Sustainability

    In the News: Wastewater Agriculture, Rural Broadband, NIMBY Energy

    Wastewater Agriculture Urban farming may have just taken a big step toward scaleable reality. According to Hortidaily, researchers from Clemson University and South Korea’s Gyeongsang National University have developed a low-impact method for growing produce in cities. The system researchers are developing would use an anaerobic membrane bioreactor to filter harmful contaminants out of wastewater while leaving behind nutrients that fertilize plants. The treated water would be used on crops, such as lettuce, that are growing in an indoor, soil-free… Read More »In the News: Wastewater Agriculture, Rural Broadband, NIMBY Energy

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      A Toolkit for Circular Building

      By now it should be self-evident that building construction, operation, maintenance, and removal are major contributors to global carbon emissions—nearly 50% of total emissions, according to nonprofit Architecture 2030. What isn’t necessarily self-evident is precisely how building industry professionals such as designers, construction clients and asset owners can reduce emissions of projects under their purview. Cue the Circular Buildings Toolkit (CBT) a resource that its creator, engineering giant Arup, describes as “a set of practical strategies and measures that can help… Read More »A Toolkit for Circular Building

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        Missteps on the Road to Renewables

        Renewables surpassed fossil fuels as the cheapest energy source in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency. But the development path for solar and wind technology hasn’t always followed a straight line, judging by an Oct. 9 article in The New York Times. “‘Eye of Sauron’: The Dazzling Solar Tower in the Israeli Desert” tells the story of an $800 million experiment in energy generation in Ashalim, Israel: 50,000 mirrors on the desert floor reflect sunlight onto a boiler atop… Read More »Missteps on the Road to Renewables

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          Will Florida Build Differently After Hurricane Ian?

          The damage wrought by Hurricane Ian has already prompted conversations about a rebuilding boom in Florida as well as concerns about construction labor shortages in the state. The recovery effort certainly will be colossal: The storm took more than 100 lives and left behind private-market insured losses of between $53 billion and $74 billion, according to risk modeling company RMS. Sarasota County has already announced its intention to expedite all storm-related permits. What’s less clear is precisely how Florida will… Read More »Will Florida Build Differently After Hurricane Ian?

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            Next Steps in the Fight Against Climate Change

            The last word on the climate crisis goes to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Every six to seven years, the group releases an Assessment Report coalescing the latest research. Its findings, the IPCC explains, “provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks.” The IPCC released its Sixth Assessment Report earlier this year, and the findings were alarming to say… Read More »Next Steps in the Fight Against Climate Change

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              Increasing Resilience is a Key Priority for Civil Contractors and Engineers

              Dodge Construction Network’s latest Civil Quarterly study highlights concerns of civil engineers and contractors regarding resiliency improvement of U.S. infrastructure The latest edition of The Civil Quarterly (TCQ) from Dodge Construction Network reveals that increasing resilience of U.S. infrastructure is a priority across the industry. The findings show 82% of civil contractors and 92% of civil engineers affirmed that they have worked on projects that prioritize resilience. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes significant funding for bolstering the resilience of… Read More »Increasing Resilience is a Key Priority for Civil Contractors and Engineers

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                ‘Reinventing the Storm Drain’

                As a result of the climate crisis, droughts and floods are increasing dramatically in both frequency and intensity. A recent monograph of work by Denver-based landscape and planning firm Wenk Associates doubles as a manual for ecologically responsible on-site water management. Working Water: Reinventing the Storm Drain (ORO Editions, $40) , as its title suggests, demonstrates efficient methods for managing urban water resources, using Wenk Associates projects as case studies. According to a review in ArchDaily by Lori Catalano &… Read More »‘Reinventing the Storm Drain’

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                  San Francisco Is Rethinking Inclusionary Zoning

                  With residential development stalling and demand for affordable housing still unmet, San Francisco is reevaluating its decades-old inclusionary zoning policy. So far this year San Francisco has had 1,161 units completed, putting the city on pace to see fewer than 3,000 new homes. Compare that to 2021 when 4,649 units came online. Meanwhile, there are 4,100 units under construction, compared to the high of 10,000 units that were being built in 2016 or 2017, J.K. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle Inclusionary… Read More »San Francisco Is Rethinking Inclusionary Zoning

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                    AIA Shows Commitment to Equality

                    The American Institute of Architects made history in June with the election of Kimberly Dowdell, FAIA, as 2024 president-elect. The architect, who is marketing principal in HOK’s Chicago office, will be the first black woman to lead the organization since its founding in 1857, Engineering News-Record reports. In her campaign for election, Dowdell proposed an “alphabet platform” consisting of advocacy for architects in practice, belonging, climate action and designing the future.  AIA hired its first black CEO, Lakisha Woods, late… Read More »AIA Shows Commitment to Equality

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                      A New Biden Administration Initiative Will Update Building Codes for Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency

                      As hurricane season commences, the Biden administration has announced a campaign to promote more resilient construction. The National Initiative to Advance Building Codes is designed to help buildings withstand damage caused by natural disasters including wildfires, tornadoes, and floods. The codes ensure, for example, that roofs can withstand hurricane-force winds, that construction materials are resistant to flood damage and that insulation helps reduce heating and cooling costs, officials said. The effort will begin with federal buildings. The newer codes, AP… Read More »A New Biden Administration Initiative Will Update Building Codes for Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency

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