Heating & Cooling
District heating systems provide economies of scale in large cities like Copenhagen.
HVAC—heating, cooling, and ventilation—is responsible for more than a third of energy use in commercial buildings in the U.S. Smart designs can easily save upwards of 40% of that energy, often with strategies that offer instant or short payback. And good design that focuses on thermal comfort supports healthier, more productive occupants.
Heating & Cooling
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
-
How IRA Can Take Ground-Source Heat Pumps Mainstream
Feature Article
Incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act help GSHPs pay for themselves faster than conventional HVAC systems—with far better performance.
-
The Cost of Comfort: Climate Change and Refrigerants
Feature Article
Refrigerants with very high global warming potential can negate the energy-efficiency benefits of many HVAC systems, including popular heat pumps.
-
Are Cool Roofs Green? The Answer’s Not Black and White
Feature Article
Roofing choices are complicated by heating tradeoffs, climate effects, and condensation, but proponents say reflective roofs still make sense in most climates.
-
Passive Solar Heating
Feature Article
Using the sun for most of a building's heating needs is in the DNA of green building. But in an age of superinsulation, does it still make sense?
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
-
Building Decarbonization: Learn the Lingo
Explainer
Building decarbonization 101 for architects, engineers, and sustainability consultants cutting emissions from building materials and operations.
-
Air-to-Balcony-to-Water "Bridging" Heat Exchanger
Infographic
Heat and cool totally go where the arrows point. Always. But before you rely on this detail, check the date we published it.
-
New Refrigerants, Less Global Warming
Explainer
HFOs usher in a new era of refrigerants and foam insulation blowing agents with low global warming potential.
-
How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work
Explainer
Heating with cold air? Cooling off with hot air? Heat pumps performing these feats (especially mini-splits and VRF systems) have taken off, but how do they work?
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
On-demand Water Heat Goes All Electric with Heat Pumps, CO₂
Product Review
Intellihot electrifies commercial water heating using heat pumps, CO2 refrigerant, thermal batteries, and no need for water storage.
-
BuildingGreen Announces Top 10 Products for 2024
Product Review
BuildingGreen’s Top 10 industry-transforming products this year include innovative heat-pump energy storage, electric construction equipment, PFAS-free textiles, healthier lighting, PV circularity, and more.
-
New Products from Greenbuild 2023: Part Two
Product Review
In part two of our Greenbuild expo product roundup, I’m covering CO2 heat pumps, a ground-source system heat pump system, agricultural fiber panels, construction equipment wash systems, and more.
-
Thermal Energy Storage Increases Heat-Pump Effectiveness
Product Review
Combining water-source heat pumps and ice-based thermal storage creates a “battery” that can provide all-electric heating and cooling, even in cold climates. And it qualifies for IRA funding.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
USGBC Certifies First LEED v5 O+M Projects
News Brief
USGBC announces the first three projects certified under the new LEED v5 Operations & Maintenance (O+M) rating system, still in beta testing.
-
Equitable Neighborhood Decarbonization Gets the Go-Ahead
News Analysis
A new California law will allow utilities to replace aging gas infrastructure with zero-emission alternatives in 30 pilot projects.
-
Experts Disagree on IRA Tax Credit for Ground-Source Heat Pumps
News Analysis
Millions in tax credits are available from the Inflation Reduction Act, but even some long-standing rules are now being questioned. Lean on your tax advisors, and expect updates as the first projects go through the process.
-
MEP Engineers Urge Collective Action on Refrigerant Emissions
News Brief
The group MEP 2040 is now offering letter-writing templates asking manufacturers for equipment that uses next-generation, low-GWP refrigerants.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
-
7 Tips to Get More from Mini-Split Heat Pumps in Colder Climates
Blog Post
Air-to-air heat pumps are getting more popular as a primary heat source in colder climates. Here’s how to get the most from your system.
-
Questioning Active Chilled Beams
Op-Ed
Energy consultant Andy Shapiro questions the energy benefits of active chilled beams; engineer Peter Rumsey responds.
-
Drinking the Heat Pump Kool-Aid
Op-Ed
Reader Thomas McGrath questions the choice of heat pumps over other forms of space heating.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
-
IRA Nuts & Bolts with an Energy Tax Expert
Webcast
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers us a once-in-a-generation chance to equitably decarbonize the built environment and prepare communities to weather future climate threats. Will we seize that chance in time? For that to happen, it’s vital that project teams understand the rules well enough to offer and implement the right solutions.
Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
-
Are Ground-Source Heat Pumps So Last Year?
April Fools
GSHPs have gone mainstream, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the hippest AEC professionals are so over them.
