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Features

Cradle to Cradle Certification: A Peek Inside MBDC's Black Box

Cradle to Cradle is a multiple-attribute product certification program based on the philosophy of architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, and the work of their company, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). While MBDC’s consulting services are driving breakthroughs in green manufacturing, the certification program lacks some of the comprehensiveness and transparency that are increasingly expected in the green certification market.
Environmental Building News—February 1, 2007

Historic Preservation and Green Building: A Lasting Relationship

Rehabilitation of existing buildings is important to sustainability in buildings, but with historic buildings, green building and preservationism can diverge. With attention to preservation standards and suitable application of green strategies, however, those agendas can be aligned.
Environmental Building News—January 1, 2007

Climate Change Dominates Greenbuild Conference Agenda

With several announcements at the 2006 Greenbuild conference in Denver, the U.S. Green Building Council signaled that it would use its LEED Rating System to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by tightening LEED requirements and by increasing the number of buildings designed to LEED standards.
Environmental Building News—December 1, 2006

The Evolution of Exit Signs (and Why the Latest is a Bad Idea)

Searching for reliable, energy-efficient exit signs, EBN’s Alex Wilson explains why photoluminescent exit signs, one of the newest “energy-saving” devices, are one of the worst from a total-energy-use standpoint. The article reviews current technology, including LED and electroluminescent exit signs, and offers recommendations.
Environmental Building News—November 1, 2006

Greening Your Electricity

Many businesses and homeowners are choosing to buy green power, including renewable energy credits (RECs). This article examines the environmental benefits of green power, including on-site renewables, what REC buyers should know about their purchases, and investing in energy conservation.
Environmental Building News—October 1, 2006

Get a Whiff of This: The Lowdown on Product Emissions Testing

Analytical chemistry tools, used together with product testing chambers, are making it possible to “see” product emissions in new ways. Editor Nadav Malin discusses the science behind product emissions testing, the different product certification standards, and what’s ahead for this growing field.
Environmental Building News—September 1, 2006

Treated Wood in Transition: Less Toxic Options in Preserved and Protected Wood

Following the recent phaseout of CCA, the dominant wood preservative of the last 30 years, the treated wood industry is in major transition. Some current wood treatment technologies present familiar environmental problems, while less-toxic alternatives are just entering the market.
Environmental Building News—August 1, 2006

Biophilia in Practice: Buildings that Connect People with Nature

Biophilia, or human beings’ inherent love for nature, has been called “the missing link in sustainable design.” EBN’s Alex Wilson helps readers understand biophilia, describes why it is important relative to building design, and presents specific design strategies for bringing people closer to nature.
Environmental Building News—July 1, 2006

Measurement and Verification: Monitoring Building Systems for Optimal Performance

Tracking the performance of a building’s mechanical and electrical systems is essential for energy savings that persist over time. In this article, EBN explores measurement and verification and explains why demand for these systems is growing. We also explain the LEED® Rating System’s evolving treatment of M&V.
Environmental Building News—June 1, 2006

Passive Survivability: A New Design Criterion for Buildings

Buildings and their occupants are vulnerable to threats ranging from storms and rising sea levels to accidents and terrorism. In this feature article, EBN describes how to design and construct buildings to maintain livable conditions in the event of extended power outages or loss of heating fuel or water.
Environmental Building News—May 1, 2006
Member Comments
More Solar Gain, Not R-Value, Better for Heating Climates

Steven Konstantino says, “Thermotech has been manufacturing windows with very low U-Values for years and has always addressed solar orientation in selection of...” More...

pat sapinsley says, “WIndows, solar heat gain and R value Posted by pat sapinsley on May 2, 2008, 06:25 PM The...” More...

pat sapinsley says, “The real solution was discussed in a June 2006 EBN article. Dynamic glazing, which allows solar heat gain to enter...” More...

Boulder County Limits Energy Use for Homes

Kim Calomino says, “The BuildSmart code enacted by Boulder County, Colorado, is unreasonable, impracticable, over reaching, and is going to be very costly...” More...

Universities Gain New Sustainability Reporting Tool

Allyson Wendt says, “A draft of STARS is now available for public comment from AASHE. The public comment period goes through May 9...” More...

How the Sun's Path Can Inform Design

Mark Smith says, “Using the sun instead of roads as the primary organization principle, solar orientation can be applied to production SFD and...” More...

Revolutionary Vacuum Glass Coming from Guardian

Laura Catanzaro says, “What would the R-value be of the frame of such a window?” More...

Incorporate Passive Survivability into Building Codes

Claire Barnett says, “This is a particular strong issue for schools everywhere, since schools are large community facilities often used as shelters in...” More...

LEED Delivers on Predicted Energy Savings

Nadav Malin says, “The complete report based on the data mention in this article is now available for download from New Buildings Institute:...” More...

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