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.
-
Re-forming the Building Industry: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Feature
People from marginalized communities are shockingly underrepresented in the U.S. building industry. It’s past time to change that.
-
Equity in Design and Construction: Seven Case Studies
Feature
From an affordable multifamily building to an iconic museum, these projects are designed and built to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion -
Existing Buildings Are Architecture’s Future
Feature
Take a plain old building and turn it into something remarkable, and you’ll also help save the planet.
-
Wood: What’s Good?
Feature
Mass timber seems alluring because of its low carbon footprint, but not all wood is equally sustainable. We dig deep into the controversy over which types of timber are “climate smart.
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.
-
Higher Occupancy, Higher Lease Rates for Green Buildings
News Analysis
A new study from CoStar Group finds that buildings that carry LEED or Energy Star certifications have higher occupancy rates and lease for more money than their peers.
-
Utility-Scale Solar Thermal Growing Fast
News Analysis
New utility contracts confirm that concentrating solar power is one of the fastest growing utility-scale, renewable energy sources in the country.
-
Cities Mandate LEED But Not Certification
News Analysis
Cities that adopt policies requiring private buildings to meet LEED standards-without actual certification-must figure out how to ensure green requirements are being met.
-
Alpen Acquired by Serious Materials
News Analysis
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
-
Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary
Op-Ed
Fifty years out, the increased awareness of the environment is heartwarming and the accomplishments significant, but our challenges are greater than ever.
-
After the Pandemic, What’s Next for the Building Industry?
Op-Ed
How will the AEC industry—what we build and how we work—change post-pandemic? We asked leading lights in the green building world.
-
Architecture Awards Reflect Changing Priorities
Op-Ed
This year’s Pritzker, Gold Medal, and AIA Firm Award all reveal a new day dawning in architecture.
-
“Code Red” IPCC Report: What It Means for the Building Sector
Op-Ed
The IPCC has an emergency message: buildings need to change. Now.
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.
