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

Question for you all: there is this wonderful graph showing how we can shift mechanical and electrical dollars into envelope investments to make deep energy savings cost-neutral. Have you experienced this on a project?

1-minute or less survey! (two questions, more detail if you want)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/... Read more

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.

Greetings, colleagues!

Here's an opportunity for this community from AIA COTE Advocacy: US Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, is looking for input from national stakeholder groups to help develop new federal climate legislation. Congressman Tonko... Read more

Interior luminaires often use inefficient, outdated technology such as compact fluorescent or halogen lamps, some of which contain mercury and have poor light quality and limited controls.

BuildingGreen-Approved Lighting

BuildingGreen lists lighting products using LEDs (light-emitting diodes) from manufacturers whose luminaires... Read more

Huge shout out to Patty Lloyd, Luke Leung, Janet Olsen, and Sarah Gudeman for their webinar on the Power of Peer Networks. They share lots of insights into the value of participating in BG Peer Networks and many others. Ten bucks to Illinois Green gets you access to the recording--I loved it. What would you have said that they didn't?

This is specifically to Chris but also to anybody who is interested in the topic - which Chris raised on our SAL call today, regarding how to influence change:

From this article, which i thought was good but had a great paragraph pulled below.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/business/Steve-Mollenkopf-Qualcomm-corner-office.html... Read more

Will you be at Greenbuild in Chicago? Stop by BuildingGreen/LEEDuser booth #1522 for informal conversations with guest experts and BuildingGreen editors. You are encouraged to RSVP and add the meet-ups to your calendar, but not registration is not required.

WEDNESDAY NOV. 14

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Dan Winter, Neil... Read more

Hello all,

Does anybody know of a substitute for Ecotect's solar tool? I use it to very quickly test shade options and I love how I can easily test horizontal and vertical elements, tilting and rotating them. I can have a window with the façade on one side and the sun path with the shadow mask on the other side. It is easy to use and... Read more

Are you or companies considering joining RE100? http://there100.org/going-100

"Companies joining RE100 make a global, public commitment to 100% renewable electricity.

To achieve this goal, they must match 100% of the electricity used across their global operations with electricity produced from renewable sources – biomass (... Read more

Hello All,
Checking in on experience with Armstrong's Tectum E-N with NEOPOR Graphite polysytrene GPS rigid foam insulation core in roof panels for exposed structure?
BASF says that NEOPOR uses up to 30% less material than other rigid foam; it is greenguard gold cerified. 

Interesting that the NEOPOR increases in R-value as... Read more

Hello Everybody,

I would like to invite you all to an event being hosted by the AIA Seattle COTE.  This is the next event in a series entitled Pathways to Decarbonization.  Date and time: May 13, 12:00pm - 1:00pm 

Description:  Universities are learning laboratories to explore and implement solutions to our greatest challenges... Read more

I thought some folks here might be interested in a webinar we have coming up this Thursday 12/6 on the topic of best practices for occupant comfort surveys. Although this webinar is part of our Roast launch series, it will be tool agnostic, with information that will be applicable to any occupant survey regardless of tools used. 

To... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Embracing the Economy as a Design Challenge!

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


Understand the ways that architects, community developers and others are experimenting with new financial models to support progressive design.

Approach... Read more

I'm advising a nonprofit organization (the Retreat Farm) on whose board I sit that is renovating a large, 8,000 sf, 19th Century barn into a large community meeting space and wedding venue. We are looking for a source of either folding or stacking chairs that are durable, low-maintenance, and environmentally responsible. We may be seeking... Read more