How policy and technology drive sustainable building design

Did you know that cities cover only 3% of the Earth’s surface… yet they consume up to 80% of the world’s energy and produce around 75% of carbon emissions? Urban areas are the engines of growth and innovation, but they’re also at the center of the climate challenge. Since buildings are the largest energy consumers in cities, early design strategies and energy analysis play a critical role in shaping a sustainable future. How do you think AI-driven energy analysis at the earliest design stages can help architects and cities cut emissions more effectively? #Architecture #AI #BIM #EnergyOptimization #Building

Digital twin technology transforms sustainable construction by bridging the gap between design and real-world performance. These virtual models allow teams to simulate, monitor, and optimize every project phase before breaking ground—reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and extending a building’s lifecycle. Our latest blog explores how digital twins drive more intelligent decisions, lower costs, and deliver projects that meet today’s sustainability standards. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eiTZtKtn #Sustainability #Construction #Innovation

Is your building LEED v5 ready? 🤔 🌱 The latest version of LEED was introduced in April and is reshaping how buildings will be planned, constructed, and operated. LEED v5 goes beyond design intentions. It demands real-time performance data, measurable occupant well-being, and proven carbon reduction. Buildings that can't demonstrate actual results risk losing certification entirely. That means smart building technology isn't optional anymore—it's essential infrastructure. At MHT Technologies, we're helping buildings exceed LEED v5 standards with: ✅ PoE infrastructure that cuts embodied carbon while enabling continuous monitoring  ✅ Integrated sensors that optimize wellness AND energy performance  ✅ Real-time analytics that ensure compliance and identify additional savings  ✅ AI automation that adapts to occupancy, weather, and usage patterns Ready to future-proof your next project? #Decarbonization #SmartBuilding #LEED #Sustainability #GreenBuildings 

🌍 Clean Air, Smarter Futures 🌬️ Today, on Clean Air Day (7 September), I want to reflect on how research and innovation in architecture and environmental science can contribute to healthier and more resilient urban environments. My recent published works focus on the relationship between glazing design, energy consumption, and occupant comfort — addressing how the way we design our buildings directly influences both energy performance and indoor environmental quality. These studies, alongside several ongoing publications, are part of my broader path of integrating architecture, environmental science, and technology at the starting points of my academic life. "https://lnkd.in/d2K6Kt2Q" Looking ahead, I see AI and smart systems as powerful tools to bridge these fields. From optimizing building energy use to predicting microclimatic impacts, data-driven approaches are opening new opportunities to design spaces that are not only efficient but also supportive of cleaner air and healthier living. 💡 Clean air is not just an environmental right — it is also a design responsibility. By combining technology, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we can reimagine the built environment as an active force for positive change. #CleanAirDay #Architecture #EnvironmentalScience #AI #EnergyEfficiency #OccupantComfort #SmartBuildings #EnergyConsciousSolutions

🦺 Over the past year, the Net Zero Buildings (NZB) research team has been working on two complementary design challenges, which have come together in a unique exhibit at #AU2025. In collaboration with Stanford University, our Existing Buildings group has pioneered an AI-driven workflow that can see inside existing walls. This innovative technology inventories the concealed layers of materials and assemblies and converts this data into machine-readable Knowledge Graphs. The team's talk at AU, “Seeing Inside Walls: Using AI to Extend Scan-to-BIM for Material Circularity” rounded out one our last researcher panels today! Links below to learn more on Autodesk Research and sustainable building design: 1️⃣ "Graphs as a Framework for Design and Decision" https://lnkd.in/eCu5Q5wX 2️⃣ "From Walls to Resources: Early Results in AI-Powered Building Deconstruction Planning" https://lnkd.in/eC6Fd9fC 3️⃣ "Advancing Net Zero Buildings with AI-Powered Adaptive Reuse" https://lnkd.in/eyuvFssT #NetZeroBuildings #sustainability #research #AI

When I organized a panel discussion at IBPSA-USA #SimBuild2024, I didn’t expect the conversation to spark ideas that would later grow into Energy and Buildings publications (well…maybe secretly I did 😉). We brought together 𝟮𝟬+ #experts across #academia, #industry, and #nationallabs to stimulate innovative ideas, gather diverse opinions, and develop multifaceted perspectives on how #HighPerformanceBuildings can be optimized for both #resilience and #occupant #health in today’s challenging climate. Energy efficiency is necessary but not enough. Buildings must also support thermal resilience and occupant health. Pushing one without the others can backfire. Let’s keep pushing: design smarter, build resiliently, live healthily. 🚀 Our work is available as an #OpenAccess paper here: https://lnkd.in/edmyCgV6 Grateful to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for supporting the open access publication. Huge thanks to all the panelists: Yalin Lu, Alpha Yacob Arsano, Nathan Brown, Jihoon Chung, Aysegul Demir Dilsiz, Bing Dong, Ellen Franconi, Xu Han, Zixin Jiang, Mili Kyropoulou, Remy Mermelstein, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Ulrike Passe, Tarek Rakha, Jialei Shen, Tarek Sherif, Qingqing Sun, Jordan Thompson, EIT, Zherui W., Youmin Xu, Yunyang Ye, and Xiang Zhang (Jason). #Sustainability #ClimateAction #EnergyEfficiency #ResilientDesign #SmartBuildings #BuildingPerformance #HealthyBuildings #GreenBuilding #Decarbonization #FutureOfBuildings #HighPerformanceBuildings #research #publications

