The first article below is a good discussion about sustainable design done well. It's not just LEED and doesn't always have to cost more. ~Tina

 

Myth-buster Tackles 6 Misconceptions About Sustainable Design

THE HUFFINGTON POST

Green building advocates have bemoaned the slowness by which green building certifications have been achieved. Architect Lance Hosey, chief sustainability officer at design firm RTKL, discusses six myths about green building and the challenges that designers, builders and owners still need to overcome in this blog.

 

RESILIENCE -- The Ultimate Sustainability

SUSTAINABLECONCRETE.ORG

Aris Papadopoulos, author and past chair of the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative, puts the spotlight on why the multi-trillion dollar built environment in the U.S. is increasingly failing to disaster hazards. His analysis exposes the policies and interests that are the problem's root causes, and demystifies how the building and insurance industries work and the role played by government. The book extracts 30 lessons for all nations that aim to build a more disaster-resilient future. Learn more.
 

 

 

CODES and STANDARDS NEWS

The state of California is in the process of finalizing updates to its energy code (also known as Title 24). While California is often known for its restrictive regulations, the Energy Code is actually more flexible in some ways - among the provisions are the use of U-factors for assemblies instead of dictating required R-values in the prescriptive building envelope requirements and not requiring insulation in certain mass walls that meet prescriptive U-factor criteria. ~Tina

 

California's Strict Energy Code Could Spread to Other States

BUILDERONLINE.COM

The California Energy Commission is in the process of finalizing an update to the state's building energy code (known as Title 24). Originally adopted in 1977, Title 24 regulates building energy use, and has saved Californians billions in reduced energy bills. To learn more click here.

 

Effective Date of Baltimore Green Code Shifted to July

BUILDING GREEN LAW UPDATE

Baltimore City adopted the International Green Construction Code 2012 as an overlay to the City's building, fire and related codes effective April 1, 2015. Code officials have announced a shifting of the 'hard' April 1 effective date until the effective date of the triennial code revision (of the building, plumbing, energy and other construction codes) which will likely be in first week of July, 2015. Significantly, the new Green Code does not apply to: structures that achieve a LEED Silver rating; residential and mixed use buildings of five stories or more that comply with the ICC 700 at the Silver performance level for energy and Bronze level for other categories; and, to structures that comply with ASHRAE standard 189.1. The new enactment allows the Code official to accept third party certification of compliance with these alternative compliance paths; and the authors' businesses will provide those certifications. Read more.

 

  

PRODUCT NEWS

The article on product transparency below provides a good explanation of the new materials credits in LEED v4. Though it focuses on only one manufacturer's products, there are others that meet the requirements for the new LEED credits as well. ~Tina

 

Print it Real Good: First Powder-Based 3D Printed Cement Structure Unveiled

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD

A research team at the University of California, Berkeley has unveiled the first and largest powder-based 3D printed cement structure to date, further affirming 3D printing technology's potential for architecture. If this is indicative of what's to come, the future is looking bright. Unlike many architectural 3D printing projects, the Berkeley team uses small powder-based printers by 3D Systems that the researchers have adapted to print cement. Read more.

 

Environmental Labeling for Buildings Products

EDGE ENVIRONMENT/THEFIFTHESTATE.COM

We have nutrition labels for food, so why not building products? After all, as JASMAX architects associate Michelle Johansson sees it, we "eat" our built environment as well, ingesting its dust on our food, coffee cups and fingers; absorbing chemicals where we sit or lean; and breathing in whatever is floating about from the off-gassing of furnishings, finishes and other items. According to Johansson The Living Future Institute's Declare labelling scheme, used as part of the certification, aims to give architects, builders and consumers transparent information on exactly what they are "eating'" in the built environment. Read more.

           

LEED: A Focus on Product Transparency

MASONRY DESIGN MAGAZINE

When USGBC launched LEED v4, it significantly advanced its mission to "transform the way we think about how buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated." It was, perhaps, the most significant shift in program approaches since LEED was started 14 years ago, with changes designed to push designers and builders into new realms of sustainability innovation according to this article.

 

2015 Concrete Masonry Design Awards of Excellence Accepting Entries

NCMA

The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) and Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) are accepting entries for this national awards program which showcases design and construction excellence using manufactured concrete masonry and hardscape products - concrete masonry units, manufactured stone veneer, articulating concrete block, segmental retaining wall units and interlocking concrete pavers. Entries will be accepted until October 1, 2015. Click here for all the details and to enter a project.

 

 

EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Every four years The Masonry Society hosts the North American Masonry Conference. With over 150 paper submissions, this year promises to be full of educational opportunities. ~Tina

 

12th North American Masonry Conference Registration Open

THE MASONRY SOCIETY

Registration is open for the 12th North American Masonry Conference (NAMC) and The Masonry Society (TMS) Spring Meetings to be held in May in Denver, CO. The NAMC is a forum for the exchange of scientific, engineering, architectural, construction, evaluation, and repair information on masonry. For more information and registration for the NAMC click here. Learn more about the TMS spring meetings.