Faculty and graduate students from 28 institutions in five countries will participate in the April 16-18 event, which carries the theme "Green Challenges in Research, Practice, and Design Education."

Immediately after the conference, a related UO student-organized conference begins. The Ecological Design Center’s 13th HOPES Conference runs April 19-22. HOPES stands for Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability.
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March 27, 2007

'Green' Electricity to Power AJC

NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee announced today that 100 percent of the electricity used in its New York headquarters and offices across the U.S. will be linked to renewable energy sources. AJC is the first Jewish nonprofit in the nation to "green" its electrical supply, taking another step towards achieving green building certification and advancing domestic sources of clean energy.

"AJC employees will be contributing to a cleaner environment and supporting new energy alternatives when they turn on the lights in their offices," said Benjamin Tressler, director of AJC's Green Building Project.

AJC's electrical supply is now supplemented with a Renewable Energy Credit (REC) program that supports energy sources that reduce harmful fossil fuel content in the atmosphere.

Half of AJC's RECs will be generated from the Gray County Wind Farm in Kansas. Gray County is one of the largest wind farms in the U.S. It produces enough electricity to power 33,000 homes and reduces 600 tons of carbon emission annually.

The other half will be generated from American Municipal Power-Ohio's Landfill Gas Energy projects in Ohio. These plants capture methane from decommissioned landfills and burn it to generate renewable, carbon neutral, electricity.

AJC's "green projects" include its ongoing compliance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems(TM), a set of voluntary standards, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, used in the design, construction and operation of high-performance, environmentally sound buildings.

In addition, AJC's Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Bonus Program provides cash incentives to full-time AJC employees to purchase new hybrid cars.
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March 27, 2007

'Green' Homeowners Are Happier With Their Homes and Recommending Them; Cost Savings Are Top Motivating Factor for Buying Green

NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) , today will present the findings of its latest market research investigating "green" homes, focusing on homeowners and home buyers. The survey, co-sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), finds that homeowners are happier with their new green homes than with their previous homes, and that they are eager to recommend buying green to others

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070326/NYM093 )

The research provides the first estimate of the true size of the green home market, screening out green homeowners from a representative panel of U.S. homeowners. According to this new study, 0.3% of all homes in the U.S. are truly green (containing elements in three of five environmental building categories), a market sized at approximately $2 billion.

"Though it's still a small number, builders are already getting it when it comes to the value of real green homes, and it appears homeowners are too," states Harvey M. Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives. Pointing to McGraw- Hill Construction's estimate from 2006 that that 2% of the residential construction market had at least one green building element, such as energy- efficient appliances, Bernstein adds, "It's also powerful to find that people are really starting to commit to building truly green homes, moving away from just adding energy efficient appliances or one aspect that's green. They're paying attention to the holistic benefit of green."

Homeowners are extremely happy with their green homes, with 85% happier with their new green homes versus their previous non-green ones. And they're not shy about sharing those feelings. This finding is powerful because 28% of the homeowners reported first hearing about green homes through word of mouth.

"We're excited that green homeowners are so happy with their homes and that they're willing to share the good news," says Ray Tonjes, chairman of the NAHB Green Building Subcommittee and an Austin, Texas, green home builder. "NAHB and its members have been leaders in the voluntary movement to increase the energy and resource efficiency and quality of homes, and it is great news that these consumers are so satisfied with their high-performing homes. Green building's market share will continue to expand."

The research also found that:

-- The new green homeowner is affluent and well educated, in his/her mid
forties and married, and also more likely to be from the Southern or
Western states. Women are also more likely to be green homeowners.

-- Home operating costs matter. Sixty-three percent report lower
operating and maintenance costs as the key motivation behind buying a
green home. Additionally, nearly 50% report environmental concerns and
family health as motivators.

-- Lack of awareness, higher costs, and scarcity lead obstacles. The top
three obstacles, all hovering over 60% of respondents, were oriented
around education, additional costs involved in green homes and the
availability of the homes. However, when looking at the "biggest"
obstacles, green homeowners view education as the biggest hurdle to
overcome.


Another interesting finding is the high prevalence of green products being implemented during home remodeling. Approximately half the overall U.S. homeowner population has recently done some renovation work on their home, and approximately 40% of that population is doing so with green products. "This is another powerful finding," says Bernstein. "As home prices increase and homeowners stay in their homes longer, remodeling becomes a key market opportunity. It's encouraging that there is already so much of the community aware of these green product options and, more importantly, using them."

The results presented at the Green Building Conference today will be incorporated into another issue of the McGraw-Hill Construction SmartMarket Report series, available early summer at www.analyticsstore.construction.com.

About McGraw-Hill Construction:

McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) , connects people, projects and products across the design and construction industry. Backed by the power of Dodge, Sweets (www.sweets.com), Engineering News-Record (ENR, www.ENR.com), Architectural Record (www.architecturalrecord.com), GreenSource (www.greensourcemag.com), and Regional Publications, the company provides information, intelligence, tools, applications and resources to help customers grow their business. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers within the $4.6 trillion global construction community. For more information, visit www.construction.com

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 240 offices in 36 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
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March 22, 2007

AIA Names 150 Great Places

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Institute of Architects, Illinois Council (AIA), will announce on Wednesday its "150 Illinois Great Places." Located in towns and cities across the state, these places have been identified by leading architects as contributing to their communities' quality of life.


The Great Places commemorate AIA's 150th anniversary, and will showcase the best of the best in Illinois. The recognition program was designed to broadly include the "built environment," which includes civil, landscape and engineering places, as well as architecture. Each place will receive a plaque commemorating its impact on the community experience, and will be featured on the organization's Web site. Launching March 21 as well, the Web site ( http://www.illinoisgreatplaces.com/ ) will showcase each Great Place as a basis for public education and special events throughout this year.


