News Analysis
* This gets complicated -- how much should happen on the dashboard and how much should happen in the actual Discussion forum?
Hold off on discussions for Phase 1. What should be here instead for... Read more
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My colleague, Kira Gould, from the AIA National COTE communications committee, has a great question I am reposting here...
AIA National COTE: In the early 00s, COTE supported an initiative through which we created a Guide to the Green RFP and collected sample RFP language. That now dated guide is no longer findable in our resources and... Read more
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Hi Sages,
We had a great conversation in yesterday's Sages meeting. We took the long list of ideas that we brainstormed last month and in our March poll when thinking about what we could/should focus on as a group and we did some refining and prioritizing using dot-voting in Miro (once we got the voting technology figured out!). Notes... Read more
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Something we seem to be seeing a lot in our market recently are projects split into multiple packages - footing / foundation, C&S, and then later a TI package of CD's... mostly in an effort to speed up permitting and construction schedules. (Oftentimes with a contractor on board for a design / build approach).
My question to the... Read more
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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
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Has anyone here performed circadian lighting studies for WELL using rhino/grasshopper (Lark Spectral Lighting)?
It seems that Lark can only simulate circadian metrics for daylighting, and NOT electric lighting. Can anyone shed some light on this? pun intended :)
Are there any other tools out there that would enable us to... Read more
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Hi folks,
We often hear from you with a suggestion of someone who would be great for the network, and a question about how to refer them. We've now made that easy, with three steps laid out in an Outreach Toolkit that's posted in the left margin of the Member Directory.
So, if you're thinking of someone to invite or come across... Read more
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All--
I haven't been part of this group in a while, but I'm excited to have rejoined recently. Some of you know that I joined HMC last year as Chief Impact Officer. I oversee design, sustainability, research, and communications for the firm, which has 300 people in 6 offices in California. We were founded in 1940 with a mission to serve... Read more
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The LBC v4.0 materials imperatives for Responsible Materials (Core) & Responsible Sourcing require a majority of wood materials (by cost) to be FSC. Sure. But what is - or isn't - considered wood? The Clarification page for the imperative's scope and a key definition poses a perplexing conundrum:
"All wood included in the Materials... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of How to Spot Greenwash--A BuildingGreen Webinar.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the characteristics of quality standards and certifications to help screen out greenwash.
2. Recognize strengths and weaknesses of... Read more
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I give you... the content-ready site. The editors should be able to start adding Best Practice content.
Development site:
https://live-bituser.pantheonsite.io/
Instructions (with tutorial videos):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EUIzitkW0CczFQo8V2q3gVDVO4Juk4EI9iv8...
I created accounts for all the editors... Read more
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If I'm remembering correctly, someone at the summer summit mentioned working on / or being familiar with the Berkeley CA gas ban. A town here in MA is also considering a ban and wanted to get some feedback from Berkeley.
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All -
We have corporate clients that are starting to request antimicrobials in response to Covid-19. I assume we are not the only ones seeing an increase in these requests. Knowing that the evidence supporting antimicrobials has limited to no efficacy, how are you approaching these conversations? We want to continue to advise based on... Read more
Product Guide
Carpet cushion may emit VOCs or contain halogenated flame retardants that can slough off in dust.
BuildingGreen-Approved Carpet Cushions
BuildingGreen approves carpet backing made from natural materials as well as synthetic commercial products that meet the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label standards.
... Read more
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I'm sure we'll learn more soon, but several people have asked on various platforms about how Betsy del Monte is doing (she lives in Asheville, NC, which was hard hit by Hurricane Helene).
I had a brief text exchange with her on Saturday 28 September, and I feel sure that she would be OK with my sharing it with you all:
We’re... Read more
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I was asked to share this with my network...
"For colleagues working with LCA data, during design, construction, or facility management proces, please help us understand how EPDs are useful in your processes by completing the survey below:"
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ashrant-aryal-2354497a_qualtrics-survey-q...
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Dear all,
On a major renovation where the wall R-value/U-value needs to be brought up to energy code, specifically a mass wall situation, does anyone have insights on how the situation is best dealt with? On the project in question for me, the continuous insulation might have to be added to the inside surface of the mass wall and there... Read more