BuildingGreen.com News

Alternative Water Sources: Supply-Side Solutions for Green Buildings

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Both the recent drought in the normally-wet Southeast and impending water shortages in the Southwest are a reminder that water efficiency should be a top priority for our buildings. At the same time, finding alternative sources of water is also important for sustainability and passive survivability. Several sources of water can be harvested at the building level as well as through municipal-scale wastewater treatment and desalination.

Readers Respond to Taunton Partnership

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Readers congratulate BuildingGreen on its partnership with Taunton Press, while discussing some concerns.

More Solar Gain, Not R-Value, Better for Heating Climates

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Low-emissivity glazing, like technologies from Guardian and Alpen discussed in recent articles, is not always appropriate and may work against energy-efficient passive solar design.

FSC-Certified Bamboo Plywood Now Available

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In an industry first, Smith & Fong now offers bamboo plywood panels certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Boulder County Limits Energy Use for Homes

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

New ordinances passed in Boulder County and the City of Boulder require larger homes to be more energy and resource efficient; ordinances under consideration may limit home size more directly.

Higher Occupancy, Higher Lease Rates for Green Buildings

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A new study from CoStar Group finds that buildings that carry LEED or Energy Star certifications have higher occupancy rates and lease for more money than their peers.

AIA Requires Sustainability in Continuing Education

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A new continuing education requirement from AIA stresses environmentally friendly design. Meanwhile, some feel that the topic is not present enough in architectural education and testing.

Contractors Subject to New Lead Paint Regulations

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

ICC Developing Green Building Certification for Inspectors

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

New Wetland Rules Favor Off-Site Mitigation

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Residential Water Heaters to Get Energy Star Label

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Forest Certification Ranks Last in Product Selection Criteria for Retailers

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Home Depot Partners with Habitat on Green Affordable Housing

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

AIA/COTE Announces 2008 Top Ten Green Projects

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment has announced the Top Ten Green Projects for 2008, including interpretive centers, schools, and a condominium building.

Coolerado: Evaporative Cooling Without Added Humidity

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

As an indirect evaporative cooler, the Coolerado provides cool air without adding moisture. Its innovative technology also delivers lower temperatures than conventional evaporative coolers, and it's much more efficient than conventional central air-conditioners.

Cree Acquires LED Lighting Fixtures

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

LED manufacturer Cree, Inc., has acquired LED Lighting Fixtures, maker of an innovative LED recessed downlight, giving the company access to greater technical, financial, and marketing resources.

Energy and Performance in Thermally Preserved Wood

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Cambia by Greenleaf recently joined Purewood in the market for wood preserved with high heat and without hazardous chemicals. The companies have competing products, as well as competing claims for the significant energy use during production.

Evaporative Coolers

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

As water evaporates, it absorbs heat. Direct and indirect evaporative coolers use this property to cool homes efficiently.

FSC-Certified Bamboo Plywood Now Available

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In an industry first, Smith & Fong now offers bamboo plywood panels certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council.

AIA/COTE Announces 2008 Top Ten Green Projects

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment has announced the Top Ten Green Projects for 2008, including interpretive centers, schools, and a condominium building.

Senate Adopts Clean Energy Tax Package

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Senate passes legislation designed to modify and extend energy-efficient and renewable-energy incentives, many of which are currently scheduled to sunset at the end of 2008.

Navigating Incentives and Regulations for Green Building

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

When used in combination, incentives and regulations can be a powerful force for encouraging green buildings. Incentives can be complicated to navigate, but are often well worth the effort. Regulations, on the other hand, can be slow to change, but can raise the baseline for building performance.

Incorporate Passive Survivability into Building Codes

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Voluntary programs for incorporating passive survivability into designs will not go far enough, fast enough—it's time to use building codes to require these design features in our residential buildings.

Carbon Offsets Get Oversight

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Carbon offsets have become a popular way to fight climate change, but the market for them has been plagued by doubts about integrity. A new certification program as well attention from federal regulators may help to address key concerns.

Energy Star Labels for LED Lighting

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Energy Star ratings for LED light fixtures, to become effective in September 2008, provide assurance that products have been tested to meet a wide range of performance and durability specifications.

New Type of Waterless Urinal Cartridge Focus of Lawsuit

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A new type of cartridge for waterless urinals uses an elastomeric membrane as a trap and potentially lasts much longer than conventional cartridges. But it has been at the center of a legal settlement in which its manufacturer agreed not to sell it for use with certain urinals.

Certifying Buildings En Masse

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Property management giant CB Richard Ellis is following through on a major commitment to certify 100 buildings through LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance as a pilot participant in USGBC's volume certification program.

Gut Rehab Home Goes Platinum

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Architect Richard Renner designs the first gut rehab in the Northeast (and the second in the nation) to achieve a Platinum rating in the LEED for Homes rating system.

