The battery storage at Lubber Run Community Center (a NZE project) is programmed to dispatch at a time of day when the grid is dirtiest, displacing more carbon emissions than a PV system alone. (Image: Tom Holdsworth)
Feature Article + CEU Spotlight Report
Net-Zero Energy Isn’t the Real Goal: 8 Reasons Why
Net-zero-energy buildings don’t always reduce carbon emissions. These are the tweaks we need to ensure they do.
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SPECIAL REPORT
SPEC THIS, NOT THAT
Avoiding Toxic Chemicals in Commercial Building Projects
CEUs:
3.5 AIA - LU|HSW
3.5 GBCI
Op-Ed
Why Net-Zero Energy Is a Goal We Can All Get Behind
NZE pioneer Brad Liljequist argues that BuidingGreen’s recent critique of net-zero energy may be fighting the wrong battle.
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The kitchen redesign opened up the space so navigation is straightforward and exits are evident. (Photo: Jonathan Farrell)
News Analysis + Slideshow
Trauma-Informed Design: A New Social Equity Imperative
By applying the principles of “trauma-informed care,” building professionals can prevent re-traumatization while reducing stress for everyone.
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The new toolkit helps residents map the journey from marginalization all the way to community ownership. (Image: Rosa Gonzalez)
News Brief
NAACP Offers an Equity Toolkit for Building Projects
Extensive guidelines published by NAACP help put community residents in the driver’s seat.
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News Analysis
IAQ Monitoring for COVID: What’s in a Score?
Occupants want access to IAQ data. But it’s a battle between simplicity and accuracy.
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News Analysis
EPA to Attempt PFAS Regulation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced initiatives that will finally regulate the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer and building products.
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News Brief
New Directions for Mindful Materials
More than a database, mindful Materials is taking on an advocacy and convener role focused on healthy and sustainable materials.
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News Analysis
New DOE Building Programs Push toward a Zero-Carbon Future
The U.S. Department of Energy will fund a long slate of initiatives designed to transform the building industry.
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The Catalyst building under construction (Photo: Katerra)
News Brief
Katerra to Shut Down in U.S., Reducing Certified CLT Options
The “vertically integrated” company Katerra offered everything from FSC-certified mass timber products to prefab design and construction services, but it couldn’t stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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WINTER IS COMING
HVAC Strategies During COVID-19
Three engineers share what they’ve learned so far and give straight advice.
Free webcast
Available on demand
Featured Topic
Explore our full knowledge base »
Aerial view of 2015 flooding in Harris County, Texas. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Resilient Design
Resilience is the capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance. It is the capacity to bounce back after a disturbance or interruption.
LEARN THE BASICS
- Washington D.C. Releases Resilient Design Guidelines
- Standard Effective Temperature: A Metric for Thermal Comfort and Resilience
- DC Power Supply Integrates AC and Renewables
GO DEEPER
- An Advocate’s Guide to Resilience Regulations
- Focus on Resilient Housing
- The Four Core Issues to Tackle for Resilient Design (And the Programs That Can Help)
- When Hurricane Harvey Hit, the Texas Medical Center Stood Ready
RELATED TOPICS
Explore our full knowledge base »
Maintain Your Credentials
WELL AP Exam Study Guide
The best and only WELL AP study guide you’ll ever need. Use our guide and you’ll pass the exam on your first try—we guarantee it.
The Urgency of Embodied Carbon and What You Can Do About It
Building materials emit massive amounts of carbon long before the lights go on. In this PDF report, we take an analytical look at the greenhouse gases that are emitted in the process of constructing our buildings in the first place—the embodied carbon. We then offer strategies for reducing embodied carbon, with examples of projects that have succeeded in this regard.
Lighting Design for Health and Sustainability: A Guide for Architects
What do we mean when we say sustainable lighting? In this PDF report, we take a closer look at lighting as an essential element in quality environments that support health and wellness while reducing energy use.
Fundamentals of High-Performance Building Assemblies
This four-part course, designed for architects and builders, provides methodologies for how best to design and manage these details and achieve superior performance—while avoiding expensive pitfalls.
Introduction to Fitwel Certification
Are your clients asking you about wellness? You’re not alone. Employee health and wellbeing has been called the ‘second wave of sustainability.’ In this hour-long webinar, GreenStep Education’s Alex Spilger will walk you through Fitwel certification, including its requirements, lessons learned from Fitwel projects, and how Fitwel compares to other frameworks like WELL and LEED. We’ll also discuss how to earn the Fitwel Ambassador credential.
