Smart Siting
No building is an island.
Siting of buildings, and the land-use patterns that they are a part of, have a ripple effect on:
-
community health and well-being
-
economic development
-
effective use of infrastructure
-
local and global environmental quality
-
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.
Smart Siting
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
-
Driving to Green Buildings: The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings
Feature Article
The energy used traveling to and from an average office building—its transportation energy intensity—can be greater than the energy used to run it.
-
Work Globally, Design Locally
Feature Article
In today’s global economy, American architects work on six continents—but that doesn’t mean they should all have identical glass towers.
-
Resilient Design: 7 Lessons from Early Adopters
Feature Article
As storms reveal weaknesses in our built environment, some project teams have adopted more robust, durable principles.
-
The Problem with Net-Zero Buildings (and the Case for Net-Zero Neighborhoods)
Feature 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.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
Measuring Solar Access with the Solmetric SunEye
Product Review
The SunEye is an easy-to-use, digital tool for measuring solar shading and calculating daily and monthly solar access on building sites.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
Local Energy Profiles Now Easier with DOE SLED Tool
News Brief
Punch in a zip code and get instant data on the local electrical grid, potential for renewables, utility costs, and more.
-
Streets Designed for Speed Faulted in Pedestrian Deaths
News Brief
Ranking cities by danger to pedestrians, a new report says bad design causes 5,000 pedestrian fatalities each year.
-
Parking Garages Get Their Own Sustainability Certification
News Brief
A new standard for greener parking incentivizes site, energy, and resilience measures.
-
Young Residents, New Businesses Flock to Old Neighborhoods
News Brief
Research from Preservation Green Lab suggests that age-diverse buildings contribute more to vital, livable communities.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
-
Greening Our Infrastructure
Op-Ed
The infrastructure stimulus plan being shaped by the incoming Obama Administration is an opportunity to reduce automobile dependence while improving public transit, bicycle commuting, stormwater management, and other green measures.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
-
Driving to Green Buildings: The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings
Feature Article
The energy used traveling to and from an average office building—its transportation energy intensity—can be greater than the energy used to run it.
-
The Problem with Net-Zero Buildings (and the Case for Net-Zero Neighborhoods)
Feature 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.
-
Driving to Green Buildings: The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings
Spotlight Report
The energy used traveling to and from an average office building—its transportation energy intensity—can be greater than the energy used to run it.