The list includes schools, churches, offices, court houses, museums, and planned communities. Though half of the places are historically designated, many others were built in the late 20th century. Renowned architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe are recognized, as are urban planners, landscape architects, urban designers and local builders.

March 22, 2007

CEMEX’s Cement Plants Recognized as Tops in the Nation

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a ceremony on March 19, 2007, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement America’s Magazine recognized CEMEX’s cement operations in Davenport, Calif. with the Land Stewardship Award and the CEMEX Knoxville, Tenn. location for the Innovation Award at the annual Environment and Energy Awards, some of the most prestigious awards in the industry.

Land Stewardship Award

The Davenport plant won in the Land Stewardship category for demonstrating superior land conservation and environmental stewardship practices on its 10,000 acres located in Santa Cruz County, California. The plant successfully continues exemplary land restoration projects, such as the reclamation in the Davenport shale and limestone quarries. Each year, the people of the Davenport plant perform habitat restoration and re-vegetation with native trees, perform exotic weed control and exotic tree removal in order to enhance growth of native habits and species, and retain a professional landscape architect to manage the program. They also have created a large forested buffer area around the quarry operation for screening and buffering the neighboring rural community.

Innovation Award

The CEMEX Knoxville, Tenn. cement operations won in the Innovation category for successfully implementing programs to find ways to reduce NOx emissions. A few years ago, the CEMEX Process Technology team, led by Robin Forster, began using an old technology in a new way--injecting water into the cement kiln’s burner pipes to reduce NOx. Although the application was a proven method in the power industry for years, it had never been widely used in cement kilns. The team embarked on a series of massive tests and discovered that this technology not only worked in cement kilns, but it also worked exceptionally well and could reduce NOx by 15 percent. This discovery is a major reason the CEMEX Knoxville operations were selected for the Innovation Award.

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March 21, 2007

Cisneros Company Rapidly Growing in DFW Area

CityView Offers Builders More than Capital

DALLAS, TX (March 21, 2007) – CityView, a national discretionary housing investor led by CityView Chairman and former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and CityView President and third-generation homebuilder Joel Shine, has increased its presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by adding staff members and moving into larger office space. This expansion comes on the heels of a recently CityView-financed project in the area - Turtle Creek by Prescott Realty in Dallas.

Since its inception in 2003, CityView has become a leader in financing solutions for homebuilders nationwide with more than $575 million in equity and $2 billion in real estate capacity. It has financed the building of more than 6,000 homes nationwide.

“CityView offers more than traditional capital. We offer our builder partners a flexible source of both debt and equity financing and a one-stop shop for expertise in the areas of land acquisition and entitlement, project insurance, design, government affairs, community outreach, and marketing,” said Cisneros. “Secondly, we are addressing a major problem in the housing industry – lack of affordable homes for working families.”

The local CityView office is managed by Richie Butler, Senior Vice President and Southwest Regional Manager. “CityView is proud to establish a stronger presence in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” said Butler. “The completion and opening of Turtle Creek is the end result of successful collaborative efforts between CityView and our builder partner. We look forward to developing new partnerships in the area.”

CityView partnered with Prescott Realty to finance the redevelopment of five existing apartment complexes into 95 low-rise condominiums in the Oak Lawn-Turtle Creek area. Prescott Realty set out to provide the area with updated, modern units within short commutes of employers in the central core of Dallas.

CityView’s new Dallas office is located at 1412 Main St., Suite 1900, Dallas, Texas 75202. For more information about CityView in the DFW area, contact Senior Vice President Richie L. Butler at 214-752-8660.

CityView is a national discretionary housing investor with $2 billion of real estate capacity focused on creating the highest quality of housing for America’s working families. CityView makes workforce housing happen by offering a flexible source of combined debt and equity and by providing partner homebuilders with its “capital plus” strategy – a one-stop resource for land acquisition, entitlement support, governmental assistance, marketing, community outreach and project insurance. CityView has offices in Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, and Santa Monica.
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March 21, 2007

Award Winning Custom Home Builder Chooses LED Lighting Fixtures

MORRISVILLE, N.C., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. (LLF) today announced that it has been chosen exclusively to provide all six- inch recessed downlight fixtures for Loyd Builders, located in Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina. Loyd Builders, LLC is an award winning, custom home builder that strives to use the best possible products available on the market. LLF has recently accepted the company's first order for LED downlight products from this builder and is excited to participate in the high-end custom home market. Loyd Builders constructs approximately 30 to 40 homes per year in a price range of $500,000 to $2,000,000.

Neal Hunter, LLF's CEO, stated, "Loyd Builders creates elegant, energy efficient custom homes. We are very pleased to have them as our first customer as we are aligned with their efforts to promote energy saving solutions for the consumer." Tripp Loyd, owner, of Loyd Builders stated, "The LED lighting products LLF is bringing to the market are exactly what Loyd Builders has been looking for to provide a more energy efficient home. The LLF LR6 product not only has a clean concealed look, but greatly reduces the energy required to produce a better light. The minimal payback time versus the added expense is an easy sell to our homeowners."

LLF will begin shipping downlight LED-based products in the second quarter of 2007.

About LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc.

LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. (LLF) is a privately held company headquartered near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption and evolution of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into high volume general lighting applications so that consumers can realize lower energy and maintenance costs. LED lighting is significant as it is expected to provide decades of lifetime under normal operation, and it uses a fraction of the power required for traditional lighting solutions.
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March 20, 2007

Billie Jean King and RainbowVision Palm Springs Paint the Town Green

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Exclusive: Sports legend and social pioneer Billie Jean King and RainbowVision Palm Springs (RVPS) have announced plans for a green community, fitness facility and exhibition tennis court to open in Palm Springs.

