The Big Picture
It’s easy to get caught up in the details—earning one more LEED point or getting that documentation you need for recycled content.
But it’s a lot easier to achieve all the project goals if the owner and the whole project team are in agreement about why you’re putting in all this work in the first place. Stuff like:
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slowing down climate change
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dealing with global water shortages
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avoiding depletion of nonrenewable resources
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preventing public health problems associated with manufacturing
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righting social wrongs
Here we set the scene, providing context that can help get—and keep—everyone on the same page about project goals.
The Big Picture
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Re-forming the Building Industry: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Feature Article
People from marginalized communities are shockingly underrepresented in the U.S. building industry. It’s past time to change that.
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Passive House on Campus: Eight Exemplary Projects
Feature Article
Passive House has energy, carbon, and comfort benefits for higher ed. But getting the details right isn’t easy.
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The Urgency of Embodied Carbon and What You Can Do about It
Feature Article
Building materials emit massive amounts of carbon long before the lights go on. Here’s how thoughtful design can reduce global warming impact.
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Sustainable Design Literacy: A Foundation for Transformed Practice
Feature Article
How well does the average designer know sustainable design? And how are the best firms supporting increased knowledge—and action?
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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The 8 Shades of Greenwash: How Many Do You Recognize?
Infographic
Most building products these days have an environmental angle to their sales pitches. Many are legit, but as ever, you still have to watch for the telltale signs of greenwash—the practice of inventing or exaggerating the environmental benefits of a product.
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The Living Building Challenge Loves Me... It Loves Me Not
Infographic
Each Living Building Challenge (LBC) petal can elevate teams to new heights—or at times be the cause of unrequited love.
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Our Buildings Are Killing Our Oceans
Primer
Carbon is more deadly than many other toxic substances we fret about every day. And acidification might be more of a problem than climate change.
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Net-Positive, Regenerative Design, and Other Ways Buildings Can Do Good
Primer
Instead of making a big fat net-zero your goal, regenerative design encourages whole-systems thinking and projects that actually add benefit to the environment.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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BioPCM: Finally, a Low-Cost, Practical Phase-Change Material
Product Review
A sea change for phase-change materials? BioPCM brings phase change into the 21st century with biobased mats.
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Prize-Winning LED Outdoor Area Light
Product Review
EvoLucia's SCH cobra head uses the company's "Aimed Optics" technology to direct light from the LEDs onto an even pattern on the ground, maximizing the efficacy of the light.
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LED Systems Provide Huge Energy Savings for Jobsite Lighting
Product Review
New LED technology is revolutionizing lighting on construction sites, but investing in the high-performing fixtures is a challenge for contractors who are used to disposable strings of light bulbs.
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Building a Better Building Block-Pozzotive Plus
Product Review
Kingston Block & Masonry Supply has introduced a line of CMUs and concrete facing brick made with a post-consumer-recycled-glass pozzolan substituting for 30% of the portland cement as well as about 50% post-consumer recycled aggregate.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Ed Mazria: An Interview with the AIA Gold Medal Winner for 2021
News Analysis
We spoke with Ed Mazria, AIA Gold Medal winner, about everything from the 1970s energy crisis to the current climate crisis—and heard a message of hope.
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COVID-19 Relief Bill Aligns U.S. with International Climate Goals
News Brief
Just before leaving office, Trump signed the most important climate legislation in a decade.
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2020 SEED Winners Advance Equity in Design
News Analysis
The SEED Awards for this year highlight projects with a social justice mission -
Contractors Pledge Greener Construction in New Commitment
News Brief
The new Contractor’s Commitment touches on issues from jobsite health to climate change.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Let’s Bounce Forward from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Op-Ed
What lessons can we learn from the coronavirus pandemic that will help us end up in a better place when the crisis is over?
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The Green New Deal—an Opportunity for the Green Building Industry
Op-Ed
Achieving the goals of the Green New Deal will be tremendously challenging—but not impossible.
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Carbon Emissions Are Up, But We Can Get Back on Track
Op-Ed
Carbon emissions rose in a year of natural disasters. Here’s what we can do about it.
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What I Learned on the Way to Enhancing AIA’s Code of Ethics
Op-Ed
Getting stronger sustainability language into the AIA Code of Ethics wasn’t easy.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Passive House on Campus: Eight Exemplary Projects
Feature Article
Passive House has energy, carbon, and comfort benefits for higher ed. But getting the details right isn’t easy.
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Wood: What’s Good?
Spotlight Report
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The Urgency of Embodied Carbon and What You Can Do about It
Feature Article
Building materials emit massive amounts of carbon long before the lights go on. Here’s how thoughtful design can reduce global warming impact.
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Pest Prevention: Steps Designers Can Take
Feature Article
Integrated pest management (IPM) design strategies can reduce structural damage and unsanitary conditions, and improve our community’s health.
