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
News Brief
Energy Source™ Directory
Life has been a whole lot easier around the office since theEnergy Source Directory arrived. Assembled and published by Iris Communications, this is the most complete and most useful guide to specialized products and materials used in energy-efficient construction that we've seen. The 500-page directory is... 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
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
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
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
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of Natural Ventilation: The Nine Biggest Obstacles and How Project Teams Are Beating Them
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the primary reasons to design a building for natural ventilation.
2. Understand how cost, comfort... Read more
Forum topic
Reminder: For anyone interested in continuing to participate in the Climate Smart Wood Working Group, please note that we have joined the other CSWG and will have our first meeting next Wednesday. Visit the Working Group page for the meeting invite and agenda.
Forum topic
Hello Community,
For those of you who will be in San Diego shortly for Greenbuild, and want to come together to honor Lance, please see the details at :
https://celebratinglance.eventbrite.com
We will meet up outside at 5pm on the 22nd. Details in the evite.
Please share with anyone outside of this list who was a... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all - back in May I asked you for help reviewing our series ahead of publication. The first 5 posts are up, with the 6th a day or so away. Thanks to everyone who has helped out!
It's a fail-forward effort to help us figure out what we are missing in our climate action on our projects and advocacy. Enjoy, and let me know if and how... Read more
Forum topic
Hi All,
I just became aware of the attached detail (if I uploaded it correctly) for a project in Portland, OR going out for permit at the end of this week. Has anyone located the radiant tubing at the bottom of concrete like this before? It doesn't sit right with me, though I cannot pinpoint exactly why. Our consultants and the... Read more
Forum topic
Hey, all. Confirming the forum index on the front side of the pay wall will be searchable. Thanks.
Forum topic
Anyone aware of tools or workflows for modeling of a specific outdoor space and effective surface temperatures? We've done a goodly amoutn of microclimate simulations, but never explicitly factored in the ground surface, in terms of emissivity and other related factors.
Forum topic
Hello, Rheaply is looking to connect with stakeholders who might be able to participate in the Phase I research. If you are interested, please use the links below and sign up using the link to the form. Please share with anyone in the built environment you think contribute knowledge to this effort.
Rheaply is collaborating with the U.S.... Read more
Forum topic
Hi everyone,
We’re so excited to announce that registration for the first-ever “Summit for the Sages” is live! Register here and save your seat to join BuildingGreen, your Sages peers, and members of all three other networks in Omaha this Summer.
If you are in Sages and SDL and want to attend both summits, please check the “SDL... Read more
Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
THIS WEBINAR PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
WHEN: Monday November 19, 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern TimeCOST: $30 for BuildingGreen Premium members, $65 for non-members Thermal Comfort – Connecting physics, people, and performance
Thermal comfort is a science of both physics and people, always a tough... Read more

