News Brief
Carol Venolia, Publisher/Editor
If “progressive construction” can be defined as pushing the tools and techniques of conventional builders in the direction of less environmental destruction, then Building With Nature’s material goes beyond progressive, into the forefront of visionary thinking about construction. This bimonthly newsletter, now... Read moreNews Analysis
EBN Advisory Board member Mike Nicklas led an international delegation of renewable energy experts in promoting sustainable energy at the Earth Summit last month. He and others were negotiating for inclusion of renewable energy and energy conservation measures into agreements being worked out for the United Nations... 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
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
Forum topic
Hi Friends - I'm sure you've started to see news and posts from personal contacts about the shortage of masks, gloves and other PPE for hospital workers. Our company GCI General Contractors is pulling what we can to donate locally. Please urge your leadership to do the same! I just talked with a dear friend who is an infectious disease... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Energy-Efficient Multifamily Housing.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Restate the six big opportunities for energy savings in multifamily housing.
2. Differentiate between the four green building rating systems for new... Read more
Forum topic
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)
Forum topic
Hi All,
In case you haven't been following State news lately, Massachusetts has a pretty major climate bill on the Governor's desk right now. He has through tomorrow to either sign or veto it. There's a ton of support from the bill from advocate groups. MA AIA and the BSA both wrote letters to the Governor in support. This only... Read more
Forum topic
Hi. I'm Dan Piselli, the new Director of Sustainability at FXCollaborative. You all may know my predecessor Ilana Judah - she and I worked together closely for many years, and I can only hope to emulate her success.
FYI, a few things about me: I've been a project architect and manager for a number of LEED projects, most recently the... Read more
Forum topic
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
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Forum topic
Has anyone done inherent bias training in their firm, and if so, how'd it go? Do you have someone you'd recommend as a trainer/facilitator? Thanks!

