Championing the
Changemakers

Thanks in part to green building programs and codes, whole-building energy simulation has become more common over the last two decades, but it’s not necessarily having a big impact on design decisions— let alone energy savings.

“Validating the final design is really important to validate LEED points and validate code compliance,” notes... Read more

By Brent Ehrlich

Composite wood products made with added urea formaldehyde (UF) are one of the few products that LEED has consistently banned under its longstanding IEQc4.4: Low-Emitting Materials credit. However, LEED Interpretation #10250, issued January 1, 2013 (revised April 1, 2013), and applicable to all LEED projects, now allows... Read more

A gradual shift in the supply-and-demand balance for natural gas and increasing shipments of LNG will bring the prices back up, while the risks of fracking continue to be debated Gas well in the shale country of Pennsylvania. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Philly Workers Voice

In many parts of the country and for many... Read more

The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) for homes has increased energy- and water-efficiency requirements with the release of its first update. Other major changes include a broader palette of green building practices to choose from as well as a more streamlined certification process for renovations and additions.

“The... Read more

Large fines levied on companies making deceptive claims about R-values Exaggerated claims, like this one for SUPER THERM, claiming R-19 for a coating of paint, are getting the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Superior Products International.

Most of us want to do the right... Read more

In a long-awaited cost report, the National Research Council recommends LEED Silver or its equivalent as the preferred green building standard for the military.
This BBL-designed Air Force Reserve center at camp Withycombe was certified LEED Gold in September 2011, just weeks before the congressional ban on LEED spending took effect.Photo... Read more

Why larger wind development projects make sense Two 2.5 MW wind turbines in the Sheffield, Vermont wind project. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Martin Holladay

Last week I wrote about the challenges of small wind turbines and the difficulty of successfully integrating wind power into buildings. This week, I’ll look at... Read more

Who’s to blame for the death of cap-and-trade? And what can environmentalists learn from it?

A new report analyzes the failure to get carbon restrictions passed in the U.S. during President Obama’s first term in office. Laying much of the blame at the feet of environmental groups for not understanding their opposition, the analysis suggests... Read more

I'm a huge fan of wind power, but we should recognize that some applications of wind don't make sense Aerovironment wind turbines on the Boston Museum of Science. Performance has been poor and Aerovironment has discontinued the product. Click to enlarge. 

Photo Credit: David Rabkin, Boston Museum of Science

... Read more

Rather than releasing its final report on LEED and other rating systems, the agency posts recommendations and asks for more feedback. A victory for lobbyists? It should be easier to pitch the industry status quo to individual federal agencies that don't specialize in buildings.

Want to have a say in whether federal agencies keep using LEED?... Read more

Living Machines and other types of constructed wetlands are beautiful, but they’re not ideal for every client. Onsite wastewater treatment might make sense for your next project, though, depending on factors like the site, the local infrastructure, and the owner’s mission.

Here’s a quick guide to figuring out when and where... Read more

Top-performing quad-glazed windows from Alpen installed with three low-e coatings and krypton gas fill R-12 windows from Alpen with three low-e coatings and krypton gas-fill. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Alex Wilson

Having written about windows and emerging window technologies for longer than I care to admit (since... Read more

By Erin WeaverThe U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that 2012 was the hottest year in the contiguous U.S. since recordkeeping began in 1895. The warmest spring on record and the second-warmest summer combined with higher-than-average temperatures over the rest of the year to clock an overall average of 55.3°... Read more

By Erin WeaverA new study in

The Lancet shows air pollution contributing to an increasing number of deaths worldwide, with 3.2 million premature deaths in 2010 attributable to outdoor air pollution. Part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, the article tracks changes in risk factors since 1990. While communicable diseases and... Read more

By Tristan RobertsA new product being introduced from Europe aims to bridge the yawning gap between the metering of water at the building or campus level, and awareness of water consumption by individual tenants and occupants. Sika USA, a subsidiary of Sika Aquatec in Germany, is offering a water submeter intended for installation on individual... Read more

By Erin WeaverScientists in France suggest that ants can serve as bio-indicators of phthalate pollution, after finding the plasticizers in the insects’ exoskeletons and internal tissues. In the study, published in

Science of the Total Environment, ants from various locations in Europe and Africa tested positive for the presence of phthalates... Read more

By Erin WeaverResidential construction in U.S. metropolitan regions is increasingly happening in previously developed areas, according to a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions” looked at 209 such areas and found that, between 2005 and 2009, 21% of new... Read more

According to Allen Post, AIA, of Perkins+Will, more than 7.5 million children are being taught in mobile classrooms in the U.S. While most of these estimated 300,000 classroom units are designed for temporary use, the actual average use exceeds five years, according to Post, and that provides an opportunity for a hybrid solution. Unlike most... Read more

By Erin WeaverA new rule intended to increase companies’ reporting of the use of cadmium compounds has been retracted due to industry pressure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the rule last November under the Toxic Substances Control Act, adding cadmium to the list of substances for which all companies that produced,... Read more

By Erin WeaverThe American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, passed on January 1, 2013, to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff includes the reinstatement of two tax credits for energy-efficient residences and appliances. Title 26 subsections (SS) 45L and 25C are in effect through December 31, 2013, and retroactively to their previous expiration on... Read more