Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, has more than 30 years of experience, focusing on high-quality design imbued with a solid technical and sustainable foundation. At Long Green Specs, she provides sustainability-focused construction specifications and building material expertise to architectural firms across the country. She was chair of the AIA... Read more

Hello Sustainable Advising Leaders,

Happy 2022! Here's your reminder that this network's first monthly call of the year is next Tuesday, January 25 at 3pm ET. Zoom call information is below.

All members of the network are welcome! You can see the agenda here. Here's a quick preview:

Will you be at Greenbuild in Chicago? Stop by BuildingGreen/LEEDuser booth #1522 for informal conversations with guest experts and BuildingGreen editors. You are encouraged to RSVP and add the meet-ups to your calendar, but not registration is not required.

WEDNESDAY NOV. 14

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Dan Winter, Neil... Read more

Hi, and welcome to the Sustainable MEP Leaders Peer Network! 

This online forum is one of the ways we can stay connected and support each other as we collaborate to help MEP design achieve its highest potential as an element of sustainable and regenerative buildings. Please introduce yourself with a little about where you work, what you'... Read more

Hey all,

We have a NAVFAC project going into construction that has indicated that they'd like to hire someone to help them with the construction tracking aspects of the UFC requirements, including the Guiding Principles Assessment (GPA) program through GBCI. We're on the design side, so cannot offer these services on our own project;... Read more

Following the summer SDL summit - we formed a spinoff user group called "Carbon Sync" to discuss Life Cycle and Carbon Assessment tools like Tally and Athena.  We've had three successful calls with folks sharing a couple 5-minute presentations about various studies and explorations.  We have a mix of experience levels - but are collaborating... Read more

Hello all,

We are looking at ways we can use our specs to reduce toxicity in projects and one step towards that goal may be to require RoHS compliant lighting, switches, alarms, meters, etc., as required by the Small Electrical Components exception in the Living Building Challenge. Based on LBC projects I have been involved with, it... Read more

Virgin materials can come with major environmental impacts from mining, petroleum extraction, or irresponsible logging practices.

BuildingGreen-Approved Site Furnishings

All approved products contain some post-consumer recycled content, with several boasting 90%–100% overall recycled material. Wood products are responsibly sourced... Read more

I'm so excited to share that the call for submissions is now open for 16cubits, a design festival and competition for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, to take place at Berkeley’s Urban Adamah in October 2024.

Please share with anyone you think might be interested! Our hope is to create a forum for builders, designers, and architects to... Read more

Hi folks, 

For those who have already been involved, this is a friendly reminder that our next Sustainable MEP Leaders call is Monday the 29th at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Here is the Zoom link to join, and here is the agenda for the call.

We have also had a couple of new people join the network – welcome to Cindy Cogil and Sergio... Read more

Gypsum is calcium sulfate dehydrate, which is mined or produced as a byproduct of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) from coal-fired power plants. FGD gypsum may contain trace contaminants from coal processing, but not enough to represent a hazard to users. Years ago, some imported products created indoor air quality problems that required... Read more

There is a ton of stuff being posted about this, so this is definitely an area where it's nice to have had someone going through it and selecting the best. Thanks for doing that, Jen!

- These tips from 350.org have a great focus on connecting people and using different techniques. Their sample retreat shows how some of it might look in... Read more

Hi MEP Leaders,

Just a reminder that our monthly meeting is next Tuesday, May 9th, at 2:00pm ET. All SMEPL network members are invited to join!

You can view the agenda here, and the Zoom info is below.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83598691786?pwd=MjI2S01yZUJRSG4zcXRBNWtPbE5RZz09

Meeting ID: 835... Read more

Hello, 

Does anyone have experience with USGBC's Green Training Pilot Credit, and/or use of an innovation credit for subcontractor training? I was going to propose training to our subs on becoming an EnviroStars Businesses (WA Green Business Program) and also tie in the Sustainable Contractor's Commitment/project goals.

Since... Read more

Hey, all. Confirming the forum index on the front side of the pay wall will be searchable. Thanks.

Welcome to the quiz portion of Three Imperatives to Create the Future of Green Building.

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


1. Explain why it's relevant to teach cross-disciplinary skills in the green building industry.
2. Detail the reasons for encouraging... Read more

Does anyone know of a source for finding the operational solid waste generated by typical building/use types (weight/sf)? I couldn't find anything on LEED, True, or EPA. I found this table but isn't by sq ft for many of hte uses. Waste Generated by Industry and Building Type (wastecare.com)