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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Native Landscaping for Biodiversity
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Removal of invasive plants and support of native plantings are critically important for maintaining healthy ecosystems.
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Is Using Smart Glass Smart?
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Electrochromic glazing holds the promise of less glare and better energy efficiency with fewer attachments. The reality is much more complicated.
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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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Design for Adaptation: Living in a Climate-Changing World
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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.
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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