News Analysis
A study published in the June 5, 1992, issue of
Science by researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona suggests that smoke emitted into the atmosphere from human activities may be having a significant effect in counteracting... Read more
News Analysis
EBN Advisory Board member Mike Nicklas led an international delegation of renewable energy experts in promoting sustainable energy at the Earth Summit last month. He and others were negotiating for inclusion of renewable energy and energy conservation measures into agreements being worked out for the United Nations... Read more
Explainer
Product Review
To the best of our knowledge, this product is now being marketed under the name Rauhsaser by Better Wall System of Kenora, ON.
CoverAge is a tacky name for a great product that all remodelers should know about. It is a paintable, textured wallpaper that’s made entirely of recycled paper (at... Read moreNews Brief
Energy Source™ Directory
Life has been a whole lot easier around the office since theEnergy Source Directory arrived. Assembled and published by Iris Communications, this is the most complete and most useful guide to specialized products and materials used in energy-efficient construction that we've seen. The 500-page directory is... Read more
News Brief
Carol Venolia, Publisher/Editor
If “progressive construction” can be defined as pushing the tools and techniques of conventional builders in the direction of less environmental destruction, then Building With Nature’s material goes beyond progressive, into the forefront of visionary thinking about construction. This bimonthly newsletter, now... Read moreExplainer
Feature
Ozone depletion and global warming are two of our most serious environmental problems—and foam insulation materials containing CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute significantly to both of these problems. The environmentally concerned builder or designer should make it a highest priority to avoid them. Even many of the non-CFC alternatives... Read more
News Brief
The American Institute of Architects convention in Boston this past June was the setting for a changing of the guard in the American architectural establishment. The Institute’s first woman president took the reins, the Committee on the Environment became its largest and fastest growing committee, and the first installments of the Environmental... Read more
Feature
Susan Maxman is the first AIA president to make sustainable design a priority.
Q.Where would you say architects as a group stand on environmental issues?
A.Architects tend to be reactive rather than proactive. It is important that we take the lead on these environmental issues. The architecture schools in particular tend to be conservative. They just aren’t... Read more
Op-Ed
Introducing the first issue of our newsletter.
Buildings have a tremendous impact on the environment. In North America, buildings and the building industry account for about 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, 35-40% of ozone depletion, 20-30% of municipal solid waste, vast quantities of natural resource consumption, and dramatic loss of open space each... Read more
Feature
Carefully stake the building site and driveway, remove trees that are within the excavation area or too close, then erect a fence to keep heavy equipment off fragile soils and away from nearby trees.
Protecting trees and the local ecosystem when building on previously unbuilt land is a vitally important—yet often overlooked—part of environmentally responsible construction. Healthy trees and shrubs can reduce a home’s environmental impact and directly benefit homeowners in a number of ways:
•Enhancing comfort by shielding the house... Read more
Forum topic
Hi All,
The SMEPL's Embodied Carbon committee has been hard at work developing a letter that calls for MEP equipment vendors to increase material transparency in their products. As a way of contacting the most widely-used vendors first, we're asking each of you to enter your "Top 3" specified vendors for each of the products listed in... Read more
Product Guide
Engineered wood efficiently utilizes fast-growing, small-diameter trees.
When sourced from responsibly managed forests, engineered wood can store carbon that would otherwise enter the atmosphere, and can replace high-embodied-carbon concrete and steel in some structural applications.
Engineered wood products can also provide a... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Ten Strategies for Growth in a Recession.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the importance of diversifying.
2. Restate the benefits to doing energy-modeling analysis very early in the design process.
3. Discuss how... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
Here is the information for January's Peer Networks Webinar, The AEC Industry is in the Driver's Seat: Strategies to reduce waste & carbon emissions. We hope you will join us!
Register HERE
The AEC Industry is in the Driver's Seat: Strategies to reduce waste & carbon emissions
Thursday,... Read more
Forum topic
Can anyone point me to a (dream?) resource listing effective R-values of various wall assemblies? We are trying to find a cost-effective R-40 wall assembly for a one and two story public middle school targeting net zero energy in Oregon. Referencing Seonhee's "thermal bridging" thread in late April, I used Therm's native drawing feature, but... Read more
Forum topic
Hello SDL Folks, with the 2023 Water Conservation Showcase (WCS) less than a month away we're really looking for help spreading the word. We've got a great lineup (www.waterconservationshowcase.com) and would love any direct emails to your contact lists that you'd be willing to send! Here is a link to the promotional partner toolkit with any... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all,
The USGBC Pacific Region is launching a new award this year that recognizes projects that have aspires to promote health of occupants and surrounding communities. In true USGBC style, this award has not been properly publicized, so they are still looking for submissions. I believe the deadline will be extended to June 7. I... Read more
Forum topic
Sages - see below for what was posted in the SDL forum
seems this topic needs all of you - to guide, critique, move, question
nadav forgive the blend posting but I dont know who sees what, and the SAGES are the bomb on this kind of troublemaking
thoughts all?
PFAS is in everything and you – Please join
Hello... Read more