Study Links Biobased Products with Emissions

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Federal 2009 Budget a Mixed Bag for Green Building

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

IIDA Headquarters Achieves LEED Interiors Certification

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

New Jersey Switches from Solar Rebates to Certificates

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sandy Mendler Joins Mithun to Open San Francisco Office

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

CDC Finds Elevated Formaldehyde Levels in FEMA Trailers

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Composite Panel Industry Adapts to Pending CARB Regulation

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

California will adopt stringent new standards for emissions from composite wood products in 2009, pushing the panel industry to convert to more environmentally friendly binders.

Three-in-One Insulating Sheathing from Dow

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A new polyisocyanurate sheathing from Dow uses recycled content and provides structural shear bracing, wraparound insulation, and a water-resistant barrier in one product.

How the Sun's Path Can Inform Design

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Designing a building with the sun in mind can help reduce both heating and cooling loads.

Televisions Must Meet New Requirements to Earn Energy Star

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

New Type of Waterless Urinal Cartridge Focus of Lawsuit

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Low Emissions, Quick Energy Payback for Thin-Film PV

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

A new study shows all current photovoltaic technologies offer at least an 89% reduction of air emissions compared with conventional electricity while also offering an energy-payback time of less than three years.

Is Nano a No-No? Nanotechnology Advances into Buildings

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Nanotechnology takes advantage of the novel properties that particles can exhibit at a billionth of a meter in size. Those properties are being used in building materials, where they can improve thermal performance and the effectiveness of photovoltaics, among many possibilities. The field has little regulation, however, despite significant health and environmental concerns.

BuildingGreen Partners with Taunton Press

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

BuildingGreen, publisher of Environmental Building News, announces a partnership with Taunton Press, publisher of Fine Homebuilding.

Focus on World's Uncertified Forests, Says SFI President

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Sustainable Forestry Initiative president Kathy Abusow discusses the merits of her organization's forest certification program, and argues that the certification community should focus on the 90% of the world's forests that aren't certified sustainably managed.

BIM Companies Acquiring Energy Modeling Capabilities

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Major building information modeling (BIM) software companies Autodesk and Bentley Systems have announced acquisitions that will give them energy modeling and other sustainable design capabilities.

NAHB Launches National Green Building Program

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The National Association of Homebuilders has unveiled its National Green Building Program, along with a Certified Green Professional program.

Wal-Mart Introduces Second Generation of High-Efficiency Stores

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Following a long program of testing green practices in experimental stores, Wal-Mart is now building high-efficiency stores that are expected to be 25% more energy efficient than conventional stores, but critics say that's not enough.

PV Prices Rising

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Contrary to predictions that increased demand for PV systems would result in continuing price reduction, the average cost of PV installations has risen slightly in the last three years.

Study Finds Elevated PCB Levels in Homes

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Northern Arizona University Research Facility Earns LEED Platinum

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

National Design Associations Propose National Academy

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

AQS Earns ISO-17025 Accreditation for Competence

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

RK Stewart Joins Perkins+Will

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

USGBC Doubles Research Funding

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Decorative Ceiling Panel Uses Recycled Content

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago Metallic has introduced Monarch GE, a decorative ceiling panel system using gypsum and 70% recycled content from glass.

A Low-Emissivity Coating That Really Works

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Despite manufacturer claims, not all insulating coatings are created equal. Coatings with ceramic particles are not effective, but coatings with metallic particles, like LO/MIT-II from SOLEC-Solar Energy Corporation, can reduce radiant heat transfer.

PureWood: Chemical-Free Preserved Wood

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

PureWood is a thermally modified wood decking that achieves decay resistance and dimensional stability through a process that exposes the wood to very high temperatures and steam, rather than chemicals. Although totally natural, it is energy-intensive to produce.

Formaldehyde-Free Bamboo Flooring from EcoTimber

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Nonmetallic Pressure-Treated Wood Products from Viance

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Walkscore.com

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

A new online tool, Walkscore.com, shows promise for determining the "walkability" of a given location, but has several important drawbacks.

Shedding Light on Light Quality

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Two terms commonly used to refer to light sources—color temperature and color rendering index—tell us about the quality of light, but can at times be counter-intuitive. Lights with a low color temperature, for example, actually feel "warmer" on the color spectrum.

Water: Doing More With Less

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. uses about 400 billion gallons of water a day, and water shortages are becoming more common. Water conservation is possible in several areas in and around buildings, however, with water-saving products and technologies currently on the market and in development.

Bringing Water Back into the Discussion

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Most Americans treat freshwater as if it were limitless and free, even as water shortage is becoming a reality in many areas of the United States. But there are many cost-effective ways to reduce that consumption.

