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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Avoiding the Global Warming Impact of Insulation
Feature
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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Rethinking the All-Glass Building
Feature
Is it time to end our love affair with the all-glass building? A lot of proponents of high-performance, green design certainly think so-while other respected architects, including some leading green designers and energy experts, argue that all-glass can work well if done right.
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Retrocommissioning: Big Savings for Big Buildings
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Retrocommissioning or RCx can be a valuable tool for commercial building owners. RCx addresses the same scope as new building commissioning but is performed on existing buildings. RCx can improve building performance, save energy and money-especially for large buildings.
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Choosing Windows: Looking Through the Options
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We ask a lot from windows: energy efficiency, aesthetics, durability, affordability, and more. Which window frame materials and low-e glazing options balance these choices best? This article explores all the options and decodes the performance labels we see when buying windows.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Induction and OLEDs: Past and Future Lighting Technologies
Explainer
Fluorescent and LED lighting get most of the attention, but there are other efficacious lighting technologies that could illuminate our future.
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The Water-Energy Connection
Explainer
The production of electricity is highly water intense, just as the transport, heating, and cooling of water is energy intense. So saving energy saves water and saving water saves energy.
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Invasive Plants
Explainer
In the quest for a balanced ecosystem it is important to choose native species and avoid invasive plants. Invasive species can put a strain on water usage and can take space and resources away from native plants.
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Tankless Water Heaters
Explainer
Tankless water heaters have some downsides, but mostly offer advantages over conventional storage water heaters.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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LED Downlight from LLF-Most Efficient on the Market
Product Review
A new LED downlight module from LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc., offers high efficacy and good light quality using a unique way of producing a diffuse, white light.
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Beneficial Bacteria Reduce Urinal Water Use
Product Review
The Ecoblue Cube uses beneficial bacteria to convert conventional flushing urinals to virtually waterless operation without significant installation costs, and avoiding the common pitfalls of waterless urinals.
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Smaller Copper Particles, Smaller Environmental Impact for Treated Wood
Product Review
With its MicroPro treated wood, Osmose is one of several companies making innovations in copper preservative techniques. MicroPro's use of tiny copper particles offers environmental benefits when compared with conventional copper treatment.
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A Low-Emissivity Coating That Really Works
Product Review
Despite manufacturer claims, not all insulating coatings are created equal. Coatings with ceramic particles are not effective, but coatings with metallic particles, like LO/MIT-II from SOLEC-Solar Energy Corporation, can reduce radiant heat transfer.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Green Roof Study Finds Big Variation in Stormwater Retention
News Analysis
Researchers in Austin found that, while several common green roof designs all moderated temperature effectively, they varied in their ability to retain stormwater.
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Serious Windows from Serious Materials
News Analysis
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More Window Manufacturing Acquisitions by Serious Materials
News Analysis
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Panasonic Introduces Vacuum-Insulated Refrigerator
News Analysis
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Net Zero Energy Is Achievable: Here’s How
Blog Post
The concept of the net zero energy (NZE) is a mature one, with established technology providing a clear path, especially for low- and mid-rise buildings.
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Measuring (and Understanding) Humidity
Blog Post
Humidity sensor recommendations for building professionals and homeowners
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The Energy Conservatory’s New Blower Door Kit
Blog Post
TEC did its homework: its new blower door package is a well-engineered and integrated equipment system
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Pete’s Puzzle: Fanciful Fuel
Blog Post
Where did the water and blue-green staining on this fireplace support column come from?
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
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