Projects / Products / Research / Policy
The GAB Report Library
Projects, products, research, policy, and practical intelligence from across the sustainable built environment.
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Optimism Key to Building Industry Recovery
PCBC (formerly known as the Pacific Coast Builders Conference) kicked off its 50th anniversary in San Francisco, California on June 17–19. The theme, “the New Age of Invention”, was apropos. In this economic climate, it’s time for us in the design and construction industries to re-invent ourselves, innovate, and work towards a more sustainable way…
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Simple Yet Smart Technology Helps Conserve Water
Having lived in California for the past 26 years, I know what it is like to go through droughts – it is scary. The most recent period of insufficient rainfall has forced public utilities to urge water conservation at all levels and enforce water use restrictions in many areas including the city in which I…
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Green Agents of Change Convene at Green Building Summit
The need for energy efficient and sustainable buildings has finally started gaining mainstream recognition in the United States in the last 5 years, not only from the design and construction industries, but also from homeowners, the financial sector, and government agencies including President Obama’s Administration. More recently, the momentum of call to action has also…
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Transforming a Concrete Box into a Net-Zero Energy Building
Editor’s Note: The IDeAs Z2 Design Facility is now the San Jose office of the Integral Group. At the AIA 2009 National Convention, I was pleased to find a handful of educational sessions, led by San Francisco Bay Area architects and engineers, that focused on net-zero energy building design. One of the featured projects, the IDeAs…
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Sripadanna Residence Receives First LEED for Homes Gold in Silicon Valley
Congratulations to Mr. Hari Sripadanna on receiving LEED for Homes Gold certification for his residence in Saratoga, California. The Sripadanna Residence is the first detached single custom home in Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley to receive LEED-H Gold certification and has set the high standard for the community. I recently had the opportunity to…
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Affordable Housing Project Incorporates Largest Residential Solar Photovoltaic System in San Francisco
What do you do when your project has close to 40,000 square foot of roof space in one city block, good sun exposure, and no shading impediments? Go solar, of course, and generate your own electricity with a renewable energy source. Mosaica, one of the largest green, mixed-use projects located in San Francisco, California, boasts…
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Kevin Roche’s Landmark Oakland Museum Undergoes Transformation
Cahill Contractors is nearing completion of the first of several phases of construction at the Oakland Museum of California. The first phase of the renovation is scheduled to complete around the middle of June 2009. The renovation project was designed by architecture firm Mark Cavagnero Associates. Other members of the project team include ProPM (construction…
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Urban Landscape Moves Up 15′ and Targets LEED-CI
On my recent trip to Calgary, Canada, I came upon the “+15”, an intricate network of more than 57 enclosed bridges elevated approximately 15 feet above street level that connect at least 100 buildings in downtown. My exploration led me into an active construction site of four stories of scaffolding within a shopping mall dotted…
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Endless Suburbs, Abundant Resources, and Sustainable Design?
Hiking around Lake Louise on a recent trip to Calgary, Alberta, I took in breathtaking views of big blue skies and the Canadian Rockies and felt grateful of the precious natural resources that this land offered. Upon my return to the reality of the urban city and endless suburbs, I had the opportunity to experience…
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Maximizing the Green Footprint: How Much Green Impact Can You Make?
In our article The Story of the Fireside: Seeing the Green in Value Engineering, we discussed how value engineering helps one take a systematic approach to evaluating a building system or product from different perspectives. This feature takes a closer look at the three types of green product categories and how you can evaluate them.…
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Simplify Solar with the First Curved Solar Roofing Tile
After two long days of non-stop hustling between seminars and product exhibits at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) 2009 National Convention and Expo, I was on my last stretch of speed walking through 800 plus vendor stalls. Fatigued and with a growling stomach, I was about to call it a day until I saw…
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Protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices
The Energy Star website is a terrific source for energy information covering everything from appliances to buildings and IT equipment. Tools and resources range from advice on energy efficiency in home improvements to energy management guidelines to various financial calculators. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.…