I have been asked to recommend folks to join the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence.  The AIA Framework for Design Excellence is basically the top ten toolkit, that has been rebranded by the AIA and is forming the backbone of much of the policy that the AIA is currently setting.

From the AIA's website:

SmithGroup is hosting Metropolis Magazine for a “Think Tank Event on Waterfront Redevelopment and Urban Resilience”.   While the event is in our office, if you're not in DC, it will also be broadcast live on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/events/1299577320146259/) Feel free to share this invitation with others.  Information about the... Read more

Has anyone done a LEED Homes and a NGBS certification and have insight into the differences, challenges, etc between the two?

Hi folks,

A press release about this just showed up--most of what they're including in their "Clean Construction Declaration" involves reducing embodied carbon in materials, but they're also calling out construction equipment:

"Procure and, when possible, use only zero emission construction machinery from 2025 and require zero... Read more

Upman LaTole

Welcome to the quiz portion of Choosing Insulation: Health and Environmental Considerations – Unit 1.

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


1. Discuss how insulation works.
2. Summarize how insulation performance is measured and reported.
3. Recount the wide... Read more

Does anyone have an opinion of Autocase?    https://autocase.com/

I had not heard of this platform before.  Their website says that some firms in the group are customers / users.   Website does not do a great job of describing exactly what they do.  Is there value?

Thanks,

Allen

Does anyone have any research studies they could share on the effect of construction/renovation noise and activity on employee productivity?  I'm trying to make a case for the measurable negative impacts of having ongoing renovation construction activity in an office environment.  Thanks!

We recently received an email from two high school students in Indianapolis with some great questions about construction waste management. If you're interested in helping these budding SCLers with their research, let me know and I'll send you Gabriela's email address:

__________________________________________________________

... Read more

Good morning. If you're worried  like I am by today's new IPCC Report and would like some helpful explanation I recommend reading climate scientist Zeke Hausfather's lengthy Twitter feed summarizing key aspects with graphics. It's here https://twitter.com/hausfath/status/1424642708291821569?s=21

of course we need to see this as an even... Read more

Hello friends. On a current school project, an abuse resistant wall covering has been proposed as an alternative to our typical MDF wainscot. The proposed product has been used successfully in healthcare, and switching to it will save the project almost $1million, which is no small amount when the project is over budget and 7-figure cost... Read more

Since starting at LPA last fall, the number one question I get from people outside the firm is how we are hitting (2018-2019) or getting so close to hitting the 2030 Commitment goals. 

Here is a chance to see for yourself! LPA is seeking a Sustainable Design Specialist to join our RED team (Research Education Design) - location open to... Read more

Hi Sustainability Leaders,

(Note: this post was edited to correct Jen's affiliation and to add Rob Winstead.) Please join me and the BuildingGreen team in congratulating the Peer Network members of the USGBC 2023 Class of LEED Fellows!

Geoffrey Brock, IPS-Integrated Project Services, SCL

Heather DeGrella, Opsis... Read more

Furnaces heat air that is then distributed through ducting and warm-air registers.

Approved by BuildingGreen

Products approved by BuildingGreen include the highest-efficiency, sealed-combustion furnaces and high-efficiency wood or multi-fuel furnaces. A multi-fuel furnace uses several sources of energy such as wood, wood-pellets,... Read more

Sustainability leadership has requested that you take this quiz to help assess sustainability literacy across the firm. Your own results will be presented to you at the end of the quiz but will not be shared with anyone else. Only aggregated, anonymized results will be available to others.

Please don’t do research to inform your answers... Read more

Hi All -

I have a non-profit project that has a lot of wood structure to it, but the truss suppliers have both said they cannot get FSC wood for the project.

So, looking at the Legal Wood Pilot Credit, I need some help.  Can anyone tell me where i can find the definitions between "legal", "responsible" and "certified" are? (I'm... Read more

BUILDINGGREEN

WELL AP Practice Guide - Site License

BG Premium Monthly Membership-Individual (auto-renewing)

BG Premium Yearly Membership-Individual (auto-renewing)

... 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