Blog

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…

Thermal energy demand intensity—or TEDI—is the new kid on the block for evaluating building performance and has worked its way into several major building codes in North America.

Our accessibility consultants are constantly on the lookout for new products that will make it easier for our clients to comply with accessibility criteria while meeting their overarching design goals.

Maryland is implementing a state-wide Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) for buildings 35,000 square feet and over as a requirement under the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

The sustainable building industry is buzzing with anticipation for the release of LEED version 5. This update to the world’s most widely used green building rating system promises to bring significant changes, particularly in the realm of embodied carbon reduction.

Projects targeting Passive House certification must comply fully with all applicable accessibility requirements.

We like to say that a building is not sustainable if it does not sustain the health and wellbeing of all its occupants. This includes considering how the materials, technologies, and building systems affect indoor air quality, comfort, and the…

EPA is adding a second level to its Indoor airPLUS specification for homes and residential buildings: Indoor airPLUS version 2. What changes should we expect?