Design Strategies
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Design Strategies
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Building for People: Integrating Social Justice into Green Design
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Social justice is already a part of green building. Making it a conscious part of the decision-making process, however, requires a new paradigm.
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Making Your Own Electricity: Onsite Photovoltaic Systems
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Although photovoltaic systems have a long payback period, generous incentives and tax credits can make the systems attractive for building owners interested in reducing their carbon footprint.
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Rethinking the All-Glass Building
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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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The Problem with Net-Zero Buildings (and the Case for Net-Zero Neighborhoods)
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It can be tough to make an individual building into a zero energy building, while working at the community scale can offer up opportunities for energy efficiency and cost-effective renewable energy generation.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Biomimicry: Designing Conditions Conducive to Life
Explainer
Biomimicry offers a vitalizing framework for reconnecting designers to nature and driving innovation.
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Acoustic Ecology: Designing for the Ear
Explainer
By engaging our sense of hearing, and our sonological competence, design can improve our ability to listen to and know the places we inhabit.
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Glazing Performance Metrics
Explainer
A few key metrics are important for understanding the thermal performance of glazing units used in curtainwalls and windows.
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Understanding Emission Scopes in the GHG Protocol
Explainer
The GHG Protocol’s three emission scopes acknowledge the complexities of supply and demand while also encouraging sector-wide alignment, consistent transparency, and support for science-based decarbonization targets.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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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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The Best Indoor LED Luminaires of 2016
Product Review
Winners of an annual DOE competition represent some of the best LED lighting for decorative pendants, downlights, and healthcare.
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SIREWALL: The Next Generation of Earthen Walls
Product Review
Made from local earth, rebar, and polyiso, SIREWALL rammed earth walls are beautiful, durable, and are stronger than concrete with less portland cement.
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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.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Net-Zero Certification Spins Off from Living Building Challenge
News Analysis
International Living Future Institute launches net-zero energy certification program.
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Air Dryer Claims Lower Impact Than Paper Towels
News Analysis
If you thought paper towels were a better option than the hand dryer, think again.
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Architects Fight Obesity Epidemic Through "Active Design"
News Analysis
The built environment is responsible for childhood obesity, but designers are trying to change that.
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Healing Gardens Make Hospital Stays a Walk in the Park
News Analysis
Healing gardens make hospitals more humane and contribute to healing and sustainable design-as well as the facility's bottom line.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Do Solar Panels Need to be Cleaned?
Blog Post
The accumulation of dust, pollen, and bird droppings affects the energy production of a PV array. This blog post looks into how important cleaning of solar panels really is.
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R-10 Vacuum-Insulated Glazing
Blog Post
The technological challenges for high performance, vacuum-insulated glazing may have finally been surpassed, but the results are still under wraps.
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Leveraging Thermal Comfort to Achieve High Performance
Blog Post
Can buildings be both comfortable and energy efficient? The Kendeda Building shows how the two can go hand in hand.
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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