SOM advances research on wood-frame high-rises

One architect at the company's Chicago office is driving a deeper understanding of mass-timber structures, which it has shown could be used for a 42-story residential tower.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 22, 2014

DOT issues new rule to speed up highway, transit reviews

The federal agency says that projects being built in existing rights of way and ones with less than $5 million in federal funding can get faster environmental reviews.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 20, 2014

Will natural materials make 'grow your own' an industry phrase?

Scientists are finding ways to grow building materials using little or no energy, creating no landfill waste later on.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 16, 2014

U.S. has 32 net-zero-energy commercial buildings

The report is an update from the New Building Initiative, which advocates for buildings that are as energy efficient as possible.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 15, 2014

Scientists working to develop power plant for homes

The goal is a small efficient unit that gets very pure hydrogen from natural gas and uses it to supply heat and electricity from the same source.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 10, 2014

Designers: Building resiliency is top priority for 2014

Perkins + Wills architects asked what its building designers think will be most important in 2014. Making buildings that can survive is No. 1.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 10, 2014

Yudelson to lead Green Building Initiative

The nonprofit's new president is a LEED Fellow who will be trying to grow use of GBI's Green Globes building assessment and rating system.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 6, 2014

California high school earns environmental awards

Sage Creek High School, which opened last August, has drawn national and regional awards for its eco-friendly design.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 5, 2014

Wider EPA authority over smaller water bodies could be contractors' headache

The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to clarify its authority to regulate what happens along brooks, streams and other small water bodies while opponents say there is no authority.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 2, 2014

LEED v4 targets building energy and water use data

The U.S. Green Building Council has added reporting requirements for whole-building energy use and water use so the information cannot just sit on a shelf.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 2, 2014

Green Globes system makes inroad as Defense Department says 'OK'

The government's biggest building owner will allow facilities to choose Green Globes as well as LEED for environmental rating of projects.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 18, 2013

Startup's data gauges every home's solar potential

Minnesota's Sun Number has devised a system that uses data and 3-D aerial images to rate homes' solar generation potential.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 17, 2013

Being a sustainable builder carries some special risks and challenges

You will be cheered for building green, but there are potential problems that conventional builders will never know.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 11, 2013

More luxury green homes coming to prestigious Ariz. community

The new estate villas are phase two of a development in Scottsdale's DC Ranch.

By Roger Riddell • Dec. 10, 2013

Construction the No. 2 consumer of plastic products

The construction industry is second only to packaging when it comes to the use of plastic products during production.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 8, 2013

With rivals rising, USGBC touts LEED's 20-year success in green building

The organization has published three reports that cover various aspects of LEED's dominance in global green building.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 2, 2013

One man's careful, successful route to becoming a green builder

Luis Imery did a careful investigation of the market for green homes in Georgia, went slowly enough to miss the recession, became an inspector for rating systems and then took the plunge.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 26, 2013

Engineers, contractors can help building owners spot operational anomalies

By offering a chance to include measurement and monitoring capabilities in building systems, contractors can deliver buildings that owners can operate at lower costs.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 25, 2013

Greenbuild 2013: Building Product Bingo

Materials matter in controversial new LEED credits.

Nov. 22, 2013

Partnership aims for clarity and certainty about materials' LEED status

The environmental division of Underwriters Laboratories and the U.S. Green Building Council have undertaken an effort to assure correct LEED information.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 18, 2013

Newest LEED standard records first gold effort with Chinese project

LEED v4, approved in recent months, has a gold winner — a showroom-cum-workspace in Beijing.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 14, 2013

GWU paves path to the future with solar sidewalk

You can trod upon the future at George Washington University's Virginia Science and Technology Campus.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 8, 2013

Viewpoint: 'Green building' may be maturing, but need remains

The environmental reasons for "green" building are as acute as ever – induced climate change and other environmental impacts.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 5, 2013

Recycling homes: an alternative to new construction?

Salvaging homes to repurpose materials is popular among those who support sustainable living, but now whole-house recycling is gaining momentum.

By Nicole Wrona • Nov. 5, 2013

Some NYC builders say LEED is OK, but buyers will pay for more green

Some builders of condominiums in Manhattan and Brooklyn are looking for efficiency beyond what LEED likes, and it sells.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 3, 2013