BackPage Primers
Embodied Carbon: Measuring How Building Materials Affect Climate
Just as operating buildings emits greenhouse gases, buying and installing building materials, product, and appliances causes emissions as well.
Environmental Building News—April 1, 2011
From Sunlight to Electricity: How Solar Cells Work
Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts.
Environmental Building News—March 1, 2011
Chromium-6: Health and Life-Cycle Hazards
Chrome-plated and stainless-steel products may not expose us directly to the hazards of hexavalent chromium, but their life cycle releases it into the environment.
Environmental Building News—February 1, 2011
How Electric Lighting Works
How do incandescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, and light-emitting diode lighting technologies work, and what are their relative efficiencies?
Environmental Building News—January 1, 2011
Heat-Pump Water Heaters
Heat-pump water heaters produce more than twice as much hot water per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed as standard electric water heaters.
Environmental Building News—December 1, 2010
Standards for Standards: ISO and ANSI
ISO is an international standard-setting body that offers accreditation to certifying organizations and approves standards that meet certain criteria.
Environmental Building News—November 1, 2010
The Water-Energy Connection
The production of electricity is highly water intense, just as the transport, heating, and cooling of water is energy intense. So saving energy saves water and saving water saves energy.
Environmental Building News—October 1, 2010
The Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle employs "guilty until proven innocent" methodology, and suggests that we should avoid using questionable chemicals and materials until we know they're safe.
Environmental Building News—September 1, 2010
Synthetic Gypsum
Synthetic gypsum, used in drywall, is chemically the same as virgin gypsum but is created from a byproduct of coal-fired power plants. Are designer and contractor concerns about heavy metal contamination justified?
Environmental Building News—August 1, 2010
Invasive Plants
In the quest for a balanced ecosystem it is important to choose native species and avoid invasive plants. Invasive species can put a strain on water usage and can take space and resources away from native plants.
Environmental Building News—July 1, 2010