RVPS's green choices promote construction of healthier buildings both for the occupants and the environment. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, construction of buildings consumes 40% of the world's total energy. Now with the dangers of global warming, 'Hybrid Living'-- the co-existence of activities and lifestyles, inseparably spooling together -- is of ultimate importance. In addition, Rastra(R), RVPS's building material of choice, is a fire and earthquake resistant, sound proof, lightweight material made up of 85% recycled materials that might have lain forever in landfills.

"Joy Silver and RainbowVision are the nation's first and leading developer of communities for the second 50 years for the LGBT population and their friends," states Ms. King, "and now they have gone 'green.' I'm pleased to work with Joy and everyone at RainbowVision Palm Springs to develop a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, and exhibition tennis court in the unique RainbowVision-designed green community planned for Palm Springs."

RainbowVision Palm Springs, to be located on 13 acres of mountain-view land at East Palm Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail, will open their first information booth at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco LPGA Championship March 29th through April 1, at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. Interviews, as well as Shake radio remotes, will take place at the booth where fully refundable reservation deposits will be accepted. In addition, RVPS representatives will attend the LLT production of the Dinah Faire Golf Tournament to be played at Woodhaven Country Club on Friday and are sponsoring the LLT produced concert on Saturday night.

"We like being the first to materialize this elegant green dream, a combination of space, lifestyle and landscape, and now we have the additional honor of Billie Jean's presence -- for who better represents 'first -- again' than Billie Jean King, both in her reign as a great tennis champion, and as a social activist," states Joy Silver, President and CEO of RainbowVision California. "We enjoy her Fitness Center & Spa at RainbowVision Santa Fe, and in addition to her fitness center in Palm Springs, Billie Jean has designed a special outdoor exhibition tennis court. We are going to have some serious fun with that!"

March 19, 2007

Colliers International's Tsunami Reconstruction Project Wins World's Premier Real Estate Award In Cannes

Sustainable, green restoration of Sri Lankan village of Kirinda takes top honor at MIPIM

BOSTON, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The ground-breaking reconstruction project created by leading global property consultants Colliers International which used a sustainable, green vision to rebuild the Sri Lankan village of Kirinda after the 2004 tsunami has won the residential awards at the world's premier real estate summit, MIPIM. The MIPIM summit, held March 13-16 in Cannes, convenes the most influential decision makers in the market.

Shigeru Ban, the architect hailed by TIME Magazine as one of the Top 100 innovators of the 21st century, worked with the Colliers Kirinda Trust, set up by Colliers International, to reconstruct the village. He and his team donated their time to produce a radical vision that embraces local traditions and materials (the houses were constructed with rubber tree wood, coconut wood, teak, and sun-dried earthen blocks, natural materials chosen for their durability, strength and beauty) and conforms to the highest environmental standards. Ban's design ensures that the houses can breathe in the heat and that air can circulate freely inside - whereas historically, homes made from concrete forced occupiers to sit outside during the hot dry season. Additionally, all wood for Ban's project was purchased from local tree farms, which has kept money flowing through the local economy. Finally, 100 percent solar-powered street lighting has been introduced to the neighborhood - a groundbreaking step for this area.

Following the success of the Kirinda project, MIPIM has announced a "green building" award for 2008 for buildings designed and used in a "sustained, ecological manner."

The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, has praised the project. "I would like to express, on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, heartfelt thanks for the contributions that Colliers, Shigeru Ban and partners have made to rebuild the community in Kirinda," he noted. "They took an extremely professional approach, developed the highest standard designs, used the most appropriate local materials and consulted both our experts and the local people to ensure the end product matched displaced families' needs. The project has become the standard for ongoing tsunami reconstruction work in Sri Lanka -- and Colliers has quite rightly received international recognition and acclaim for its efforts."

Notes to Editors: Colliers International is a global affiliation of independently owned commercial real estate firms. The organization's 9,327 employees span the world in 241 offices in 54 countries. On a worldwide basis, Colliers manages 595,725,580 square feet, and has revenue of $US 1,442,478,223.
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March 16, 2007

Green Builder® Media Announces Hiring of Award-Winning Editor in Chief for Green Builder Magazine and Green Remodeler Magazine

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Builder® Media, the leading national purveyor of information and education about residential green building and sustainable development, today announced that award-winning editor Cati O’Keefe has joined the company as editor in chief for Green Builder Magazine and Green Remodeler Magazine.

With over 20 years in publishing, O’Keefe has been intimately involved with several successful national magazines. She was instrumental in the 2000 redesign of Hanley Wood’s Builder Magazine (now owned by JP Morgan Chase & Co, NYSE: JPM) and served as managing editor for publications such as Architecture, Digital Home, Big Builder, Residential Architect, Developer, and Architect. As a member of these teams, O’Keefe has accrued more than 40 editorial awards from American Business Media, The Association of Business Press Editors, and Folio. She was also the recipient of the prestigious William D. Littleford Award for Corporate Community Service.

“Cati brings a breadth of experience, passion, and creativity to our team,” says Sara Gutterman, CEO of Green Builder Media. “She has tremendous vision, and we trust that she will lead Green Builder Magazine and our entire publishing division to a new level of sophistication.”

With a circulation of nearly 100,000 of the most active and influential building professional firms in the country, Green Builder Magazine is the third largest publication in the residential building space and the only one to focus exclusively on green building and responsible growth.

