Welcome to the quiz portion of Measuring Energy Use in Buildings: Do Our Metrics Really Add Up?.

Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:


1. Explain the differences between site energy, source energy, and energy cost.
2. Summarize three ways in which source energy can... Read more

As with window and glazing products, the energy performance of skylights and roof windows varies greatly among different products and should be carefully considered.

BuildingGreen-Approved Skylights

BuildingGreen approves products that feature advanced thermally broken frames that dramatically reduce thermal bridging and improve... Read more

This just in from Liz York at CDC: There's a webinar on Friday 11/2 at 3-4 ET on Building Design and Pandemics. For those who signed the petition to WHO urging action on aerosol emissions and have been following the ups and downs of those advisories, this is an especially welcome chance to hear from experts and ask questions. 

Centers... Read more

Hi folks,

We're kicking off a new way for us to collaborate as a network: monthly web-based conference calls. The first one will be on Friday, Nov 15 at 1:00 eastern time. The topic will be "Sustainability and the Small Firm: Practices in Transition" -- which is the name of the proposal James has submitted (and gotten first-round... Read more

Hello Sustainability Leaders,

Our next First Friday Fika* is tomorrow -- Friday, September 1st at 11am ET (8am PT). We'll meet on Zoom for some lightly structured coffee-chat time. This includes both facilitated sharing and open conversation about the topics you're interested in at the moment. Any Peer Network member who wants to say hi... Read more

All, today is the day I had committed to sending out the DRAFT request to equipment manufacturers of what is needed for full electrification.  I apologize that I didn't have time or focus to get my thoughts together till now (I had intended to share this with Chris and others prior to sending to the full group, but just didn't get my thoughts... Read more

Beginning this year, Miller Hull will not only continue to quantify the upfront embodied carbon of every project we finish through construction, but now purchase third-party certified carbon offsets equivalent to one-third of the project’s impact. Great design is no longer enough - we must take responsibility for our architectural impact in the... Read more

Hello good people and fabulous troublemakers,

PFAS is in everything. In May, the NY Times published an article about this, along with the governments work to remove it from drinking water. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/10/climate/six-things-to-know-about-forever-chemicals.html

As you may know, a working group has been gathering... Read more

Currently, the BIT User site is fully accessible without having to log in (unless you want to edit or add content, of course). The time has come, however, to start restricting access only to logged-in users.

Which sections will be freely visible, and which will be visible only to registered users? Here's what I recall from our earlier... Read more

Does anyone know about temporary flushout equipment that could be used to augment a building's systems to get additional CFM of OA during construction?  For our non-laboratory type projects the flushout period ends up being too long, especially in either humid summers or frigid winters (Pennsylvania).

Hoping that some of you on either... Read more

Hi Sages,

We had a great conversation in yesterday's Sages meeting. We took the long list of ideas that we brainstormed last month and in our March poll when thinking about what we could/should focus on as a group and we did some refining and prioritizing using dot-voting in Miro (once we got the voting technology figured out!). Notes... Read more

Extremely proud to say that the just-announced winner of the international 'Next Generation Facade' design competition is a team led by the 2017-18 EDR Research Fellow, Liz McCormick.   The facade normally separates inside from outside. What if the 'facade' was a place you occupied, where you worked? What if different parts of the facade... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Deep Material Vetting (That Won't Chew Through Your Design Budget).

Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:


1. Align product vetting with goals that aim to mitigate occupant exposure and environmental toxicity.
2. Foster partnerships with... Read more

Carpet cushion may emit VOCs or contain halogenated flame retardants that can slough off in dust.

BuildingGreen-Approved Carpet Cushions

BuildingGreen approves carpet backing made from natural materials as well as synthetic commercial products that meet the Carpet and Rug  Institute’s Green Label standards.

... Read more

Hello everyone. I am seeking some guidance on crafting an arguement for why my firm should support a change to the Washington State Energy Code which would mandate electric heat pumps for commercial builidngs.  AIA WA is working on the state commercial energy code update under consideration this spring.  We have been invited to sign on to an... Read more

Greetings AEC Sustainability Leaders -

This is an update on where we stand with the BBB letter. In addition to posting this to the AEC SDL (Green Gurus) Forum, we are sending the same message to all current signatories by email to make sure everyone is notified. Apologies for putting two items in your inboxes!

First, please read... Read more