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BuildingGreen is the most trusted voice in sustainable design and architecture.
This ad-free, member-supported resource is here to guide designers in using high-performance strategies, and in selecting sustainable and healthy products.
If you haven't already, start by creating your unique user profile to get your log-in, and be... Read more
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As we begin to look into Scope 3 emissions reduction strategies, it's important to understand ways to reduce tranportation emissions to project sites. Is anyone aware of best practices or programs for contractor carpooling to jobsites? I know many of my colleagues travel to work together in one vehicle because of parking limitations, however,... Read more
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Hi everyone,
Happy new year!
The FIRST First Friday Fika* of 2024 is happening this Friday, January 5th from 11am to 12pm ET, hosted by Candace Pearson.
Here is the registration link for the Fikas, or if you've registered previously, you can use the same link for this week.
We look forward to seeing you Friday!
... Read moreProduct Guide
Solvents and other hazardous ingredients contained in flooring adhesives can pose a significant health risk and compromise indoor air quality.
BuildingGreen-Approved Flooring Adhesives
BuildingGreen approves flooring adhesives that
exceed South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) 1168 VOC content limits and also... Read moreForum topic
Dear Colleagues,
I proposed CarbonCure for a project and the structural engineer in the meeting was opposed to it. He later sent me detailed reasoning by email. I have not used this technology and would like to hear other more experienced opinions on the technology. The project we are working on is well integrated with climate, 99% sDA,... Read more
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Hello Green Gurus,
Here are all the details about our two Peer Network events in Chicago on Tuesday, June 21st. If you'll be in town, we hope to see you!
From 1-5pm we'll have the Chicago/Midwest Region Mini-Summit, open to members of any of the five Peer Networks (Sustainability Consultants, Community Design Leaders, Contractors... Read more
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Hello all,
My name is Stephen Messinger. Thanks for including me in the group. I am excited to get involved. Glad to see some familiar and amazing names on this list.
A little about me: I am born and raised in Massachusetts. I live in Jamaica Plain (Boston) with my wife Lauren and two amazing daughters (Penelope, 4.... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Better Window Decisions: Mastering the Performance and Cost Options.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the energy metrics that inform how windows affect energy loads
2. Describe ways to avoid air leakage and condensation... Read more
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This might be going down a rabbit hole, but in moving to California this year I noticed that "zero net energy" (ZNE) is the standard term, whereas "net zero energy" (NZE) was more common back east. The DOE's 2015 definition (below) uses "zero energy building" (ZEB), which to me implies a building uses no energy at all.
Regional... Read more
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Apologize in advance if this has been posted before but we are trying to get manufacturers of stage curtains to give documentation that proves that the product does not have halogenated fire retardants. Manufacturers say they don't have them or concentrations are limited to 100ppm but they don't seem to have documentation to provide for it.... Read more
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Curious if folks know of any resources on hempcrete, specific to durability. We have a one-story carbon-neutral operational energy project where the design team and client have bought into the aesthetics and carbon-sequestering potential of hempcrete, and amazingly it is looking to be no more expensive than a more typical concrete wall... Read more
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For those of you working in jurisdictions with both prescriptive and performance-based commercial energy code pathways, roughly what percentage of your projects are using the performance pathway? How do your project teams decide which pathway to follow?
In Minnesota we are seeing very few projects pursuing the performance pathway,... Read more
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As many of you already know, Hanson Wade is starting a NEW conference this year on Advancing Construction Decarbonization. It is being held in-person July 19-21 in Denver, CO and looks to be a great program.
The organizer of the conference contacted us to see if more SCL members might want to be speakers--so if you're interested in... Read more
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Does anyone here have a draft spec for low embodied carbon concrete they could share? I see the GSA has a standards sheet with MGWP limits, but we are hoping to actually specify the mix for upcoming projects.
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All--
Metropolis magazine asked me to write a long piece about the current state of post-occupancy studies. I'm wrestling with whether to do it and how to approach it, but it would be helpful to hear your thoughts on the following--
--importance of the topic
--typical and atypical approaches and criteria
--examples... Read more
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Hi SCL,
Just thought I would share an interesting piece from Construction Dive about a lack of guidance on when to halt work due to bad air quality--from wildfires or otherwise. A few SCL companies are mentioned here as having their own policies, but I was pretty shocked to learn that this isn't required by OSHA.
https://www.... Read more