Championing the
Changemakers

Hello all,

I have a quick question for you. While Energy Star appliances are a no-brainer for projects, I don't see a hard requirement to select Energy Star appliances in the energy prereq/credit. There are references in the water section for water using appliances like ice machines, dishwashers, clothes washers, etc., but no related... Read more

Colleagues

It has been my great pleasure to serve the AIA's COTE Top Ten review process, both as a main juror and, most recently, as one of the technical review team.  I have specifically reviewed the Discovery and Energy measures for the past few years.  I will be serving again on the 2021 team.  The AIA has already received many more... Read more

Wanted to let everyone know that Nadav and I are very excited about gathering in Las Vegas for our very first Summit of the Small Firm SDL peer network! We'll meet Wednesday afternoon, June 5, for a 4-hour concentrated session from 1:30-5:30 in Room N205. Here's the agenda. A group of us will be meeting on Tuesday to refine the content and flow... Read more

Dear All!

I recently met a passionate new hire at an architecture firm in NYC.  Her firm is reluctant to taking meaningful steps towards increasing sustainable impacts of their projects.  (Their work is in market rate of all types.)  This new hire is frustrated with the lack of sustainable adoption and understanding.

What would... Read more

Hello - I wanted to see if others have been having any of the same Windows security issues with a host of public software (Radiance, Window, DAYSIM, Open Studio) that we regularly use for performance analysis.

My IT team has let me know that they see serious security conflicts with THERM, as well as lot of the LBNL software (Radiance,... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Avoiding the Global Warming Impact of Insulation.

Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:


1. Define “embodied global warming potential” and “lifetime global warming potential” as they relate to insulation materials.
2. Describe why some... Read more

For those who work for companies that track and offset their carbon each year, how do you do it? Looking for best practices and how you vetted where to send your money. Don't need insight on quantifying carbon footprint, just offsetting.  Thanks!

We are looking into different building skin materials from including GFRC and FRP (amongst others) as alternatives to precast. I remember years ago (when I was at LAS) we had retrofitted a Federal Courthouse with FRP for blast resistance. I kind of remember that at the time it had some pretty high offgassing concerns. I haven't been able to... Read more

THIS WEBINAR PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Should housing be affordable? Or should it be sustainably designed, built, and operated?

When you put it like that, the question sounds absurd.

But the idea—usually unspoken—that sustainability wastes precious time and resources is painfully common in the... Read more

Hi all, hope you're keeping safe and healthy. I'm thinking about protocols to put in place on jobsites related to COVID-19 in addition to our IAQ plans. Wondering if anyone's company has started to layout specific protocols, PPE, etc. and is willing to share.

What got me thinking was this article from Prof. Joe Allen at Harvard about... Read more

Hello SCL,

We've heard you ask for more ways to connect with your SCL peers. So, we are happy to announce that we will now be holding bi-monthly calls where the entire SCL network is invited. These calls will be limted to SCL members (with the exception of guest speakers) so please don't share the information with colleagues. 

The... Read more

CEUs are available for reading all the building-envelope product guides and primer. Click here to learn more and take the quiz.

Vapor retarders are meant to protect our building assemblies from getting wet, but they can also slow drying, contributing to mold and structural degradation.

BuildingGreen-Approved Vapor Retarders

This is a test for surveys.

Do you know something about power purchas agreements, on or off-site?  I understand that they are legal in Washington and Oregon, where most of my projects are, but I haven't come across anyone who has used one on a project.  If you have some experience or expertise, it would be great to hear from you.  

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