Championing the
Changemakers

We are cautiously rekindling the age-old debate: how are we balancing modeling software for design /visualization and performance analysis during early phase of design.  

We are heavy SketchUp users for early design, and most of our staff have access to COVE tool for early performance analysis. Problem is, I’d rather use Revit to COVE... Read more

Hi all -

I got this yesterday from Renew Oregon, a credible environmental NGO here in the state.

"A secretive special interest group has filed a petition at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take “net metering” rules away from states and make it a federal issue.  Net metering is the program that allows homes and... Read more

Hi all,

We are trying to encourage participation in take-back programs and using recyclable packaging with our vendors and I was wondering how we can add it to specifications. Does anyone have any examples on how we can add wording in specs about participation in take-back programs, using recyclable packaging and/or reducing non-... Read more

Lighting can be inefficient and have poor quality, short lifespans, and toxic ingredients.

BuildingGreen-Approved Replacement Lamps and Lighting

BuildingGreen approves a variety of replacement lamps and lighting, including:

You're invited to join your colleagues in an SCL Whole Group Web Meeting on Construction Waste May 14th, 2019 11am - Noon EST!!

Report-out web meeting led by Jennifer Taranto and Jenelle Shapiro on what’s been going on in regions, talk as a whole SCL group about how best to support local MRFs' and haulers' activities, and how to leverage... Read more

https://www.usgbc.org/articles/us-green-building-council-celebrates-2021-class-leed-fellows

I'm sure you will see many familar names on the list - not the least of which is our fellow SMEPL:  Sarah Gudeman.

Congratulations, Sarah - well done!

Welcome to the quiz portion of Three Imperatives to Create the Future of Green Building.

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


1. Explain why it's relevant to teach cross-disciplinary skills in the green building industry.
2. Detail the reasons for encouraging... Read more

Hi all,

We're doing some tool-related soul searching at WRNS and some folks here have raised Cove.Tool as a potentially interesting addition to our library. I'm looking for any insight you all can provide. Cove has come up various times, but curious if there's been any change for the better/worse in the past few years.

Do you use... Read more

Hello, 

We are becoming involved with the design/construction of a new k-12 school that is intersted in entertaining geothermal. Does anyone have payback studies on geothermal?

Thanks!

Hi Friends - I'm sure you've started to see news and posts from personal contacts about the shortage of masks, gloves and other PPE for hospital workers. Our company GCI General Contractors is pulling what we can to donate locally. Please urge your leadership to do the same! I just talked with a dear friend who is an infectious disease... Read more

Greetings SDLs - I am looking for recommendations for VLT meters that folks have had sucess with (reliability, accuracy, etc.). Are there any that art partiularly useful when in the field for existing buildings? 

Many thanks,

JD

The AIA just announced the 2019 Young Architect Award Winners and our own Julie Hiromoto is one of the recipients.  Just wanted to say "CONGRATS JULIE!"  Well done!

https://www.aia.org/resources/6099220-2019-aia-awards---young-architects?utm_source=RealMagnet&utm_medium=email&utm_term=30134332--a3911d92-2589-4799-aed4-... Read more

Hello SMEPers,

I’m hoping to crowd source some anecdotes for a guest lecture I’ll be giving at Yale’s architecture school. The topic is integrated design (especially between architects and engineers) and how it enables better sustainability outcomes.

John Boecker has this great story about how choosing a paint color with higher... Read more

I have a colleague (lawyer) who is trying to assemble a list of precedent projects that used penalties or incentives for achieving energy targets. The topic she is addressing is how contracts may be changed to address growing climate change concerns.

At the moment, the only concrete example she has is a project in Washington by the US... Read more