Green codes and rating systems are on target to significantly increase energy efficiency for new housing. But existing structures outnumber new housing nearly 300-to-1 and continue to guzzle 22 percent of the U.S.’s energy, which begs the question: Should our focus change to weatherization?
Market trends continue moving sustainability closer to home, even if you’re not looking for it.
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It's time to take water efficiency efforts seriously.
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The national shift toward walkable, non-automobile-centered life is both dramatic and historic.
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It's just a matter of time before product transparency pervades the supply chain.
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Existing structures, outnumbering new housing nearly 300-to-1, continue to guzzle 22% of U.S. energy.
Pittsburgh architect Laura Nettleton and her firm are on a mission to bring good design and finishes to everyone.
Efficiency Vermont program manager makes energy savings a social event to spur action within communities.
USGBC vice president says it's time to prepare for natural disasters instead of reacting to them.
A cramped cottage is repurposed into a Mediterranean-style sustainable showpiece.
Energy rating finds green-built homes provide a savings of 74 percent in utility costs.
The debate between the two approaches to green building heats up.
The affordable housing complex in Columbia, Md., was originally developed by James Rouse.
Government and nonprofit collaboration leads to first Passive House project in Washington, D.C.
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These celebrity-owned dwellings sport the latest in green building technology.
IndoTeak is a 2½-year-old company that salvages old buildings, schools, houses, and military structures in Java to reclaim old-growth teak for flooring, decking, millwork, and many other products
The selections highlight the role of building science in green product innovations.
Energy efficiency is the bottom line at the Georgia public housing project.
The Tesoro Woods line is offered in domestic and exotic hardwood options.
Documentation is the key to creating value in the existing housing stock.
DuPont’s Laura Dwyer shares her three critical ingredients for building a more sustainable future.
Technological advances may yield whole buildings generated on site with no transportation or human assembly needed.
Twenty years after he helped define life cycle assessments and the tools to use them, Wayne Trusty envisions the next frontier of sustainable product selection.
Builders in the state and elsewhere have abandoned the program as too costly and inflexible.
A new report says there's plenty of wind to power the world's energy needs, even if that's not the goal.
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A study commissioned by the Berkeley Group in the United Kingdom seeks to understand the importance and relevance of social sustainability to the housing industry.
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The developing world may leap ahead of highly industrialized societies to lead the way toward 2020 and beyond.
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The tools for more sustainable products are in place, but they are only useful when builders communicate their value to homeowners and other decision-makers.
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Parker became a national energy exemplar under the stewardship of one inspired building official.
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IBACOS senior research manager says utilities will lead the way to integrated and intelligent energy management systems.
Architecture 2030 offered a sneak peek of its newest tool at the Vision 2020 session at Greenbuild.
Founder Alex Wilson provides details of new Resilient Design Institute during Vision 2020 session at Greenbuild.
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Avoiding mold growth starts with the right construction materials, Passive House expert says.
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Habitat for Humanity representatives share their energy-efficiency secrets with Greenbuild attendees.
Users can access information for thousands of buildings.
The leading voices of our industry share their visions for the future in 10 critical areas and lay out the road map to sustainability for 2020 and beyond.
Market Transformation chair Cliff Majersik says the drive to broader markets will be fueled by increased code compliance and the transformation of appraisal and finance processes.
Codes and Standards chair Sam Rashkin describes how new codes and evolving rating systems are addressing the "house-as-a-system" approach to performance.
The immense challenges that face us are matched only by the opportunities they present.
Systems thinking will take building science into the areas of air purification, rightsized HVAC components, and home energy management systems, says Building Systems Research chair Michael Dickens.
Products and Performance chairs Alex Wilson and Peter Yost envision high-performance products that respond to more stringent requirements and the need for resilient design.
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Turner Construction survey finds fewer companies are likely to seek LEED certification.
Materials & Resources chair Malin discusses how transparency will permeate the world of building products, giving us nutrition-label-like sustainability data on everything we use.
The health benefits of green homes include reduced health care expenses, says Indoor Environmental chair David Jacobs.
Water Efficiency chairs Mary Ann Dickinson and Carole Baker detail how improved technologies, policies, and practices will help achieve new levels of water efficiency by 2020.
An added layer of thermal insulation provides superior durability and added strength.
With 18,710 certified projects and counting, green verifier Steve Saunders is helping to drive his state’s green building movement.
