Blog #1: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

 Weekly Summery;

    Week 1 was a very informative week covering a wide variety of topics that all encapsulate the initial elements of textiles ranging from:    

• How they are grown and harvested 
• How they are formed
• The corporations involved (manufacturers / producers etc.) 
• Differences between types of yarns and fibers

    The information covered all this and more as it was made very evident that the process through which fabrics and finished textiles are undergone is not such a simple endeavor. 

    Along with the creation of the textiles in its beginning stages, we learned just how important it is to see just how different types of manufactured and natural products interact with the environment around us in either positive or negative ways. We as designers and architects cannot stop the progress of further development of buildings and sites across the glob, but we can be conscientious of how we go about our work that makes the effects of its construction less impactful and harmful on the environment as a whole. Thankfully today, the well respected and established corporations of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and WELL (The WELL Building Standard), oversee and moderate sustainable building standers across the globe in order to mitigate environmental issues and regulate positive building practices. 

LEED Initiatives of 2022 - 2023

            According to an article written by Inside.Lighting, there are many new projects throughout the United States and through Canada that are groundbreaking contributions to both feats in architecture, design and innovation, and sustainability. Key leaders, according to this article, are the Georgia World Congress Center and the 55 Street Water Recertification buildings that are two of the largest LEED gold certified buildings in America. 

            Other notable initiatives in LEED are given in an article by the Smart Buildings Technology, noting recent statistics given by the USGBC stating; 

    "As of today, more than 125 local governments have achieved LEED for Cities certification and nearly 200 are in the LEED process. The LEED for Cities system provides a road map to help jurisdictions evaluate and track progress on economic, environmental and social conditions."

            It is interesting to see just how much momentum is taking place in regards of LEED for cities program. 

Sources: 

1. Inside Lighting. (2023, January 23). Top Green Building States and Projects for 2022. https://inside.lighting/news/23-01/top-green-building-states-projects-2022

2. Smart Buildings Tech. (Year, Month Day). Title of the Article. https://www.smartbuildingstech.com/energy-efficiency/article/21264388/usgbc-announces-2023-leed-for-cities-leadership-program-cohort

3. U.S. Green Building Council. (Year). Title of the Page. https://www.usgbc.org/top-10-leed