green building posts, articles, and infographics

City-wide Clean Development Mechanism: A Framework for Empowering Cities

January 6, 2012 by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
with 169 views

As the dust settles after the COP17 Climate Talks in Durban, a sigh of relief is released. The mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol have survived to see a second commitment period. The mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol—the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI) and emissions trading—provide flexibility as participating countries attempt to comply with their emission reduction targets. Each of these mechanisms allows developed countries to fund emissions reduction projects outside of their borders in order to meet their domestic targets. The CDM has been universally embraced by the first and third world as a way to encourage sustainable development and green economic growth in developing countries. [read more]

Seattle 2030 District: The NEXT Big Thing in Green Building

December 19, 2011 by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
with 453 views

Brett PhillipsDirector of Sustainability, Unico PropertiesBoard Chairman, Seattle 2030 DistrictBrian GellerExecutive DirectorSeattle 2030 DistrictThe green building movement has made great strides in recent years, but it’s not enough. In order to put up a good fight against ever-increasing environmental and economic pressures, we need a... [read more]

Addressing Climate Change Via Cities – 17 Sustainable Ideas and COP17

December 12, 2011 by This Big City
with 174 views

COP17 drew to a close on Friday, with some kind of international climate change deal agreed on. In this post, Joe Peach – editor of This Big City – and Rashiq Fataar – editor of Future Cape Town – look back over their collaborative series, discussing the best ideas explored and whether the agreement reached at COP17 is enough. Joe Peach... [read more]

Global Mayors Put UN’s Sustainable City Guidelines In Motion

December 7, 2011 by Warren Karlenzig
with 319 views

After providing the curriculum for training urban leaders from 12 Southeast and Central Asian nations a few weeks ago, the United Nations is now globally launching the full content of the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century. [read more]

Save $20 Billion By Building Schools Green

November 11, 2011 by Planet Forward
with 187 views

Here’s a puzzler. Right at the time of day when some kids are most likely to get into trouble, most schools close the door and turn off the lights. Seems silly, doesn’t it? That disconnect, along with a slew of other good reasons, has helped give birth to the community schools movement. [read more]

Now and Then: Green Renovations Improve Buildings

October 26, 2011 by Kaid Benfield
with 167 views

Exactly four years ago today, I published my first blog post. Little did I know at the time how much I would enjoy this and how much maintaining a blog would change my life, probably doubling both my workload and my job satisfaction. The biggest downsides appear to be that I ride my bike a lot less and get to... [read more]

Barbie Gets A Green Roof

August 12, 2011 by Kaid Benfield
with 320 views

I vacationed in Prague not long ago and wandered into a museum full of Barbie dolls. Pretty impressive, in its way. Barbie has come a long way over the years, and her newest incarnation is as an architect with a green home. Bridgette Meinhold previewed Architect Barbie in Inhabitat: “Various people and organizations have long... [read more]

Part 3: The Significance of Taipei 101, the World’s Tallest and Largest Green Building

August 1, 2011 by Leanne Tobias
with 532 views

Britain’s largest pollinator study has been launched today. The project led by Professor Jane Memmott, from the University of Bristol, will be conducted in twelve cities across Britain to determine how well pollinators such as bees and butterflies are doing in urban areas. [read more]

More US Homes Should Be Passive

June 21, 2011 by Foster Pepper
with 432 views

Should Responsible (American) Developers build more "Passive" homes? German developers answer, Jawohl, bauen der Passiv Haus! On June 9th the Passivhaus Institut issued a press release recapping the 15th International Passive House Conference that was held in Innsbruck, ... [read more]

Want to Pick My Green Building Legal Brain...for Free?

June 16, 2011 by Chris Cheatham
with 93 views

I am ready to hit the road and start talking about green building risk management. I finally have enough cases and stories to weave together a compelling narrative about the topic. And for a short time, I will give my presentation for free to interested companies. The presentation is entitled "LEEDigation: Current and... [read more]

IGCC Series: Transportation Considerations for Green Buildings

June 9, 2011 by Chris Cheatham
with 106 views

The International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is a model code for cities seeking to promote sustainable building practices through their building codes. The IGCC promotes transition from the current voluntary green construction certifications, like USGBC’s LEED, to mandatory green construction codes. As the most recent revisions... [read more]