Has anyone worked with Vidaris for LEED certification and have a contact there? If you want to direct email me with feedback on the experience that would be helpful as well.

Hi - We have some projects within reasonable reach of ILFI's Zero Carbon Certification, which will require purchasing some off-site renewable energy. As a State Building Code Council member, I'm also eyeing the Zero Code which we will seriously consider in the next 12 months; this also requires a purchase of off-site renewable energy. 

I... Read more

We are cautiously rekindling the age-old debate: how are we balancing modeling software for design /visualization and performance analysis during early phase of design.  

We are heavy SketchUp users for early design, and most of our staff have access to COVE tool for early performance analysis. Problem is, I’d rather use Revit to COVE... Read more

An elevator system can account for 4%–10% of a building's electric energy load, without considering impacts on heating and cooling. Conventional finishes are also common.

BuildingGreen-Approved Systems

We approve the most efficient tension elevators from leading manufacturers, including models that incorporate:

Was anyone else surprised to see ASHRAE 228-2023 using eGRID Subregions for both the Regional Electricity Source Energy Conversion Factor and Regional Electricity Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors? In the past I have used eGRID sub-regions but also State and local utility conversion factors depending on what energy or operational carbon story I... Read more

Hi all,

We are trying to encourage participation in take-back programs and using recyclable packaging with our vendors and I was wondering how we can add it to specifications. Does anyone have any examples on how we can add wording in specs about participation in take-back programs, using recyclable packaging and/or reducing non-... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Designing for Future Weather (recorded webcast)

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


1. Understand the science of climate-change predictions.
2. Stay abreast of changing climate models.
3. Learn how to make use of future weather... Read more

Were we given any warning that LEED Online and USGBC.org would be down for a week?  

Hello SMEPers,

I’m hoping to crowd source some anecdotes for a guest lecture I’ll be giving at Yale’s architecture school. The topic is integrated design (especially between architects and engineers) and how it enables better sustainability outcomes.

John Boecker has this great story about how choosing a paint color with higher... Read more

Hello, 

We are becoming involved with the design/construction of a new k-12 school that is intersted in entertaining geothermal. Does anyone have payback studies on geothermal?

Thanks!

Buck Dodgers

Fellow Sages,

I was at an interesting lecture last night. Phil Bernstein (formerly of Autodesk, now at Yale) was speaking (in Lawrence, Kansas, at the U of Kansas) about AI and design/AEC ... you may know that he authored the 2022 book, Machine Learning, about AI and the AEC field. 

Phil has a very interesting posture about AI... Read more

Is this EDI, or JEDI? (Justice, Equity...)

Notes (attached) and Guiding Questions:

Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion In Our Firms

What are the barriers and what’s working to cut through them?

The process is so super slow... how to to celebrate our small achievements?

How are we fostering inclusion and... Read more

You're invited to join your colleagues in an SCL Whole Group Web Meeting on Construction Waste May 14th, 2019 11am - Noon EST!!

Report-out web meeting led by Jennifer Taranto and Jenelle Shapiro on what’s been going on in regions, talk as a whole SCL group about how best to support local MRFs' and haulers' activities, and how to leverage... Read more

https://www.usgbc.org/articles/us-green-building-council-celebrates-2021-class-leed-fellows

I'm sure you will see many familar names on the list - not the least of which is our fellow SMEPL:  Sarah Gudeman.

Congratulations, Sarah - well done!