OVERVIEW
New construction projects include design and construction of new buildings, and major renovations of existing ones. As defined by major programs like LEED, which has a rating system dedicated to new construction (LEED-NC), a major renovation involves major HVAC renovation, significant envelope modifications, and major interior rehabilitation.
In line with the LEED-NC emphasis, new construction often refers to new commercial office buildings, but many other commercial occupancy types can fall under this category, including hotels, mid- and high-rise residential, and institutional buildings such as libraries and schools.
Sustainability in new construction typically means a range of considerations:
-
siting (e.g., locating near public transit, using previously developed land)
-
water efficiency
-
energy efficiency
-
sustainable and healthy materials
-
construction waste management
- indoor environmental quality
IN-DEPTH
Filter results:
- Blog Post (2) Apply Blog Post filter
- Feature Article (24) Apply Feature Article filter
- Feature Short (4) Apply Feature Short filter
- News Analysis (4) Apply News Analysis filter
- News Brief (3) Apply News Brief filter
- Primer (1) Apply Primer filter
- Product Review (2) Apply Product Review filter
- Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars (1) Apply Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars filter
- Spotlight Report (1) Apply Spotlight Report filter
-
Green Design: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
December 2, 2013Feature Article
Beauty, place-making, and even love are motivating many green designers, who see these values complementing core sustainability tenets.
-
Resilient Design: 7 Lessons from Early Adopters
November 1, 2013Feature Article
As storms reveal weaknesses in our built environment, some project teams have adopted more robust, durable principles.
-
Designing for the Next Century's Weather
September 30, 2013Feature Article
How do you create a climate-responsive building in a changing climate? Brand new modeling techniques are helping us figure it out.
-
Engineering a Wood Revolution
July 28, 2013Feature Article
Engineered wood products are challenging concrete and steel in structural applications while proffering a lower environmental footprint.
-
Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment: Taking the Measure of a Green Building
April 29, 2013Feature Article
Why we will never understand the true impact of our buildings-and how we should try to anyway
-
Energy Modeling: Early and Often
March 1, 2013Feature Article
For the biggest energy and cost savings, model early in design and model often, say the experts.
-
Verifying Performance with Building Enclosure Commissioning
November 29, 2012Feature Article
For a lot less than the cost of a lawsuit, BECx uses collaboration, design-to-occupancy reviews, and testing to ensure quality and high performance.
-
The Hidden Science of High-Performance Building Assemblies
October 26, 2012Feature Article
Any four walls and a roof make an enclosure, but for efficiency, comfort, and durability, those elements have to be meticulously designed and installed.
-
Doing Daylighting Right
March 26, 2012Feature Article
Harvesting daylight is a popular way to save energy and promote productivity. But getting it wrong is all too easy-and can have the opposite effects.
-
Re-Framing Sustainability: Green Structural Engineering
March 30, 2011Feature Article
Want to design the greenest building possible? Get a handle on the best structural options available to you, and invite a creative structural engineer to join your team.
