Hi all,

I wanted to reach out to fellow MEP energy modeling teams to assess everyone's experience with the new PCI calculation methodology in 2016. It was a substantial change in how we show savings on projects. Big changes can often come with un-intended consequences. I'm all for pushing to higher efficiency - just want to make sure we... 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

Jerelyn Wilson’s work with BuildingGreen started in 1985 as an owner and member of the Board of Directors. Since then, her evolving roles have included HR Director, Outreach Director, and currently CEO. She is responsible for working with mid-sized to large architecture firms to implement sustainability education, as well as professional... Read more

Hi all,

I see that this was a hot topic for the Winter Retreat this past year, but I am wondering how your firms manage standard materials across your practice. two aspects - standard specification items, and also designer choice materials. 

1. Do you have a spec baseline with high performance materials that you start with for all... Read more

Hello Sustainable Community Design Leaders,

The SDL Winter Summit (Jan 23-25, Tempe AZ) has a few spots still open, so we are excited to invite SCDL members to join! This is an opportunity to plug into the conversations happening in the Sustainable Design Leaders group, plus a possible chance to carve out some in-person SCDL time.

Show & Tell Break-out Session: Post Occupancy Evaluations and Occupant Behavior

Presentations: 

Welcome to the quiz portion of Energy-Efficient Multifamily Housing.

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


1. Restate the six big opportunities for energy savings in multifamily housing.
2. Differentiate between the four green building rating systems for new... Read more

Hello Green Gurus.

I've been looking into EPDs lately and ran across a few companies with Product Envionmental Profiles (PEPs) which they say are also known as EPDs. Does anyone have any experience with PEPs or know if they actually are EPDs? They reference ISO standards 14040 and 14044 in the writing and ISO 14025 in the list of... Read more

Would anyone have an example LEED Homes v4 specification they would be willing to share?  We are working on our first LEED Homes project, a midrise low income housing development here in Houston.  We have a LEED Homes provider, but she will not provide the specifications, which seem to be quite different in requirements and submittals from our... Read more

Https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/yale-un-environment-eco-living-module/pic/44437/

Many of you will be passing through NYC on your way to the SDL Summit in Garrsion this week. I encourage you to make a pit stop at the United Nations. You’ve heard me talk about the next generation, tech transfer building systems... Read more

Hello Green Gurus,

Here is the information for this month's Peer Networks Webinar, Making the Case for Equity with Data: a Free Tool for Project Teams. We hope you will join us!

Register HERE.

Making the Case for Equity with Data: a Free Tool for Project Teams
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
1pm - 2pm ET (10am - 11am... Read more

Hey Team,

I'm in a Living Future session where a number of manufacturers are talking about the low uptake they're seeing in their take back programs. Contractor friends... What barriers (if any) are you running into in using take back programs? How might we as architects help increase utilization of these programs?

Aley

Hello Sustainability Leaders,

Our next First Friday Fika* is tomorrow -- Friday, September 1st at 11am ET (8am PT). We'll meet on Zoom for some lightly structured coffee-chat time. This includes both facilitated sharing and open conversation about the topics you're interested in at the moment. Any Peer Network member who wants to say hi... Read more

For a number of years a colleague and I have been teaching a course about sustainability and water in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania's architectural school (PennDesign).  This year we're hoping to bring a few new opinions to the table for at the same time as we broaden the discussion.  Because the class will be virtual again... Read more

Avoiding Toxic Chemicals in Commercial Building Projects

We’re excited to issue our special report, Spec This, Not That.

In updating the report in 2020, we engaged a respected toxicology and regulatory-compliance firm to review and assist in our revision of the entire publication. This edition reflects the latest science in... Read more