We're now mid-way through Summer Summit season! One of the “good problem to have” challenges we’ve had at recent SDL Summits has been too many great five-minute presentations. It’s hard to find time for them all. This year, since we’ll be online anyway, we can get a jump on that by starting the five-minute presentations early in addition to... Read more

Please help share the latest COTE news, with reports from the AIA Conference, a letter from chair Lori Ferriss, Michelle Amt's review of the 2023 Top Ten winners, and more.

**Be sure to make a note**
The COTE Top Ten Awards cycle has changed. The adjusted timeline is already upon us: The 2024 awards call opens on August 8, and... Read more

Hi All,

After this long winter, who is up for some fierce creativity and friendly competition in your own offices or between your companies?  What do you think of a location agnostic, virtual, Sustainability Scavenger Hunt from Earth Day to Mother's (earth) Day?

We've done the hard work for you. Join in on the fun and save your... Read more

SDL folks,

I wanted to make sure that you all saw that the call for presentations is open for AIA Houston’s Gulf Coast Green conference.  GCG is the leading sustainable design conference in the region and has historically had some great participation from this group.  The theme this year is Sustainability + Technology.  Details here:... Read more

Hi all, hope you're keeping safe and healthy. I'm thinking about protocols to put in place on jobsites related to COVID-19 in addition to our IAQ plans. Wondering if anyone's company has started to layout specific protocols, PPE, etc. and is willing to share.

What got me thinking was this article from Prof. Joe Allen at Harvard about... Read more

Pint-flush and non-water urinals can save tens of thousands of gallons of potable water per year. A single non-water-using urinal can save more than 10,000 gallons of water per year compared with the U.S. EPA standard of 1.0 gallon per flush (gpf).

When older 3.0 gpf urinals are replaced, the savings can be as great as 50,000 gallons... Read more

Hello SCL,

We've heard you ask for more ways to connect with your SCL peers. So, we are happy to announce that we will now be holding bi-monthly calls where the entire SCL network is invited. These calls will be limted to SCL members (with the exception of guest speakers) so please don't share the information with colleagues. 

The... Read more

Biophilic design features are not just aesthetically pleasing; researchers have found that patients heal faster, workers are more productive, and children learn better when more elements of nature are present.

And yet there are still very few projects developed today that inspire a connection to life and the natural world. Some people... Read more

Hi: Is anyone individually or at a firm level offsetting their travel through Certified Emissions Reduction (CER) or Verified Emissions Reduction (VER) credits? I'm trying to research a valid approach to doing this and running into a few different options - some even with apps. I'd appreciate any wisdom from this great group.

Thanks.... Read more

I'm curious who in this group has used ASHRAE Standard 209-2018, Energy Simulation Aided Design for Buildings except Low Rise Residential Buildings?

We've used it internally (minimally) as a reference to help better communicate the goals and activities involved with energy modeling at various phases of design. But it seems like there's... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of In-House Daylight Modeling.

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


1. Explain general daylighting theory and design.
2. Simulate towards better daylighting design.
3. Demonstrate how daylight modeling is used in practice.
4.... Read more

I’m working on a hospitality project with a large scale farm to table operation, and I am concern about land space and agricultural practices. I'm looking for someone that can advise us on how to establish good agricultural planning and practices. The project is in Utah.

Has anyone work with consultants or academic group focus on this?... Read more

Has anyone done any museums in which they hired an independent QA/QC specialist? Or perhaps, your firm offers QA/QC services and experise in this area? If so, could you please reach out to me? I'm wondering what firm you used and what your experience was. Was it worth the fee?

This just in from AIA Leadership:

https://www.aia.org/pages/6522198-aia-statement-on-scotus-decision-in-west-v

Please share this with your networks.

Thanks.

Mary Ann

Dear SDL,

After almost 12 years at Sasaki, I have finally decided to leave for a path slightly-less-traveled. My own development project in Boston (passive house, ZNE condos) is in construction and I will be focusing my attention on that over the course of this year, and then hoping to continue doing similar integrated... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation!

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


Good morning:

I am hoping someone can point me in the direction of any higher ed campus standards or policies focused on plug load management, occupant behavior related to energy, etc. I'm especially interested in any examples of communications to faculty or students encouraging behaviors that reduce energy consumption. Thanks!