Hi folks,

Our regular SMEPLeaders call is next Tuesday, Sept 12 at 2:00 eastern (if you don't have this on your calendar, let us know and we'll resend the invite).

We've had a GREAT run of meetings that kicked off with someone sharing on a topic they're excited about or challenged by. The conversations that follow that kind of... Read more

Preservative treatments extend the service life of wood, but many such treatments are highly toxic, especially to aquatic life.

BuildingGreen-Approved Preserved Wood

Products approved by BuildingGreen use chemicals (commonly borates) that are relatively low in toxicity and have low VOC emissions.

Health and Environmental... Read more

Welcome to the Sages forum! Some of us have been hanging out together for ages, but others might be new to this group (if not to sustainable design/construction). So let’s start by introducing ourselves, with some highlights from our career and history with the Peer Networks, and why we’ve now joined this one.

My career history is pretty... Read more

Hey y'all,

Since it's now past September 8 when reporting was due, I'm thinking all those that were going to report as part of this round have now done so. I know AIA will assemble an industry-wide report, but I'm also very interested in the less polished conversation that allows all of us to trade experiences and just see how this went... Read more

HI All,

I have been tasked with putting together a cost comparison of doing a LEED v4 Gold building vs. making that same building Passive House. Obviously they are two different systems, with two different outcomes, and it's not really intended as a total apples to apples cost comparison, but more a value comparison for a developer.... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of What Makes a Product Green?.

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


1. List and describe at least three attributes that address each of the following categories: "efficient use of materials"; "responsible sourcing"; "energy and water... Read more

For those folks who are on our retrofit electrfication roadmap post-palooza-sub-sub-working group ;-) , I thought you might be interested in these three guides just released from BEI in collaboration with S. Winter Associates.

Here are the three Playbooks:

Hello Everyone,

Happy Monday, here is the link to the 2019 SDL Summer Summit Report!

Enjoy,

RoseAnn

Hi All,

FSC is working on some exciting new research to help further quantify the carbon impact of forestry management and they are looking for your feedback.  If you are interested in providing your voice or just staying informed of what is happening in this space, please see the details below and register to attend.

FSC Forest... Read more

Hello, all! I'm working on an in-depth article about adaptive thermal comfort. I'm looking for interviewees who have real-world experience of working with ATC on a project, including occupant feedback. If you have that kind of experience, I'd love to hear from you!

This is happening on a very tight timeline, so please get in touch with... Read more

This came up a number of times at the SDL Tempe Summit so I thought I would share. If you have not already I highly recommend this recent research paper from the UW-IDL on the tradeoffs of operational and embodied carbon in envelope design in different climates. As a Passive House nerd it made me question the super-insulated envelope at least... Read more

For the fourth year in a row, we’re proud to release our sustainability survey findings, based on the real-world knowledge and experience of our clients and partners, to help determine how sustainability, resilience and wellness are perceived by the commercial real estate industry. We’ve compiled these survey results in our 2019 report, which... Read more

Quiz body

If you want to know more about the MEP 2040 Challenge, our first quarterly forum will be held on March 18th, 2022 11 am to 1 pm Eastern, and will be discussing decarbonization in the MEP space.  See link below for the agenda and registration.

https://network.carbonleadershipforum.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=206&reset=1

I... Read more

The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including recommendations on what insulation to use and what to avoid. It's a treasure trove of information for architects and designers, builders, and anyone who is actively considering the impact of insulation on the quality of your... Read more

Are there any built or in design, Net Zero ALL-ELECTRIC Life Sciences building(s) that you can name for me? I'm looking for precedents, as we consider designing one.

Thanks,

Harry

Plug loads—the energy consumed by plugged-in devices—can use a substantial amount of the total energy in both residential and commercial buildings.

BuildingGreen-Approved Controls

BuildingGreen approves products that monitor and reduce electricity use for plugged-in electrical devices.

Plug Loads and Energy Conservation... 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