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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Avoiding the Global Warming Impact of Insulation
Feature Article
Insulation is key to reducing carbon emissions from buildings. But the blowing agent in extruded polystyrene and spray polyurethane foam offsets much of that benefit.
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Cool Products From Greenbuild 2009: An Expo Floor Tour
Feature Article
Alex Wilson provides a tour of 37 innovative products from the U.S. Green Building Council's 2009 Greenbuild conference in Phoenix.
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Design for Adaptation: Living in a Climate-Changing World
Feature Article
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.
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The Folly of Building-Integrated Wind
Feature Article
Wind turbines on buildings could produce electricity where it's needed and catch high winds above ground level. However, wind turbulence, safety, cost, and poor performance all make building-integrated wind a limited strategy.
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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People Want a Greener Future but Don’t Know How to Get There
News Brief
Sixty percent of people identified recycling as one of the top three ways to help the environment. Only 7% chose “Live in a green building.”
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“Reinventing Cities” Awards Innovative Urban Projects
News Brief
Projects from six cities around the world demonstrate de-carbonization, resilience, and replicability.
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AIA Declares Climate Emergency in Historic Resolution
News Brief
The AIA climate resolution calls for big changes in how the organization and its members will approach the climate crisis.
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Zero-Carbon Buildings a Sound Investment in Canada
News Brief
New buildings with net-zero-carbon operations will provide a 1% return over 25 years, says a new study.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Remembering Greg Franta
Op-Ed
Greg Franta, FAIA, not only inspired green builders, he made them laugh.
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GreenBuildingAdvisor.com to Launch
Op-Ed
BuildingGreen is launching a new Web-based tool for residential green building in January 2009.
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Sustainable Design Leaders Explore Their Profession
Op-Ed
With BuildingGreen's help, a group of sustainable design directors met in Colorado Springs to discuss this growing profession.
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Get Ready for Fuel Switching
Op-Ed
As the cost of heating fuel rises, utilities must prepare for increased demand as homeowners switch to cheaper electric-resistance heat.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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- 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.