Energy & Carbon chairs Edward Mazria and Francesca Desmarais examine what the building sector needs to do to expand sustainable design and reduce carbon levels to 350 ppm by 2030.
Sustainable Communities chair Leinberger details why demand mitigation through developing walkable, transit-oriented, urban communities is effective in combating climate change.
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We want to extend our appreciation to the following people and organizations for their support and guidance in this year’s research
Regenerative Design chair Bob Berkebile looks at how new directions in design are taking their cues from the past and leading us toward nurturing buildings, homes, and communities connected with nature.
Filling in the gaps between sustainability and preservation practice.
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Sherwin-Williams and PPG to change marketing materials regarding VOC-free claims.
This firm’s products are all Greenguard Children & Schools certified.
This company takes a natural raw material extracted cyclically from cork trees without harm and turns it into value-added products.
These carpet tiles are resource efficient as you buy only as much as you need and can replace one tile at a time.
Follow the Active House USA team as they offer insight and advice on green building, product selection, installation, and much more.
Modern LEED-Platinum home is sealed tight but open to fresh air and sunshine.
Installations will rise 70% over the next five years, according to new research.
This company has more than 18 tile products that meet the new SCS Green Squared third-party certification and the first of its kind post-consumer Tile Take-Back program.
This firm has Alphabet, a classic, PVC-free wall covering that is perfect for kids’ rooms.
This company’s products reflect environmental stewardship through both the sustainable use of natural resources and reduction in waste.
KB Home, Kohler, American Standard recognized for commitment to water conservation.
Appalachian State University’s energy-efficient Solar Homestead will be available to consumers nationwide.
The system from the International Living Future Institute aims to help building pros identify ecologically sound materials.
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New rules will help companies avoid making misleading environmental claims.
Fortifying homes against natural (and unnatural) disasters is the next big step in sustainability.
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The futurist-architect talks about the emerging theories and science of ecological design.
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Demographics, lifestyles, business model changes, and environmental challenges all factors in creating the master-planned communities of the future.
Randy Thompson is out to prove that a collaborative design-build process will significantly reduce costs and boost ROI to green up the country’s building stock.
Technology historian Peter Norton discusses what advocates of complete streets and transit-oriented development can learn from our past to better guide us toward a sustainable future.
The acclaimed architect eyes opportunities to incorporate biomimicry in her sustainable building designs.
Regenerative design is applied to a community scale at Manheim Park in Kansas City, serving as a model for next-generation urban neighborhood renewal and revitalization.
The Space Age technology is poised to alter the insulation and thermal energy storage industries to significantly reduce building energy demand.
Bruce King, founder of Ecological Building Network, says builders need to look beyond Portland cement and toward alternative materials like straw, hemp, and barbed wire.
A growing number of nonprofit messaging and marketing organizations focus on delivering the message of energy efficiency and climate change to the Hispanic population.
Architect Tom Hootman wants to take net-zero energy to the next level.
West Wood Oaks provides much-needed workforce housing in an ultra-affluent region.
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Conference speakers discuss how to avoid doing harm with high-performance enclosures.
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At Nexus EnergyHomes, clean air is a key comportment of high-performance building.
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Researchers are looking at the effects of energy-efficient, healthy housing.
New technology promises to revolutionize air-conditioning.
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Manny Barrera oversees the nation's first real-world application of a smart grid at Mesa del Sol in Albuquerque, foreshadowing and refining how it will change energy distribution.
This upscale apartment complex near Georgetown encompasses many transit-oriented features.
This luxury rental tower is adjacent to a popular New York City public park.
215 West offers access to a range of public transportation options.
The Voyager at Space Center is the largest multifamily project certified by the National Green Building Standard.
Gables Midtown met an extensive checklist of energy-efficiency, indoor air quality, and site requirements.
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Gables Park Plaza encompasses material, energy, and water conservation.
The products received the Energy Star Most Efficient 2012 designation.
The WaterSense-certified model incorporates high-performance jet technology.
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Interior designer Annette Stelmack explains the latest selection criteria for sustainable interiors and shares some of her favorite products.
Passive solar design, PV arrays, and a greywater system help this Los Angeles home reach its high-performance goals.
The next wave of HVAC systems may just evolve from this prototype evaporative air conditioning system.
The tiny Crib project blends the vernacular aesthetic of the corncrib outside and the functionality of the lofted cabin inside.
Dual temperature and humidity controls keep wines perfectly chilled.