5 green building trends: A push to scale net zero
For the built environment to meet global carbon-reduction goals, more buildings must reach net zero quickly. There are signs, finally, that this is happening.
For the built environment to meet global carbon-reduction goals, more buildings must reach net zero quickly. There are signs, finally, that this is happening.
Mass timber has grown into the go-to structural material for green mid-rises. In 2019, you can expect it to sprout even higher.
Batteries and other forms of energy storage are set to enjoy the kind of growth in 2019 that solar electricity has had for the last decade.
State governments, local governments and a large part of the business community have stepped into the void of federal inaction on climate change. In 2019, their actions may drag the rest of the country kicking and screaming toward action.
No matter how much planning goes into the design or how many salvage items are worked into the specs, getting to net positive waste requires a vigilance that continues until the project is complete.
The math of “net positive waste” is pretty basic: Divert more stuff from the landfill than you send to the landfill. As with many simple formulas, the challenge lies in the details.
The Living Building Challenge requires projects to be “net positive waste.” Here’s how the Kendeda Building is meeting its materials conservation goals.