Spotlight Report
Remember 2013? LEED version 4 had just been released to the public. Hardly anyone was using it, though—not only because they didn’t have to, but also because there just wasn’t a pathway to achieve many of the new credits in the rating systems. Especially the product-related credits in the Materials & Resources category, along with the Low-... Read more
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At the start of 2021 there was one signatory to the contractors commitment (thanks Leopardo!). Today, there are 12 companies participating, representing over $24 Billion in total revenue.
We don’t always give ourselves enough credit or take enough time to savor our accomplishments because there is always more to do. But, this is a big... Read more
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Seeking Pros/Cons, Feedback/Commentary about signing the US Architects Declare Commitment.
https://us.architectsdeclare.com/
Reviewing against the "shoulds" and "shalls" of the 2020 AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct ... and other commitments that are out there ... any feedback welcome.
Tips for how your workflow... Read more
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In the run-up to Earth Day 2023, we're trying something new at VMDO: Full, public transparency on everything we know about how our portfolio is performing (or how we anticipate it performing). Here's a link to all of the details on our sixth year of reporting to the 2030 Commitment and more: https://www.vmdo.com/radical-transparency-commitment-... Read more
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Hi everyone,
We’re excited to announce that registration for our Summer 2024 Sustainable Design Leaders Summit is now open! Join us from July 15th-17th at IslandWood on Bainbridge Island, a beloved location where we’ve hosted Summits multiple times before. Register early to save your seat, and feel free to reach out to me with any... Read more
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Hi folks,
As you may know, this network is part of a family of Sustainability Leader Peer Networks that BuildingGreen hosts. They each have their own private forum, and there is also a shared cross-network forum called "Green Gurus."
Those of you have already paid in to be part of this network moving forward have automatically... Read more
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Hello - I have met several of you virtually over the last couple years. My name is Megan Zack and I am excited to share that I have changed positions and will be the Cheif Sustainabilty Officer at Wight & Company. After spending the last 20 years working as an architect with a small percentage of my time dedicated to sustainabilty, I'll be... Read more
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We had a small group tour the Dell Seton Medical Center campus today, and a much larger group tour the new Austin Public Library.
My favorite quote from the Medical Center tour, was about this project being the first private development on U of Texas property. "It took 58 separate legal agreements. We won a ULI award for making the... Read more
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Hello everyone! There hasn’t been much activity on this forum in recent months, so we wanted to give an update about what’s been happening and things coming up.
Firstly, we are very excited for the upcoming inaugural SCL Summit the day before Greenbuild. We currently have about 20 people signed up for the Summit and we are expecting a... Read more
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The ASHRAE Conference staff is looking for more architecture sustainability leadership for planning their Integrated Design & Construction Conference (i'm sure they'd take contractors too!). The staff do almost all of the logistics themselves but they want thought leadership from across the industry to guide the focus, content.
See... Read more
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Hi all! I'm very excited to report that we have interest from a developer client in tracking embodied carbon through construction. We have issued construction documents and the construction managment team is begining the process to establish the GMP.
We're looking to use EC3, and/ or ZGF's LCA analysis tool for concrete to look at how we... Read more
Product Guide
Composite windows come in two basic types: fiberglass, and wood/plastic composite.
BuildingGreen-Approved Windows
Fiberglass and other composite window lines have NFRC unit U-factors of 0.20 or lower. Higher U-factors are allowed for products that include significant recycled content.
Manufacturers also must demonstrate... Read more
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Hi all - at the suggestion of Nadav and some of the Sustainable MEP Leaders, I'm reposting a thread I started a couple days ago in the SMEP forum.
In response to increasingly aggressive (and effective) targeting of building owners (particularly schools), a group of researchers have put their support behind a letter warning against the... Read more
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Hi All ... I'm seeking suggestions for an ecologically minded landscape/site/civil consultant. Ideally with strong knowledge about Florida ecosystems. Thanks much for any sharing.
Rand Ekman
rekman@hksinc.com
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Finding Furniture Without Toxic Flame Retardants.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Explain why avoiding toxic flame retardants is important.
2. Explain how we were swindled into dosing our buildings and our bodies with flame... Read more