Product Review
The company's promotional material is the epitome of environmentally friendly packaging—like a Ben & Jerry's annual report. The article reprints sent were even bound in a jacket made from corrugated cardboard. So we were quite intrigued by the product. Syndecrete™ is a lightweight, pre-cast,... Read more
News Analysis
A study published in the June 5, 1992, issue of
Science by researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Arizona suggests that smoke emitted into the atmosphere from human activities may be having a significant effect in counteracting... Read more
Explainer
Feature
Ozone depletion and global warming are two of our most serious environmental problems—and foam insulation materials containing CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute significantly to both of these problems. The environmentally concerned builder or designer should make it a highest priority to avoid them. Even many of the non-CFC alternatives... Read more
Op-Ed
Introducing the first issue of our newsletter.
Buildings have a tremendous impact on the environment. In North America, buildings and the building industry account for about 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, 35-40% of ozone depletion, 20-30% of municipal solid waste, vast quantities of natural resource consumption, and dramatic loss of open space each... Read more
Feature
Susan Maxman is the first AIA president to make sustainable design a priority.
Q.Where would you say architects as a group stand on environmental issues?
A.Architects tend to be reactive rather than proactive. It is important that we take the lead on these environmental issues. The architecture schools in particular tend to be conservative. They just aren’t... Read more
Feature
Carefully stake the building site and driveway, remove trees that are within the excavation area or too close, then erect a fence to keep heavy equipment off fragile soils and away from nearby trees.
Protecting trees and the local ecosystem when building on previously unbuilt land is a vitally important—yet often overlooked—part of environmentally responsible construction. Healthy trees and shrubs can reduce a home’s environmental impact and directly benefit homeowners in a number of ways:
•Enhancing comfort by shielding the house... Read more
News Brief
The American Institute of Architects convention in Boston this past June was the setting for a changing of the guard in the American architectural establishment. The Institute’s first woman president took the reins, the Committee on the Environment became its largest and fastest growing committee, and the first installments of the Environmental... Read more
Forum topic
For those who work for companies that track and offset their carbon each year, how do you do it? Looking for best practices and how you vetted where to send your money. Don't need insight on quantifying carbon footprint, just offsetting. Thanks!
Forum topic
We talked about products in Eastern region and Western region groups.
Guiding questions:
Better Product Choices On Every Project: How To Get There?
How do firms organize and communicate information on materials? Is it office wide or on select projects?
What do designers and project managers need to know? How... Read more
Basic page
Wellness is key to sustainable design. As more and more clients understand the value of healthy built environments, designers need to understand the various wellness rating systems available, and which would meet the project's goals and needs.
WELL and Fitwel have emerged as the two leading wellness rating systems,... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Circular Economy at Scale: Six International Case Studies.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Define circular economy and explain its importance within the built environment.
2. Describe how to leverage long-term value over first... Read more
Forum topic
In the Passive House session at the Winter Summit, I spoke about a Massachusetts DOER report that found that meeting the new energy code in MA (passive house or better in most cases) is cheaper for some building types than traditional construction. Some of you asked to see the report. It was a power point show. On page 34 of this slide deck... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
Here is the information for July's Peer Networks Webinar, Living the Lifecycle: The Launch of Markit Zero. We hope you will join us!
Register HERE
Living the Lifecycle: The Launch of Markit Zero
Thursday, July 28, 2022
3 - 4pm ET (12 - 1pm PT)
Description:
By 2025, the AEC... Read more
Forum topic
Hello all, I would like to share an upcoming Virtual and In-Person conference for NOMA (National Organziation of Minority Architects). Non-members can register, but I encourage anyone to join the organization to support the organization's mission.
"NOMA’s mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all - I wanted to see if anyone will be in the Chicago area for the upcoming ASHRAE conference (21-23rd) and is interested in an informal meet-up? Or if you aren't going but are already in the Chicago area? Let me know and I'll see if we can organize meet-up!


