Product Review
To the best of our knowledge, this product is now being marketed under the name Rauhsaser by Better Wall System of Kenora, ON.
CoverAge is a tacky name for a great product that all remodelers should know about. It is a paintable, textured wallpaper that’s made entirely of recycled paper (at... Read moreExplainer
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
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
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
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
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
Forum topic
I am still basking in the afterglow of this week's summit, and getting ready to share nuggets of wisdom with my colleagues at our all-staff next week. I was so immersed in the moment that documenting the outlines and choices presented for breakouts slipped my mind. Is there somewhere to access these slides to refresh my memory?
Thanks... Read more
Forum topic
Sages,
I suspect that some of you have already seen this or already signed it, but just in case, for your consideration:
Add your voice to the powerful chorus for climate policy and sign the LEAD statement.
More than 500 sustainability professionals have now signed, and the number is growing!
To learn more about... Read more
Forum topic
Hi Everyone!
I'm Lauren Shumaker and I'm a Project Manager/Sustainability Manager with Turner Construction. As a long standing advocate for healthy and sustainable building materials, I look forward to expanding my ability to promote material transparency and shine a greater light on our ability to positively impact human and... Read more
Forum topic
Hi SDL'ers, as promised I am sending information about how to support getting flame retardants out of foam insulation. I am attaching a draft letter to Foam Manufacturers, an intro to that letter giving some background and a list of From manufacturers. Thanks, please contact if you have any questions. Larry Strain, Siegel & Strain... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Mind the Gaps: Making Existing Buildings More Airtight!
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
Identify key performance problems related to leaky building enclosures.
Examine the benefits of making existing buildings more airtight, such as... Read more
Forum topic
We have a project that is looking for plaster/stucco/textured wall products that are sustainable, or “more sustainable.”
I know these products exist, but I haven’t had to spec or work with any, so I’m reaching out.
The project is in MA, so I'm also soliciting recommendations for products and/or companies who are experienced using... Read more
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Allison Mears at Parsons asked me to share this. Several folks on this list participated in these recordings. The courses are comprehensive.
Parsons Healthy Materials Lab has created a series of online learning courses specifically designed for professionals like you, dedicated to making the built environment the best (and healthiest... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
We have an exciting cross-network opportunity coming up next week! Members of the SDL (Design Leaders) and SCL (Construction Leaders) networks will share about their experience at the recent SDL/SCL Summits. We will also preview the Reports for each Summit, and share some news about other events coming up this year.... Read more
Product Guide
Good HVAC instrumentation and control systems improve occupant comfort, save energy, and help prolong the lifespan of the equipment.
BuildingGreen-approved
Products approved by BuildingGreen include occupancy sensors, programmable thermostats, digital controllers, wireless systems, and other equipment that help monitor and control... Read more
Forum topic
Hi folks,
There was a lot of interest on the call yesterday in the article that Kim showed from a host of leading IAQ experts. I was not able to find a legal way to get a copy that we can share, so if you want it I think it would be appropriate to either pay the $30 for the article (one-day access ??) or $79 for a one-year AAAS... Read more
Forum topic
Hi! We received this email a few days ago from Brad Kahn. The International Living Future Institute is looking for volunteers to serve on technical advisory groups. Just thought I'd pass it along! Follow the link to learn more:
I wanted to let you know that ILFI opened a call for volunteers today: https://living-future.org/volunteer/... Read more


