Championing the
Changemakers

Hi all, we are embarking on an effort to standardize our LCA process in order to maintain a firmwide database of embodied carbon intensity from which we can create internal baselines and targets. I was wondering how other offices are setting boundaries for their LCA efforts. Below is our starting point. Most LCA will be conducted using Tally.... Read more

Jill is a licensed architect with WELL and Living Future accreditation. Through her experience leading sustainable achievement and verification on projects in the workplace, K-12, civic, and retail/mixed use typologies, Jill brings her passion for sustainable materials across vetting categories, AEC disciplines, bid scenarios, and market... Read more

I'm hoping for some help answering the question of whether buildings/communities should pursue net-zero energy on site versus investing in new renewable energy (i.e. through the electric utility) that can be built at a more efficient scale elsewhere in the state. Our utility is asking us this question as we are working through how to get the... Read more

Hey there, Tally users.  I'm looking for some answers to a few basic questions about using Tally:

Our guys have started talking about how the built enviroment can address infection transmission in public spaces - places like lobbies and waiting rooms, particularly in applications where people queue - theaters, airport gates, amusment parks, etc.  In the specific case of Covid-19, we know the microbe can be transmitted three ways:  fomite (... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of The Four Core Issues to Tackle for Resilient Design (And the Programs That Can Help).

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


1. Use site-specific hazard analysis to evaluate a project’s resiliency demands.
2. Use climate change data to... Read more

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

Stick-framed walls are labor intensive and have to be sealed and insulated in the field, where conditions are not ideal; this can lead to poor thermal performance.

BuildingGreen-Approved Structural... Read more

I'm pleased to announce that the AIA Board of Directors has unanimously adopted the A&D Materials Pledge as the AIA Materials Pledge!!!!! The support of so many of you was a key factor in making it so easy for the AIA Board to adopt The Pledge. The Materials Pledge now has 90 signatory firms, including many of yours. Thank you all.  Now,... Read more

Apologies if some of you are seeing this for the second time - on behalf of Frances Yang, Mike Gryniuk and the Carbon Leadership Forum, consider signing on in support of the SE 2050 Challenge for structural engineers. (Yes, there is an option to sign on as a non-structural engineer, in support of the program.)

http://... Read more

I'm working on the Best Practice pages, and I want to verify the role of "BITuser experts" (analogous to LEEDuser experts, as shown on this credit page). My questions:

Note that the role of the expert,... Read more

Seems to be a trend! We're looking to fill a Sustainability Specialist position at Perkins Eastman: 

http://perkinseastman.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=89745...

Please let me know if you have any potential candidates who might be a good fit! 

Hi Green Gurus,

We have recently had a beloved member of the HKS DesignGreen team relocate to Toronto due to work visa challenges in the US. Our loss could be your gain if you have an office in Toronto! We are hoping to collect a list of leads for him once the dust settles on his move and he begins his job hunt. If you have any... Read more

Question for you all: there is this wonderful graph showing how we can shift mechanical and electrical dollars into envelope investments to make deep energy savings cost-neutral. Have you experienced this on a project?

1-minute or less survey! (two questions, more detail if you want)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/... Read more

THIS WEBINAR PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Buildings aren’t garbage. But you wouldn’t know it by examining the way the AEC industry works. 

We typically design buildings for a single, limited purpose. We build them partly out of plastics that can’t be readily recycled. We choose diverse materials... Read more

I am looking for case studies/trying to identify buildings using concrete mixes with upwards of 30% replacement of cement by SCMs.  I've been in conversations with some structural engineers who are interested in lowering embodied carbon in upcoming projects, but would like to see examples of where this level of replacement has been successfully... Read more

Does adding solar panels reduce a building's EUI?

Existing operational use of a building is 80 kBtu/sf/year. When we add solar, it will change the source of energy but does not change the usage.

My understanding is that the EUI does not change, but it would be good to hear from others.

It's energy consumption at the point... Read more