Well, it’s that time again and BuildingGreen, a company that also publishes the GreenSpec Directory, today announced their list of Top-10 Green Building Products.  It’s not so much that these products are better than everything else on the market, although they may be better, it’s that they’re cool additions to the GreenSpec Directory over the last year or so.  Most of the following ten products have multiple environmental attributes, but here’s a slim breakdown:  4 save energy, 2 save water, 3 are made of green materials, 1 helps situate solar power, and 2 avoid hazardous manufacturing/disposal of materials.  Without further ado:

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William McDonough and Michael Braumgart, founders of MBDC and authors of the popular Cradle to Cradle book, just announced the launch of their new blog, the Cradle to Cradle Community Blog.  The blog looks to be authored authentically by the experts themselves, so we won’t have to chase after old Bioneers videos on Youtube just to get some wit and wisdom from McDonough himself.  I can’t wait to read this, although it would be nice to have an RSS reminder every now and then.  Simultaneously, they’ve announced the creation of the Cradle to Cradle Community Forum.  The forum has subcategories for discussions on Cradle to Cradle Design, Innovative Materials, Closing Loops, and Cradle to Cradle Certification.  There’s free and subscription levels within the forum and it looks like premium members get to participate in live chats.  Fair enough.

If you’re like me, you want to be at the Greenbuild Expo, but there’s something keeping you from being there.  Maybe you’re too busy making a green difference in the world and can’t break away.  Maybe you can’t justify the travel to Chicago.  Whatever your reason, it’s still nice to benefit from all the good information available at the event.  Pop over to Greenbuild 365 for updates on what’s happening.  Greenbuild started this morning with President Clinton and ends in a couple days.  Right now, Greenbuild 365 has a video of Thom Mayne, founder and principal with Morphosis (we posted a podcast with him recently, too).  I understand Greenbuild 365 will have more info as the event continues, so check back.  Here at Jetson Green, we’re getting tons of info, so we’ll filter the best and blog about it over the next week or so.

Hot on the heels of a growing bundle of green retailers comes news of Kohl’s future plans for new construction.  Starting in 2008, newly constructed retail stores will be built to LEED certification.  Currently, Kohl’s has plans for about 80 new stores and the changes will include adding more insulation, using recycled or reusable building materials, ensuring that materials are locally supplied, and controlling lights, heat, and cooling from central headquarters to prevent excess energy consumption.  Twenty-two stores in California will use solar power to supply roughly 40% of their energy needs, and three stores in Wisconsin will use solar to power about 20% of their energy needs. 

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• The market for true green homes is expected to rise from $2B to $20B over next five years.
• Energy-efficiency audits can find savings in places where consumers might never think to look.
• USGBC certifies the world’s first carbon neutral building.
• Clinton Climate Initiative and Wal-Mart team up to provide low-cost green building technology.
• Regency Centers launches formal green building program for retail developments.