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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
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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
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
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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
Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
Are you getting questions, advice, and dubious sales pitches from all comers about how to design and run an HVAC system to combat infectious disease? You’re not alone. Engineers, facility managers, architects, and other building professionals are all... Read more
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Hi Fellow SDLers: I'm writing to share intel about two recent climate change articles that provide links to some great new resources:
1. From the AIA Trust: An excellent article in this month's AIA Trust Newsletter on "Climate Impact on Professional Liability." This includes links to some useful resources including the new AIA Hazard and... Read more
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I don't have any direct affiliation with this role other than a former colleague asked if I would share the job posting for Director of Sustainability at Corgan with my network - that's you! She provided a little more context - they are obviously looking for someone with sustainability experience but are open to an up-and-comer who would be... Read more
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It’s hard to believe COP28 is upon us. Kicking off tomorrow (11.30) and concluding 12.12, it’s sure to be a full few weeks of sharing, live streams, and interesting takes.
We’ve been excited to see a few Peer Network members represented as attendees in Architecture 2030’s (in-person and virtual) delegation.
Andrea Love (SDL),... Read moreForum topic
Hi everyone,
We're still working to find the optimal time for the SDLS monthly call. We're now looking at the 4th Tuesday of the month. Please fill out this doodle poll to let us know which of these times work for you.
Thank you!
Jen
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Live webinar tomorrow (link available after for viewing any time)
Tomorrow at 3pm EST will be the first in the series - mid-sized firms who successfully met the 2030 targets in 2019.
Lessons learned and sharing stories.
https://2030secretsofsuccess.eventbrite.com
Product Guide
Early laminate flooring had problems with premature surface wear, moisture damage, and hazardous formaldehyde emissions—and some products may still have these problems.
BuildingGreen-Approved Flooring
Laminate flooring products listed by BuildingGreen have high recycled content (greater than 70%) or FSC-certified content and:... Read more
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Hi all,
Looking from insights from anyone who's been through WELL certification before - we've got a lab/office project pursing WELL down in Florida that is struggling to meet the turbidity level requirements of the WELL W01 prerequisite, specifically with the hot water supply, and we're not sure how to best remediate the issue. Should... Read more
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We just wrapped up an awesome Winter Summit at Gulf State Park in Alabama. I'll be posting flip chart pages and notes here--we can use this forum to continue the conversations.
Apologies for the flurry of emails, but it seems best to start separate threads for each topic. If you'd rather limit the flow, you can switch to daily digest... Read more
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We are working on a large, commercial, LEED project in the Wash DC area, and the Construction Management firm needs LEED administrative/documentation assistance on their end of the process. The construction is underway but the CM lacks the staff.
Can anyone suggest a LEED consultant in the DC area that can work for the CM -- managing... Read more
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I'm looking for precedents of retail centers (think outdoor centers with multiple buildings or converted indoor malls) that have incorporated any of these strategies. Also, any research studies on the health, social, and other benefits of incorporating these strategies.
a. Preserve/restore natural ecology, green infrastructure... Read more