Hungry for information about sustainable development, building professionals consider Green Builder Media to be the authoritative source of information about green products, environmentally appropriate projects, and the people and companies that are making a difference in the residential building marketplace.

With its portfolio of sustainability-focused products and services, Green Builder Media is directly responding to the dramatic growth in the green building market. In addition to its publications, Green Builder Magazine and soon-to-launch Green Remodeler, the company offers a series of demonstration projects across the country known as the VISION House Series; an online distance learning platform called Green Builder College; and in-person events for building professionals in select target markets called Green Builder Live.

For more information about the company and its products, visit www.greenbuildermedia.com. For editorial inquiries, contact Cati O’Keefe at cati@greenbuildermag.com. For publishing or advertising inquiries, contact Sara Gutterman at sara@greenbuildermag.com.

About Green Builder Media

Green Builder Media, the publisher of Green Builder Magazine, is the only media conglomerate that focuses exclusively on disseminating information about green building and sustainable practices to a widespread national audience. The company is privately held and funded by venture capital.
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March 16, 2007

The Babcock & Wilcox Company and American Electric Power to Demonstrate New Clean Coal Technology for Capture of CO2 Emissions

BARBERTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), a unit of McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR), and American Electric Power (AEP) announced plans to pursue the commercial viability of a new combustion technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other emissions from coal-fired power plants. Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement, the companies will assess the application of oxy-coal combustion as a retrofit to an existing AEP plant, and work toward the development of the first oxy-coal commercial validation project in the United States.

Oxy-coal combustion uses pure oxygen for the combustion of coal in electricity generating plants. In this system, nitrogen that comes in with the air for the combustion process is eliminated. As a result, the exhaust gas is a relatively pure stream of CO2 that is ready for capture and sequestration or alternate uses such as enhanced oil recovery. Use of this technology is expected to result in near-zero emissions from coal-fired electric-generating facilities. B&W has established a collaboration agreement with American Air Liquide, Inc. for the continued development of the technology.

During the summer of 2007, B&W will complete a pilot demonstration of the oxy-coal combustion technology at its Clean Environment Development Facility (CEDF) in Alliance, Ohio. The CEDF is a 30MWth combustion testing facility that simulates key operating characteristics of a modern, commercial fossil fuel-fired power plant and includes a pulverized coal feed system, furnace and convection pass, an air heater, dry and wet scrubbers, baghouses and an electrostatic precipitator.

AEP will be among the utility participants in B&W’s Oxy-Coal Combustion Advisory Group in an effort to help bring the potential users of the technology into the development process.

In addition, as part of the MOU, B&W and AEP will evaluate and select the most suitable existing AEP plant location for the commercial application of the oxy-coal combustion technology. B&W will also provide unit performance and design approximations for potential carbon capture uses, perform preliminary site equipment layouts, prepare a detailed scope of work, and develop schedule- and budget-price estimates.

“B&W and AEP have a long history of working together to advance the technology of electric power generation,” said Brandon C. Bethards, president, B&W Fossil Power Group. “We expect that this study will bring us even closer to identifying a viable carbon-reduction solution for coal-firing power plants – one that is both economical and environmentally sound.”

The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2008.

In addition to the work under the MOU with AEP, B&W’s Canadian subsidiary, B&W Canada, is working with a major Canadian utility to develop a supercritical pressure, pulverized coal-fired boiler and to assess the feasibility of proceeding to the construction phase on a new, near-zero-emissions, 300MW power station using the oxy-coal combustion technology. In that unit, recovered CO2 would be sold for enhanced oil recovery operations and eventually sequestrated underground in stable geologic formations.

Present in 72 countries, Air Liquide provides industrial and medical gases and related services and offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions, which are consistent with Air Liquide’s commitment to sustainable development, help to protect life and enable customers to manufacture many indispensable everyday products. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073). American Air Liquide Inc. is Air Liquide’s U.S.-based research and development company. For more information, visit www.airliquide.com.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than five million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.

The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc., an engineering and construction company with specialty manufacturing and service capabilities focused on energy infrastructure. McDermott’s customers are predominantly utilities and other power generators, major and national oil companies, and the United States Government.
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March 15, 2007

Fleas: Not Just “Man’s Best Friend’s” Problem

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Television commercials frequently tout the importance of protecting household pets from fleas. However, protecting the health of those family members who care for household pets is of equal importance. Fleas, which commonly appear in warmer months, feed on the blood of any warm-blooded body, thus posing a potential risk to the health and well-being of families within their own homes.

“Although, fleas are often associated with household pets, these pests can certainly affect human beings,” said Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Frequently, flea bites are itchy, unsightly and may cause allergic reactions in humans. With the recent increase in flea calls to pest control companies, it is important to protect your family from these potential health risks.”

NPMA experts offer these tips for help avoid flea infestations:

* Clean and vacuum your home frequently to remove existing flea populations and prevent the laying of eggs.
* Be sure to keep your lawn well groomed as this can thwart rodents, who are often flea carriers, from finding hiding spots and food sources so close to your home.
* Fleas tend to travel with mammals on the move, including rodents. If you have a rodent problem in your home, fleas may be soon to follow. Call a pest professional to rid your home of both.
* To protect your pets, keep them on a leash when outdoors. Be sure to bathe and groom your pets regularly.
* Have your pets visit a veterinarian annually and use flea treatments according to directions.

