Buildings and Beyond – Steven Winter Associates, Inc.

There is growing demand for homes that promise high-quality indoor air. The COVID-19 pandemic made us hyper-aware of how viruses can spread indoors, and recent wildfires* have brought attention to particulate matter (PM—particularly PM2.5) that can enter our homes. There's also mold, dust, pests, radon... the list of concerns goes on. The post Is Indoor Air Quality As Good As We Think It Is in New Homes and Apartments? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Many of us take good acoustics for granted. But it’s common for acoustic efforts to be the first thing cut from commercial projects—or not included... The post Room Acoustics – Are They the Missing Piece in the Occupant Experience? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Many of us take good acoustics for granted. But it's common for acoustic efforts to be the first thing cut from commercial projects—or not included in the design phase at all, according to Graham Waks, founder of Music City Acoustics. The post Room Acoustics – Are They the Missing Piece in the Occupant Experience? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Commercial kitchens are one of the most challenging spaces to electrify, but we need to take on this challenge in order to decarbonize restaurants, hotels,... The post Do We Need a Green Certification Program Just for Commercial Kitchens? (Hint… Yes) appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Commercial kitchens are one of the most challenging spaces to electrify, but we need to take on this challenge in order to decarbonize restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and other buildings with commercial kitchens. Is another green certification program the answer? The post Do We Need a Green Certification Program Just for Commercial Kitchens? (Hint… Yes) appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Just last year, electric cooking became a political issue. But while all the public debate about gas stoves was happening, more chefs were adopting induction... The post It's Getting Hot in Here! – Why We Can't Stop Talking About Electric Kitchens appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Accessibility consultants work at the intersection of architecture and social justice. It's much more than checking the boxes on accessibility requirements of laws and codes;... The post Career Diaries – What's It Like Working As an Accessibility Consultant? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

On the very first episode of Buildings + Beyond, industry leader Lois Arena answered the most frequently asked questions at the time about high-performance Passive... The post Your Top 10 Passive House Questions, Answered – The Long-Awaited Part 2 appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or “model code” establishes the minimum requirements for building energy efficiency. The code is updated every three years, and... The post 2024 IECC – What Happened? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

When is it the right call to improve the energy efficiency of existing building systems, or upgrade and electrify them? Though electrification is important to... The post Choosing Electrification or Efficiency (When Both Aren't Possible) appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Buildings are complicated. There's a bigger learning curve than ever for the people who construct, operate, and manage high-performance buildings—and there's more demand than ever... The post Mind the Gap – Addressing the Skills Gap in the Sustainable Building Industry appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

At the baseline, “healthy” materials should not have a negative impact on people living or working inside of a building. Beyond that, there are materials... The post Healthy Materials 101 – A Realistic Approach to Creating Healthier Buildings with Jonsara Ruth appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post Healthy Materials 101 – A Realistic Approach to Creating Healthier Buildings with Jonsara Ruth appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Over the lifespan of a building, operations and maintenance staff arguably have the biggest impact on system performance and energy efficiency. With the right training,... The post The Real Secret to Energy-Efficient Buildings? Operations & Maintenance Training appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post The Real Secret to Energy-Efficient Buildings? Operations & Maintenance Training appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

What happens when you put four sustainable building experts involved in energy code development in a room and ask them to bring their favorite—and sometimes,... The post Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post Answering the Tough Questions About Energy Codes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The ideal building is cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and comfortable for its occupants. But executing all three of these elements to perfection can be complex and costly.... The post Cost vs. Conservation vs. Comfort – Roundtable, Part 2 appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post Cost vs. Conservation vs. Comfort – Roundtable, Part 2 appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

To mark Women’s History Month, we wanted to get firsthand perspectives from women in the building industry. We invited Michelle DeCarlo of JB&B and Saeideh... The post Take Action: How Everyone Can Help Advance Gender Equity in the Building Industry – Roundtable, Part 1 appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post Take Action: How Everyone Can Help Advance Gender Equity in the Building Industry – Roundtable, Part 1 appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Building on the 25-year foundation of the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program, the EPA is gearing up to launch a new certification program for... The post ENERGY STAR NextGen: 5 Requirements for Climate-Friendly Homes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc.. The post ENERGY STAR NextGen: 5 Requirements for Climate-Friendly Homes appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Description: The average homeowner is aware that energy efficiency is important in the fight against climate change. The people who are most passionate about energy... The post How Can We Convince More Homeowners to Make Energy-Efficiency Upgrades? appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

There is a lot of work ahead of us to advance equity in the built environment. As more project teams aim to impact equity, there... The post Designing for Equity in the Built Environment with Victoria Lanteigne appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

As a continuation of our last episode, Construction Diaries: Lessons Learned From SWA’s Inspection & Verification Experts, Dylan gears his questions toward young professionals –... The post Construction Diaries Part 2: Tips for Young Professionals appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

One of the main drivers behind a successful building project is third-party inspection and verification. This critical, yet often overlooked, step in the construction process... The post Construction Diaries: Lessons Learned From SWA’s Inspection & Verification Experts appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

We talk a lot about sustainability at a large scale; this typically includes large building projects or grid-level issues, like energy affordability and access to... The post Practicing What We Preach: Everyday Solutions for Living a Sustainable Lifestyle appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

It’s not every day we get to interview someone with such a diverse background of project experiences. Whether it was working for an architect, developer,... The post Charlotte’s Web of Building Electrification Strategies …with Charlotte Matthews appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

