WASHINGTON -- The board of directors of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a Washington-based trade association representing more than 235,000 members, has approved the creation of a national green building program to provide a template for voluntary, market-drive

WASHINGTON –According to information released by the Commerce Department, housing starts fell 2.1% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.474 million units as the correction in the housing market continued. Housing starts were down 24.2% from a year earlier.

RESTON, VA – Recently, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. (KCMA) and several of its members were recognized for their commitment to environmental preservation through the association’s new Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced June 19 that it would commit  $1 million to green building research. The funds will be targeted at increasing research in areas such as energy and water security, global climate change prevention, indoor environmental quality and passive survivability in the face of natural and man-made disasters.

CHARLESTON, SC – Federal investigators have concluded that the June 18 fire at the Sofa Super Store that killed nine firefighters started in a trash can on the store’s loading dock.   According to AHN, the assistant fire chief said he believes the fire then spread to the store’s drop ceiling before firefighters entered the building. Autopsies indicated that the firefighters died from extensive burns or smoke inhalation.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Simplicity Inc. of Reading, PA, announced the voluntary recall of approximately 40,000 Nursery-in-a-Box Cribs.

WASHINGTON – Sales of new single-family homes slipped 1.6% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 915,000 units, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), this is the latest indication that the housing market remains in a correction phase.

WASHINGTON, DC – The new mattress flammability standard that kicks in July 1 will prevent as many as 270 deaths and 1,330 injuries every year, according to estimates released by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. Mattresses manufactured in or imported into the United States after July 1 must meet the mandatory flammability standard that is designed to reduce the severity of mattress fires ignited by open flame sources such as candles, matches and lighters.

BRUSSELS — According to the recent annual survey conducted by the European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) production of parquet posted a record volume of 98 million square meters, or 2.02% above 2005’s figures.  Consumption also posted an increase of 5.55%. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate denied consideration June 26 of the controversial Employee Free Choice Act by a 51-48 vote. At least 60 votes were needed to force consideration of the bill, which would have allowed labor unions to organize workplaces without a secret ballot election. The AFL-CIO vowed to continue lobbying for the measure, with hopes of gaining greater support after the November 2008 election.