Building Technology

Green building certification programs have transformed the construction industry by establishing measurable benchmarks for sustainability. Programs like LEED, BREEAM, and others provide clear frameworks that reward energy efficiency, material selection, and site stewardship. Yet there is a less discussed challenge that even the most well-intentioned projects face: project information creep, where the original vision slowly […]

When we flush a toilet, most of us do not think about what happens to the nutrients we just sent down the drain. In the world of sustainable building, there is growing interest in a different approach: separating urine at the source and using it as a fertilizer. This practice, championed by organizations like the

The construction industry depends on a complex network of specialized manufacturers supplying everything from structural components to finishing materials. When a critical production facility suffers a catastrophic event, the effects cascade through the entire supply chain, affecting builders, contractors, and homeowners alike. The 2012 experience of Serious Energy, a California based energy efficiency company, illustrates

Water-resistive barriers (WRBs) form a critical component of the building envelope, yet they are often misunderstood or improperly installed even by experienced builders. When the Green Building Advisor encyclopedia published its dedicated article on water-resistive barriers in 2013, it brought together decades of building science knowledge on how to keep water out of wall assemblies.

Across the United States, local governments are discovering that green building incentive programs offer a powerful way to accelerate sustainable construction without imposing new mandates. By offering rebates on permit fees, fast-tracked plan reviews, and public recognition for certified green projects, cities and counties are making it financially attractive for builders and property owners to

The push toward net zero residential construction has gained meaningful traction in recent years, and programs like the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge offer a window into how builders, buyers, and policymakers are navigating this shift. Launched by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, the Challenge invited builders to construct homes that meet rigorous energy performance standards,

Homeowners exploring metal roofing options often encounter compelling promises from manufacturers about dramatic energy savings. The Metal Roofing Alliance, for instance, claims that a cool metal roof can reduce energy costs by 25 percent compared to a dark gray asphalt shingle. But how much of this is genuine building science versus clever marketing? When a

One of the most persistent barriers to making energy improvements in homes and buildings is not a lack of desire or technical know-how, but rather the challenge of paying for the work upfront. Conventional home improvement loans and traditional bank financing typically carry short repayment terms of less than ten years, making the monthly payments

The perception of green building has shifted dramatically from a niche preference to an increasingly mainstream expectation. Research consistently shows that homeowners now associate green construction with higher quality, durability, and comfort compared to conventional code-minimum homes. According to the McGraw-Hill SmartMarket Report, consumers increasingly view green buildings as superior in overall construction quality, driven

Modern concrete is the backbone of contemporary construction, yet it faces a durability gap that ancient Roman engineers solved two millennia ago. Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have been studying samples taken from a Roman breakwater submerged in the Bay of Naples for the last 2,000 years. What they found could reshape