Category: Materially Better
-
The Power of Making Better Choices: Reflections from Greenbuild
By Charley Stevenson The Case for Incremental Wins Attending Greenbuild 2024 left me with excitement and pragmatic optimism for the healthier materials movement. It was invigorating to stand among architects, consultants, engineers, manufacturers, and other industry leaders discussing a sustainable and equitable future through better—not perfect—materials choices now. In today’s market, perfect simply doesn’t exist,… Read more
-
Materially Better Launches New Initiative at Greenbuild
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Materially Better Launches New Initiative at Greenbuild Material management experts announce “Make Better Choices” program North Adams, MA – November 7, 2024 – Materially Better today announces its “Make Better Choices” program, bringing architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) professionals across the industry to the forefront of sustainable materials management. Launching at the… Read more
-
Making It Easier: Collaborative Approaches for Better Choices
By Charley Stevenson There is always a level of hopefulness and excitement being in conference rooms and breakout sessions with professionals across many disciplines addressing sustainability in the built environment. We all gather to discuss solutions for making information and processes more accessible to everyone to ensure a healthier environment for all. And though we… Read more
-
How do I Reduce Embodied Carbon in My Building?
By Amy Johns “Embodied carbon” refers to the greenhouse gases released in the manufacturing and transportation of something. As a rule of thumb, if a material requires combustion or melting in its manufacturing (think glass, concrete, steel), it’s high in embodied carbon. Plant-based materials tend to be lower in embodied carbon—or even carbon sequestering, depending… Read more
-
Large Impact Products for Healthier Buildings
Materially Better provides client-focused, high-value green building consulting and services, including sustainable and regenerative building design, renovation and construction. Read more
-
Why Are We So Sick—and What Can We Do?
As many of us age, some start to wonder why we don’t feel so good anymore. Millions experience chronically occurring diseases and conditions that have developed in us over our lifetimes. Health care costs alone, according to PLANSPONSOR magazine, are estimated at $285,000 for a retired couple! Read more
-
How Healthier Products Embody Social Justice
The Materially Better Team believes that seeking healthier building products presents substantial opportunities for addressing social, racial and environmental justice issues. Here is why: Read more
-
Reducing Embodied Carbon in New Construction or Renovation
Planning new construction or renovation? Renovations vary tremendously in scope. The closer a renovation gets to a “full gut”, the closer the embodied carbon emissions become when comparing renovation with comparable new construction. Read more
-
Flame Retardants: A Cautionary Tale
We all have moments when our personal and professional lives intersect. For me a particularly poignant moment involved a couch and my first Living Building Challenge project. I was just starting research on products, learning about chemicals of concern and, more important, exactly where they are used in building products. Including furniture. Read more
-
Building with Healthier Materials: It’s Not Just Concrete and Gypsum Board
According to a 2020 AIA analysis of sustainability trends, 80% of architects would like to specify more sustainable materials. Yet, the study also showed that only one in three architects believe they are now meeting this responsibility. Read more