Solar Services Bridge the Owner-Tenant Gap

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Recurrent Energy has landed $200 million in financing to install solar electric panels on leased rooftops and sell the power to tenants.

2007 Energy Bill Promotes High-Performance Buildings

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Although several important provisions were stripped from the federal energy bill, key improvements to appliance standards and building energy-efficiency standards remain.

California to Require Net-Zero-Energy Buildings

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The California Energy Commission has recommended strong energy-efficiency requirements for buildings, and is working to incorporate them into building codes.

Southface Partners with Building Performance Institute

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Home Inspectors Get Their Own Green Building Course

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

California Limits Ozone-Generating Air Purifiers

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

First U.S. City Resolves to Build LEED Platinum

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Oregon Group Develops Ecosystem Services Trading System

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

GGHC Announces Prescriptive Paths to Energy Points

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Alliance for Water Efficiency Offers Water Conservation Assistance

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

USGBC Provides List of LEED Project Innovations

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Smaller Copper Particles, Smaller Environmental Impact for Treated Wood

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

With its MicroPro treated wood, Osmose is one of several companies making innovations in copper preservative techniques. MicroPro's use of tiny copper particles offers environmental benefits when compared with conventional copper treatment.

SierraPine Offers Improved Fire-Retardant MDF

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

SierraPine has reintroduced its popular fire-resistant, medium-density fiberboard, which contains no added urea-formaldehyde.

Revolutionary Vacuum Glass Coming from Guardian

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Revolutionary vacuum-insulated glass coming from Guardian provides an insulating value of R-12, and should be available in 2009.

LED Lamp Sets Efficiency Record

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

A prototype reflector-style LED lamp from LED Lighting Fixtures has shattered efficacy records, achieving an efficacy of 113.6 lumens per watt.

The Architecture Handbook: A Student Guide to Understanding Buildings

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

This high-school textbook teaches the basics of architectural drawing and thinking through an extended case study of an environmentally friendly house.

Good Ozone, Bad Ozone

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The same ozone that causes air quality problems near Earth's surface protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation high in the atmosphere. This protective ozone layer is thinning due to manufactured chemicals.

Behind the Logos: Understanding Green Product Certifications

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The number of environmental product standards and certifications is growing rapidly, putting numerous different "green" logos on products. This article reviews the key programs and evaluates their rigor, and offers guidance in using them to accomplish project goals.

High Perceived Cost of Green Persists, Says Survey

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Three recent surveys offer insight into the growing green building industry. One found that, despite evidence to the contrary, perceptions about the high cost of green remain unchanged.

EPA Partnership Focuses on Commercial Refrigeration

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

GreenChill, a new partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, supermarkets, and equipment manufacturers, aims to improve refrigeration technology, save energy, and eliminate the use of ozone-depleting refrigerants.

Healthcare May Take LEED in New Directions

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The draft of the LEED for Healthcare covers new ground for a LEED rating sytem, including requiring integrated design and offering a credit for avoiding certain chemicals. If approved by the members of the U.S. Green Building Council, these concepts may find their way into other LEED rating systems.

Mixed-Use Building Approaches 2030 Goals

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Grand Teton Visitor Center Earns LEED Platinum

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Canada Offering Energy Efficiency Retrofit Grants

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

British Study Shows Promise for Micro-CHP

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Heat Pumps Gaining Market Share

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Developer Daniel Tishman Selected to Chair NRDC Board

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

AIA Study Finds Growth in Municipal Green Building Programs

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Kresge Expands Green Building Grants Program

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

CCI Wields Purchasing Power for Energy Efficiency

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Canadian Multifamily Project Earns LEED Platinum

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Beneficial Bacteria Reduce Urinal Water Use

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The Ecoblue Cube uses beneficial bacteria to convert conventional flushing urinals to virtually waterless operation without significant installation costs, and avoiding the common pitfalls of waterless urinals.

PlybooPure is Formaldehyde Free

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The PlybooPure line of bamboo flooring and panel products from Smith & Fong uses a polyisocyanurate binder, making it urea-formaldehyde-free.

CorrectDeck CX Using Recycled Polypropylene

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Fire-Rated, FSC-Certified Panels from S.J. Morse

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Solar Reflectance Index and Cool Roofs

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Understanding reflectivity and emissivity of roofing materials is important to evaluating their effect on cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.

Controls Go Wireless

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Particularly for lighting and ventilation controls in retrofit situations wireless systems offer potential energy, money, and resource savings. The technology is still new, however, and potential drawbacks like health risks, interference, and even the potential for increased energy consumption need to be examined.

LEED Delivers on Predicted Energy Savings

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Data from the U.S. Green Building Council and the New Buildings Institute shows that, although varying widely in individual buildings, measured energy savings meet or exceeds predicted energy savings for LEED buildings on average.