News Brief
At first glance,
An Environmental Handbook for Florida Contractors looks like it deals only with the environmental regulations that Florida contractors must contend with. And, indeed, the Handbook describes in detail the requirements for complying with regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. But the book goes much further,... Read more
Explainer
News Analysis
The recent ruling to allow logging on several thousand acres of old-growth forest in western Oregon was portrayed in the national media as a blow to environmentalists, but the action may not prove so damaging in the end. While the ruling permits logging on 13 of the 44 sites that were under consideration by the so-... 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
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
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
Forum topic
If you are intending to participate in the Sustainable Construction Leaders Pre-Greenbuild SUMMIT on November 13 in Chicago, please register. We are preparing the pre-Summit survey that will help to determine the topics on the Summit agenda. You will not want to miss having your top-of-mind challenges be part of the conversation with your... Read more
Forum topic
Someone made a tombstone to mark Internet Explorer’s end-of-support date
https://www.engadget.com/internet-explorer-tombstone-175433997.html
Forum topic
Hi All,
Our local COTE committee has the opportunity to meet with a local jurisdiction on meeting the targets set forth by their Climate Action Plan. In preparation I'm looking for innovative building codes/ordinaces that address existing buildings. I am already digging into Boston's Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Why Schools Are Embracing Net-Zero Energy!
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
Recount why schools are at the forefront of the net-zero energy building trend.
Describe the financial arguments that have led school boards to accept net-zero... Read more
Forum topic
Anyone aware of tools or workflows for modeling of a specific outdoor space and effective surface temperatures? We've done a goodly amoutn of microclimate simulations, but never explicitly factored in the ground surface, in terms of emissivity and other related factors.
Product Guide
Indoor pollutants can cause health problems and disrupt HVAC system functioning.
BuildingGreen-Approved Filtration
BuildingGreen approves a variety of equipment, filters, and pre-filters that remove particulates and contaminants, minimize pressure drop, or reduce pollution from operations. Products include:
MERV 13 or higher... Read moreReports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
Conventional stormwater management treats rain as the enemy—a dangerous and destructive force that must be deflected away from building sites as quickly as possible.
But as we pave more and more of paradise,... Read more
Forum topic
Here’s a nice NYTimes op ed on urban density that directly addresses the concern Gwen raised on out call today:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/upshot/coronavirus-urban-density-risks.html?referringSource=articleShare


