A new kind of green: Developers trade golf courses for hiking trails, gardens to draw buyers

Nature-based amenities are giving residents of master-planned communities a stronger connection to the outdoors as well as to their neighbors.

By Katy Tomasulo • April 18, 2017

Chicago to power city-owned buildings with 100% renewable energy

Beginning next year, the city will start acquiring renewable energy and investing in on-site generation to offset the demand from about 900 properties.

By Robert Walton , Mary Tyler March • April 12, 2017

Australian builder makes Tesla Powerwall a standard feature

The electric car maker shows no sign of stopping when it comes to renewable energy innovation, with plans to take orders for its new solar panels this month.

By Jean Thilmany • April 12, 2017

UPDATE: Tesla shares new details about its rooftop solar panel system

The announcement comes as more homeowners and builders turn to photovoltaic systems to power residential units.

By Mary Tyler March • April 10, 2017

More buyers want green homes, real estate agents say

Features including efficient lighting, smart-home technology and renewable-energy systems, as well as bike lanes and green space, were most popular.

By Mary Tyler March • April 7, 2017

A new class of glass: How tech is making daylighting design more energy efficient

The emergence of new glazing products and improved lighting design software is encouraging project teams, and their clients, to give glass another look.

By Tim King • April 5, 2017

Bloomberg announces smart city certification

What Works Cities will mirror existing building certification programs by offering a point-based system through which cities can earn silver, gold or platinum status.

By Mary Tyler March • April 5, 2017

Power play: How construction companies can capitalize on the renewable energy sector

Mortenson is one contractor that has successfully taken advantage of the burgeoning wind, solar and energy storage markets.

By Kim Slowey • April 4, 2017

Housing density in Los Angeles could help climate change fight

Reducing the number of vehicles on the road is one outcome of infill projects, per a report from nonprofit Next 10 and the University of California, Berkeley.

By Katy Tomasulo • March 30, 2017

PlanIT Impact launches cloud-based building-performance assessment tool

The initiative makes public data available for energy modeling while opening the cost and resource consumption software to more users.

By Hallie Busta • March 29, 2017

Q&A: Former Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz on the past, present and future of construction tech

As the AEC software giant grows and the industry embraces mobile, smaller third-party providers will continue to play a critical role.

By Hallie Busta • March 29, 2017

NYC's first WELL Building certification awarded to Structure Tone headquarters

With input from architect Gensler, the company was able to address all of WELL's core performance categories.

By Kim Slowey • March 16, 2017

St. Patrick's Cathedral moves to geothermal for temperature control

The upgrade to the New York cathedral's heating and cooling system is just one of several updates bringing the landmark's amenities up to 21st century standards.

By Chris Wood • March 15, 2017

HI developer breaks ground on off-grid housing community

The project will feature energy efficiency as one of the hallmarks of its design — a trend that is growing in popularity with builders and homeowners.

By Sean Barry • March 15, 2017

Builders eye certifications, products for greener homes

Low-e windows, efficient HVAC systems and smart thermostats are the most common green products today, per a National Association of Home Builders report.

By Sean Barry • March 14, 2017

The first BREEAM USA In-Use certified building is a CA shopping mall

The 1.3 million-square-foot retail facility was upgraded with energy efficient systems to meet the new benchmarking standard for existing buildings.

By Kim Slowey • March 13, 2017

Developer cancels plans for wooden tower in NYC

SHoP Architects' 10-story condo building had won a 2015 USDA contest showcasing mass timber design. 

By Kim Slowey • March 10, 2017

Mortenson tapped to build $1B Xcel Energy wind farm in CO

The 300-turbine wind farm at Rush Creek will be the largest such single-phase facility in North America.

By Kim Slowey • March 10, 2017

Activity-based workplace design boosts employee well-being

Task-specific workstations, private spaces and modular design are key to increased productivity according to a white paper from Perkins Eastman and Three H.

By Chris Wood • March 8, 2017

VA considers energy-efficiency update to residential building code

Homebuilders are pushing back on the move to change the state's model code for new residential construction.

By Sean Barry • March 8, 2017

Property Markets Group plans luxe student apartments for Chicago's University Village

U will target the neighborhood's student population with amenities such as co-working space, a yoga room, a communal kitchen and a roof deck.

By Sean Barry • March 3, 2017

Microsoft tests deep-sea data centers for energy-efficient cooling, security

Submerging servers in oxygen-free pods could significantly reduce construction and cooling costs while lowering the equipment's vulnerability to attack.

By Chris Wood • March 1, 2017

MIT startup Sistine Solar debuts camouflaging photovoltaics

The race to make residential rooftop solar systems more visually appealing — a factor, along with cost, that has been holding back adoption — continues.

By Sean Barry • March 1, 2017

Home appraisals to include energy rating scores

The Residential Energy Services Network and the Appraisal Institute will add Home Energy Rating System scores to appraisals, which could help finance green design.

By Sean Barry • Feb. 28, 2017

Lancaster, CA adds power requirement to rooftop solar rule

New houses in the city already must have solar panels, unless builders pay an opt-out fee. Now, those systems must average 2 watts per square foot.

By Sean Barry • Feb. 24, 2017