The building sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and heating, cooling, and lighting are all major sources of these emissions. The solution? Good passive design can minimize the need for these end uses even while providing enhanced thermal comfort.

It’s been a while since a LEED update generated much excitement. Not like the heady days of 2009 when v3 was released, and project teams were lining up to get things registered because of the market power LEED was commanding.

There is a mountain of research to support the positive impacts of good daylighting, but there is less guidance on how to do it well. In this blog post and in a related webinar, we’ll look at how LEED v4 is changing that and touch on a new tool—computational design—that helps make the process of designing for daylight and quality views not only faster but also more successful.

The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo is the world’s largest conference and expo centered around sustainable design. Greenbuild is unparalleled in its robust educational and networking opportunities, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Over the past couple of years, I’ve especially enjoyed a special evening of respite, inspiration, and a profound sense of comradery from a small (but growing) network of sustainable design leaders such as myself.