The Importance of Green Spaces in an Increasingly Gray World

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What are green spaces? Green spaces, according to the World Health Organization, are ‘all urban land-covered by vegetation of any kind’. This includes street trees, gardens, parks, landscaping around buildings, sports fields, flowerbeds, ponds, green entryways, green roofs, individual plants, and more. Green spaces provide long-term financial benefits as well as social and environmental gains. […]

Exploring Environmental Justice Through the Lens of Biophilia

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Environmental injustice is a global problem. Studies suggest that around a quarter of the global population lives in dire conditions in overcrowded, polluted areas. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.5 million people die from water-related diseases a year and more than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day. Many people live […]

Demolition vs. Deconstruction: How Shifting to Reuse Impacts the Environment and Economy 

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Key Takeaways:  Construction and demolition waste make up approximately 40% of the US waste stream  Buildings account for 40% of the global use of raw materials –– many of which are non-renewable  Reuse of building materials can drive a circular economy and reduce carbon emissions  There are more resources than ever to recycle building materials and […]

Healthy and Sustainable Certified: WELL and Living Building Challenge Explained

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Healthy and Sustainable Certified: WELL and Living Building Challenge Explained Key Takeaways: The WELL Building Standard and Living Building Challenge (LBC) extend beyond building efficiency and sustainability, taking into account health and well-being. WELL and LBC have expanded certification levels to allow for more points of entry. Many predict the philosophies guiding these two certifications […]

Cost effective 3D printing buildings

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Safe, durable, affordable housing is a challenge in many parts of the world. An innovative solution to that problem is to use a larger than normal 3D printer to print a concrete house in a fraction of the time it normally takes to build a home and at a very low cost. This 3D printing […]