I can see from the threads that there are at least a few Passive House advocates in this group - I'm wondering about the PHIUS training and certification. Can any who have done it offer an opinion? Is it valuable? Residentially focused? Would it apply to someone in a larger commercial practice? It's an investment of time and $, so I really want... Read more

I am wondering how architectural firms plan to close the gap to zero in the next few years. 

Owner's dictate outcomes and the typical owner is not committed to zero - even when sustainability is a focus of the project. 

We can present solar-ready designs, all electric buildings, geothermal, etc. but there is still quite a gap to... Read more

Good Afternoon -

I'm wondering if anyone has a sample project wellness plan or survey that they'd be willing to share?  The 2.0 says additional resources are coming soon but I have a few project engineers that want to help get these going and are looking for a starting point.

You can email me direct if you don't want to post here... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Re-Framing Sustainability: Green Structural Engineering.

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


1. List at least three design approaches to green structural engineering.
2. Recognize two issues that would encourage owners to invest in... Read more

Hi All, this is primarily directed at our Sustainable MEP folks, but please anyone with insight feel free to weigh in.

I am increasingly seeing designs and specifications asking for Passive House levels of airtightness as verified by blower door testing, but with traditional ventilation system designs. 

To me, Passive House US has... Read more

Hi all-

We are dabbling in developing an official research component of our firm. We have collaborated with a class at a local university and are looking for ways to take our research to a higher level. I'm curious how some of the other firms doing design or building technology research approach the process. For instance, do you have a... Read more

Hello Green Gurus,

Here is the information for February's Peer Networks Webinar, A Tale of Two Working Groups: Decarbonizing Existing Buildings & Defining and Measuring Resilient Outcomes. We hope you will join us!

Register HERE

A Tale of Two Working Groups: Decarbonizing Existing Buildings & Defining and Measuring... Read more

Hi all,

Just wanted to put a couple of useful webinars on your radars if you haven't heard of them yet:

#1: The Contractor’s Role in Quantifying and Reducing Embodied Carbon: Why, What and How

This webinar will provide an overview of what a contractor's role is towards embodied carbon reductions, and how two General... Read more

Hi SD Leaders: I'm writing to get your help identifying any experts or projects where all-electric HVAC solutions are being implemented in a large new build healthcare/patient care setting. The client has raised concerns about the reliability of an electric re-heat system and its ability to promptly respond to temperature controls. They also... Read more

As with window and glazing products, the energy performance of skylights and roof windows varies greatly among different products and should be carefully considered.

BuildingGreen-Approved Skylights

BuildingGreen approves products that feature advanced thermally broken frames that dramatically reduce thermal bridging and improve... Read more

I am diving back into Sefaira for the first time in a while, and the program still seems to be missing the ability to account for automatic daylight dimming in energy savings. Previously I had used an LPD reduction equivalent to emulate the savings automatic dimming would provide. Has anyone done a similar work-around? 

Hello Green Gurus!

Here are the details for the upcoming Peer Networks webinar, The Beneficial Intersection of Energy, Resilience and Health.
REGISTER HERE! Hope to see you there!

The Beneficial Intersection of Energy, Resilience and Health
April 30th, 2020
2pm - 3pm ET (11am - Noon PT)

How can three... Read more

If you’ll be attending AIA24 (or if you live in the D.C. area), join us for the BuildingGreen Show & Tell on June 5th from 6:00-8:30pm at ZGF! This will be a free joint reception with members of US Architects Declare, and it’s open to all Peer Network members. Light refreshments and beverages will be served.

Here is the link to... Read more

Hello all, there has been a fair amount of discussion about the emerging Cove Tool for early stage energy modelling and parametric optimization at our firm. I am very curious if any of you are using this software, and if so, what are your thoughts about it? 

https://www.covetool.com/

Thanks,

Esteban Matheus