What could possibly go wrong?
Complications of Sustainability Requirements
by David Stutzman | Dec 18, 2018 | Bad Specs, Division 01, EPD, LEED, Professional Practice, Quality Assurance, Specifications, submittals, Sustainable Design
Sustainable Design - What's the Strategy?
by David Stutzman | Nov 4, 2013 | Construction Administration, contract documents, Design Considerations, LEED, Professional Practice, Specifications, Sustainable Design
A program at the Philadelphia AIA Design on the Delaware annual conference last week, discussed the legal aspects of green building. The panelists used an outlandish hypothetical case to explore where the design pitfalls may lie. Issues ignored by the..
Can Goals Be Requirements?
by David Stutzman | May 27, 2013 | AIA, contract documents, CSI, LEED, MasterFormat, Practice Guide, Professional Practice, Specifications, Sustainable Design
I just completed review of a new document that the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) will be publishing soon: The CSI Sustainable Design and Construction Practice Guide, one of a series of practice guides. The guide references the CSI flagship..
Solar Arrays and Net Zero Buildings
by David Stutzman | Mar 25, 2013 | AC power, DC power, Design, Design Considerations, Division 13, Photovoltaics, Product Applications, Net Zero, Specifications, Sustainable Design
I attended a presentation on an office building designed to meet the Living Building Challenge. One of the design concepts was to achieve net zero energy (metered) for the completed design. This means that the metered power sent to the utility grid from..
What's Wrong with This Picture?
by David Stutzman | Nov 20, 2012 | 4030, Construction Administration, Coordination, Division 00, Division 01, Professional Practice, publications, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Specifications, Sustainable Design, Tech Tips
Chemical Masonry Cleaning
by David Stutzman | Jul 24, 2012 | B2010, Cleaning, Division 04, Masonry, Product Applications, publications, Specifications, Stone, Sustainable Design, Tech Tips
How can you make sure you get that "like new" look for the completed masonry? Detergent washing is only removing the surface dirt - not the right result. Chemical masonry cleaning is a necessary evil in new construction. It's not as bad as you might..
Please. Energy is Not Renewable
by David Stutzman | May 14, 2012 | Design Considerations, energy, LEED, Professional Practice, Science, Specifications, Sustainable Design
Can we please stop calling solar, wind, and other LEED and government promoted energy sources "renewable?"
BUILDING PRODUCTS MADE FROM MUSHROOMS!?
by jminarik | May 1, 2012 | building products, Design Considerations, Division 07, Insulation, Specifications, Styrofoam alternates, sustainability, Sustainable Design
Naturally Decay Resistant Wood
by David Stutzman | Feb 21, 2012 | B2080, B3020, Division 06, G2030, Product Applications, Professional Practice, publications, Specifications, Sustainable Design, Tech Tips, Wood
Wood's natural decay resistance is dependent on species selection and the part of the tree that is used. Tropical rainforest species are not required for durable wood in exterior applications. Learn what US native species are sustainable alternatives and..
Brick - Solid or Hollow - Why Choose?
by David Stutzman | Oct 3, 2011 | brick, Division 04, Product Applications, Specifications, standards, Sustainable Design
Brick selection is usually based on aesthetic factors, first, such as size, color, and texture. These aesthetic factors can dramatically affect the perception of a completed building. For designers making the aesthetic selections, there is usually little..