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

Walmart gets a green-roof laboratory

In North Portland, Ore., the new store will have 40,000 square feet of green roof equipped with sensors for performance measurements.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 31, 2013

Latest energy conservation code expands lighting controls, adds HVAC monitoring

The 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code says there should be occupancy sensors in more areas opf buildings, including warehouse space.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 31, 2013

GSA recommends Green Globes join LEED for U.S. construction, but effect is unclear

The General Services Administration told the Department of Energy to use Green Globes or LEED, but LEED carries support among agencies.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 28, 2013

LEED v4 likely to bring changes to construction materials generally

The ;latest version of the leading worldwide standard for green-building certification offers more opportunity to score with materials used in construction.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 24, 2013

Can slower 'high-speed' rail in Calif. keep enough public support?

Five years ago, voters approved $10 billion in bonds to start on a bullet-train connection from Los Angeles top San Francisco, but there is anti-rail sentiment where work is to begin.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 21, 2013

Wis. man tries to make an environmental point with his new home

A retired educator decided to teach by example with a new home that is half Energy Star compliant and half adherent to Passivhaus standards.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 7, 2013

Why BIM can be a challenge for home builders

The time and money commitments that building information modeling requires to get started are part of the reason the process has not taken a hold on the home-building industry.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 1, 2013