Explainer
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
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
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
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
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
Forum topic
Overland Partners is looking for a Sustainable Design Analyst with 2+ years of experience working with teams to implement sustainability strategies and building performance simulation.
More details here: https://www.overlandpartners.com/careers/sustainable-design-analyst/ Please pass along if you know of someone who may be a good fit... Read more
Peer Network Event
Forum topic
Hello lovely Green Gurus. Hope you all are well. I am wondering if anyone has installed an indoor sports floor that performed well and is low-emitting. This is for a multi-purpose gymnasium at a community center. Any chance? Thanks All!
Forum topic
Healthy Building Network (HBN) is hiring and they just posted a new career opportunity for "Director of Product Tranformation" https://healthybuilding.net/careers/14
"Healthy Building Network (HBN) is seeking an experienced leader who wants to help transform the building materials market. This role will inspire product innovation by... Read more
Forum topic
Hi GG: Just wanted to make sure you know about a free webinar that Buildings & Cities and Carbon Leadership Forum are putting on:
Zero Carbon: Can Built Environment Education Deliver?
Monday 8 February 2021, 9 – 10 am PST
Details and registration through this site:
https://carbonleadershipforum.org/zero-carbon-... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Is Wood Construction Green? A Look at the Issues.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Determine what distinguishes wood products sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, and why these products improve the environmental impact of... Read more
Forum topic
Hi everyone! LMN is embarking on a 17-part series to explore a more comprehensive carbon metric via summaries of various topics with lots of link. This dovetails with many other efforts in the industry and will reference all the best stuff that we are aware of...such as MEP 2040, SE 2050, CLF stuff, Epic tool, CARE tool, Arch 2030 publications... Read more
Forum topic
The prepublication version of the AGC playbook is online now. I just stumbled on this this morning but thought it would be great to get eyes on this early and start a discussion here on any of the included guidance. Happy Reading, excited to follow the discussion!
AGC Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in the Construction... Read more
Forum topic
Good evening,
I am looking for suggestions to replace"wood" siding at the 25-year-old Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies and as always there is no solution that does it all. There seem to be three main options: wood, composition siding, or fiber cement siding. I am looking for something with low embodied carbon, little maintenance,... Read more
Forum topic
All,
The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) has undertaken the Zero-Based-Rulemaking process this year to eliminate all requirements that are not specifically life-safety related. As such, they have proposed removing the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2018 provisions regarding commissioning... Read more

