Historic buildings are beautiful and connect us with history. There is a lot of value in preserving old architecture so that it can be appreciated for generations to come. But how can these sites maintain relevance in the 21st century where...

When it comes to designing new builds or renovations, energy planning is a real challenge — and is often deprioritized in the early design stages, with the focus being on design, engineering, and construction. However, if the planning of energy is...

Wow, it was great to be back in person at USGBC Live in Twin Cities, Minnesota, after months of isolation from the broader USGBC community. In their break-out session, Emerald team members Matt Setzekorn and Abby McDonald shared stories and lessons...

Over the past two years, the federal government has placed a renewed priority on climate change and sustainability, including new or expanded funding for sustainability initiatives. Many states and major cities are following suit. With the United...

Spring has sprung in the Northern Hemisphere, and each day we see more and more gardens and lawns spruced up from spring clean-up. As the season develops and moves us closer to summer, lawn wars start. In pursuit of the most perfect lawn, let’s...

Religion is woven throughout the fabric of human existence. It can and has been the guiding force in the choices we make daily, both big and small. Should we get married? Should we donate to charity? Can we have this child? How do we resolve...

While industrial buildings and manufacturing plants may not be the first type of building you think of when imagining a LEED project, industrial facilities can and should consider improving building-level operational policies with sustainable...

For several reasons, including significant opportunities for favorable funding/investments, residential projects often pursue sustainable building certifications. Whether projects are new or renovations, mixed-use or residential only, residential...

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,...