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:
-
slowing down climate change
-
dealing with global water shortages
-
avoiding depletion of nonrenewable resources
-
preventing public health problems associated with manufacturing
-
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.
-
Assessing Climate Hazards: The First Step in Resilient Design
Feature
The tools for conducting a multi-hazard exposure analysis are available if you know where to look.
-
Design for Adaptation: Living in a Climate-Changing World
Feature
Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases tomorrow, rising global temperatures would still bring major changes to the climate system and our way of life. This article offers solutions for designing buildings that not only mitigate our impact on the global climate, but also adapt to the changes that are coming-and those that are already here.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
U.S. On Track with HCFC Phaseout
News Analysis
U.S. industries are looking for alternative foam blowing agents and refrigerants as they comply with the HCFC phaseout mandated by the Montreal Protocol.
-
Energy Simulation Packages Updated
News Analysis
Leading BIM providers Autodesk and Bentley Systems have released new software bundles to solidify their energy modeling offerings: Autodesk providing feedback early in the design process and Bentley offering high-power tools for later analyses.
-
SAGE Electrochromics to Scale Up With $72 Million DOE Loan Guarantee
News Analysis
The makers of SageGlass electrochromic glazing will expand production with the help of a $72 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.
-
Transit-Oriented Development Threatened by Air Quality Rules
News Analysis
New guidelines may expose urban infill developments in California's Bay area to more regulations due to their proximity to air pollution sources.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
-
USGBC Response: Help Create the Next LEED version
Op-Ed
The U.S. Green Building Council responds to an earlier op-ed, “LEED Must Lead on Climate.”
-
Zero-Energy Buildings for All
Blog Post
There is increasing movement for buildings to reach net-zero energy, but they can't do it alone. Here's how to fix the system.
-
Celebrating 30 Years of Publication
Blog Post
BuildingGreen’s editors look back on three decades of a movement
-
How Smaller Architecture Firms Are Adopting Sustainable Design
Blog Post
When it comes to sustainability, many smaller architecture firms are interested but still getting there.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
