There are more than 20 different standardized tests manufacturers can invoke to "qualify" as a code-accepted weather-resistive barrier (WRB); with our GreenSpec section on WRBs, we've picked just one that we think does the job.

It's not easy being a weather-resistive barrier (WRB): it has to stop liquid water, be tough and not tear, but also be flexible to wrap around building elements. And it often needs to be vapor-permeable to promote drying.

Over the past month-and-a-half, I've been focusing on resilient design--which will become all the more important in this age of climate change.

BIPV has yet to reach its full potential in the U.S., but a couple companies are giving it a shot.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)--photovoltaic (PV) modules integrated into functional building elements, such as roofs, glazings, and building façades--are fairly common in Europe and Asia. Yet finding commercial BIPV façade products in the U.S. is nearly impossible. Why is that?

Passive solar design is a key element of creating resilient homes.

What's in it? Where was it made? Is the manufacturer socially responsible? These questions about green building products are getting easier to answer.

This is Part 1 in our series on transparency.

Part 2: Why We Need "Nutrition Labels" for Building Products

Part 3: The End of Greenwashing?

Nutrition labels allow shoppers to compare two bags of chips. The transparency movement seeks that level of transparency for building materials.

This is Part 2 in our series on transparency.

Part 1: Why We Care About Product Transparency

Part 3: The End of Greenwashing? Five Myths about Product Transparency

A lot of you have asked over the last couple years: What information are LEED reviewers looking at when they're reviewing our LEED documentation, and can't that information be made available to everyone?

In what seems to be a nod in that direction, GBCI has posted a set of LEED Project Submittal Tips for the five major commercial LEED rating systems, including both the current 2009 versions, and the previous 2008 or v2 versions.

A resilient home is a highly energy-efficient home that will maintain livable conditions even during power outages or interruptions in heating fuel.

When most people think about resilience--resilience to storms or terrorism, for example--they think only about resilience during the event.

USGBC's Center for Green Schools lauds ten groups for taking the lead on green building education.

Windows, carpet chemicals, spray-foam, and LEED lawsuits: these are a few of your favorite things.

It's been a big year for green building. People are tightening up their buildings even as they tighten their belts. The retrofit market and multifamily housing have taken off in a big way in this new financial landscape.

Double the fun by reading your favorite EBN articles to help you meet your LEED CMP requirements!

Looking for ways to meet your "prescriptive" continuing education (CE) requirements with the LEED Credential Maintenance Program (CMP)? Here at BuildingGreen.com we have long offered articles to help you earn your credits--articles that will truly help you learn cutting-edge green building information.

Dear friends,

We know that the economic climate in 2011 has continued to be challenging, so we're all the more grateful and flattered that so many of you continue to rely on our tools and resources for insight, guidance, and community.

For some fun around the holidays, GreenSpec is holding a virtual "open house"--giving you a sneak peek at some cool new products we're reviewing, and our first impressions. We'd like to hear what you think, so please read our first impressions below and then take the quick survey. Happy holidays! Update: Thank you for your feedback. We have closed the survey and are using it to inform our ongoing research agenda.

Anyone who was in Vermont in late August of this year and witnessed the raging floodwaters from Hurricane Irene and the havoc they wreaked, gained an intimate view of the vulnerabilities we face from intense storms and flooding.