Comfort
Chartwell School puts students first with an emphasis on natural daylighting and other passive comfort strategies.
A focus on comfort in building design means a focus on people and their ability to work, learn, and heal. The connection between thermal, acoustical, and other types of comfort and productivity in the workplace is well established.
Because of this, investing in the comfort of occupants is one of the most cost-effective green design strategies. It’s also just common sense: buildings aren’t here for their own sake; they’re here for us.
Comfort
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Verifying Project Outcomes: Which Metrics Work?
Feature Short
Project success is increasingly tied to performance metrics, especially EUI. But that doesn’t always capture what owners are really looking for.
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Doing Daylighting Right
Feature
Harvesting daylight is a popular way to save energy and promote productivity. But getting it wrong is all too easy-and can have the opposite effects.
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The Hidden Science of High-Performance Building Assemblies
Feature
Any four walls and a roof make an enclosure, but for efficiency, comfort, and durability, those elements have to be meticulously designed and installed.
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Getting Flame Retardants Out of Foam Insulation
Feature
In an effort to eliminate the use of halogenated flame retardants, building code changes are being proposed by a group of fire experts, architects, chemists, and environmentalists.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Adaptive Thermal Comfort
Explainer
Adaptive thermal comfort broadens our understanding of the comfort zone by accounting for human behavior and perception, and factors like amount of clothing and air movement.
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What Is Building Science, Anyway?
Explainer
Building science is an integrated discipline that stands many conventional design and construction ideas on their heads.
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Using WUFI to Prevent Moisture Problems
Explainer
WUFI software helps predict and prevent moisture problems based on site, climate, building materials, mechanical systems, and more.
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Building Acoustics: The Basics of Managing Sound and Noise
Explainer
Acoustic performance is crucial to occupant well-being. And smart design, not added cost, can make the difference.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Ceiling Systems
Product Guide
Low-emitting acoustical and specialty ceiling systems made from sustainably sourced materials
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Broadloom Carpet
Product Guide
These broadloom carpets are made with natural wool or are certified NSF 140 Platinum or Cradle to Cradle v3.1 Silver or Gold. Many are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
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Modular Carpet
Product Guide
These carpet tiles are made with natural wool or are certified NSF 140 Platinum or Cradle to Cradle v3.1 Silver or Gold. They are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
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Acoustic Wall & Ceiling Panels
Product Guide
Acoustic panels with high NRC ratings and low toxicity
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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National Center for Healthy Housing Rates Green Building Systems
News Analysis
The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) has announced results of its evaluation of major national green building and indoor air quality standards.
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Sustainable Projects Increase Firm Profits
News Analysis
Despite widespread beliefs to the contrary, sustainable building projects are more profitable than conventional projects-according to one internal study by HOK.
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Preliminary Study Supports LEED Productivity Benefits
News Analysis
Workers moving from existing buildings to new LEED-certified buildings were surveyed for before-and-after health and productivity changes.
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Open Offices Engender Collaborative, Transparent Workplaces
News Analysis
Open workspaces are increasingly popular, and thoughtful design can help ease the transition.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Bring the Noise! It Can Help You Listen.
Op-Ed
Noise-canceling headphones and tightly sealed buildings have more in common than you might think.
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R-10 Vacuum-Insulated Glazing
Blog Post
The technological challenges for high performance, vacuum-insulated glazing may have finally been surpassed, but the results are still under wraps.
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Leveraging Thermal Comfort to Achieve High Performance
Blog Post
Can buildings be both comfortable and energy efficient? The Kendeda Building shows how the two can go hand in hand.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Build Green on a Budget: Lessons from Affordable Housing
Spotlight Report
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The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation
Special Report
The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation, Fourth Edition, provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including environmental and health comparisons, and recommendations on what insulation to use and what to avoid.
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Housing for All
Feature
Large cities such as Los Angeles have been suburbanized for decades, with single-family homes dominating the building sector. Housing is being pushed farther and farther out from city centers, adding to pollution and compromising affordability. Economic, community and environmental sustainability have all suffered. This piece focuses on “Capital A” affordable housing—low-income, government subsidized multifamily rental housing—with proximity to mass transit, jobs and social services. These spaces are models of contemporary policy, planning and building, meant to increase housing security for all people, including those who are without shelter or at risk of being without reliable housing.
