Swiss green-roof package snags FM Approval rating

Sika Sarnafil, a specialty chemical maker based in Baar, Switzerland, offers a package that includes waterproofing and vegetation for green roofs.

By Ron Gallagher • March 22, 2013

Bigger homes, more appliances eclipse efficiency improvements

Appliances are using less energy in each unit, but residential energy is rising because we are filling bigger houses with more devices and heating and lighting more space.

By Ron Gallagher • March 21, 2013

89% of schools say health is reason to build green

School officials said that having a healthy environment in which kids have a chance to learn is almost as important as costs in their decisions.

By Ron Gallagher • March 19, 2013

New LEED guide targets efficiency in historic buildings

A newly released guide from the U.S. Green Building Council looks at how energy and water efficiency can be brought to historic buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • March 19, 2013

U.S. Green Building Council: $271B needed to fix schools, $542B to modernize them

The U.S. Green Building Council figures it will take $271 billion just to cover deferred maintenance at U.S. schools sand a lot more to modernize them.

By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2013

Floating Prototype School in Lagos

NLE's pilot project, Makoko Floating School, was completed in early March and combines sustainable strategies with the local tradition of building on water.

March 15, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: A green Walgreens and federal funds

Here's your weekly short and snappy briefing on our most popular news reads of the last few days.

By Brian Warmoth • March 14, 2013

Report: Green buildings can make more money for real estate investors

The World Green Building Council lays out reasons it believes sustainable, efficient buildings make for better real estate investments.

By Ron Gallagher • March 14, 2013

McGraw-Hill study: More evidence green building is mainstream

A new study adds evidence that green building is growing – and growing because it's good business, not just public relations.

By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2013

Walgreens' to pilot new net-zero energy store in Ill.

A new store in Evanston, Ill., will use wind, solar, geothermal and other technologies in a bid to generate as much or even more power than it needs.

By Ron Gallagher • March 10, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Sequestration and algae power

Construction news catch you sleeping this week? Take a minute and find out what everyone else was reading.

By Brian Warmoth • March 8, 2013

German building powered by algae farm

A demonstration building in Hamburg has slim glass tanks on its facade that uses algae to create a fuel for a biogas-powered energy generator.

By Ron Gallagher • March 6, 2013

$650M ski resort to encircle waste-to-energy incinerator

A very unusual design for a Copenhagen facility wraps a waste-to-energy plant in a "mountain" on which synthetic, granular snow will provide year-round skiing.

By Ron Gallagher • March 5, 2013

As buildings lose 42% of energy, DOE invests $9M in efficiency research

The energy used in buildings has been falling on a per-capita basis since 2007, but the U.S. Department of Energy is funding work to find ways to keep pushing it down.

By Ron Gallagher • March 1, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Concrete tech and green building

Want to know what the next generation of concrete looks like? Check out our most popular reads of the past seven days.

By Brian Warmoth • Feb. 28, 2013

EPA seeks to avoid dissent on looming stormwater rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is due out in June with rules for incorporating stormwater control in low-impact development, and it's lobbying local governments to see the rules favorably.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 28, 2013

GSA wants feedback on which green-building rating system to use

A mandatory review is under way by the General Services Administration of whether LEED still works best for the government to build green or if its choice of Green Globes is right.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 28, 2013

Defense Dept. report: Green buildings save money

The National Research Council says the Defense Department is on the right track in requiring LEED Silver or better for new construction and large renovations.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 22, 2013

Boxman Studios reusing shipping containers in construction

The company that has been finding uses for shipping containers for five years has decided that the built environment is a business line whose time has come.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 14, 2013

Mandatory energy-reporting for large buildings reaches Minneapolis

Beginning in 2015, the city will require operators of buildings over 50,000 square feet to report energy and water use.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 14, 2013

Mixed-use project in Sydney goes green with vertical gardens

As part of the Australian city's sustainability campaign, developers of One Central Park are incorporating 21 gardens on the walls of the towers.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 13, 2013

Tilt-Up Concrete Assn. touts products' ability to help meet energy code

The trade group says it can be a resource for design professionals and others looking for ways to comply with the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 12, 2013

Guide from ASHRAE explains measuring building efficiency in the long term

The book is a how-to for continuous monitoring and, if desired, steps to track energy and water use and environmental conditions over a building's life.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 12, 2013

Colleges and universities show the way for sustainable buildings.

Not surprisingly, it's institutions of higher education that are in the forefront of creating sustainable buildings and communities.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 12, 2013

GSA has a finger in the wind to gauge public's view on green-building standards

The federal government's construction company and landlord – the General Services Administration – is looking for public input on what system or systems it should recommend at the government's go-to system.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 12, 2013