This new construction project, located directly across from an office-to-residential conversion, has been designed to stimulate development of a high-density, transit-oriented district in a former fringe area that used to host a lot of parking. (Image: Cooper Carry)
Feature Article + CEU Special Report
Saying Goodbye to the Office—and Hello to Housing
The way we use (and don’t use) our offices is irrevocably changing. But what are we going to do with all these vacant buildings?
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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
News Analysis
Three Green Actions to Take While Occupants Work from Home
Now is a perfect time for property owners and managers to pursue these major sustainability initiatives.
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WinSert high-performance window inserts can be used in high rises where replacement with thicker glass options is not possible. (Photo: Alpen High Performance Products)
Product Review
High-Efficiency Commercial Window Inserts
Alpen’s WinSert commercial window inserts significantly improve the thermal performance of aging window systems, without the cost or aesthetic concerns of full replacements.
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Net-zero-energy projects like NeoCity high school are helping Little Diversified Architectural Consulting progress toward climate goals. (Photo: Mark Herboth Photography)
News Analysis
How Climate Commitments Are Transforming Design
Many are struggling to hit 2030 Commitment targets and embodied carbon goals. We picked the brains of three architecture firms that are in the thick of it—and progressing.
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New Analysis
Justice, Circularity Overhauled in Cradle to Cradle v4
The latest version of the Cradle to Cradle product standard also expands embodied carbon requirements and replaces the controversial “banned list” with a new approach.
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News Brief
Washington D.C. Releases Resilient Design Guidelines
Designers in the District are being encouraged to design for extreme heat, flooding, and power outages.
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Top 10 product winner RePurpose Energy uses batteries from electric vehicles as energy storage for renewable power. (Photo: RePurpose Energy)
Product Review
BuildingGreen Announces Top 10 Products for 2021
These innovative products reduce carbon emissions and include negative embodied carbon carpet, repurposed EV battery storage, carbon sequestering aggregate, and more.
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News Brief
Local Governments To Be Disenfranchised After Voting for Green Codes
Although government officials ultimately implement the energy code, the ICC is blocking them from voting on it.
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Primer
Neutralizing the Downsides of Concrete
Concrete is a durable and necessary building material, but its carbon footprint is huge. Here’s a rundown of concrete’s tradeoffs and some solutions.
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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.
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SmithGroup uses HPDs in its selection process for projects large and small, including the million-square-foot MGM National Harbor Resort near Washington, D.C. HKS was the design architect. (Image: HKS and SmithGroup)
Material Health
Buildings shouldn’t harm their occupants. Is anything more fundamental than that? Yet many building materials contain toxic substances with the potential to make people sick. Finding and interpreting material health information is an emerging practice among building professionals.
LEARN THE BASICS
- What’s an HPD? Health Product Declaration FAQs
- WELL v2: What’s Changed?
- The High Price of Stain Resistance: Environmental Persistence
- Phthalate Plasticizer Toxicity Explained
GO DEEPER
- LEED and WELL Product Labels: A Guide and Analysis
- Three Hazardous Textile Treatments and How to Avoid Them
- Why “Zero VOC” Was Never Enough
- How to Get from VOC Certifications to Better Products
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.
