Championing the
Changemakers

Hi everyone,

We're still working to find the optimal time for the SDLS monthly call. We're now looking at the 4th Tuesday of the month. Please fill out this doodle poll to let us know which of these times work for you.

Thank you!

Jen

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,

Has anyone successfully adopted a Revit to ClimateStudio workflow with their new export tool? Right now we are using cove.tool because it works reasonably well with iterative Revit modeling, but are itching to try a more accurate and nuanced alternative.

Thanks for any and all experiences!
Misha

Hello fellow sustainable design leaders! I am about to kick off an intensive effort here at EHDD to refine our internal standards for materials. We will be considering both GWP as well as the health of materials (avoiding harmful chemicals). In addition to setting the standards, I will be working to develop a process to vet materials before... Read more

Hi everyone -
Some of you already have heard some or all of this news, but I thought I'd share today's press release with the whole group.
The headline is: 
SERA is VERY excited to announce that David Johnson, formerly the managing partner of Bill McDonough's San Francisco office, is now heading up SERA's bay area office.... Read more

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

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.

This is a test for surveys.

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

There are a number of clear finish options available, from natural oils and low-toxicity products primarily used on residential woodwork through factory-applied finishes where specific aesthetics and/or added durability are required (such as those used on cabinetry or commercial architectural millwork). Many of these have very high VOC levels,... Read more

Carpet is comfortable, offers good sound control, and offers great aesthetic options. But it is typically made from petrochemicals, and carpet and its adhesives can offgas VOCs. It is also a challenge to recycle, increasing the chances that it will be incinerated or disposed of in a landfill. Broadloom carpet cannot be readily repaired if... Read more

Hi all,

As you know, the Carbon Leadership Forum has been busy in recent years growing the tent of discipline-based commitments for reducing embodied carbon. SE 2050 and MEP 2040 provide the platform and commitment for structural and MEP respectively, and there is now interest brewing for an additional commitment in support of civil... Read more

Hi folks,

USGBC has commissioned this survey of the building industry about Federal tax incentives for building efficiency. They will be sharing results with congressional staff, so this might be a good opportunity to give them feedback from the field!

And it's just 10 minutes.

And, after you do the survey if you want to... Read more

The BuildingGreen/GreenStep exam prep materials are... Read more

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

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

All - 

I know many of your firms do landscape design, and I wanted to make sure you were aware of a new and pretty impressive conceptual calculator to estimate the carbon impacts (emissions and sinks) of landscape design.  Developed by Pamela Conrad of CMG Landscape with grant support, Atelier 10 and an app developer, the tool allows you... Read more

Hello there, 

I am working on a project with indoor plants and active green walls. I would like to design lights for growing plants and people at the same time (which seems to be a non-obvious problem). 
 

I was thinking of Philips, GE, Shneider Lighting, etc. Would you recommend someone I could talk to and eventually engage... Read more