I see that the Architect 50 questions this year are organized around AIA 2030 Commitment reporting. I have a question about how people are answering them. The DDX reports have percentages that are by GSF. Are people using this percentage to answer the questions? Or are you calculating the percentage based on number of projects out of total... Read more

Wood decking requires potentially hazardous preservatives and stains, and plastic waste is a significant environmental problem.

BuildingGreen-Approved Decking

Composite decking approved by BuildingGreen has at least 50% total recycled content. For plastic decking, post-consumer content has to be greater than 50%.

Health and... Read more

Hi all - Reflecting on the COTE Top Ten Awards and Lloyd Alter's recent article  https://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/keep-aiacotes-its-time-scrap-aia-awards.html, I am curious how many local/state AIA awards programs have incorporated sustainability reporting metrics as a requirement for all awards submissions, not just for categories... Read more

Jennifer is part of the Peer Networks team at BuildingGreen. Her Connections Catalyst role for the Sustainability Leaders networks includes events planning and bringing in new members.

Jennifer’s experience before BuildingGreen includes two years working with AmeriCorps Cape Cod on outdoor environmental projects; a year teaching... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of The Four Core Issues to Tackle for Resilient Design (And the Programs That Can Help).

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


1. Use site-specific hazard analysis to evaluate a project’s resiliency demands.
2. Use climate change data to... Read more

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:

Hello Sustainable Construction Leaders, 

Mark your calendars! The next quarterly SCL call will be Wednesday, July 28th, 3pm ET (noon PT) and will focus on ESG.

Check in with three contractors at varying levels of development in their ESG programs. Julia Gisewite from Turner Construction, Jennifer Taranto from STO Building Group,... Read more

How much does every designer need to know? How to support that basic literacy?

Guiding Questions:

My company is looking for ways to introduce and train employees on jobsite recycling and composting. There is definitely a culture shift that needs to change in order for it to happen, but we are looking for any success stories to help us on our journey.

1) Has anyone been successful in setting up recycling/composting programs for... Read more

Is EV100 on your radars? We're reviewing our company leases and aleady have employee free access to EV charging at our office and jobsites by request (if technically feasible).

"With businesses owning over half of all new registered vehicles on the road, it is crucial that companies lead the shift to electric vehicles." Does your role in... Read more

Following my retirement from BuildingGreen, I’m also looking to retire from the nonprofit Resilient Design Institute, which I’ve been leading since 2012. My default plan is to sunset the organization in the fall of 2024, but I wanted to offer the idea of someone (or multiple people) taking over the organization.

RDI is incorporated as a... 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

Hello Green Gurus! 

We are planning a virtual Show & Tell and Happy Hour for Oct. 30th 7pm - 9pm ET (4pm - 6pm PT) with a Halloween theme, bring your best costumes! We will hold presentations (virtually of course!) for about the first 1 hour and 20 minutes and then will transition to some fun Happy Hour festivities, sharing, and... Read more

Something we seem to be seeing a lot in our market recently are projects split into multiple packages - footing / foundation, C&S, and then later a TI package of CD's... mostly in an effort to speed up permitting and construction schedules. (Oftentimes with a contractor on board for a design / build approach). 

My question to the... Read more

Folks, would love to hear what software you're for in-house daylighting/energy performance modeling at the SD/DD level. My IT folks have been pushing us to try out Autodesk's Insight again after a not so impressive pilot we did a few years ago. Has it gotten better? Was it us? What programs do you feel good about? Which ones really make you mad... Read more