News Analysis
A study published in the June 5, 1992, issue of
Science by researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona suggests that smoke emitted into the atmosphere from human activities may be having a significant effect in counteracting... 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
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
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
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
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
Product Guide
CEUs are available for reading all the building-envelope product guides and primer. Click here to learn more and take the quiz.
Wall assemblies are made up of a number of different materials and systems, and installing each of them requires considerable time and labor and can introduce errors that compromise the building’s weather... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of What Makes Plumbing Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Plumbing Products.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Explain how plumbing products affect the environment in ways that go far beyond water consumption.
2. Describe ultra-high-... Read more
Forum topic
Hi All - I wanted to share out the All For Reuse initiative below by two peers in the sustainable materials management network. I know some SDL have already done much research on this from quite a few angles, and those with LBC experience probably even moreso in practice.
Frances Yang (Arup) and Andrew Ellsworth (Doors Unhinged) have... Read more
Quiz
This pre-summit workshop was pre-approved for 6 AIA LUs and 6 GBCI CE hours.
Please complete the survey question to confirm your attendance and receive your CEUs.
By providing your credential numbers in your profile, you will enable us to automatically report these CEUs to the organization. Please check your profile to be sure... Read more
Forum topic
Hello! i had in my notes that the group interested in jobsite wellness was going to schedule a call mid-January. I don't remember who was leading the effort. does anyone have a list of who is on what committee?
thanks!
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Hi folks,
We have a really great webinar set up for Thursday, Oct 25 at 2pm eastern. This one is based on the 5-minute presentation from Heather DeGrella at the Summer Summit--our jaws were on the floor when she presented it there, and we were hungry for more.
Sign up here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/... Read more
Forum topic
We are working on a large healthcare project in Minnesota. We're setting sustainability goals a bit late - no certification, but targets with accountability. I'm working to determine recycled steel content (for structural steel and rebar), and I've gotten a bit of push-back on recycled content based on being in the region of the Iron Range... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all - we have several projects where money from the IRA may be able to get projects farther. I've seen the AIA/USGBC webinar and done some other research as well. Does anyone know if there's a Higher Ed group that is chasing down how and when the money is available and for what exact purposes? Are you planning on using consultants to help... Read more
Forum topic
I am looking for examples of adaptive reuse projects that have addressed current or future flooding by elevating floors from the existing condition.
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Hello Sustainable Community Design Leaders!
Let’s take a moment, introduce ourselves, and get to know each other and our work! Don’t forget to fill out your BG.com profile with your headshot and bio; this is how everyone across Green Gurus can see you in the Member Directory.
I’ll kick us off! I'm RoseAnn, I also go by Rose, Peer... Read more
Forum topic
Show & Tell Break-out Session: Post Occupancy Evaluations and Occupant Behavior
Presentations:
Preliminary findings from our first year of data collection. Measured results in WELL Stories about visiting our past clients and teaching them about their energy use habits.Forum topic
Howdy all,
Following up on Emily's post (https://www.buildinggreen.com/forum/aia-2030-zero-tool-vs-cbecs-baseline) on AIA2030, the folks on the steering committee's monthly call thought it'd be a good idea to do a general call for feedback on reporting this year while the bangs and bruises are still fresh. The intent is to compile the... Read more

