The availability of housing, and more specifically affordable housing, represents one of the most fundamental and significant challenges currently facing elected officials, community development organizations, and developers across the country. In...

Research shows that people perform better when there is art in the workplace – or classroom. It makes people happier and healthier – and 32% more productive. That’s why there’s a link between the artwork and sustainable building certifications: At...

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...

Yesterday kicked off Pride Month, a time when allies rally with their friends, families, and colleagues from the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate, educate, and mobilize for equity. Some of the first issues that spurred collective action that led to ...

We spend a lot of time working. For many of us, we are working more now than we ever have. During the pandemic, for those of us who were fortunate enough to be able to work remotely, we frequently found ourselves existing in a constant state of...

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...

It is clear that the executive branch is not shy about its stance on climate change and sustainability. With the United States rejoining the Paris Climate Accords in January of this year, and a renewed pressure to take appropriate action to divert...

Intro CLE, currently the largest timber-frame building in the United States, is under construction in Cleveland, Ohio. This project is seeking LEED Gold Certification and will feature almost 300 apartments, 36,000 square feet of retail space, and a...

Energy Star is a rating system available for buildings, issued by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Energy Star provides certification programs based upon building type (homes, multi-family, commercial,...