Sustainability
Building Electrification: The Key to A Net Zero Future
What is Building Electrification? In the effort to decarbonize future energy use, building electrification has been highlighted as one of the key ways to achieve the country’s carbon zero goals. The process of building electrification involves either new buildings being built with a completely electric infrastructure or retrofitting old buildings to rely solely on electric…
Read MoreIn a New Infrastructure Plan, Biden’s Department of Energy Focuses on Cleaner Building Development
The Biden administration has proposed many plans to reduce the United States’ carbon footprint since coming into office. This is becoming more concrete as the Department of Energy has released a comprehensive plan and an announcement of $30 million dollars in funding to pivot into the construction of greener buildings. What exactly does the plan consist of…
Read MoreUSGBC Maryland Wintergreen Award Winners!
Lorax is proud to have contributed to two winning design teams at USGBC Maryland’s Wintergreen Awards for the innovation in LEED® sustainable building design. The Wintergreen Awards recognize businesses and local projects that demonstrate exemplary performance in sustainability. They focus on the key attributes of sustainability: high performance building, healthy design, environmental stewardship, and community…
Read MoreLiving Heroes from Doo’s crew receive Medals!
Living Building Challenge Heroes! Peter and Lorraine Doo were both honored at the 2016 “unconference” of the Living Future Institute as Living Building Challenge Heroes (http://living-future.org/living-building-challenge/about/people/living-building-challenge-heroes) for their efforts in inspiring change in the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Their work on the Gaddy House in Maryland and the Charlotte Lovejoy Conservation Residence…
Read MoreHarvard-Syracuse Demonstrate IAQ Improves Occupant Performance
Where do you feel your best at work? Do you ever feel the need go for a walk outside to clear your head? If you answered those questions with, “I feel best in a room with fresh air” or “Yes, I enjoy getting out, the air helps me to think,” you are in lock step…
Read MoreHealthy Ground for a Healthy Environment
Two articles on the benefits of cover crops to soil health crossed my desk this month. The simultaneity of these articles piqued my curiosity. One article, “A Revolution With Deep Roots in the Past,” was in the New York Times and the other, “Healthy Ground, Healthy Atmosphere,” was in Environmental Health Perspectives’, a National Institutes…
Read More“Imagine Bowie,” an “Appreciative Inquiry”
Lorax participated in an Appreciative Inquiry workshop, led by Kauser Rasvi, of UPD Consulting, one of our partners on the creation of a sustainability plan for the City of Bowie, Maryland. Appreciative Inquiry is a technique of questioning and exploration (inquiry) to uncover the best ideas and talents within an organization or entity to realize…
Read MoreDoos New Year Innovation Blog
THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE RED FIRE MONKEY! We all know that the monkey is a clever and playful animal who can be an effective problem solver but also a trickster. As we celebrate 2016’s Year of the Red Fire Monkey, there should be exuberance, entertainment and time for devoted entrepreneurs to carry on…
Read MoreWhat’s the Buzz about Buildings being WELL™?
WELL Buildings are suddenly the rage among designers! Once upon a time, you could barely get LEED from their lips. So this is good news in some ways; and a little odd in other ways. Are you part of the movement to incorporate health and well being in your design and development decisions? Are you…
Read MoreIs our consumerism “Green-Washing” Out Earth Day? Not anymore…
By: Leyla Balimtas When it comes to saving the environment, a single person can feel pretty powerless in making a change, but partnering with a group of people can make anyone feel like a lot is actually possible, even when everyone has not adopted the same opinion about conservation or environmental issues. Earth day will…
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