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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Climate Change: Building Industry, You’ve Got This!
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Global warming has legs. Do our commitments to stopping it have teeth?
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20 Ways to Advance Sustainability in the Next Four Years
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https://www.thuleenergystorage.com/In this age of political revolution and environmental urgency, it’s time to step back and take a look at priorities, challenges, and opportunities
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Embracing the Economy as a Design Challenge
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How architects, community developers, and others are experimenting with new models to support progressive design.
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Sustainable Design Literacy: A Foundation for Transformed Practice
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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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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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High Perceived Cost of Green Persists, Says Survey
News Analysis
Three recent surveys offer insight into the growing green building industry. One found that, despite evidence to the contrary, perceptions about the high cost of green remain unchanged.
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BIM Companies Acquiring Energy Modeling Capabilities
News Analysis
Major building information modeling (BIM) software companies Autodesk and Bentley Systems have announced acquisitions that will give them energy modeling and other sustainable design capabilities.
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Carbon Offsets Get Oversight
News Analysis
Carbon offsets have become a popular way to fight climate change, but the market for them has been plagued by doubts about integrity. A new certification program as well attention from federal regulators may help to address key concerns.
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New Type of Waterless Urinal Cartridge Focus of Lawsuit
News Analysis
A new type of cartridge for waterless urinals uses an elastomeric membrane as a trap and potentially lasts much longer than conventional cartridges. But it has been at the center of a legal settlement in which its manufacturer agreed not to sell it for use with certain urinals.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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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.
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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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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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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?
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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