People are constantly changing, yet the homes that they live in, once constructed, are inflexible to their changing needs. Open Building (OB) represents an alternative approach to building that accounts for the changing needs of homeowners and communities through its […]
Air leakage is the movement of air into and out of a building that is not controlled through an exhaust system but rather through factors such as wind blowing through gaps in the building envelope. Air leakage is a concern for
Screen reader version: Recycling by the Numbers 13,000 feet of framing lumber the average newly constructed home requires – that’s enough lumber to line 2.5 miles of road if laid end-to-end. 85 million tons of material recycled in the U.S.
“Some of the most pressing occupational health hazard risks in construction” are associated with masonry operations, asphalt roofing, and welding, wrote Deborah Young-Corbett in an article recently accepted by the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management. To reduce these health
In this age of energy-efficiency another method of building the top of a building is taking root: green roofs. On such “upland” terrain one can grow foods from strawberries to cornstalks, enjoy the view, even have fountains and topiary—whatever one’s
Green building is smart building. Aside from their obvious benefit to the environment, green buildings deliver financial savings, are more comfortable, healthier, return higher productivity rates and have higher resale values. See this infographic for a quick look at why
Once you’ve analyzed the weather and the landscape around a building, your next line of defense towards making its indoor spaces economically comfortable every hour of the year is insulating its lowest floor, outer walls, and roof: what is known
As the Asia representative for the UNESCO Earthen Architecture program, the Auroville Earth Institute in South India is a great source for people wanting to learn earthen construction. In addition to building, they conduct research and development, operate training programs
Globally, about one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions are building related. And that figure is even higher in developed nations. With this massive opportunity to cut GHGs, the non-profit Architecture 2030 has created the 2030 Challenge, an initiative that asks the
When dust and debris from construction sites get blown into the air they can cause respiratory problems and property damage. It’s a big problem, particularly in populated cities with numerous construction projects. Wherever possible, prefab homes could be an answer
