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Chinese New Year 2019

The Year of the Brown Earth Pig The Year of the Brown Earth Pig begins on February 5, 2019. Though not an appealing image for the year, the pig’s chubby countenance and big ears are symbols of wealth. While economists ponder the next recession, some are suggesting that this won’t occur until 2020. Perhaps the…

LEED v4.1: The Good, The Bad, and the… Helpful?

Are you struggling with your LEED v4 project? It’s not just you! USGBC has heard from LEED users, seen the light, and made adjustments. In case you missed it, on January 21, 2018, USGBC released the LEED v4.1 beta versions of BD+C, ID+C, O+M, Residential, and Cities & Communities rating systems. While a new version…

The State of LEED: Is Being “LEED-like” Enough?

Some owners and project teams believe that being “LEED-like” is the same as achieving LEED certification, but that isn’t the case. Frequently we receive requests from clients who want to create a “LEED-like” building. This is where the project team follows a LEED checklist and declares their project equivalent to a level of LEED certification…

The State of LEED: Cost and Performance

After more than two decades of LEED projects, the building industry has changed. Mechanical and electrical systems are more efficient, building envelopes and associated materials are higher performing, healthier interior finishes are readily available. In spite of this, building performance results can be erratic and the perception remains with some that LEED is expensive and…

The State of LEED: LEED, IgCC, and the IECC.

While Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has remained the leading green building certification system for decades, competing certification systems are challenging the pre-eminence of LEED. In our last blog, we highlighted some of the new challengers to LEED. Today, we compare LEED to its code cousins, the International Green Conservation Code (IgCC) and the…

2012 NGBS Registration Deadline Approaching

Attention! The Registration Deadline for 2012 NGBS is Monday, December 31, 2018, 5:00 PM. Do you have a residential project in need of a green building certification? Time and again, the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) proves to be the the most cost effective rating system for qualifying residential buildings, specifically related to soft…

Have you met Emily and Ava?

We are excited to announce the recent addition of Emily and Ava to the ever-growing Lorax team in June 2018! Emily LeMay has come on board as an Assistant Project Manager. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science from American University and has three years of environmental compliance experience at the local government level.…

Lorax to participate in B’more Green Happy Hour

Lorax is joining hosts CleanChoice Energy, Civic Works and WTMD in the B’more Green Happy Hour – an event to connect local sustainable businesses with the Baltimore community. Why WTMD and CleanChoice Energy and Civic Works want to support the small business community in Baltimore and provide ways for us all to work more sustainably…

Health and Wellness: Keeping Occupants Happy, Productive

By Krystal O’Hara and Katie Fink Implementing operating strategies that focus on the health and wellness of building occupants is increasingly critical to keeping occupants happy, safe, and satisfied with their workplace. As more people recognize the importance of health and wellness in the built environment, building rating systems that provide a framework for health…

How Sustainability Increases Student Performance

Solar panels line the roofs, LED light fixtures cover the ceilings, “smart boards” hang from the acoustically sound walls, and low emitting carpet tiles run across the floors. In recent years, green schools around the country have entirely redefined the concepts of innovation and hands-on learning, making a strong case for the ability of these…