Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC): Will the U.S. Ever Lighten Up?

Lighter, more fire-resistant, and a better insulator, autoclaved aerated concrete caught on in the rest of the world ages ago. It's taking a lot longer in the U.S. The porous AAC structure comes from being "leavened" with aluminum. Photo: H+H UK To read what manufacturers and distributors say about it, you'd think autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was some kind of new,…

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The End of Greenwashing? Five Myths about Product Transparency

Will environmental product declarations end greenwashing for good? Not so fast. This is Part 3 in our series on transparency. Part 1: Why We Care About Product Transparency Part 2: Why We Need "Nutrition Labels" for Building Products We developed this visual tool to help us keep track of what EPDs really are--and what they aren't. Click the image for a larger…

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Green Walls for Greener Cities

Contact with nature is not just an amenity: it's important for well-being. Green walls liven up urban spaces while improving building performance. This green wall covers the exterior of Whole Foods in Vancouver, BC. I live in Vermont, where agriculture is an integral part of our culture. I drive past the farms as the seasons change and see when the corn is high or…

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Microtherm Insulation —


Microtherm is a high-temperature "microporous" insulation material made from amorphous silica. While the insulation is 90% air, that air is contained in tiny cells or pockets that are many thousands…

No-Coat Drywall Corners —


No-Coat is an all-in-one drywall corner system that incorporates a PET core, joint tape, and surface. Unlike typical corner beads, which are often tacked in place, require significant amounts of joint…

Motech Solar Modules —


The Taiwanese company Motech offers commercial and residential polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) power systems, some of which are made in the U.S. The company offers 205 to 295 Wp (watt-peak) panels…

The Nest Learning Thermostat —


Nest is a self-programming thermostat that "learns" the energy use habits of a home’s occupants and adjusts the temperature to maximize heating and cooling efficiency (an orange face color indicated…

Crown Optima Smooth —


Sloan’s Crown Optima Smooth installs over the handle of an existing manual flushometer, converting it into a hands-free high-efficiency unit. This ADA-compliant flushometer installs using a simple…

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Easy Access to LEED Online Forms

LEEDuser has added another essential tool you've been asking for: sample LEED Online forms. Through a special arrangement with USGBC, LEEDuser has integrated these sample forms into the member toolkit we provide.
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What does LEED certification cost, credit by credit? "The Cost of LEED" report breaks it down

Looking for LEED documentation? LEEDuser's Documentation Toolkits offer credit-by-credit samples and templates

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RE: Office workspace with VAV
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Specific Forum
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RE: Utilizing this as an ID Credit for New Construction
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Guide to Meeting Prescriptive LEED CMP Requirements

Double the fun by reading your favorite EBN articles to help you meet your LEED CMP requirements! Looking for ways to meet your "prescriptive" continuing education (CE) requirements with the LEED Credential Maintenance Program (CMP)? Here at BuildingGreen.com we have long offered articles to help you earn your credits--articles that will truly help you learn cutting-edge green…

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What Makes a Product Green?

What Makes a Product Green?

Lots of manufacturers call their products “green,” but are they? Here’s our guide to the high-performance attributes that matter.

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“The path to success for renewables is just to get our act together policy-wise.”
— Steven Strong, president, Solar Design Associates

From For Cheap Solar, Look to Laws, Not Labs

Resilient Design: Water in a Drought-Prone Era

July, 2011 dust storm in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Militec, Inc. Click on image to enlarge. Periodic drought is something that a significant portion of the U.S. will have to get used to in the coming decades. Climate scientists tell us that while precipitation will increase overall with climate change, certain regions, including the American West, will see increased frequency of drought. I…

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