Ground- and water-source heat pumps move refrigerant or water through the ground or a body of water for use as a heat source (for indoor heating) or heat sink (for indoor cooling).

BuildingGreen-Approved Heat Pumps

BuildingGreen approves:

Wondering if we can have a dialog on HVAC load calculation software... we are currently still using Trane Trace 700, but with the future migration to Trace 3D+ coming are looking into other options. Never used HAP but I haven't heard great things, and we dabbled in IES VE for a while, but went back to Trace since at that time there was no... Read more

Reaching out to the collective knowledge here.  With interest in circular economy and building reuse growing, is anyone leading the charge for the concept of building reuse as a tool for maintaining community identity?  Has anyone seen successful projects with this concept in mind?  I was just in a discussion with a bunch of SDLers, and while... Read more

Hi all! I'm very excited to report that we have interest from a developer client in tracking embodied carbon through construction. We have issued construction documents and the construction managment team is begining the process to establish the GMP.

We're looking to use EC3, and/ or ZGF's LCA analysis tool for concrete to look at how we... Read more

I'm looking to change consultants. Let me know if you have worked with a 179D consultant that you would recommend.

I have a request from an Architecture firm to do a Fitwel Core and Shell certification.  I don't do that type of thing - anybody out there interested in this type of work?

Respond here or just email at me annehicksharney@gmail.com.

Welcome to the quiz portion of Existing Buildings Are Architecture’s Future!

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


Hello Green Gurus,

Happy 2023! Our First Friday Fika* is today - Friday, January 6th at 11am ET (8am PT), we'll meet on Zoom for some lightly structured coffee-chat time. This includes both facilitated sharing and open conversation about the topics you're interested in at the moment. Any Peer Network member who wants to say hi and chat... Read more

Hi all,

Here's a good follow up to Maria's steel question on Monday.  We have a Midwest project that unfortunately (from a carbon perspective) is required to use a traditional, thick precast facade.  We’re working with the contractor and potential future (not yet bid out) fabricators to determine an appropriate % of pozzolanic material... Read more

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much again to everyone who attended the Spring 2024 SCL Summit. The report is now available and is a public document that can be shared.

Please feel free to email me with any questions. Enjoy!

Embodied carbon in products and existing buildings. What does LCA tell us about renovation vs. new construction and material choices?

Guiding Questions: 

I'm pleased to announce that the AIA Board of Directors has unanimously adopted the A&D Materials Pledge as the AIA Materials Pledge!!!!! The support of so many of you was a key factor in making it so easy for the AIA Board to adopt The Pledge. The Materials Pledge now has 90 signatory firms, including many of yours. Thank you all.  Now,... Read more

MSA has issued a safety advisory because they have received field reports that their green colored MSA V-Gard Protective Caps are cracking. Please share this with your safety staff if they do not already know. Let's keep everyone safe!

Nancy Eve Cohen is the managing editor at BuildingGreen. She brings the highest standards to her work, with the goal of providing trusted and accurate information and analysis for BuildingGreen’s readers.

Previously she worked in public radio as a reporter and editor for more than two decades, where she specialized in environmental... Read more

Board insulation has good thermal performance ranging from about R-4 to R-8 and is used as an integral part of a building envelope’s continuous insulation system.

Because board insulation is used on the building exterior, it is not always subject to the same material health and emissions requirements as batt insulation used inside the... Read more

Curious what people's 'best' experiences or recommendations are for load calculations and energy modeling regarding electrochromic glazing... hoping I can lean on others as it's just now becoming more of a talking point in our market here in Omaha. 

Specific questions including whether load and energy modeling software are separate (... Read more