Sustainability

When McDonald’s opened its net-zero energy restaurant at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it marked a significant milestone in sustainable quick-service building design. Designed by Ross Barney Architects, the 8,000-square-foot flagship aims to be the first net-zero energy quick-service restaurant in the United States, demonstrating that even the most energy-intensive commercial building types […]

The push for net zero carbon buildings has reached a major milestone with the development of Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. As the world first arena targeting net zero carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), this project demonstrates how large-scale sports and entertainment venues can achieve ambitious sustainability goals without compromising performance

The annual Greenbuild conference, presented by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), wrapped up its 17th edition in Chicago with a powerful theme: Human X Nature. For construction professionals, architects, specifiers, and building owners, this conference signals important shifts in how the industry approaches sustainable design, certification pathways, and the intersection of the built

As urban populations grow and environmental concerns intensify, the once utilitarian parking garage is undergoing a profound transformation. No longer simply a concrete shell for storing vehicles, modern parking structures are becoming integrated components of sustainable building design, mobility hubs that serve multiple transportation modes, and assets that contribute meaningfully to a building’s overall environmental

The Foundation of High-Performance Building Commissioning Commissioning a LEED Platinum science building is a complex undertaking that demands careful planning, collaboration, and technical precision from the earliest stages of design through final occupancy. Unlike standard commercial construction, laboratory and science facilities carry unique mechanical, electrical, and ventilation requirements that must operate in perfect harmony to

Commercial property owners and facility managers are increasingly turning to LED lighting retrofits as one of the most effective strategies for reducing operating expenses while improving light quality. The business case for switching from traditional metal halide and fluorescent fixtures to light-emitting diode (LED) technology has never been stronger, with many projects achieving payback periods

Understanding the ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1 Green Building Standard for High-Performance Construction The construction industry has long recognized the need for buildings that perform better, use fewer resources, and provide healthier indoor environments. In 2014, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of

In modern construction, transparency about product environmental impacts has shifted from a differentiator to an expectation. Builders, architects, and specifiers increasingly need verified data to support sustainability claims and meet green building certification requirements. One of the most powerful tools for achieving this transparency is the combination of Product Category Rules (PCRs) and Environmental Product

The real estate market has shifted dramatically in the past decade, and one trend stands out above the rest: home buyers consistently pay a premium for homes in walkable neighborhoods. Research from the Urban Land Institute and multiple academic studies confirms that properties in pedestrian-friendly areas command significantly higher prices per square foot than their

Understanding Passive Survivability and the New LEED Resiliency Pilot Credits The concept of passive survivability centers on a straightforward but urgent question: if a home loses power, water, or gas for an extended period, can its occupants continue to live in it safely and comfortably? This question has gained new urgency as extreme weather events