Design Process
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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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Climate Change Dominates Greenbuild Conference Agenda
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With several announcements at the 2006 Greenbuild conference in Denver, the U.S. Green Building Council signaled that it would use its LEED Rating System to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by tightening LEED requirements and by increasing the number of buildings designed to LEED standards.
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Cradle to Cradle Certification: A Peek Inside MBDC's Black Box
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Cradle to Cradle is a multiple-attribute product certification program based on the philosophy of architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, and the work of their company, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). While MBDC's consulting services are driving breakthroughs in green manufacturing, the certification program lacks some of the comprehensiveness and transparency that are increasingly expected in the green certification market.
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Building Information Modeling and Green Design
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Building information modeling (BIM) is a design process that allows real-time feedback on design decisions and supports collaboration between disciplines. New interoperability between BIM software and building analysis tools are bringing the design process to a new level of sophistication.
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Prefabricating Green: Building Environmentally Friendly Houses Off Site
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Prefabricated housing offers several potential environmental benefits, including reduced transportation impacts, reduced waste, and quality control for better durability and performance. Aside from a few industry leaders, however, most manufacturers do not take full advantage of those efficiencies to create affordable high-performance houses.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Ecosystem Services
Explainer
Functions performed by intact ecosystems provide essential support for human life, but how do we quantify their value?
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Permaculture for Urban Design
Explainer
Permaculture promotes food production and nurtures ecological systems in both rural and urban environments.
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Biophilic Design: Indulging Our Love of Life
Explainer
New biophilia metrics pin down what it means to engage the love of nature through design.
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Beyond Accessible: Universal Design for Green Buildings
Explainer
By planning ahead for all ages and abilities, designers reduce the need for renovations and may extend building service life.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Solar Farms Offer Renewable Power for the Rest of Us
Product Review
Community solar allows customers with site limitations to purchase commercial-quality photovoltaic systems—and the Clean Energy Collective is making it easier.
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Non-Hazardous Deep-Cycle Batteries for On or Off the Grid
Product Review
Aquion offers high-performance “saltwater” energy storage without lead, sulfuric acid, or flammable lithium salts.
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Demountable Walls: Here to Redeem the Open Office
Product Review
These movable partitions preserve the flexibility of an open office and provide the acoustical privacy office workers say they want.
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Unmilled Timber Frames Go High Tech, Replacing Steel
Product Review
Keep the beauty of round logs, and get more strength from an engineered wood structure, promises Wisconsin-based company WholeTrees.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Sustainable Projects Increase Firm Profits
News Analysis
Despite widespread beliefs to the contrary, sustainable building projects are more profitable than conventional projects-according to one internal study by HOK.
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California Combats Climate Change
News Analysis
The California legislature has passed legislation that could result in a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases in the state, as well as a greenhouse gas emissions performance standard for electricity generation.
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WTC Going for Gold
News Analysis
Three new World Trade Center towers to be built in New York City will pursue LEED Gold certification.
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TimberSIL in Trouble
News Analysis
The company behind TimberSIL, a nontoxic treated wood product, is facing a lawsuit from one of its partners.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Get Ready for Fuel Switching
Op-Ed
As the cost of heating fuel rises, utilities must prepare for increased demand as homeowners switch to cheaper electric-resistance heat.
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Sustainable Design Leaders Explore Their Profession
Op-Ed
With BuildingGreen's help, a group of sustainable design directors met in Colorado Springs to discuss this growing profession.
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Making Indoor Plants Safe for Birds
Op-Ed
Indoor plants have many benefits, but may confuse birds, causing them to fly into windows.
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Remembering Greg Franta
Op-Ed
Greg Franta, FAIA, not only inspired green builders, he made them laugh.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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The Missing Embodied Carbon Link: Construction
Feature
Some researchers say construction emissions could account for as much as 30% of a project’s embodied carbon. What can be done about it?
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Keeping PFAS Forever Chemicals out of Building Products
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to negative health and environmental impacts. Getting them out of our building products is going to require work.
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Keeping PFAS Forever Chemicals out of Building Products
Spotlight Report
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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part One: Embodied Carbon
Spotlight Report
Just For Fun
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