Design Process
Parent
Design Process
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Passive Survivability: A New Design Criterion for Buildings
Feature
Buildings and their occupants are vulnerable to threats ranging from storms and rising sea levels to accidents and terrorism. In this feature article, EBN describes how to design and construct buildings to maintain livable conditions in the event of extended power outages or loss of heating fuel or water.
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Measurement and Verification: Monitoring Building Systems for Optimal Performance
Feature
Tracking the performance of a building's mechanical and electrical systems is essential for energy savings that persist over time. In this article, EBN explores measurement and verification and explains why demand for these systems is growing. We also explain the LEED® Rating System's evolving treatment of M&V.
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Biophilia in Practice: Buildings that Connect People with Nature
Feature
Biophilia, or human beings' inherent love for nature, has been called "the missing link in sustainable design." EBN's Alex Wilson helps readers understand biophilia, describes why it is important relative to building design, and presents specific design strategies for bringing people closer to nature.
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Greening Your Electricity
Feature
Many businesses and homeowners are choosing to buy green power, including renewable energy credits (RECs). This article examines the environmental benefits of green power, including on-site renewables, what REC buyers should know about their purchases, and investing in energy conservation.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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How "Smart" Vapor Retarders Work
Explainer
Vapor retarders are supposed to keep our buildings dry, but they sometimes keep them wet instead. Enter the "smart" vapor retarder.
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Sustainability: Too Much or Not Enough?
Explainer
The drive toward sustainable design is a long one. Are we there yet?
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CO2 and Other Greenhouse Gases
Explainer
The family of greenhouse gases extends beyond CO2, with each gas contributing to global warming to some degree.
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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.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Prize-Winning LED Outdoor Area Light
Product Review
EvoLucia's SCH cobra head uses the company's "Aimed Optics" technology to direct light from the LEDs onto an even pattern on the ground, maximizing the efficacy of the light.
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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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MicroBlend: A Green Revolution in Paint Distribution
Product Review
MicroBlend Technologies' low-VOC latex paints are made onsite, reducing the environmental impacts caused by the paint supply chain.
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Choosing the Right Hygrothermal Modeling Tool
Product Review
From the free hygIRC software to an expanding suite of WUFI applications, the hygrothermal modeling world has many options to offer.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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UNEP Launches Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative
News Analysis
The United Nations Environment Program has launched a new initiative to limit the environmental impact of the global building sector.
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Cascadia POE Shows Encouraging Results
News Analysis
A new post-occupancy evaluation shows how LEED® buildings in the Pacific Northwest are performing in terms of energy use, water use, and occupant satisfaction.
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U.S. Mayors Call for Climate-Neutral Buildings
News Analysis
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has called for all new buildings and major renovation projects to be climate neutral by 2030, in a resolution adopted at its June 2006 meeting.
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Clinton, Large Cities Group, Act on Global Warming
News Analysis
Former President Bill Clinton recently launched the Clinton Climate Initiative, which includes a partnership aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions with an international group of major cities and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Bringing Water Back into the Discussion
Op-Ed
Most Americans treat freshwater as if it were limitless and free, even as water shortage is becoming a reality in many areas of the United States. But there are many cost-effective ways to reduce that consumption.
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BuildingGreen Partners with Taunton Press
Op-Ed
BuildingGreen, publisher of Environmental Building News, announces a partnership with Taunton Press, publisher of Fine Homebuilding.
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Incorporate Passive Survivability into Building Codes
Op-Ed
Voluntary programs for incorporating passive survivability into designs will not go far enough, fast enough-it's time to use building codes to require these design features in our residential buildings.
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Readers Respond to Taunton Partnership
Op-Ed
Readers congratulate BuildingGreen on its partnership with Taunton Press, while discussing some concerns.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Integrative Process: Pathways to Performance and Regeneration
Spotlight Report
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ESG Deep Dive: A Virtual Roundtable
Webcast
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs and reporting platforms are changing how companies do business—including how they think about their building portfolios. These programs, along with emerging public policy, are driving more and more organizations toward decarbonization and other sustainable development goals.
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On-demand Webinar- The Integrative Process: A Virtual Roundtable
Webcast
This intermediate-level webinar is for people who know something about the integrative process and are ready to deepen and broaden their knowledge and practice—and perhaps even change their firm's culture.
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The Missing Embodied Carbon Link: Construction
Spotlight Report
Just For Fun
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