Packed with servers running 24 hours a day, data centers are energy hogs by nature. A coalition of public and private entities is pushing the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for a LEED rating system that would deal specifically with data centers. In an effort spearheaded by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and funded by the... Read more

GreenSpec Directory of green building products for this list of the... Read more

EBN May 2008) that rely... Read more

Having chaired the LEED Steering Committee for several years, Scot Horst of 7group is joining the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) full-time as the senior vice president of LEED. In his new position, Horst will continue overseeing the development of the various LEED rating systems and coordinating those efforts with education and... Read more

The Boston company Practical Solar has introduced the first ready-to-go, practical heliostat system for reflecting sunlight into buildings. This sunlight can be used for daylighting of spaces that previously did not have direct solar access and for providing solar heat through a window or skylight. “We harvest sunlight,” says inventor and... Read more

Also called pervious or permeable, porous paving allows rainwater to infiltrate into the ground. Although some porous pavement types are not new, pavements that are engineered to allow infiltration while also withstanding regular vehicle use are a more recent innovation.

Start with the basics. There is an abundance of opportunities, right beneath our noses, for realizing operational savings and environmental benefits at the same time. If there is a “green lining” to the recession (as EBN explored in Jan. 2009), one piece of it may be a renewed focus on low-cost and no-cost green solutions. Experts interviewed... Read more

I get a lot of questions about energy--from relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I think the most common question is about thermostats and whether it makes sense to lower the temperature of your house at night or when you aren't home.

"Doesn't it take more energy to warm the house back up," some ask?

"Do setback or... Read more

Boston.com's regular feature, The Big Picture, presents "news stories in photographs." The March 18th edition is prefaced:

Twice each month, BuildingGreen publishes an email news bulletin with current news and product information briefs. Sign up here — it's free. We will never share or sell your email address, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

On the heels of 100 Abandoned Houses, more like it... but bigger. The website of Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre Photography presents a gallery titled The ruins of Detroit:

I resisted buying a pellet stove for a long time for a number of reasons. First, I would be tied to a fuel source that I don't have control over--and whose price might go up if demand exceeds supply.

Second, pellet stoves don't work without electricity, and I didn't want to risk freezing pipes in the event of a power outage. Third, I... Read more

They found Greg, and his car, yesterday — a month after he mysteriously disappeared. According to the Denver Post, he had slipped off the road and rolled into a ravine. Daily Camera has a more detailed article.

I was hoping that when we found out what happened to Greg, even if the news was bad, there would be relief in the closure.... Read more