Championing the
Changemakers

Hive mind,

We recently learned that 3M has discontinued the production of their 3M Daylight Redirecting Film (https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/building-window-solutions-us/solutions/dayli...). This product was selected by an architecture client last year as the optimal daylight/glare control strategy for a school project, and we're assisting... Read more

Quiz body not needed for this auto-confirmation

Standard HVAC systems require large fans and ductwork to move conditioned air throughout a building, which wastes energy and building space.

BuildingGreen-Approved Chilled Beams

BuildingGreen lists chilled beams that rely on water and smaller ducts to provide HVAC throughout a building.

Performance and Health Considerations... Read more

Hi all,

Later today, we will be delivering the BITuser development site ready for content input. Andrea has created instructions to help get you started.

We would like to set up a few editor profiles for you. Could you let us know who should have a profile for content management? We need first and last name and an email.

... Read more

Hi everyone, 

Following November's SCL Summit, I put together a model Construction Waste Management Action Plan based on the ideas shared in our focus group. It is linked below in Google docs, so everyone should have access to live edit the plan. Please take a look and add comments if you can. It's a very rough outline, so we can... Read more

see IFTF- A New Story to Spark the Future of Climate Action

and chek out their Climate Action Map download

Hi SDL!

Our CM recently offered up the possibility of substituting Pozzotive into our structural and paving concrete mix (www.pozzotive.com) on a large public building. Apparently it is on a level with the cost of standard cement.
We are eager to reduce the project's embodied carbon, and this seems almost too good to be true.

Curious to see if your firms have researched metals and established a preference for what you use for roof and wall panels?  I'm interested in ranking environmental performance for painted steel, galvanize steel, weathered steel, painted aluminum, zinc, etc.

We had a small group tour the Dell Seton Medical Center campus today, and a much larger group tour the new Austin Public Library. 

My favorite quote from the Medical Center tour, was about this project being the first private development on U of Texas property. "It took 58 separate legal agreements. We won a ULI award for making the... Read more

Welcome to the quiz portion of Can We Replace Foam Insulation?

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


1. List four ways in which foam is environmentally problematic and provide four examples of foam replacements.
2. Discuss the industry's relationship with foam... Read more

Hi friends, 

Before i forget, here is the checklist I mentioned yesterday that got such a positive response in our office - again it came about after i was asked (for the Nth time) to write a sustainability description for a concept proposal/ RFP that I was not a part of and frankly didn't have a lot going for it. So it's framed as "you... Read more

Have you ever been accused of being "self-righteous," or "judgemental" in your role as and SDL? Anyone have tips and tricks to avoid this trap? 

I'm curious if anyone has used Carbon Solutions Group to buy RECs?  Or who do you use for certified off-sets?

If this is not an allowed topic on here, feel free to email me directly at Laura.soma@gly.com.

Thank you!

Greetings friends.  Our leadership has decided to create a partner-position to my role but in the engineering group of our firm.  This person would be a key ally in my work improving the high performance and sustainability of our projects with a focus on high-performance mechanical systems, net-zero, electrification, etc...  If you are... Read more

Team SCL,

This was a tough week. My husband coined a phrase "20% laid off."

Unfortunately, 50% of our business is currently impacted by governmental orders stating that our work is non-essential. This is bitter-sweet. I certainly want people to be safe, but we've had to make some tough decisions and in the geographies that were... Read more

Hi All -

I'm wondering if any of our SDL people have a project case study on designing for deconstruction that they'd like to present on? I know there are a lot of conversations that we should be designing for deconstruction but has anyone done a focused project?  Thank you for any input you might have.