“If you suspect a flea infestation in your home, be proactive in treating the problem and contact a licensed pest professional to rid your home of fleas and to prevent future infestations,” advises Mannes.
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March 14, 2007

Home Energy Savings Corp. Rolls Out ``DreamSeries'' Crisis Prevention Package



New Product Line Offers Increased Storm Protection and Will Be Marketed in Target Communities Throughout the Mid-Atlantic

ROANOKE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Home Energy Savings Corp. (PINK SHEETS:HESV), a leading provider of energy-efficient home improvement products and services, today announced the addition of its new Crisis Prevention product line to compliment its current “DreamSeries” line of energy-efficient home improvement products. The Crisis Prevention package will offer customers an unparalleled level of protection from potential storm damage and will be marketed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region via the company’s subsidiary, DreamHome Solutions, Inc. For a limited time, DreamHome will also offer an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system free to all customers that upgrade their existing home with both Crisis Prevention windows and siding.

Bruce Edwards, CEO of the Company, stated, "In addition to offering energy-efficient products with the high quality standards and energy consumption guarantees that we are known for, the Crisis Prevention products provide homeowners further peace of mind. These products are designed to provide an unmatched level of protection from severe weather. Going forward, the new product line allows our home-improvement sales team to penetrate new communities within our current footprint while continuing to benefit from the support of our mortgage and financing divisions.”

DreamHome’s Crisis Prevention Package will include its exclusive line of Gorrell energy-efficient vinyl windows outfitted with a virtually unbreakable Armor Impact Plus ™ glazing system that also guarantees a 40% reduction in energy consumption. In addition, the package will offer Hurricane proof Crane® full-back vinyl siding which is warranted to withstand winds in excess of 150 MPH, and also guarantees a 20% reduction in energy consumption. And finally, installation of the UPS system will allow the average dwelling to run on a limited battery back-up power supply for approximately 48 hours should the homeowner experience an interruption in main power.

About Home Energy Savings Corp.

Home Energy Savings Corp. provides the sales, installation, and financing of energy-efficient home improvement products and services. As part of a licensing agreement with DreamHome Remodeling, Inc. and through its subsidiary DreamHome Solutions, Inc., the company markets its “DreamSeries” product line throughout the Mid-Atlantic, guaranteeing homeowners up to 40% savings on their existing home energy consumption. Through its subsidiary, MLI Capital Group, Inc., the Company also creates cross-selling opportunities by offering home owners a broad range of mortgage services and home improvement financing options.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC (a copy of which may be accessed through the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov). In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

March 14, 2007

Alcoa’s Kawneer Architectural Products Help in the Design of ''Green'' Building

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that a wide range of the company’s Kawneer architectural aluminum products and systems were used in the construction of a new “green” headquarters building designed for Heifer International, a non profit organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kawneer teamed with the architect and glazing contractor to construct the building with careful consideration for the U.S. Green Building’s Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.

Heifer International provides livestock and plants as well as training in sustainable agriculture for disadvantaged families worldwide. The organization needed a larger headquarters, but wanted the project to remain true to the earth’s resources. Heifer identified a long-abandoned railroad yard in Little Rock’s old warehouse district, an environmentally dirty site, known as a brownfield, and made the decision to transform it – the “green” way.

Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects, Ltd. developed the building’s design, capturing every opportunity to achieve LEED points. Glazing contractor ACE Glass Company, Inc. and product manufacturer/design engineering team from Kawneer North America were called in to collaborate on the project. Completed in March 2006, the project is expected to receive its LEED certification in 2007.

The project showcases a range of Kawneer products, which is part of Alcoa’s global Building and Construction Systems (BCS) business unit headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Design Highlights

* The curved shape of the building served to take advantage of the solar orientation by stretching in an east/west direction and maximizing sun exposure. To block excessive sunlight, the team integrated sunshades into the exterior, while Kawneer’s InLighten™ (light shelves) were installed on the interior of the wall to “bounce” natural light up to the ceiling and reflect it into the building.
* Deeper, custom sun shades were created to be hung vertically between the punchouts, a unique design feature that served to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, as they protect the interior from both east and west sun exposure.
* The combination of the building’s narrow floor plate and the curtain wall allows natural light to penetrate to the center of every floor, while strategic interior glazing continues the indoor/outdoor aesthetic and keeps individual offices bright and open. Fixed and storefront framing systems, in conjunction with swing and sliding entrances, were used throughout the interior offices and conference rooms. In addition, clean glass, and white frost and green glass added to a light and modern aesthetic.

Challenges

* The complex design required the customization of several existing Kawneer products, and the curved building footprint complicated fabrication.
* The increased focus on recycled materials (per the Materials & Resources category under LEED) required the coordination of a sizeable order of secondary aluminum billet necessary for the project. (In fact, 97 percent of the building materials used for the project contain recycled content.)

Featured Kawneer Products

* 1600 Wall System® 1, 1600 SunShade®, Inlighten™ (light shelf), Trifab® Framing System, 350 Medium Stile Entrances, 1010 Sliding Mall Fronts, 990 Sliding Doors

About Kawneer North American

Celebrating more than 100 years of innovation and experience, Kawneer North America is headquartered in Norcross, GA, and is the leading manufacturer of architectural aluminum products and systems for the commercial construction industry. Alcoa BCS manufactures and markets architectural systems and products in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. For more information on Kawneer or its products, please visit www.kawneer.com.

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap® foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa® wheels, and Baco® household wraps. Among its other businesses are closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 123,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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March 13, 2007

GDS, Polo Square Architects, Win International Design Competition

INDIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GDS, the architectural firm for Indio’s Polo Square, has won an international design competition for Sea Colony, a similar large mixed-use residential project slated to open in Busan, South Korea, in 2010.

