Product Review
The company's promotional material is the epitome of environmentally friendly packaging—like a Ben & Jerry's annual report. The article reprints sent were even bound in a jacket made from corrugated cardboard. So we were quite intrigued by the product. Syndecrete™ is a lightweight, pre-cast,... Read more
News Analysis
EBN Advisory Board member Mike Nicklas led an international delegation of renewable energy experts in promoting sustainable energy at the Earth Summit last month. He and others were negotiating for inclusion of renewable energy and energy conservation measures into agreements being worked out for the United Nations... Read more
News Brief
At first glance,
An Environmental Handbook for Florida Contractors looks like it deals only with the environmental regulations that Florida contractors must contend with. And, indeed, the Handbook describes in detail the requirements for complying with regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. But the book goes much further,... Read more
News Analysis
The City of Austin’s Green Builder Program was one of 12 award recipients in the United National Local Government Honours Programme at the Earth Summit in Rio, and the only winner from the United States. “The purpose of the Honours Programme is to recognize innovative local approaches to... Read more
Feature
Susan Maxman is the first AIA president to make sustainable design a priority.
Q.Where would you say architects as a group stand on environmental issues?
A.Architects tend to be reactive rather than proactive. It is important that we take the lead on these environmental issues. The architecture schools in particular tend to be conservative. They just aren’t... Read more
Feature
Ozone depletion and global warming are two of our most serious environmental problems—and foam insulation materials containing CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute significantly to both of these problems. The environmentally concerned builder or designer should make it a highest priority to avoid them. Even many of the non-CFC alternatives... Read more
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
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
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
Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
THIS WEBINAR PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
Live webinar approved for 1 AIA LU and 1 GBCI CE hour. Each person intending to earn CEU credits must purchase their own seat.
Why high-performance assemblies? And why now? Today we demand better thermal performance from our building assemblies than... Read more
Forum topic
Hi All,
Structure Tone just released their annual Sustainability, Resiliency, and Wellness Report.
Download a copy here. https://structuretone.com/sustainability/
I’m curious what people think.
Forum topic
I have a request from an Architecture firm to do a Fitwel Core and Shell certification. I don't do that type of thing - anybody out there interested in this type of work?
Respond here or just email at me annehicksharney@gmail.com.
Basic page
Building Green is the longest continuous running green building publication in the world. Its originator, West River Communications, was founded in 1985 as “a company that would translate technical information on energy efficiency and other environmental topics for the public and building... Read more
Forum topic
I'm pleased to announce that the AIA Board of Directors has unanimously adopted the A&D Materials Pledge as the AIA Materials Pledge!!!!! The support of so many of you was a key factor in making it so easy for the AIA Board to adopt The Pledge. The Materials Pledge now has 90 signatory firms, including many of yours. Thank you all. Now,... Read more
Forum topic
Hi Green Gurus,
We have recently had a beloved member of the HKS DesignGreen team relocate to Toronto due to work visa challenges in the US. Our loss could be your gain if you have an office in Toronto! We are hoping to collect a list of leads for him once the dust settles on his move and he begins his job hunt. If you have any... Read more
Forum topic
I am looking for example specifications for low carbon concrete to have our structural engineer(s) review and incorporate. Does anyone have good examples or link(s) to good examples?
Thanks,
Mark
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Raze or Retrofit? Six Extraordinary Answers to an Everyday Question.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand how the embodied impacts of renovation compare to those for new construction.
2. Provide three reasons why building... Read more
Forum topic
I invite you to submit a speaker proposal for Gulf Coast Green and plan to join us at the Houston Zoo on March 22, 2024. It's always an inspiring event!
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
After 17 successful years, Gulf Coast Green has proven to be the leading green building conference in the Gulf Coast region. In addition to a lineup of... Read more
Forum topic
Apologies if some of you are seeing this for the second time - on behalf of Frances Yang, Mike Gryniuk and the Carbon Leadership Forum, consider signing on in support of the SE 2050 Challenge for structural engineers. (Yes, there is an option to sign on as a non-structural engineer, in support of the program.)
http://... Read more

