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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Choosing Windows: Looking Through the Options
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We ask a lot from windows: energy efficiency, aesthetics, durability, affordability, and more. Which window frame materials and low-e glazing options balance these choices best? This article explores all the options and decodes the performance labels we see when buying windows.
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Occupant Engagement: Where Design Meets Performance
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No matter how carefully you plan a retrofit or design a building, the occupants hold the keys to environmental performance. But design teams can help them unlock any building's potential.
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What Makes a Product Green Today?
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Lots of manufacturers call their products "green," but are they? Here's our guide to the high-performance attributes that matter.
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Three Imperatives to Create the Future of Green Building
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The industry will be in a better place a decade from now if we master these skills.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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EPA Limits Wood Preservative ACC to Commercial Uses
News Analysis
In a decision that was both surprising to and welcomed by environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has disallowed the wood preservative acid copper chromate (ACC) in residential uses.
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InterfaceFLOR Goes Carbon Neutral with All Commercial Carpet Tiles
News Analysis
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Lights Out for the Incandescent Lamp?
News Analysis
The inefficient incandescent lamp is in danger of being banned, with several initatives in the U.S. and abroad in the works.
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3M Guarantees Product Won't Be Banned
News Analysis
A unique warranty from 3M offers a refund on Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid if the product is banned for its ozone-depletion or global-warming potential.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Building Materials and the Time Value of Carbon
Op-Ed
When you save matters. What you build matters. Here’s why we need to build well and rebuild better.
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On the Path to Net Zero
Op-Ed
At Leonard Farm, we’ve taken another big step in our quest for net-zero energy and net-zero carbon—but we’re not there yet!
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A Quarter Century of Changing the World
Op-Ed
Going on 25 years, we still don’t have all the answers. What gets us excited about the next 25? Working with you to ask the right questions.
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Building Products Matter Even More Than We Thought
Op-Ed
Operational energy use is critical, but materials might be an even bigger part of the solution to climate change and other pressing environmental issues.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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