Sustainability
Test Your Knowledge: Green Trivia!
Do you know what agricultural product uses the most water while being produced? The correct answer is….coffee. This was just one of the 17 Green-themed trivia questions included in our Earth Month celebrations. Our Earth Month version of pub trivia tested everyone’s memory as most questions were taken from presentations we’ve had in the past few weeks. Teams of three…
Earth Month “Fivers”
Our staff always has something to teach us, and Earth Month is no exception. Our Friday afternoon beer hour had a new twist last week as we enjoyed a series of five-minute presentations on a variety of Earth Month topics while enjoying refreshments and snacks. We learned about: water use, urban farms, COP 21, sustainable culture in Germany, green roofs,…
The Roots of Passive Housing
Green Month has provided the opportunity for designers to share insights in sustainability with the wider design studio community. Last month, Lee Morrissette attended a conference on Passive Housing and used this occasion to inform the rest of the office about what he had learned and what we as a studio can take from the concepts of passive housing and…
Going Veggie for Earth Month
As a part of our Earth Month celebration, Arrowstreet’s staff gathered in the kitchen to enjoy a vegetarian potluck and traded ideas incorporating more vegetables in our daily meal plans. The impressive array of dishes included Vegetarian Gumbo and African Peanut Soup; there was something for everyone. As the line to sample dishes extended down the hall, Kate Bubriski and…
What is a Net Zero Building?
There are several different definitions that are used for net zero energy buildings. Late in 2015, the US Department of Energy came out with a definition to help create a uniform language. The DOE definition states: “An energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported…
April is Earth Month!
Arrowstreet is upping the ante once again here in our office and celebrating Earth Day for the entire month of April. Throughout the month, we will be incorporating staff presentations, forum discussions, guest speakers, movie night, a sustainable potluck, and a green trivia challenge into the festivities. Stay tuned as we share information and tips on how you can incorporate…
MIT CoLab: We Need Your Vote!
Arrowstreet is one of three finalists in the MIT CoLab competition attempting to harness the power of MIT alumni to address climate change. Voting is open for your favorite idea, and we would appreciate your help! Winners will be chosen by both the judging panel and people’s choice, so every vote counts. Both winners will then be invited to present their ideas…
Tools for a Greener Boston
As reported in MIT News last month, researchers at the MIT Sustainable Design Lab (SDL) and the MIT Lincoln Laboratory have worked in collaboration with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to develop a powerful new tool for planning the energy future of the City of Boston. The model continuously estimates the gas and electricity demands of every Boston building. It…
The Self-Driving Car Could Eliminate the Parking Garage
Amy Korte was interviewed by the Boston Globe about how autonomous cars and ride sharing will impact facilities in the future. Her recent research focuses on the future design of parking structures; as the automated technology becomes more of a reality for travelers, it’s critical to design parking facilities that can transform over time. In early years, parking layouts can…
Sustainable Design Leaders Winter Summit
Last week I attended the Sustainable Design Leaders Winter Summit. This event, facilitated by BuildingGreen, is an opportunity for sustainable design leaders from architecture firms across the country to discuss sustainability within practice and across the industry. Unlike a typical conference, the summit is a completely interactive and content is derived from what the participants want to discuss and learn….