Product Review
To the best of our knowledge, this product is now being marketed under the name Rauhsaser by Better Wall System of Kenora, ON.
CoverAge is a tacky name for a great product that all remodelers should know about. It is a paintable, textured wallpaper that’s made entirely of recycled paper (at... Read moreNews Brief
At first glance,
An Environmental Handbook for Florida Contractors looks like it deals only with the environmental regulations that Florida contractors must contend with. And, indeed, the Handbook describes in detail the requirements for complying with regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. But the book goes much further,... Read more
Explainer
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
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
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
Forum topic
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out how to use this CLF MEP calculator tool that is downloadable from the CLF website. Please see screenshot attached - does anybody know what they are asking for as an input?
"Custom quantities input: The user can enter custom quantities on this tab and produce numerical results. For data input fill '... Read more
Forum topic
Hi,
I selected a new background photo for the home page (the previous one was the same as on LEEDuser.com). I found the photo here:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-shot-of-building-1029618/
I needed to find something low-contrast that wouldn't compete with the text. I initially tried some of the stock photos... Read more
Forum topic
Hi folks,
For those who have already been involved, this is a friendly reminder that our next Sustainable MEP Leaders call is Monday the 29th at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Here is the Zoom link to join, and here is the agenda for the call.
We have also had a couple of new people join the network – welcome to Cindy Cogil and Sergio... Read more
Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars
If you are interested in sharing this WELL AP Exam Study Guide within your organization... Read more
Forum topic
Hi folks,
Wondering if this group has insights about the low-embodied carbon product "Vertua" from Cemex, which appears to be a proprietary concrete product launched in 2020.
Our client wants to use CarbonCure; but our likely concrete sub is saying Cemex (where they typically source their concrete) offers an alternative called... Read more
Forum topic
Hello everyone,
Over the past couple of years the Climate Smart Wood Group has met monthly to discuss all things related to the use of timber in building design and construction. From forestry practices, to supply chain and sourcing information, to design experiences and examples, the group has operated as an open forum for advancing... Read more
Peer Network Event
Product Guide
The opportunity for water savings from installing efficient toilets, and from toilet replacement, is significant. In addition to improvements to the traditional gravity system, pressure- and vacuum-assisted flushing systems are available that offer superior performance—albeit often with some increase in flushing noise.
Cautions Certain... Read moreQuiz
Welcome to the quiz portion of The PVC Debate: A Fresh Look.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
1. Examine the actual cost-effectiveness of PVC in terms of quality.
2. Explain what makes PVC a health hazard.
3. Recognize market effects of PVC's durability and... Read more
Forum topic
Not a green design question but a green firm design question... Finalizing the renewal of our Just certification, we're taking a fresh look at all our benefits & policies. We have already reviewed industry-wide survey data (AIA and PSMJ) but are interested in how the firms we admire (i.e., *you*) are approaching benefits in the transformed... Read more
Forum topic
Hello All,
ASHRAE and ICC released a draft standard for operational and embodied GHG evaluation. It's on a fast track to be completed in time for the next code cycle. This 30 day advisory draft includes dozens of questions looking for feedback from experts like all of you. Please take a look and provide comments. I've uploaded the... Read more


