Product Review
The company's promotional material is the epitome of environmentally friendly packaging—like a Ben & Jerry's annual report. The article reprints sent were even bound in a jacket made from corrugated cardboard. So we were quite intrigued by the product. Syndecrete™ is a lightweight, pre-cast,... Read more
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
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
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
Forum topic
Hi Shane and Dennis,
What return address should we use for BIT User forum notification emails? Ben suggests something like no-reply@bit-user.org but whatever you like is fine.
Once you decide, please let us know who controls the domain name (e.g. bit-user.org or bitbuilding.org). Ben will send them instructions for editing the... Read more
Product Guide
Textiles have some of the worst environmental records of any product found in our buildings. Textile production uses a number of hazardous chemicals and pollutes water; and its environmental impacts often affect our most vulnerable populations.
BuildingGreen favors textiles made using fibers and manufacturing processes that have low... Read more
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
We’re happy to see the first round of summit registrations rolling in! We’ve had lots of questions about specific topics for the sessions. As usual, the agenda will be based on topics that are top of mind for you.
Whether you are already registered or not, please fill out the Pre Summit-Palooza Survey to help us... Read more
Forum topic
Hive mind,
We recently learned that 3M has discontinued the production of their 3M Daylight Redirecting Film (https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/building-window-solutions-us/solutions/dayli...). This product was selected by an architecture client last year as the optimal daylight/glare control strategy for a school project, and we're assisting... Read more
Forum topic
We're hiring: Join our dynamic team as a Sustainablity Coordinator at Structure Tone Southwest!
APPLY NOW!
Posting is listed for Dallas, but we're open to Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
Are you passionate about sustainable building practices and wellness in the built environment? Join our team at Structure Tone Southwest... Read more
Forum topic
Hey All!
One of the initiatives from our first meeting in Chicago was to gather and develop resources related to plug and process loads in buildings which will help us all with: energy modeling, equipment sizing and power distribution. We had our first call this morning and are rolling. Aspirations are that this could turn into a... Read more
Forum topic
Hi Green Gurus,
In this stressful time, I think it is important for us to continue to feel connected and supported. Also, it is difficult to come to terms with the reality of what is happening. So, I thought it would be helpful for us to share some information about the response of our respective firms to the Coronavirus.
The... Read more
Forum topic
see IFTF- A New Story to Spark the Future of Climate Action
and chek out their Climate Action Map download
Forum topic
Hello Green Gurus,
Here is the information for October's Peer Networks Webinar, How to use the Building Environmental Justice Tool for your next project. We hope you will join us!
Register HERE
How to use the Building Environmental Justice Tool for your next project
Monday, October 24, 2022
2 - 3pm ET (11am -... Read more
Forum topic
Hi! I'm writing a short news piece on WELL v2 and looking for someone very familiar with the existing and v2 standards to interview about the changes. If you meet that description and would like to go on the record with your thoughts, please reply to me directly at paula@buildinggreen.com. Thanks!
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

