SDL Group -

Hi all!  After a brief hiatus from the group to move from New Orleans to Portland (OR), start a new job at ZGF Architects, buy a house, and  see my baby boy become a toddler (all in the past year!)---- I'm ready to plug back into the group.  Seeing folks at the ILFI conference re-energized me to reengage :)

So…..does... Read more

Peer networks that allow knowledge sharing and collaboration between sustainability professionals

The Sustainable Design Leaders network and Summit events started over 10 years ago, when a group of sustainable designers realized that the struggles they faced and the goals they strove toward were shared by many... Read more

Hi folks,

I wanted to let people know about this webinar--I've heard it's good. If you do catch it please let us know what you think. Jason has offered to do a private version for our Peer Networks as well--I'd love to know how interested people would be in that opportunity.

November 14, 2019 from noon to 1 PM Pacific Time

... Read more

Hi Fellow SDLers: Just wanted to make sure everyone saw the terrific initiatives that the White House announced last week:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2021/05/17/fact-sheet-biden-administration-accelerates-efforts-to-create-jobs-making-american-buildings-more-affordable-cleaner-and-resilient/

Maybe some impact from... Read more

Hi Gang, 

We are looking to implement the contractor commitment and are running into COVID-19 protocol barriers when looking at the Jobsite Wellness category specific to the soap as well as the food storage/eating areas on site. Anyone else run into this issue? 

-Kena 

Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, has more than 30 years of experience, focusing on high-quality design imbued with a solid technical and sustainable foundation. At Long Green Specs, she provides sustainability-focused construction specifications and building material expertise to architectural firms across the country. She was chair of the AIA... Read more

We are trying to figure out how we are going to meet the LEED Credit for Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction for the first time.

One approach we're trying out: We're taking the results of our Tally model and looking at potential reductions from low-carbon concrete. However, the problem I am encountering is that when I take some of our... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of The Great Eight: High-Impact Material Choices for Green Building.

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


1. Specify green building materials in product categories that truly make a difference for human health, the environment, or both.
2. Conduct a... Read more

Hi all, 

Thank you again to those of you who attended the Spring 2024 SCL Summit! We had an amazing day of learning from one another, including from our presenters.

The slides for the 5-minute presentations are below, as well as the BuildingGreen slides from the Summit. Please be aware that we have permission from all of the... Read more

Hi all -

I got this yesterday from Renew Oregon, a credible environmental NGO here in the state.

"A secretive special interest group has filed a petition at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take “net metering” rules away from states and make it a federal issue.  Net metering is the program that allows homes and... Read more

I have been asked to recommend folks to join the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence.  The AIA Framework for Design Excellence is basically the top ten toolkit, that has been rebranded by the AIA and is forming the backbone of much of the policy that the AIA is currently setting.

From the AIA's website:

The Framework for Design... Read more

Mass Timber Construction: An Economic Study of Supply, Best Use, and Implementation in three North American regions

This series unveils a macroeconomic study of building with mass timber in three U.S. regions; the Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountain Colorado, and the Southeast. 

Three companies - SCB Architects, LeMessurier, and Turner... Read more

Hi Everyone!

I'm Lauren Shumaker and I'm a Project Manager/Sustainability Manager with Turner Construction.  As a long standing advocate for healthy and sustainable building materials, I look forward to expanding my ability to promote material transparency and shine a greater light on our ability to positively impact human and... Read more

We're wrapping up a multi year project that went through multiple design changes, leaving us with a ton of material samples.  Does anyone know of a good place we could donate these samples to, to keep them out of the landfill.  I'm in the greater Seattle area.  Thank you for any suggestions.

Depending on seating type­­, these products can contain PVC, toxic flame retardants, hazardous adhesives and finishes, and other unsustainable materials.

BuildingGreen-Approved Seating

BuildingGreen’s seating meets ONE of the following sets of criteria:

is certified to BIFMA’s level 3 standard and, where applicable, contains... Read more

It’s here! By popular demand we’re re-running the SDL Salary Survey that we last ran in 2015. 

This is for people who are currently in an SD Leader role at a firm. We’re sending this invitation out on both the Green Gurus and the SD Leaders forums, because some of you are still in transition and haven’t moved into the SD Leader forum yet... Read more

You're invited to join your colleagues in an SCL Whole Group Web Meeting on Construction Waste May 14th, 2019 11am - Noon EST!!

Report-out web meeting led by Jennifer Taranto and Jenelle Shapiro on what’s been going on in regions, talk as a whole SCL group about how best to support local MRFs' and haulers' activities, and how to leverage... Read more