Sustainable Communities
Buildings don’t stand alone; they’re part of a community. If the fabric of that community supports goals like walkability and cycling, then efforts within the buildings to support those activities can really make a difference.
Lighting of public spaces, multifunctional “complete streets,” a good mix of populations and occupancies, and more are key to creating vibrant communities that support healthy, low-impact lifestyles.
Sustainable Communities
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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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.
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Community-Scale Sustainability: Accelerating Change for People and Planet
Feature Article
By working at the neighborhood scale, designers and developers can more dramatically improve environmental performance and social equity.
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The Death and Rebirth of DC Power
Feature Article
Direct current is replacing AC in microgrids and other setups that maximize the efficiency of lighting, HVAC, and onsite renewables.
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Energy-Efficient Multifamily Housing
Feature Article
Now you can get LEED, Energy Star, and other labels for designing or retrofitting high-performance multifamily buildings.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Certified Communities: When Greening Neighborhoods One Building at a Time Isn’t Enough
Primer
A comparison of community-scale certification programs.
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Sitting Is the New Smoking: Fad or Fact?
Primer
Active design is looking less like a luxury and more like a public health imperative.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Win the Turf Wars with Rubber-Free Artificial Fields
Product Review
You don’t have to choose between recycled tires and natural grass for athletic surfaces. There’s a spectrum of good options in between.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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“Reinventing Cities” Awards Innovative Urban Projects
News Brief
Projects from six cities around the world demonstrate de-carbonization, resilience, and replicability.
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The Green Urban Future Is Taking Shape in Toronto
News Analysis
Sidewalk Labs is validating strategies for carbon-neutral neighborhoods—and finding valuable lessons for any urban development in the process.
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Climate Justice Heats Up in NYC
News Analysis
A new report describes how rezoning and planning efforts can address the urban heat-island effect in a vulnerable Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood.
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Washington, D.C. First to Achieve LEED at Citywide Scale
News Analysis
The city is first to earn a Platinum LEED for Cities certification, leveraging information technology to track progress toward a range of sustainability goals.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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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.
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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.
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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.
