Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems are a building's lungs, nervous system, and circulatory system. Yet most people see only two parts of an MEP project: the drawings and the finished building.

A building can meet its performance targets and work exactly as intended at turnover. A few years later, energy use rises, comfort complaints increase, or equipment runs constantly. That does not necessarily mean the design failed. Buildings change...

The new equipment is more efficient, the controls were upgraded, and the utility bill still increased. What happened?

Two energy audits can carry the same label and leave a building owner with very different results. One suggests familiar upgrades such as new lighting or HVAC equipment. The other shows where energy is wasted, which improvements matter most, what...

For years, energy strategy in multifamily buildings was relatively straightforward: design to code, keep owner-paid energy use low, and let tenants pay for the rest. Today, that approach is becoming less effective. Rising utility costs, increasing...

A manufacturer receives an EcoVadis invitation before an RFP is due. A distributor is asked for emissions data during a customer review. A specialty contractor is required to disclose climate information to remain on an approved supplier list.

For years, sustainable building design focused mostly on reducing energy use. Efficiency remains the foundation of building decarbonization, lower utility costs, and stronger long-term performance. But as energy systems evolve, efficiency alone is...

A building's embodied carbon profile is defined before it is open for business—and it lasts a lifetime. It comes from the manufacturing and delivery of materials used to build the building—its concrete, steel, glass, aluminum, insulation, interior...

Building Commissioning is becoming one of those closeout requirements that can quietly hold up a project from gaining its occupancy permit. The building may look finished. The owner may be ready to move in. The trades may be packed up. Then the...