GDS was hired in 2005 by developers Swank Development (SDC), La Quinta, CA; and John Megay & Associates, Bermuda Dunes, CA; to design the $600 million Polo Square planned for the North side of Highway 111 at Shield’s Road. Polo Square was approved by the Indio Planning Commission and City Council last month while GDS principals were in Korea receiving the award for Sea Colony. Construction for Polo Square will begin in late 2007.

GDS Architects, Pasadena, CA, has offices known as GDSK in Seoul, South Korea. The firm was founded by UCLA graduate Charles I. Wee, AIA, in 1998. Wee is the recipient of the prestigious AIA Honor Award. Many of his projects are published in architectural journals featuring design excellence.

“We are proud our Polo Square architects have won such a prestigious competition,” said developer William Swank, who also is a licensed architect. “While Sea Colony is larger, the two projects have much in common. Their recognition in such an important international competition further validates we are on the cutting edge of design right here in Indio.”

Both projects, Swank explained, are in resort areas. Sea Colony, also a $600 million project, is a community of terraces and plazas with dramatic ocean views of Haeundae Beach. Both projects will provide a true live/work/play model for residents and the surrounding community. Sea Colony will include a library, retail, and a civic plaza. Polo Square will offer similar lifestyle benefits. Both will foster community and cultural events. Polo Square will have 511 high-rise and low-rise condominiums, two hotels, a lifestyle retail center and commercial office space.

Sea Colony will have 2,593 housing units in nine towers.

Ki Soo Oh, jury chief for the design competition and president of the Korean Institute of Architects, said the winning GDS design will make a significant contribution to housing internationally: “I believe this design will set a new paradigm in housing planning and design. The competition committee has spent considerable amount of resources to sponsor this competition and will stand to reap the rewards one-hundred fold. When completed, this project will be the first of its kind in Korea. This design will serve as the premier textbook example in apartment design for generations to come. Without any reluctance, the seven-member jury unanimously chose this design.”

Entries came from many top-rated global architectural and environmental design firms.

International firms placing in the Sea Colony design challenge include EDAW, San Francisco, CA; Parker Durant International, Minneapolis, MN; Destefano & Partners, Chicago, IL; and NBBJ, Seattle, WA.

Many of the judges represent prestigious university schools of architecture and planning. Among them are Georgia Institute of Technology, UC Berkeley and several universities in Asia.

In addition to principal Charles Wee, AIA, members of the winning GDS Sea Colony design team are Scott Callihan, Michael Collins, Andy Bae, Brandon Sakuma, Humberto Barazza, Lingie Park and Peter Lee, GDS, Pasadena; and Goon-Bo Hyun and Jae Young of GDSK, Seoul.

Also contributing to the presentation were engineering professionals from Hanmi Engineers, Busan, South Korea: Sun Han, Bongdu Lee, Hyun Sulk Jo and Chang Hee Lim.

Other firms involved in the GDS’ entry are WA Seoul, South Korea; SQLAS, Los Angeles, CA; Soltos Landscape Architects, Seoul; Dong Young and Jin Young Engineering Consultants, Seoul; KLC, Tapai, Taiwan; CS Structural Engineering, Seoul; Samshin Mechanical Engineering, Hwaseong City, South Korea; and Daeil Enc. Electrical Engineers; Zhongshan City, South Korea.
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March 12, 2007

AMD and Architecture for Humanity Announce World's Largest Architecture Prize at TED 2007

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE:AMD) and Cameron Sinclair, winner of last year’s TED Prize and founder of Architecture for Humanity, today announced the first ever Open Architecture Prize at the annual TED Conference. The $250,000 Open Architecture Prize is the largest prize in the field of architecture and is designed to be a multi-year program that will draw competition from design teams around the world.

Each year, a winning design will be selected from a field of low-cost, sustainable design projects and built in a selected community. The first project for the Open Architecture Prize will be an “e-community center,” a centralized building equipped with internet connectivity solutions designed to enable an entire community to access the transformative power of the Internet. The winning designs will be built as part of the prize and in alignment with the 50x15 Initiative, a program founded by AMD to connect 50 percent of the world’s population to the Internet by 2015.

“The Open Architecture Prize delivers on Architecture for Humanity’s vision of encouraging collaboration and challenging designers to reach beyond the traditional bounds of architecture to develop innovative solutions that improve global living conditions,” said Dan Shine, director of the 50x15 Initiative, AMD. “The creative designs developed in this competition will contribute to the 50x15 Initiative’s ambitious goal of connecting 50 percent of the world’s population to the Internet by 2015.”

After the winning designs are built, the plans will be made openly available through the Open Architecture Network, an open source online gathering place created to fulfill the wish Sinclair was granted through last year’s TED Prize.

The network was unveiled yesterday at TED 2007 by Sinclair and a number of project supporters, including AMD, Hot Studio, and Sun Microsystems, Inc. It brings together architects, designers and community organizers to freely share blueprints, ideas and resources for improvement projects in areas affected by geo-political, environmental or economic hardship. The Open Architecture Network is hosted on Sun’s Sun Fire™ servers based on AMD Opteron™ processors at AMD’s global headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

“For far too long many great award-winning designs have gone undeveloped,” said Cameron Sinclair, executive director and co-founder, Architecture for Humanity. “Through the Open Architecture Network we unveiled yesterday and the Open Architecture Prize we are announcing today, we are not only challenging the creative world to design innovative structures, we are going one step further and implementing the winning solution to positively affect thousands of lives.”

In addition to technology expertise and a diverse portfolio of innovative connectivity solutions, the 50x15 Initiative brings significant experience in assessing regional technology problems and deploying relevant solutions to Architecture for Humanity’s project. This expertise is essential in developing the competition criteria, as well as determining which design will empower a community to the greatest extent possible.

