Explainer
News Analysis
It isn’t just environmental zealots who are up in arms about the U.S. Forest Service’s policies on managing the nation’s timber resources. The Association of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics has jumped into the fray—from the inside. Jeff DeBonis, the Association’s founder and executive director,... Read more
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
Product Guide
CEUs are available for reading all the building-envelope product guides and primer. Click here to learn more and take the quiz.
Noise disrupts work, learning, and healing and can create stress and discomfort.
BuildingGreen-Approved Acoustic Insulation
We look for products with:
Greenguard Gold certification or similar... Read moreForum topic
So I was testing assigning a BIT Expert to a Best Practice and I am having trouble getting the profile image to appear.
When I upload a profile picture, it appears on the standard profile page from "My Account" but when I navigate to the BIT Best Practice 01, the image does not show and it takes me to another profile page that does... Read more
Forum topic
Hi All,
I will be catching up on learning units over Thanksgiving weekend and I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing the challenge of credential maintenance of their CPHD? Ideally we would have a client go for Passive House accreditation on a project, but lacking that, how are folks maintaining their 20 credits per year? For... Read more
Forum topic
Hi everyone,
As you may know the ICC has changed the way the IECC will be written in the future and most of us think that will reduce the stringency of the future energy codes that are the biggest lever in the fight against climate change within the buildings sector.
So one of the best pathways forward is via ASHRAE, which has a... Read more
Forum topic
Hello everyone!
I'll be using this thread to post call reminders and notes.
To start us off, the next call is this coming Tuesday, March 24th at 1pm Eastern.
The topics we will be discussing include:
Around the “room” quick check-in. How’s everyone doing? What’s top of mind for you? Able to keep projects and... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus!
We have some exciting details for the next All Peer Networks webinar on Design Agency & Civic Engagement: Building Sustainable Communities.
REGISTER HERE - Hope to see you there!
Design Agency & Civic Engagement: Building Sustainable Communities
June 25th, 2020
3pm - 4pm ET (Noon - 1pm... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all!
A couple years ago now there was an incredible thread here about circadian lighting design and WELL. There was a lot of dipping toes in the water with intent to gather lessons learned and report back.
What have been the high points and low points of circadian lighting design so far? What seems cost-effective and worth... Read more
Forum topic
Hello All! My firm is looking to hire a sustainability coordinator to help advance our sustainable initiatives at our firm. This will be a new position for our firm. Does anyone have a job description, roles/responsibilties, and task list that they would be willing to share with me? Or if you serve in this role at your firm, I'd love to chat... Read more
Author
Boyd is part of the marketing team at BuildingGreen, where he supports analytics and social media engagement.
Boyd’s experience before joining BuildingGreen includes a decade in the paddlesports industry guiding whitewater trips as well as 5 years working in beer and wine manufacturing with a focus on customer interaction as well as... Read more
Forum topic
Have you ever been accused of being "self-righteous," or "judgemental" in your role as and SDL? Anyone have tips and tricks to avoid this trap?
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of The Cost of Comfort: Climate Change and Refrigerants!
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
Explain how refrigerants work, the energy challenges they present for design teams, and the opportunities for efficiency and building performance.
... Read more


