OVERVIEW
No building is an island.
Siting of buildings, and the land-use patterns that they are a part of, have a ripple effect on:
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community health and well-being
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economic development
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effective use of infrastructure
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local and global environmental quality
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occupant satisfaction
Starting with smart site selection gives an enormous boost to the success of the building program as well as the triple bottom line: social, economic, and environmental objectives.
IN-DEPTH
Filter results:
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Resilient Design: 7 Lessons from Early Adopters
November 1, 2013Feature Article
As storms reveal weaknesses in our built environment, some project teams have adopted more robust, durable principles.
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The Problem with Net-Zero Buildings (and the Case for Net-Zero Neighborhoods)
July 30, 2010Feature Article
It can be tough to make an individual building into a zero energy building, while working at the community scale can offer up opportunities for energy efficiency and cost-effective renewable energy generation.
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Thinking Beyond Buildings: LEED for Neighborhood Development
February 26, 2009Feature Article
LEED for Neighborhood Development is not yet final, but it's already clear that it's a different type of rating system. Lessons from the pilot projects show that cooperation among team members and with the local government is essential to a successful project.
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Driving to Green Buildings: The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings
August 30, 2007Feature Article
The energy used traveling to and from an average office building-its transportation energy intensity-can be more than twice the energy used to run it. This article addresses the significance of this issue and examines strategies for lowering transportation energy intensity through increased density and improved transit options.
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Wal-Mart: Every Day Low... Impact?
January 1, 2006Feature Article
The world's largest company claims to have embraced environmental responsibility in everything from its supply chains to its waste stream, with goals of creating a prototype store with 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions within four years and doubling trucking efficiency within ten years. But how big a difference can the shift make, and is it enough?
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How Boston Reduced Its Carbon Footprint
April 4, 2016Feature Short
Building operations represent 75% of Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s what we can learn from the city’s work on ambitious climate goals.
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Local Energy Profiles Now Easier with DOE SLED Tool
August 14, 2014News Brief
Punch in a zip code and get instant data on the local electrical grid, potential for renewables, utility costs, and more.
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Streets Designed for Speed Faulted in Pedestrian Deaths
June 19, 2014News Brief
Ranking cities by danger to pedestrians, a new report says bad design causes 5,000 pedestrian fatalities each year.
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Parking Garages Get Their Own Sustainability Certification
June 18, 2014News Brief
A new standard for greener parking incentivizes site, energy, and resilience measures.
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Young Residents, New Businesses Flock to Old Neighborhoods
June 6, 2014News Brief
Research from Preservation Green Lab suggests that age-diverse buildings contribute more to vital, livable communities.