About 50x15

The 50x15 Initiative, launched by AMD in 2004 at the World Economic Forum, is a bold and far-reaching effort to develop new technology and solutions that will help enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. More than just goodwill, 50x15 is about fostering long-term economic progress and investment within high-growth markets in ways that benefit a wide range of people and businesses. For more information, visit www.50x15.com.

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide.

About Architecture for Humanity

Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and provides design services to communities in need. Currently it is involved in the reconstruction of homes on the Gulf Coast, rebuilding after the South Asia Tsunami and the construction of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, please visit www.architectureforhumanity.org.

About the Open Architecture Network

The Open Architecture Network is an online, open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design. For more information please visit: www.openarchitecturenetwork.org.

About TED and the TED Prize

TED is an invitation-only event where the world’s leading thinkers and doers gather for inspiration and insight. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future. Each year, TED features 50 of the world’s most fascinating people. TED presenters run the world’s most admired companies and design its best-loved products; they invent world-changing devices, and write best-selling books. They are trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses.

Now in its third year, The TED Prize honors three extraordinary individuals with a wish to change the world, $100,000.00 (one hundred thousand dollars) in support of the wish, and the support of the TED community in making the wish come true.
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March 7, 2007

Buildings Responsible for 40% of Europe's Total Carbon-Dioxide Emissions

LONDON, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Climate Change is the EU's top priority according to the European Commission and Member States are committed to cutting down on CO2 emissions to meet the Kyoto Protocol targets. Despite all the efforts, Member States keep on wasting a significant part of their energy due to inefficiency and buildings are responsible for 40% of Europe's total carbon-dioxide emissions.

On this topic Frost & Sullivan will host an exclusive interactive briefing on 14 March, 2007, at 3 p.m. GMT to provide manufacturers of building technology products, energy management service providers and other industry participants with an overview of the concept of green buildings. Highlights of the briefing include: The EU's standpoint on energy efficiency, the concept of Green Buildings in Europe compared to the US, and the implementation of EPBD at national level with country case studies with a focus on current developments and comparisons.

Those interested in participating in this outlook should send an e-mail to Chiara Carella - Corporate Communications at chiara.carella@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. Upon receipt of the above information, we will send you a confirmation/pass code for the live briefing.

As we mentioned before, buildings are responsible for 40% of total carbon- dioxide emissions. Therefore, if the EU is to achieve its targets, reducing energy use in all buildings is essential and the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) is intended to contribute to realizing this.

"Even though many energy efficiency measures are cost effective with a relatively short payback time, they are often not undertaken due to financial restraints," observes Research Analyst Reka Szanto. "If more stringent standards are applied to new buildings and renovations, the EU will achieve a significant cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, any effort is in vain if it is not coupled with a change in consumer behavior."

This briefing will benefit manufacturers of building technology products, energy management service providers and anyone hoping to understand what the Energy Performance Building Directive is about and how it could effect their life or business in the future.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics.
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March 6, 2007

American Institute of Architects, California Council Announces Slate of Events throughout 2007 to Celebrate the AIA’s 150th Anniversary


SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the spirit of celebrating architecture, the value of design, history and architects, The American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC) is promoting a number of events and activities across the state throughout 2007 which distinguish past, present and future accomplishments of architects.

The AIACC and 11 of its chapters recently received grants (the most of any individual state) from The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) “Blueprint for America,” a program that focuses on empowering citizens to share in creating a vision for design priorities in communities across the country.

The AIACC, with more than 10,000 professional architects and allied professionals in California, is continuing the community-based focus with its chapters taking the local lead.

For example, a “Blueprint” grant for The AIACC’s San Francisco’s chapter will allow local architects to educate and engage the community about design, architecture, preservation and sustainability issues by crafting specific walking tours for visitors to discover the city’s most compelling structures, assisted by video and audio Podcasts.

The AIACC’s Monterey Bay chapter is involved in creating a guide of historic buildings in the region.

While preservation is a key component of the Blueprint grants, other chapters will embark on design efforts. The AIACC’s San Diego chapter grant allows the local component to participate in the city’s enhancement and revitalization project for the downtown C Street corridor, contributing design expertise for the city.

In addition to these activities, The AIACC will be producing sesquicentennial events in conjunction with other partners, including government officials and California’s Division of the State Architect.

For more information on The AIACC’s region-specific events and programs throughout 2007, please visit www.aiacc.org/150.
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March 2, 2007

Donated Demining Equipment Bound for Nairobi Mine Action Training Center

KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schonstedt Instrument Company and the United Nations Mine Action Team have identified the first recipient of free demining equipment under the Schonstedt Humanitarian Demining Initiative. The International Mine Action Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya will take delivery of an initial shipment of twenty magnetic locators for training and use in landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection. The open-ended Schonstedt program will place hundreds of the sophisticated tools in the hands of humanitarian mine clearance personnel worldwide.

The initiative provides that each purchase of a Schonstedt underground pipe and cable locator – a TraceMaster or XTpc – will trigger a donation in the customer’s name of a Schonstedt magnetic locator for explosive ordnance detection. The UN Mine Action Service will coordinate the distribution of the locators to where they are most needed, thereby extending its humanitarian demining reach throughout the world.

Schonstedt has shipped thousands of magnetic locators – known technically as gradiometers or magnetometers – to the military and its contractors, as well as non-governmental organizations, for use in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Lebanon, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam.

“We’re proud of our reputation for quality instruments, and very proud that our locators are the top choice of overseas military deminers,” says Schonstedt President Mike Head. “This initiative is aimed at humanitarian workers engaged in the restoration of land impacted by land mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war. As a company, we want to do our part to heal the wounds of war; we think our customers will feel the same way.”

