Architecture firms falling short of 2030 carbon reduction goals

An industry-wide push to reduce greenhouse gasses associated with building is facing technological and political hurdles.

By Hallie Busta • July 26, 2017

3 offsite housing companies to watch

Factory-based building is on the rise, and housing is one major testing ground. Here, we showcase applications in volume building, multifamily and low-energy design.

By Hallie Busta • July 24, 2017

Is the future of home internet completely wireless?

Advocates of pre-wiring for Wi-Fi say the service can be treated like any other utility, while critics contend it may make it harder to use some personal tech.

By Mary Tyler March • July 21, 2017

ME city breaks ground on largest municipal solar farm in state

The project, which will see 2,944 solar panels installed atop a closed landfill, will power South Portland's schools and municipal buildings.

By Kim Slowey • July 20, 2017

South Miami mandates rooftop solar for new homes

The Florida city is the fifth nationwide to require private homes to include photovoltaic technology.

By Mary Tyler March • July 19, 2017

Going green: What's in it for sports venue owners?

Athletics facilities are used for a few hours each week, yet the ability to reduce energy use and costs is clear. However, the bottom line isn't the only driver.

By Kim Slowey • July 18, 2017

Solar installation faces challenges ahead of projected growth

The rooftop solar market will contract for the first time in 16 years as installers adapt business models, driving a rebound that will see more owners adopt PVs.

By Joe Dyton • July 13, 2017

America's Pledge to take up Paris accord mission

The independent program will measure carbon emissions produced by U.S. cities, states and businesses to comply with the terms of the Paris Agreement.

By Kim Slowey • July 13, 2017

What it would take for an 80-story wood tower to rise in Chicago

A research project to explore mass-timber at new heights is raising plenty of questions — including if, and when, the high-rise might come to fruition.

By Hallie Busta • July 12, 2017

US researchers are trying to recreate Ancient Roman concrete

The mix of volcanic ash and seawater led to the formation of crystals that strengthened the material, which could bring durability to today's infrastructure.

By Hallie Busta • July 12, 2017

Pavegen debuts energy-harvesting street in London

An app lets pedestrians see how much energy their steps have produced while rewarding them with discounts at stores they've walked past.

By Mary Tyler March • July 12, 2017

Building to LEED could raise a home's resale value

Texas homes built to the standards of the green-building certification between 2008 and 2016 showed an 8% increase in value, according to a USGBC study.

By Mary Tyler March • July 11, 2017

Report: Chicago has the most green office space in the US

The city boosted its percentage of LEED- and Energy Star-certified office space by 6.5% in the last year, ousting San Francisco from the top spot on the list.

By Kim Slowey • July 7, 2017

Alphabet lab turns out new geothermal company for residential heating and cooling

Dandelion will operate as a standalone company outside of Google's parent company, offering geothermal heating and cooling to residential customers. 

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2017

Q&A: Why construction's role in smart cities is key

We spoke with Elizabeth Heider, Skanska USA's chief sustainability officer, about why a long-term approach is crucial to resilient design.

By Emily Peiffer • July 5, 2017

What is a smart city? 8 industry leaders weigh in

Public and private sector leaders might not agree on the definition, but they can agree on the need to develop new solutions to tackle growing challenges.

By Emily Peiffer , Kristin Musulin • June 30, 2017

What's driving the future of parking garage design?

As commuters increasingly turn to alternative modes of transportation, the traditional urban parking garage could see a major transformation.

By Kim Slowey • June 29, 2017

UPDATE: Los Angeles City Council approves plans for $1B Lucas Museum

The 300,000-square-foot project, which features an adjacent parking structure topped with an 11-acre green roof, is slated for completion by 2021. 

By Emily Peiffer • June 28, 2017

Michael Bloomberg unveils $200M 'American Cities Initiative'

The former New York City mayor is looking for solutions to problems that cities face — and the selection criteria include the idea of transferability for other areas.

By Cody Boteler • June 28, 2017

Developers break ground on MO's largest solar farm

The 72-acre project in Nixa will include 33,288 solar panels and will generate approximately 9% of the city's annual power requirements.

By Kim Slowey • June 23, 2017

Tests reveal more details about Tesla's solar roof

Performance and installation information about the hyped solar roofing system has been limited, but the latest tests show power capacity and installation specs.

By Joe Dyton • June 23, 2017

Net-zero energy home construction is on the rise

The number of units built using the method, which requires projects to offset energy use with onsite renewables, increased 33% from 2015 to 2016, says one report.

By Joe Dyton • June 22, 2017

Cornell Tech's Bloomberg Center aims for net-zero energy

The Morphosis-designed building on New York's Roosevelt Island will generate the energy needed to power its operations from on-campus sources.

By Hallie Busta • June 21, 2017

How Passive House is reaching beyond its housing roots

The building method got its start in single-family but has expanded to a host of projects, spurring green-building leaders to push advocates to raise their game.

By Hallie Busta • June 21, 2017

3 ways to boost the circular economy in NYC's construction industry

A recent event convened recyclers, architects and contractors to strategize new ideas for an often overlooked sector.

By Cole Rosengren • June 16, 2017