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
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
Peer Network Event
Quiz
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
Forum topic
I am looking for examples of adaptive reuse projects that have addressed current or future flooding by elevating floors from the existing condition.
Forum topic
Hi All,
If you have 5 minutes, we would appreciate your input in the Google Spreadsheet (linked below). If you only have 1 minute, feel free to reply to this forum post and list your the typical equipment vendors you spec on projects. :)
We're asking each of you to enter your "Top 3" specified vendors for each of the products... Read more
Forum topic
Hello all,
I am reaching out to this community as SMMA has a job opening for a Sustainable Design Analyst (like many of you recently posting job openings on this forum).
Here is the job posting link: https://smma.applytojob.com/apply/mah0aDkOJ0/Sustainable-Design-Analyst
Please note that this position will support... Read more
Forum topic
Sorry this is last minute but it just came to my mind to share this as I am looking forward to this roundtable which is happenging Wed, July27th from 12-1pm EST.
The Built Environment Plus Women in Green Roundtable is hosting some amazing women in the industry who are working on DEI issues for a panel discussion. The conversation... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Cool Products from the Latest Greenbuild Expo.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe innovative products for HVAC and the building envelope.
2. Describe innovative products for saving water and managing stormwater.
3.... Read more
Forum topic
Dear SDLers,
I wanted to share that Canadian Architectural Professionals declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and Committed to Urgent and Sustained Action. The declaration was launched last Friday as part of a week of events surrounding the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Like others around the world, the week of global... Read more
Forum topic
Hi everyone,
Thank you so much to the SDL members who attended the Summer 2023 Summit! We had an amazing time with you there. A big thanks as well to the attendees who shared 5-minute presentations during the summit.
Below are some of the slides for the presentations. Please note that we have permission from all of these... Read more
Forum topic
Show & Tell Break-out Session: Post Occupancy Evaluations and Occupant Behavior
Presentations:
Preliminary findings from our first year of data collection. Measured results in WELL Stories about visiting our past clients and teaching them about their energy use habits.Forum topic
Well done and rivhly deserved, brother. That makes you a Fellow Squared.
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
Some of you may have heard that the Sustainable Construction Leaders Group has been developing the Contractor’s Commitment, a set of sustainability guidelines for contractors to implement in their companies.
The Contractor’s Commitment will be going live on November 13th with this half-hour webinar introducing... Read more
Forum topic
There has been a lot of discussion re antimicrobials in this group, so here is a pre-release of this month's article on the topic. It's not an extensive feature, but I hope you find it informative.
Brent
Forum topic
There are a number of SDL and other peer network folks talking about a potential casual meet up in association with Living Future 24 (next week in ATL).
In the interest of Julie McCoy-ing this thing into being ...
Who: All y'all ... any Peer Network folks who are in town for LF24 (or local to ATL).
Why: Connecting is... Read more
Product Guide
Conventional asphalt and concrete contribute to excessive stormwater runoff and pollution.
BuildingGreen-Approved Pavements and Pavers
We look for products that improve on the environmental characteristics of asphalt as well as permeable alternatives to concrete. These include:
asphalt and concrete mixes incorporating high... Read more
