Author
Nancy Eve Cohen is the managing editor at BuildingGreen. She brings the highest standards to her work, with the goal of providing trusted and accurate information and analysis for BuildingGreen’s readers.
Previously she worked in public radio as a reporter and editor for more than two decades, where she specialized in environmental... Read more
Forum topic
We are pursuing sustainability goals (and documentation of those goals) outside of any certification/rating system for a current project. However, we have set up a criteria list of goals by following strategies/credits from many of those systems (LEED v4 EPDs, SITES v2 threatened tree species, WELL v2 mindful eating, etc.). This approach is... Read more
Forum topic
Kristen Fritsch, in the thread about ipe wood, asked about resources comparing the carbon footprint of transporting building materials vs the transport mode. There are people who spend their lives on this topic that I won't presume to speak for, but I'll share a few observations:
Even though freight transport is something like 7% of... Read more
Quiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of How to Build Green At No Added Cost
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Know how to make a value proposition for green buildings.
2. Explain how shrinking a green building and investing in its envelope can reduce first costs of its... Read more
Forum topic
Hi all and Happy New Year: I'm writing to make sure that you're aware of the USGBC's call for members for a new LEED Resilience Working Group. See below. The deadline is coming right up - Please pass this along to others you may think of in the topic areas they identify below.
Thanks
Mary Ann
I wanted to let you know... Read more
Forum topic
There has been some great press in the last couple of days related to Healthy Building Network's (HBN) newly released report "Chlorine & Building Materials Project". That report is over 200 pages long, but there is some great commentary available that makes the top issues much quicker to grasp.
Chlorine is used to make PVC and PVC... Read more
Forum topic
We are working on a tenant improvement and want to determine the embodied carbon on bookshelves, product display cases, and desks. Initially finding that Tally is not reading furniture, casework, or fixture families. Are there any tips and tricks you have found to be successful for modeling or defining FFE items in Revit and quantifying... Read more
Product Guide
Caseworks can be made from unsustainable wood and other materials, and with adhesives and finishes that offgas formaldehyde and other hazardous compounds.
BuildingGreen-Approved Casework
Approved caseworks are:
made from FSC-certified wood or rapidly renewable materials verified as low emitting using CDPH Standard Method or a... Read moreForum topic
Hello,
The Baltimore office for Hord Coplan Macht is looking to hire a Sustainability Coordinator. Please find the specifics here https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=hcm2&jobId=4... or attached and pass along if you know of someone who may be a good fit.
Thank you,
Ara Massey
Forum topic
Greetings, All.
The Resilient Outcomes Working group has been putting together a resource list (and map) of resources for supporting resilience-focused design across the US. So far, we have around 50 resources on the list, ranging from the AIA Resilient Design Toolkit to local Vulnerability and Adaptation reports and tools.
We... Read more
Forum topic
Help. I have a contractor in need of advice on IAQ testing agencies and I'm largely uninformed about the local market of IAQ testing agencies. Anyone have organizations they'd specifically recommend or not recommend?
Feel free to email me directly if you'd prefer - awilson@ayerssaintgross.com.
Aley
Forum topic
Hi all,
I'm wondering if you all have had a meetup at NESEA's Building Energy Boston conference before? Is anyone interested in meeting up this year? I'm open to ideas! If you give me your email address I can attempt to organize an informal meet up on one of the conference days.
For those of you not in the NE part of the country,... Read more
Forum topic
Friends, I reviewed the firm's 2019 AIA 2030 data with a Principal, having organized the data in such a way that we could manipulate it. I included the average EUI and weighted EUI, since the latter gives a truer picture of where we are as a studio. In the past, the assumption was we would raise all boats with efforts to improve our practice in... Read more
Forum topic
Hi SD Leaders: As you may know, The National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) is currently drafting their proposed 2020 Conditions for Architectural Accreditation. AIA COTE has prepared a response and believe it is critical that the NAAB accreditation process address the role of the architect in climate action and the projected impacts... Read more
Forum topic
Hi everyone! LMN is embarking on a 17-part series to explore a more comprehensive carbon metric via summaries of various topics with lots of link. This dovetails with many other efforts in the industry and will reference all the best stuff that we are aware of...such as MEP 2040, SE 2050, CLF stuff, Epic tool, CARE tool, Arch 2030 publications... Read more
Product Guide
Faucets with high flow rates waste water—not to mention the energy used to treat and deliver it to our buildings—and the additional water stresses our wastewater treatment systems.
Warnings Low-flow faucets may not be appropriate for every application. Where there are long pipe runs or large-diameter supply pipes, it can take longer for... Read more