First released in 2018, ‘All-Access’ is the perfect episode for those interested in learning more about accessibility compliance, especially as it pertains to building design,... The post (ENCORE) ‘All-Access’ with Peter Stratton appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Ever wonder who is responsible for ensuring the performance of a building? Yes, designers and contractors can have a significant impact during construction, but once... The post Building Operations and Training with Jonathan Rodnite and Adam Romano appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

If you're like us, you want to hear from someone who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. Our guest for this episode... The post The Economics of Developing Sustainable Buildings with Christina McPike appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Sometimes it’s good to vent. Well, if you ask a Passive House expert, it’s always good to vent. So, that’s exactly what we did for... The post Venting About Ventilation, Heat Pumps, and Net Zero with the Buildings+Beyond Team appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

A degree in sustainability can mean many things. Sure, you can develop a focus, but how does an undergraduate program truly prepare you to become... The post What Should a Degree in Sustainability Look Like? with Patrick Hossay appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The Passive House standard has been applied to some extraordinary building projects to date. From single family and high-rise residential to industrial and commercial buildings, building professionals have adopted the Passive... The post Designing the World’s First Passive House Car Dealership with Andrew Peel appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The electrification of buildings is considered to be a primary strategy for reducing carbon emissions and kicking fossil fuels. Luckily, due to advancements in technology... The post The Role of Heat Pumps in Low-Moderate Income Homes with Jon Harrod appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

As building professionals and policymakers, it is our responsibility to integrate equity into our work. But how do we ensure equity is being addressed in... The post A Framework for Equity and Buildings with Kathryn Wright appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

We first released this episode in April 2019. Since then, our topic of discussion with Iain has only become more relevant. We recently caught up... The post (ENCORE) Why is Kitchen Ventilation So Important? With Dr. Iain Walker from LBNL appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

With all of the moving parts during the design and construction of a building project, one wrong move can compromise accessibility compliance. Unintentional oversights are... The post The Devil’s in the Details: Common Accessibility Oversights with Peter Stratton appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

We think a lot about high-performance buildings – but what about the high-performance humans in those buildings? As the future of office-dwelling is on everyone's... The post Healthy Buildings, Healthy Humans with Sarah Nugent appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

What role do designers, providers, and policymakers play in making senior living communities more vibrant and supportive for older adult residents? How do these spaces... The post Incorporating Home and Community in Senior Housing with Valerie Mutterperl appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Comradery [käm-ˌra-d(ə-)rē] noun 1 A feeling of friendliness, goodwill, and familiarity among the people in a group. At SWA, comradery is etched into our company... The post Building Comradery with Steven Winter appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Cities across North America are paving the way for wide-spread building electrification. Although there are many benefits associated with going all-electric, there are also many... The post Electrification Nation with Laura Tajima appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Imagine this: you're a chef or cook in a high-stress commercial kitchen setting. You're making split second decisions with little breathing room, and each quick... The post It’s Time to 86 Fossil Fuels in Commercial Kitchens with Chris Galarza appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

We've all heard of “farm-to-table” in the context of our food, but what about “farm-to-shelter” in the context of our homes? As we try to... The post Farm-to-Shelter Building with Andrew Linn appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Disability inclusion in the built environment is extremely important. But, it shouldn’t end there. How do we ensure that we are being truly inclusive of... The post Designing for Inclusion with Victoria Lanteigne appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Social equity is key to the work that we do in the built environment. Far too often, marginalized communities receive more of the burdens and... The post Solar Panels or Asthma? Equity and the Built Environment with Jeremy Hays appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

In a city as crowded and expensive as New York City, there is a growing need for access to safe and affordable housing. With this... The post ‘Back to the Basics’ of Affordable Housing with Les Bluestone appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Standard construction (both in America and Australia) is sometimes a “race to the bottom” of who can satisfy the building code at the lowest cost.... The post Air-Tightness Testing and Building Codes in Australia with Sean Maxwell appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

The transportation sector poses significant opportunities for and challenges to reducing US greenhouse gas emissions as the Country’s highest-emissions sector. As a result of stay-at-home... The post Transportation in Cities with Zak Accuardi appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

As technology in the built environment increases, the workforce demand for those who can properly operate these buildings also grows. On today's episode, Kelly talks... The post Training a Young Workforce to Operate Smart Buildings with Jonathan Spooner from Stacks + Joules appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

April was Fair Housing Month – a time to recognize the importance of equal access to housing. As we celebrate the milestones we have made,... The post Universal Design and Accessibility in Mexico City with Luis Quintana appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Curious about how building performance standards are decided upon? The IECC, or “model code”, establishes the minimum requirements for building energy efficiency by specifying the... The post How Codes Get Made with Gayathri Vijayakumar appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

We often address large-scale sustainability issues by focusing on improving building energy use, material use, and accessibility. But what about waste? According to the EPA, the... The post A Path to Zero Waste with Celeste McMickle appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

For the past 30 years or more, when we've been talking about the carbon emissions of buildings, we've usually been talking about operational emissions –... The post Mission Critical: Embodied Carbon in Sustainable Design with Kai Starn and Catherine Paplin appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

As code requirements become more stringent around the country, the process of commissioning is more valuable now than ever before. Acting as third-party quality assurance... The post The Keys to Commissioning with Kelly Westby appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..

Did you know that New York City is home to approximately one million people with disabilities? As we often discuss strategies for improving the built... The post NYC: A Melting Pot for People of All Abilities with MOPD Commissioner, Victor Calise appeared first on Steven Winter Associates, Inc..