News Brief
Energy Source™ Directory
Life has been a whole lot easier around the office since theEnergy Source Directory arrived. Assembled and published by Iris Communications, this is the most complete and most useful guide to specialized products and materials used in energy-efficient construction that we've seen. The 500-page directory is... Read more
News Analysis
The City of Austin’s Green Builder Program was one of 12 award recipients in the United National Local Government Honours Programme at the Earth Summit in Rio, and the only winner from the United States. “The purpose of the Honours Programme is to recognize innovative local approaches to... Read more
Product Review
Builders concerned about out-gassing of formaldehyde from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) have long used Medex in cabinets. This exterior-grade product, originally developed for highway signs, is considerably more expensive than conventional MDF or particleboard, however. Now Medite II fills the need for a... Read more
News Brief
Carol Venolia, Publisher/Editor
If “progressive construction” can be defined as pushing the tools and techniques of conventional builders in the direction of less environmental destruction, then Building With Nature’s material goes beyond progressive, into the forefront of visionary thinking about construction. This bimonthly newsletter, now... Read moreFeature
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
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
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
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
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
Basic page
Building Green is the longest continuous running green building publication in the world. Its originator, West River Communications, was founded in 1985 as “a company that would translate technical information on energy efficiency and other environmental topics for the public and building... Read more
Forum topic
We have a client who just hired their first director of sustainability. That person is looking to connect with other people in similar roles within Healthcare / Hospital organizations. Does anyone have organizations they have worked with who have someone in this role (I know it is less common than other markets) or have a healthcare specific... Read more
Forum topic
We're expanding the capacity of our team, with two positions, a general project sustainability specialist as well as a more targeted position focused on the healthcare sector.
Healthcare Sustainability Specialist
Sustainability Specialist
In both cases, we're looking for smart, experienced people who understand the power... Read more
Forum topic
Hello, All!
Looking for some quick insight from the braintrust into how to best approach project goal-setting.
We’ve been taking a critical look at goal-setting practices to better understand what drives the gap between projects that meet ambitious high-performance targets and those that don’t. Recognizing that goal setting is a... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Choosing Windows: Looking Through the Options.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Choose a frame material based on its structural characteristics, thermal insulation, durability, maintenance requirements, cost, and effects on the... Read more
Forum topic
Hi Fellow SDLers: I'm sure you're like me and thrilled at the news of the Senate's passage of the historic climate bill yesterday. And also are likely on pins and needles until it's passed the House and signed into law. What a conclusion of a terrible roller-coaster ride that is our Congressional system.
I'm writing to pass along a... Read more
Forum topic
I was recently asked about potentially specifying concrete with wood nanoparticles and concrete with biochar as a way to further lower the embodied carbon and to increase concrete strength. These approaches are something I know nothing about, and wondering if anyone in this group has any experience and/or observations that might be relevant to... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
Here is the information for this month's Peer Networks Webinar, Adapting the Construction Process for Passive House. We hope you will join us!
Register HERE.
Adapting the Construction Process for Passive House
Wednesday, April 28th, 2021
2pm - 3pm ET (11am - 12pm PT)
Description
... Read more

