Hi all - many of you have been involved in our project to crowdsource the best building performance graphics and make them searchable and freely available. After redesigning the website for functionality and bi-monthly (instead of annual) competitions, we are launching our first of these Challenges: Daylight + Glare. Upload a graphic or three,... Read more

Check out Fast Company's new list of innovative architecture firms with Perkins + Will and NBBJ at the top with great sustainability tag lines. 

That's a great demonstration of the mainstream importance of sustainability!

Congrats to all.

Here's the link: https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2018/sectors/... Read more

consider supporting Varun Kohli for AIA Board At-Large seat

If you are a voting delegate for the AIA, please consider casting a vote for my friend and COTE colleague, Varun Kohli, FAIA; he's running for the At-Large seat on the AIA national Board of Directors.

Varun is a former COTE Leadership Group member and he understands... Read more

I'm working on convincing my firm to hire a director of sustainability. I'm gaining some traction with the discussion thanks to the fantastic feedback and input from the summer summit "Role of the Sustainable Design Leader" breakout session. Thanks everyone! Does anyone have job descriptions for sustainable design leaders that they'd be willing... Read more

Hi All,

Has anyone dug into ASHRAE 2016 as part of the new v4.1 requirements or as codes start to adopt it? I recently presented on this and thought I should check my math to make sure I'm understanding and communicating this correctly.

My understanding is that there is a new reference baseline, that is essentially the ASHRAE 2004... Read more

Hi All,

I have a client interested in exploring the development of their own custom framework to address environmental, health/wellness, and data security, among other parameters, but would also like to have it audited by a 3rd party.

Leveraging ISO 14001 could be one option. I also understand that GreenCirle certifies a few... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of The Product Transparency Movement: Peeking Behind the Corporate Veil.

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


1. Describe an EPD, naming at least six characteristics that it attempts to quantify.
2. Explain what the HPD Open Standard... Read more

Hello, All!  We haven't run WBLCA on a project that may include electrochromic glazing before, and it's embodied carbon footprint is really high in comparison to a more traditional double or triple pane IGU (we thought it would be higher, but this is 3-4x higher).  The EPD we have from Sage Glass for their triple pane electrochromic lists a GWP... Read more

Hello Friends,

With my "AIA 2030 Commitment Working Group" hat on, one of the efforts I have undertaken is a campaign to create a "pull" in the market, rather than (only) the sweaty "push" we all take on every day, trying to build a better world. 

I believe that if we can help clients (building owners) articulate clearer... Read more

Friends,

Do you know someone early in their career who would love to work with me at BE+?  We are looking for someone with great graphic skills to take on our communications role.  Unfortunately Atelier Ten swooped my latest hire from me before she started. Clearly I'm a bit biased and think it's a great opportunity for someone with a... Read more

Greetings,

I'm looking for recommendations from this esteemed group for 3rd-party vendors/verifiers of GHG emissions to support our CSR initiatives. We currently have a provider, but our company has grown to the point to where we need to transition from "analaog" reporting (location by location) to a higher level of service offering (... Read more

Hi all, we have a date for our SCL Carbon Group online meeting.  Looking forward to connecting with you all on 2/26!

Please see agenda below.

.........................................................................................................................................

Join Skype Meeting      

Trouble... Read more

Hello Everybody,

I would like to invite you all to an event being hosted by the AIA Seattle COTE.  This is the next event in a series entitled Pathways to Decarbonization.  Date and time: May 13, 12:00pm - 1:00pm 

Description:  Universities are learning laboratories to explore and implement solutions to our greatest challenges... Read more

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

Dear SD Leaders: The comment period closes January 31st on  NCA Volume II Climate Change Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States.

It's important to have the design communities perspective on these critical issues. I hope you can take a look and submit your comments before the deadline.

Details here: https://www.... Read more

This just in from Berkeley Earth. The definitive report on 2023 global temperatures. Lots of incredible graphs to peruse but the news is pretty incredible. Actual temperatures far surpassed predictions. "At the start of 2023, we foresaw only a 14% chance that 2023 would become a record warm year, and only a ~1% chance that 2023 would reach 1.5... Read more

If only a few of the Best Practices will have checklists, which will be included under the "Implementation Toolkit" tab, I'm thinking we can simplify them (compared with LEEDuser).

I've attached a screenshot of a LEEDuser checklist. But I don't think BITuser will need the four types of icons, and the legend will take up more space than... Read more