Building Science
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Building Science
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Resilient, Sustainable Water Management: A Holistic Approach
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Water is our planet’s lifeblood. But climate change has redefined how we view water, with drought amplifying water scarcity and changing our relationship with the landscape and the built environment.
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In the Pipeline: District Energy and Green Building
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Very common in northern Europe, district energy systems use a network of buried, insulated pipes to distribute centrally produced steam, hot water, or chilled water to heat or cool multiple buildings. These systems can make use of waste heat from power generation (combined heat and power) or renewable fuel sources to help reduce the environmental impacts of buildings and communities.
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Build More or Build Green? Affordable Housing’s False Choice
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The housing crisis is also a climate crisis and a social equity crisis. If we change our ways, we can address them all at once.
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For the Trees
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Mass timber is a billion-dollar industry poised to reduce embodied carbon. Its trajectory may surprise us all.
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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Tremco: Getting the Devil Out of Air and Water Details
Product Review
The Tremco ETA system offers the first-ever warranty on the performance of an assembly's air and water barriers.
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Rainwater Harvesting: Standout Products in a Rising Market
Product Review
As resilience becomes a greater focus, the market for rainwater harvesting systems and components is growing. The companies described here provide a good starting point.
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Smarter Irrigation for a Parched Landscape
Product Review
WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers use sophisticated algorithms and climate data to provide just the right amount of water to plants.
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Membrane or Metal? Choices in Low-Slope Roofing
Product Review
Despite some toxicity concerns, metal roofing's high durability can reduce its overall life-cycle impact.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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New Thinkstep Launchpad for Sustainability Apps Bolstered by LCA Data
News Analysis
Rebranded as thinkstep, the life-cycle assessment firm PE International promises a new platform to integrate product data and more.
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Will Aggressive Performance Goals Fit Under Google’s Glass Tent?
News Analysis
The design of Google’s green headquarters hinges on new technologies, like a “glass fabric” enclosure.
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Polyiso Impacts Are High, but Performance May Make Up for Them
News Analysis
An EPD for polyisocyanurate insulation shows large embodied impacts while suggesting R-value cancels some of them out.
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New Label from ILFI to “Reveal” Building Energy Data
News Analysis
Buildings will be able to display a standard label showing energy use under a new program from the International Living Future Institute.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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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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