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EMERALD BLOG

Abby McDonald

Abby has over six years’ experience in the sustainability field. She has experience working with teams through the design and construction phases of LEED certification, ensuring credit requirements and goals are met. Abby has worked on K-12, institutional, mixed-use residential, core and shell, hospitality, healthcare as well as Federal, state, and local government LEED projects. In addition to her work with Emerald Buillt Environments, she has also held positions as a general sustainability consultant with clients including the D.C. Department of Energy & Environment, the Architect of the Capital and Goodwill Industries and has worked for American University’s Office of Planning and Project Management on LEED projects.

The Power of Sustainable Design Guidelines

Sustainable design is crucial to creating environmentally friendly, healthy, and supportive spaces. Furthermore, it is a core requirement for achieving sustainability certifications like LEED and WELL.

Fact Check: Does LEED Really Cost More?

Let us first state the obvious: Yes, it costs money to achieve LEED certification for a building - just like it costs money to achieve any other sustainable building certification. We often hear blanket statements such as it will cost just 10% more...

The Evolution of LEED

Today, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification is considered the world’s most recognized green building standard. It provides a framework to identify and implement practical and measurable green building design,...

How Furniture Supports Sustainability Goals

What furniture is right for this space? Frequently a perplexing question, deciding on furniture can be a time-consuming and challenging task. Size? Color? Cost? Comfort? All are important factors to consider during the decision-making process, but...

Your New Building Is an Investment for Generations

Cranes erecting buildings are a universally accepted sign of a healthy economy. While many will say that an already existing building is the most sustainable building, the emergence of new buildings on previously developed land or greenfields is an...

Opening During COVID

As the year has rolled on, we have continued to develop our understanding of the impacts and threats of COVID-19. While we were once sheltering in place and wiping off every package from the grocery store with bleach wipes, we've largely adapted as...