Green building breathes new life into old materials

A new report sees straw and bamboo making a comeback in the next decade.

By Brian Warmoth • July 30, 2013

Group offers database of utility-protection best practices

A new database operated for free by the Common Ground Alliance gives utilities and contractors access to information and contacts for employing best practices in protecting underground wires and pipes.

By Ron Gallagher • July 29, 2013

Flood by accidental design: Levees send storm surges up Mississippi toward New Orleans

A team of engineers led by the man who designed the federal government's computer model for storm surges says that Mississippi levees below the city inadvertently send water upstream and should be lowered.

By Ron Gallagher • July 24, 2013

Passive homes architect spins off insulated windows business

Florian Speier was already designing with high-end Zola windows from Europe. Now he sells them as well.

By Ron Gallagher • July 24, 2013

Green building, green finance to team on efforts in emerging markets

An arm of the World Bank and USGBC's global organization have agreed to work together to encourage green construction in urbanizing countries.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2013

Real estate giant CBRE funds research on commercial green building

CBRE set up a program to put $1 million into research into real-world opportunities and effects of green building, and the company has selected five projects to back.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2013

Prescott, Ariz., code to raise standards, post energy numbers for buyers

As soon as the city council approves, 2012 international codes will be incorporated in municipal building codes, and builders will have to test finished systems.

By Ron Gallagher • July 12, 2013

LEEDv4 and apartments: This week's most read construction news

Head into the weekend better informed with the week's most popular news posts.

By Brian Warmoth • July 12, 2013

Federal buildings will have to meet ASHRAE's latest standards

The Department of Energy has new rules that require federal buildings to be built to meet the latest standards for energy conservation.

By Ron Gallagher • July 11, 2013

Skanska to U.S. Chamber: No LEEDv4, no Skanska

In a dispute that revolves around whether LEED will effectively be blocked as a standard for federal buildings, Skanska USA has withdrawn from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

By Ron Gallagher • July 11, 2013

Electricians, contractors own net-zero-energy teaching lab in Calif.

In Alameda County, Calif., electricians who need to know about emerging technology and the contractors who need them team up for hands-on training.

By Ron Gallagher • July 10, 2013

Goal for UC Davis building: All wine out, no energy in

In the heart of California wine country, the Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building (JSWB) on the UC Davis campus is LEED Platinum and aiming for net-zero energy status.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2013

Four new ideas for LEED credits join 'pilot' program offerings

The pilot program puts suggestions for new ways to earn LEED credits up for testing and discussion among members.

By Ron Gallagher • July 8, 2013

Design-build—an easy route to LEED certification?

Design-build is not guaranteed to deliver LEED certification more reliably than other project methods, but several professionals say they believe it helps.

By Ron Gallagher • July 5, 2013

Are the benefits of glass-walled buildings for real?

Engineer and LEED Accredited Professional Peter Rumsey suggests wide and high expanses of glass are not all they're trumped up to be.

By Ron Gallagher • July 2, 2013

New version of LEED to launch this fall

The U.S. Green Building Council says its members have approved the LEED v4 proposal, with the update on green building standards garnering 86% of vote.

By Ron Gallagher • July 2, 2013

Storm-defeating homes and the world's greenest building: This week's most read construction news

Need to catch up on construction news? Check out Construction Dive's most read news of the week.

By Davide Savenije • June 28, 2013

Here's why efficient materials do not always equal efficient buildings

How systems are installed and what other materials are used can affect heating loads by 30% and cooling loads by 200%.

By Ron Gallagher • June 27, 2013

Working on a green project? Get it right or go home

How the contractor does the job can add – or subtract – points for the client, and adding is much better for business.

By Ron Gallagher • June 26, 2013

Green projects see rapid rise in retail, hospitality industries

A survey by McGraw Hill Construction found that owners see green as an important piece of their expansion strategies.

By Ron Gallagher • June 26, 2013

Dubai now has world's greenest building

Dubai already had the world's tallest building, but now it can boast the commercial building with the highest LEED score of all time. 

By Ron Gallagher • June 26, 2013

Carpet made from recycled fishing nets supply eco-boost for commercial sites

Contractors looking for a environmental angle to offer clients might consider a line of carpet tiles made with recycled nylon for tenant build-outs.

By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013

When sensors can count people, HVAC savings soar

A study that found occupancy sensors can boost building efficiency 18% for HVAC use, which just about guarantees they will be part of future buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013

Light-colored roofs reflect well on building designers, bill-payers

Bouncing light off a roof rather than soaking it up in dark materials can make a significant difference in energy use.

By Ron Gallagher • June 17, 2013

Reuse and redevelopment jobs bring some special planning needs

Reusing building sites instead of doing greenfield development can be fun for contractors, but they do can have some twists that need careful planning.

By Ron Gallagher • June 14, 2013