Comfort
Chartwell School puts students first with an emphasis on natural daylighting and other passive comfort strategies.
A focus on comfort in building design means a focus on people and their ability to work, learn, and heal. The connection between thermal, acoustical, and other types of comfort and productivity in the workplace is well established.
Because of this, investing in the comfort of occupants is one of the most cost-effective green design strategies. It’s also just common sense: buildings aren’t here for their own sake; they’re here for us.
Comfort
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
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Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
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Natural Ventilation: The Nine Biggest Obstacles and How Project Teams Are Beating Them
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Designers are reinventing the art and science of passive comfort control even where climate and culture favor mechanical systems.
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Finding Furniture Without Toxic Flame Retardants
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Flame retardants in upholstered furniture are easier to avoid under new rules, but they’re not gone. Here’s how to navigate the changing landscape.
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What Makes the Building Envelope Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Thermal & Moisture Protection Products
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From insulation to flashing tape to cladding, we look at the attributes of the greenest building envelope products.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Building Products and Health: A Look at Risk vs. Hazard
Explainer
Use of "hazard avoidance" versus "risk assessment" for understanding toxicity of building materials is hotly debated. Why, and is there a common-sense answer?
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Post-Occupancy Evaluations: Ignorance Isn't Bliss
Explainer
POEs tell you everything you ever wanted to know about your buildings. Don't be afraid to ask.
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Buffering Humidity with Interior Finishes
Explainer
The relative humidity of indoor air often fluctuates. Interior finishes can help moderate those changes, improving comfort and IAQ as well as saving energy.
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Is Particleboard Deadly? Formaldehyde Emissions Explained
Explainer
Formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products will soon be strictly regulated in the U.S., but questions remain.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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High-Efficiency, Variable-Speed Pumps from Wilo and Grundfos
Product Review
Advanced, variable-speed, "smart" pumps from the German company Wilo and the Danish company Grundfos offer significant energy savings for hydronic heating systems and other circulation systems.
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BioPCM: Finally, a Low-Cost, Practical Phase-Change Material
Product Review
A sea change for phase-change materials? BioPCM brings phase change into the 21st century with biobased mats.
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Measuring Drywall Against Environmental Standards
Product Review
Drywall is one of the most ubiquitous building materials. A new UL standard aims to reduce its energy impact and toxicity in landfills.
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Energy Benefits of Temperfect Chair Take Backseat to Comfort
Product Review
Like being in the hot seat? This office chair provides comfort with less energy than a space heater.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Make Your Buildings WELL: A New Design Standard for Health
News Analysis
A new building standard applies wellness research to increase the focus on health in homes, hotels, and commercial buildings.
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I'm Feeling Healthy: Google Gives $3 Million for Toxicity R&D
News Analysis
Google shares its wealth and expertise to support healthy building materials.
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Study: Learning Can Be Harmed by Classroom Design
News Analysis
A new study from England identifies six design parameters with significant impacts on student performance.
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LEED Buildings Still Average in Occupant Satisfaction
News Analysis
Early versions of LEED pull ahead in air quality but lose ground with inadequate lighting, resulting in a tie with non-LEED buildings for overall workplace happiness.
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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