BuildingGreen Report

Forum topic

I am working on a new community development in St. Paul that is striving to achieve net-zero energy. We are able to get there mathematically by using the extra generation on light industrial rooftops to offset medium-density housing energy use (all buildings are anticipated to have different, private owners). However, this puts us over... Read more

Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars

The live webinar took place on May 9, 2019. If you purchased this webinar, log in to access the recording.

In this live webinar on the sustainability of wood construction, we tap the expertise of leaders in the field and look into three main issues:

The importance of certification The complex issue of embodied carbon Wood legality:... Read more

Forum topic

Hi all, we are embarking on an effort to standardize our LCA process in order to maintain a firmwide database of embodied carbon intensity from which we can create internal baselines and targets. I was wondering how other offices are setting boundaries for their LCA efforts. Below is our starting point. Most LCA will be conducted using Tally.... Read more

Forum topic

We considering PV glazing for a project in SW Louisiana. Anyone have any successful PV glazing projects? Is this ready for primetime? 

Forum topic

Hey there, Tally users.  I'm looking for some answers to a few basic questions about using Tally:

When do you typically run a WBLCA?  As soon as you have a Revit model?  Later, maybe end of DD, when the Revit model is more fully developed? At the end of CDs? Are you mostly using Tally for targeted studies or WBLCA for the purpose of... Read more

Forum topic

Hi all,

As follow-up to the summit, I’m attaching a draft letter on MEP embodied carbon written by our group (Luke, Kristy, Adam).  The goal is to start a dialogue with manufacturers to include embodied carbon info for major equipment.  Will explain more on the call.  Please read in advance if you get the chance!

Thanks!

Forum topic

Hello, does anyone have experience with thin film solar? We're looking to add it to a city wide bus station application. Thanks!

Peer Network Event

Forum topic

Who else is playing in this year’s #SustainabilityScavengerHunt by BE+!?

Meredith Elbaum and team at Built Environment Plus are launching the second annual hunt this Friday. Teams of up to four people compete over a couple of weeks to complete missions and bring awareness to environmental topics.

It was a lot of fun last year - we... Read more

Forum topic

Our firm was asked by a government client in Canada to update their specifications for concrete to capture low embodied carbon as a performance metric. From the SDL group's knowledge of concrete procurement:

What are the chances of systematically obtaining cement specified with 10% lower carbon intensity? What's viable in the current... Read more

Forum topic

Hi SDL Group - 

Our firm has been presented with a potential opportunity to share with USGBC National Representatives details about a few of our voiced concerns in the context of specific project administration efforts.

For us, these relate to two specific factors:

Logistics / Technology: We are seeing inconsistent review... Read more

Forum topic

Hi all,

Passing on a message from Julia Siple at AIA who is conducting a series of focus groups related to the AIA 2030 Commitment's DDx platform. You may have already received this from other channels but I thought I'd post here as well in case it got missed. They are looking for more participants in the morning and lunchtime (lunch... Read more

Product Guide

CEUs are available for reading all the building-envelope product guides and primer. Click here to learn more and take the quiz.

Standard spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation is made using blowing agents with extremely high global warming potential (GWP), which can cancel out much of the potential energy savings from use over its life... Read more

Forum topic

Hi: I'm writing to share a unique opportunity to make a difference at SCALE as a Sustainability Manager at Amazon Global Services.

This comes from Lisa Matthiessen, FAIA, LEED Fellow who some of you may know. Lisa just joined Amazon's Worldwide Sustainability Team who is charged with making real their Net Zero for all operations by 2040... Read more

Quiz

Welcome to the quiz portion of Video: Energy Reporting in LEED with MPR6.

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


 

1. Define the role of MPRs in achieving LEED certification
2. Describe MPR6 and the pathways for achievement
3. Answer MPR6 Frequently Asked Questions... Read more

Forum topic

We are T-minus two days from the ILFI unconference and I am looking forward to seeing a bunch of you there.  I have a vague memory about there being a meet up scheduled - can somebody remind me of where/when.

Also, can folks that are speaking post a reply about when their session is and what the topic is please.

Thanks in advance... Read more

Quiz

Welcome to the quiz portion of Equity in Design and Construction: Seven Case Studies!

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


List four ways in which inequity is endemic to our built environment and discuss how this affects human well-being. Describe how frameworks like LEED, SEED, and... Read more

Basic page

Wellness is key to sustainable design. As more and more clients understand the value of healthy built environments, designers need to understand the various wellness rating systems available, and which would meet the project's goals and needs.

WELL and Fitwel have emerged as the two leading wellness rating systems,... Read more

Campus-wide Group

Forum topic

We have a client for whom we are designing a very high performance manufacturing facility, and they want to communicate their building's performance both dynamically and in real-time within their lobby for guests and staff.

We would like to mine the wisdom of this group to see what recommendations we can muster regarding high quality... Read more