Other Green Building Discussions

Studies: High-Performance Buildings Do Not Have to Be More Expensive

by YijunW

Despite the rapidly growing recognition and expansion of sustainable initiatives and green buildings, concerns regarding the high upfront cost of green facilities continue due to the lack of quantifiable information (SA Commercial Prop News… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Research: Electric Heating for Space and Water Heating is Already Cost-Effective

by YijunW

The report by Rocky Mountain Institute* found that costs were lower over the life cycle for electrification of space and water heating over fossil-fueled space and water heating, particularly notable for new home construction. The report co… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Companies and Cities Joining the Movement Away from Plastic Straws

Strawless Oceans,No to Plastic Straws

by Eileen Flynn Student

The first time I was exposed to the dangers of plastic waste negatively affecting my environment was when I was 14 years old. I watched a video of a turtle, rescued from our oceans, with a plastic straw stuck in his nose. “Say No to P… more...

  Filed under: Green Living

Harvard Study: Students Can't Think Straight During a Heat Wave

by YijunW

Heat waves have devastating consequences for public health globally. Buildings can heighten temperature exposures during heat waves by maintaining high indoor temperatures overnight even when high surrounding temperatures have fallen. Adult… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Eco Neighborhoods: Milwaukee Wisconsin’s Sustainability Toolkit

Milwaukee,Eco-Neighborhoods,Eco Toolkit

by Eileen Flynn Student

Milwaukee Wisconsin has brought teamwork to their sustainability campaign. Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office has developed an Eco-Neighborhoods Toolkit to help make the process of becoming a green city even easier. On the… more...

  Filed under: Green Living

Studies: We Are Consuming Plastics from Drinking Water

by YijunW

A colorful plastic microfiber in bottled water. Photograph: Abigail Barrows Globally, we generated 275 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2010 alone (Jenna R. Jambeck et al). But we only recycle a small portion of our plastic. Accordin… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Studies: High Ventilation Rates are Associated with Lower Rate of Illness and Absences

by YijunW

Have you thought about how ventilation* rates influence human health and performance? Studies have shown high ventilation rates are associated with lower respiratory illness, lower rates of sick building syndrome, and lower absences in offi… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Encode Artificial Intelligence into Sustainability

by YijunW

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already more real than people realize. A whopping 70 percent of the companies surveyed this year by Forrester Research plan to use some form of AI by the end of 2018 (Forbes). AI research is a priority for ma… more...

  Filed under: Cleantech

If Green Roofs Cover 30% and Cool Roofs Cover 60% of the Building Roofs, 0.8 GT of CO2 Emissions Will be Reduced and $3 Trillions Will Be Saved

by YijunW

The usual rooftop is plain terrain, exposing to sun, wind, rain, and snow, and enduring extreme temperatures up to 90 Fahrenheit higher than the surrounding air on a hot day. Green roofs, on the contrary, are veritable ecosystems, or sky ga… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys

Research: U.S. Community Solar Market Can Grow 70 Times by 2030

by YijunW

A new research estimates that the U.S. community solar market, which currently accounts for 1 gigawatt of installed operating capacity, can consistently scale to 50-70 times that size by 2030. This is equivalent to 8 million new solar custo… more...

  Filed under: Studies/Surveys