Would anyone have an example LEED Homes v4 specification they would be willing to share?  We are working on our first LEED Homes project, a midrise low income housing development here in Houston.  We have a LEED Homes provider, but she will not provide the specifications, which seem to be quite different in requirements and submittals from our... Read more

Returning to work: for many, it’s unthinkable without some kind of reassurance that leadership and the facilities team have taken all possible precautions. Lots of organizations are weighing in on what we should pay attention to, but how do we know if it’s working?

The free Re-entry program from Arc is a tracking and measurement... Read more

A question for you, all input appreciated: What are some metrics and data points you all use to report out to your staff and leadership? I'm starting on higher-level analysis of our projects' performance by typology and through other lenses, and I wonder if you have found metrics or reporting points that are particularly impactful in your... Read more

I am looking for examples of adaptive reuse projects that have addressed current or future flooding by elevating floors from the existing condition.

Hello Peer Network members,

I have some bittersweet news: I’ve accepted another job and will be leaving BuildingGreen. I’m excited to be the new Community Outreach Manager at Brattleboro VT’s Retreat Farm and to support their mission of connecting people to the land and to each other. I’ve learned so much from being part of this... Read more

I see Kjell Anderson, Mary Ann Lazarus and Daniel Overbey as the Green Gurus on this list - if i missed anybody apologies.

Congrats all around folks!

https://www.usgbc.org/articles/gbci-announces-2018-leed-fellows 

For a number of years a colleague and I have been teaching a course about sustainability and water in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania's architectural school (PennDesign).  This year we're hoping to bring a few new opinions to the table for at the same time as we broaden the discussion.  Because the class will be virtual again... Read more

Are your firms discussing the health effects of silica dust on people working with engineered stone and the recent announcement of the upcoming ban in Australia, as of July 2024?

https://www.dezeen.com/2023/12/14/australia-bans-engineered-stone-silico...

According to the article, a recent report says that there is no safe level of... Read more

Lake|Flato is growing our design performance team!  If you know any great applicants for our new design technologist position, please send them our way:

Design Technologist in San Antonio.pdf (lakeflato.com)

Dear SDLers,

I wanted to share that Canadian Architectural Professionals declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and Committed to Urgent and Sustained Action. The declaration was launched last Friday as part of a week of events surrounding the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Like others around the world, the week of global... Read more

Textiles have some of the worst environmental records of any product found in our buildings. Textile production uses a number of hazardous chemicals and pollutes water; and its environmental impacts often affect our most vulnerable populations.

BuildingGreen favors textiles made using fibers and manufacturing processes that have low... Read more

Five types of green buildings explained. Check out this great infographic by the Pembina Institute: What do net-zero and zero-carbon buildings mean for energy use and climate pollution?

Hi folks,

The team at Open Architecture Collaborative Canada (website under construction) are developing a remote learning experience to address the lack of meaningful practice of design for social impact in the built environment-related design and planning fields. They’ve together a pretty detailed survey to help guide the development... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Protect Your Spec: 14 Strategies. 

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


Identify ways to ensure continuity between the environmentally preferable materials in a project specification, and the less-than-ideal materials that end up used in the final... Read more

Here is your friendly reminder to complete the SCL Salary Survey if you have not yet.

There is a link at the end of the SurveyMonkey Survey to a Google form where you will be able to register that you completed the survey—that way we’ll know who participated without having any identifying info in the actual survey. Results will be shared... Read more

Hello Green Gurus,

Here is the information for August's Peer Networks Webinar, A more Mindful Future: mindful MATERIALs plans for Digital Transformation through the Common Materials Framework. We hope you will join us!

Register HERE

A more Mindful Future: mindful MATERIALs plans for Digital Transformation through the Common... Read more