Category: Materially Better
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How do I Reduce Embodied Carbon in My Building?
When it comes to building projects, embodied carbon is increasingly recognized as a critical part of climate action. If your organization wants to reduce embodied carbon in your building projects, what can you do? That depends on your project. Read more
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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ECON 101: Healthier Materials Edition
True progress on climate change requires government action, a notion perhaps best summarized by environmentalist Rev. Fred Small, “Changing a light bulb is good. Changing a senator is better.” Read more
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A Letter to the Design Community: How Do We Commit to Using Better Materials?
It’s time for new beginnings. Let’s talk about our work — and I mean all of us — in achieving better building products for people and the planet. With the AIA’s recently reiterated Materials Pledge, we have heard the buzz around the design build community. Read more
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Buildings Are Easy; People Are Hard: Reflections on Living Future 2024
Storytelling is the bridge that connects minds and hearts, fostering a deep understanding and empathy. When we share stories about our projects—the successes and the challenges—we don’t merely exchange information; we create a shared experience that resonates on an emotional level allowing us to assimilate information unambiguously, understanding it through the lens of our experiences. Read more