Examples of UXO are landmines, grenades, mortars, shells, and cluster bombs, collectively known as explosive remnants of war. Manual detection of these ferrous metal objects is dependent on an instrument’s ability to sense subsurface anomalies within the earth’s magnetic field, and Schonstedt’s reputation for sensitive instrumentation is well established. They have been making laboratory quality magnetometers since 1953, and were the first company to offer a handheld magnetic locator.

“With the help of Schonstedt and its customers, we’ll be able to work with any number of populations for which UXO clearance would not otherwise be possible,” says Max Gaylard, Director of the UN Mine Action Service.

The initiative will continue indefinitely, since most experts predict a decades-long need for humanitarian demining.

About Schonstedt Instrument Company

Schonstedt Instrument Company designs, manufactures and markets instruments and accessories used to locate underground objects. Its magnetic locators are used to find ferrous metal objects such as UXO, weapons, drums and storage tanks, boundary markers, etc. The company also manufactures a line of instruments to find and trace any linear, electrically conductive material such as telephone, cable TV and fiber optic lines, water and gas pipes, and AC power lines.

http://www.mineaction.org
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March 2, 2007

The Future is Here: Human-Scale Virtual Model Home Tours Debut This Week at the Lennar Home Store for Central Park West

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The future of homeshopping is here! Today marks the highly anticipated debut of the human-scale virtual model home tours for the first three Lennar enclaves at Central Park West, Irvine’s first urban master-planned community.

The virtual tours are now showing in the Lennar Home Store at the Central Park West Living Studio where a special media screening room has been created to allow homeshoppers to experience life-size virtual tours of the innovative residences now previewing at Central Park West. Sales are anticipated to commence in the coming weeks.

“After selecting the Lennar neighborhood that fits your lifestyle, homeshoppers are invited to make appointments for special virtual tours of key floorplans,” said Denise Hayes, Vice President of Marketing for Lennar’s Orange Coast Land Division, master plan developer of Central Park West. “Then, it’s lights, camera, and action as the tour begins and homeshoppers actually step into the homes’ interiors via human-scale videos that create life-sized virtual homes -- showing amazing detail, ceiling heights, room volume, the way light comes through windows, and all the dimensional changes and floorplan variations people experience as they physically walk through model homes. This new state-of-the-art technology is amazing because it takes the experience of website virtual tours and expands it to a human scale level, which allows for interactive home viewing to occur from the comfort of a leather recliner in a private screening room.”

Technology is found in nearly every corner of the Lennar Home Store at the Central Park West Living Studio where information is now available for Maxfield, Granville and Chelsea, the first three Lennar enclaves unveiled at the new urban community. Upon entering the Lennar Home Store, where vignettes for each of the three new enclaves are featured, homeshoppers are invited to either receive a guided tour of the various floorplans as viewed through flat screen monitors or they can conduct their own personal tours at the I-Bar, where a bank of desktop computers are available to help navigate through the home options. Then, it’s off to the media room where guests take “virtual walks” through the floorplans of their choice. From there, homeshoppers can explore the decorative options shown in the videos and offered in each enclave, from cabinetry to lighting fixtures, countertop selections to faucets and other items.

“We truly believe that this is the future of homeshopping,” said Hayes. “Visit www.cpwliving.com and tour the community, view the floorplans and then come to the Central Park West Living Studio and visit the Lennar Home Store to see for yourself all that is happening at this exciting new urban community.”

Central Park West has been planned to include a total of 1,380 highly stylized urban residences linked through trails to a showcase “Zen-like” recreational clubhouse as well as an assortment of parks and other cool places, and a large neighborhood retail center adjacent to a four-story office building.

Among the three enclaves now debuting at the Lennar Home Store are the following:

Maxfield: Maxfield’s two-story soft lofts and townhomes are planned to range from approximately 1,150 to 1,800 square feet, with sleek, contemporary space planning that inspires individuality. Silestone kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances, in-home monitoring systems, and direct-access tandem-style garages are included in this low-rise collection.

Granville: Granville’s contemporary soft lofts are planned to offer approximately 1,450 to 1,750 square feet within two different low-rise buildings. These tri-level residences feature silestone kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances, vaulted ceilings, ground-level entries, and direct-access two-car garages.

Chelsea: Chelsea’s park-adjacent, brownstone-inspired townhomes are slated to offer up to 2,350 square feet of living space. Smart, expressive and sophisticated, these three-bedroom homes feature ceasorstone kitchen countertops, richly stained cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and private two-car garages with direct access.

In addition, sales are now underway for Astoria, a full-amenity high-rise neighborhood with two towers soaring to 14 and 15 stories in height. Astoria offers 240 luxury homes in a selection of one- and two-bedroom floorplans, plus penthouses featuring up to three bedrooms. Pricing starts from the mid $600,000s.

Astoria’s hotel-style amenities include a spacious and elegantly appointed lobby, a business center, ample guest parking, a fully equipped fitness center, a wine storage vault and private tasting room, a beautifully furnished community room that will be available for private parties, and an elevated view terrace with a spa and oversized swimming pool.

Astoria is being developed by the partnership of Intergulf Development Group and Lennar Urban Division.

Central Park West is located along the northwest corner of Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive, just off the coastal side of the I-405 Freeway. To learn more about Central Park West and tour the Astoria model, visit the Central Park West Living Studio situated at Michelson and Obsidian, directly across from the Central Park West site now under construction.

The CPW Living Studio is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (Astoria closes at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.) Take the I-405 Freeway and exit south on Jamboree Road. Turn right on Michelson and left on Obsidian into the Studio’s parking area.
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