💡 #ReincarnateInnovations: Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Circular Value Flow Planning ♻️ #Innovation is the force that turns ideas into solutions, shaping new ways of building and redefining how the #constructionindustry can shift toward a sustainable future. ❓ How can #digitaltools help the construction sector prevent premature disposal of #buildingproducts and unlock true circular material flows? Niklas Arnby, Business Developer at Ragn-Sells Group, is developing a #BIM-based approach that digitizes the #builtenvironment with detailed data on building components. 🏗️ His innovation gives stakeholders the insights needed to decide early whether to reduce, #recycle or detoxify materials, preventing unnecessary incineration or #landfilling and supporting #resourceefficiency across the entire lifecycle. 📹 Watch Niklas’ full video on Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Circular Value Flow Planning: https://lnkd.in/diaBpbCa Discover all our innovations and connect with the growing #ReincarnateCommunity: https://lnkd.in/dFHuMQ-n

With #ClimateWeekNYC underway, what better way to start the week than by spotlighting our work on a project dedicated to sustainability and carbon reduction! 🙌 We partnered with Urbahn Architects on the SUNY Farmingdale New School of Applied Social Sciences – Net Zero Carbon Study. This 55,000 SF academic facility was designed with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and advancing net zero energy goals. Our team provided multi-disciplinary cost estimates for design options that explored: ✅ Electrochromic glazing to optimize daylighting and solar gain ✅ Advanced lighting controls (DALI) for greater energy efficiency ✅ Reduced data center and plug loads through upgraded systems ✅ High-performance HVAC controls and water-efficient fixtures By aligning cost with sustainability goals, Sherpa helped advance strategies that move this project and our industry closer to a net zero future! #projecthighlight #climateweeknyc #netzero #sustainabledesign #suny

If you think ESG is only about buildings on Earth, you are already behind. Imagine a skyscraper that does not stand on the ground but hangs from an asteroid moving around our planet. This is not science fiction. Clouds Architecture once proposed Analemma Tower - a concept of a building suspended from an orbiting asteroid at the height of 32,000 meters. It may sound impossible, yet such visions matter. They challenge us to rethink resources and design principles. Analemma Tower was imagined with solar panels, closed-loop water systems and even agricultural modules. Not because it was practical today but because it was a blueprint of resilience, self-sufficiency and sustainability. History shows that many technologies first described in futuristic projects later shaped our daily reality. Closed water cycles, vertical farming and energy independent systems were once radical. Today they are integrated into forward-looking developments across the globe. The lesson is clear: ESG in architecture tries to find ways for reducing emissions of existing buildings and preparing for a future where buildings are independent ecosystems, connected not only to the planet but potentially to space itself. I do not know whether Analemma Tower will ever be built. But for me the real question is: are we ready to embrace a mindset where sustainability reaches beyond Earth? Share your thoughts. Would you follow such a vision or stay grounded?

🌍 Artificial Intelligence in Green Buildings: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Design As the demand for sustainable architecture grows, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a powerful tool in the development and operation of green buildings. Beyond using eco-friendly materials, today’s sustainable buildings are enhanced by intelligent systems that optimize energy, comfort, and overall performance. 🔋 Energy Management – AI monitors and reduces energy consumption by controlling lighting, heating, and cooling based on real-time occupancy and weather conditions. 🌬️ Indoor Air Quality – Smart sensors ensure healthy spaces by regulating ventilation, humidity, and CO₂ levels. 🛠️ Predictive Maintenance – AI detects early signs of system failures, minimizing costs and extending equipment lifespan. ☀️ Integration of Renewable Energy – From solar panels to wind systems, AI helps balance generation, storage, and distribution efficiently. 📊 Data-Driven Design – During design stages, AI can simulate building performance, optimize material choices, and forecast long-term environmental impact. 💡 In short, AI transforms green buildings into living systems that adapt, learn, and evolve to meet sustainability goals while providing healthier environments for people. #GreenBuilding #ArtificialIntelligence #Sustainability #SmartCities #FutureArchitecture