Blog

When accessibility compliance is overlooked during design and construction, the consequences can extend far beyond legal exposure.

At SWA, we’ve worked on over 2.2 million square feet of multifamily and dormitory buildings that used CAR dampers to balance large-scale ventilation systems. Here’s what we’ve learned about constant airflow regulators (CARs) and measuring air flow.

Whether you’re new to heat pumps or need a quick refresher, this video series demonstrates each step of how to install an air-source heat pump system optimized for efficiency and comfort in colder climates—which is critical to widespread adoption.

Embodied carbon vs. operational carbon. Life cycle assessment vs. hot spot assessment. EPD, GWP, RCA… We gathered all the terms and acronyms used when working to reduce embodied carbon emissions from construction projects.

LEED v5 is here! And with it are exciting changes to most prerequisites and credits in the LEED rating systems. Here, we’re focusing on the exciting updates to building decarbonization.

The future of green building is here, and it’s more carbon-conscious than ever.

As the urgency to address the adverse effects of climate change intensifies, Massachusetts introduces more embodied carbon measures for building developers.

A comparison of the targeted performance (TEDI) vs. certified (HERS) compliance pathways for largescale multifamily new construction in a Massachusetts Stretch Code community

Peter Stratton, Managing Director of Accessibility Services at SWA, looks back at SWA’s involvement in the creation of the first code document approved by HUD as a “safe harbor” for Fair Housing Act compliance.

After years of inspecting multifamily housing developments across the country for compliance with regulatory requirements for accessible design and construction, our accessibility team has compiled a list of common violations that could easily have been avoided before construction even began.

Massachusetts has stretched its energy code since 2009, making it the first state to implement a stricter, above-code option. This occurred as part of the Green Communities Act, where municipalities are provided financial and technical support if they meet specific…

The main reason so many programs are pushing heat pumps is to avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Burning fossil fuels emits CO2, and CO2 is a greenhouse gas. But the refrigerants used in most heat pumps we’re installing are also potent…