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.   

Standard HVAC systems require large fans and ductwork to move conditioned air throughout a building, which wastes energy and building space.

BuildingGreen-Approved Chilled Beams

BuildingGreen lists chilled beams that rely on water and smaller ducts to provide HVAC throughout a building.

Performance and Health Considerations... Read more

HGA is collaborating with the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) to research how the AE industry is currently using climate projection data, and what they need in order to grow their use of data. MCAP is currently producing a set of dynamical downscaled climate projections for the state of Minnesota and unlike other... Read more

Please share your thoughts in preparation for our monthly call this Thursday (call info below). 

Given these items that are changing at AIA, are any of them motivating changes within your firm? If so, how? If not, why?

1. Awards criteria now includes COTE Measures of Design Excellence

2. Code of Ethics now includes rule on... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Choosing Insulation: Health and Environmental Considerations – Unit 1.

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


1. Discuss how insulation works.
2. Summarize how insulation performance is measured and reported.
3. Recount the wide... Read more

Angela has been an integral part of the BuildingGreen team for fifteen years, serving in a variety of roles.

Her diverse career path has led her from union organizing, to cabinet-making and exhibit production for the Boston Children’s Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to teaching woodworking at Massachusetts College of Art. She... Read more

Hello Sustainability Leaders!

Here's another fun announcement to help round out this year and get us excited for the next to begin: Join us in 2022 for First Friday Fikas!

What is a fika? Pronounced fee-ka, this is a Swedish custom of taking a break from work to have a coffee and a snack while catching up with friends. It’s a... Read more

Hello SCL members,

A gaping hole has been left since Patty Lloyd stepped down from our SCL steering committee. Don't worry, she is still in the network and tirelessly championing SCL. But this means we are opening up nominations for at least one leadership spot. If you are interested, please email me directly (candace@buildinggreen.com)... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of An Advocate’s Guide to Resilience Regulations!

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


1. Explain how U.S. municipalities are using codes to improve the resilience of the built environment in the face of worsening climate change.

2. Delineate five... Read more

Hi folks, I'm reading Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet (Xmas gift) and came across this quote over the weekend which resonated for me, and thought might for this group as well:

"We may feel immense pressure to save the planet in this lifetime, and we may be afraid that we can never do enough. The stark truth is that the planet doesn'... Read more

Hello friends,

We are looking for recommendations for solar photovoltaic consultants to support one of our projects. We have used SEI in the past, but would like to develop a deeper bench and approach it from another angle. We aren’t too concerned about the consultant’s location, but are looking for someone that is on top of the current... Read more

THIS WEBINAR PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Concrete is one of the construction industry’s largest carbon emitters, responsible for about 5% to 8% of the world’s anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is also one of the most important building materials.

There are well-proven ways to reduce... Read more

Hi all,

I have asked a few of you in this list, but thought I might expand the question to the wide group.

To ensure that your firm will be able to collect post-occupancy energy data from your completed projects, have any of you included language about sharing energy data during operations in an owner agreement/contract? We have... Read more

Hope I'm posting this in the right place.  I have a client who's interested in estimating the embodied carbon of multiple buildings (primarily apartment buildings) they own and operate.  Not sure if I'll have access to drawings or area takeoffs of materials for their buildings.  How would you approach this?  Would appreciate input on resources... Read more

Nice brief article on how to talk to clients about materials transparency. It was the right level of information to send out to the office at large. Kudos to Lona and Ralph for your contribution.

https://www.aia.org/articles/210821-how-to-talk-to-clients-about-materials-tran

The IECC is accepting applications for committee members for its development of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The responsibilities of the committees include:

Hi Folks - sorry for the late notice, but I just heard about this two days ago and needed to get confirmation that I could share the request with htis group.

The opportunity is for business leaders in energy, efficiency, construction and design (i.e. all of us!) -

As you know, the flow of the historic federal infrastructure and... Read more