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Georgia leads world in electric trains — of a certain type

Who’d have thunk that the little town of Bethlehem — Georgia, that is — would lead the world in manufacturing electric trains? OK. So, we’re not talking about the high-speed rail or flashy streetcars: They’re actually the off-track, miniature variety tailored to tots, which tend to circulate a bit more this time of year. Continue…

Seville: ‘Delighted and saddened’ by demise of big retail chains

My father owned a local hardware store for almost 30 years, and I have fond memories of hanging out and working there, with the locally owned stationery story, movie theater, pharmacy, and grocery on the same block. Each successive block was also populated primarily with independently owned businesses, usually operated by their owners, most of…

Taking a break

Green Building Chronicle is in the midst of a brief semi-hiatus. We’ll publish occasional articles during this break, and we’ll be back with even more great coverage of green development, design and construction on Sept. 19.

Memorial service for Ray Anderson in LaGrange Monday

Ray Anderson candid with spools

Interface Inc. has announced a public memorial service to “celebrate the life” of the late environmental and business leader Ray Anderson. It will held this Monday in LaGrange, Ga. Those can’t attend in person can participate through a videocast. Here are the details: Memorial Arrangements Interface, Inc. will host a memorial service at LaGrange College…

Transportation referendum vote change will have to wait

boston-tea-party

As you’ve know doubt heard, Gov. Nathan Deal has thrown in the towel on his effort to change the date for next year’s regional votes on transportation sales tax referendums across the state. For now. That’s bad news for backers of the referendums, which will decide whether or not to impose a one-penny sales tax…

Streetcars now preferred option for Atlanta Beltline transit

Portland, Oregon, purchased streetcars from the Czech manufacturer Skoda. Photo courtesy Charlotte Area Transit Service

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A little noticed finding in the Atlanta Beltline’s most recent Environmental Impact Statement could mean a lot for the character and cost of the entire project — and I’m not talking about the route. For the first time, MARTA and Atlanta Beltline Inc. planners have come out officially in favor of streetcars as the technology…

It’s alive! Living Building Challenge has heartbeat in Atlanta

The University of Washington's Tyson Research Center outside St. Louis, Mo., is the closest certified Living Building Challenge building to the Southeast. Photo courtesy: Tyson Research Center

The world’s most ambitious green building certification program is getting a bit of push into Atlanta this month. Whether that results in construction anytime soon of an actual edifice that meets the exacting standards of the Living Building Challenge is another story. The Living Building Challenge is a certification program like no other. The U.S….

Toys R Us announces green features at new and renovated stores

Toys R Us outlined an ambitious agenda today to open 21 new stores and renovate 23 others by the end of the year. Central to the announcement are the company’s plans to place Toys R Us and Babies R Us under one roof at the large sites. Eleven will be “R” superstores, each about 60,000…

Georgia banks return to profitability

Georgia banks as a whole were profitable for the second quarter of 2011, the first time in nearly three years the industry has had a positive result in the state. While individual banks returned to profitability earlier, the state’s banks were last profitable cumulatively in the third quarter of 2008. Continue this story at AJC.com.

Energy-efficient windows could revive U.S. glass making

Glassmaking in America has been in decline for at least a decade as manufacturers have moved production to China and other emerging economies. But can the green-buildings movement spark a revival? Makers of a new class of energy-efficient “dynamic” windows are establishing factories in the United States. Helping to drive this growth spurt is a…