Sustainable Design Resources

From our work with sustainable buildings, Cornerstone has become engaged with issues involving the effective use of sustainable technologies in society as a whole. This includes interaction with organizations like AASHE, ASHRAE, and ASU.

The resources below are some of those we consider to be timely, authoritative, and thought provoking for others who may be interested in this complex emerging field. Please let us know your thoughts by sending us cornerstone [at] cornerstonearchitecture [dot] ca (feedback).
 

Richard's Required Readings - a list of great books covering the spectrum of debate over the future of culture, technology, and the idea of sustainability 

Rainwater Harvesting - Theory and Practice October 2011 - a presentation on rainwater harvesting and use in buildings with case studies from our green building projects.

Wealth of Nations, SEED online November 2010 - a fascinating discussion of the emerging market in the 'exchange of ecosystem services' as a practical way to pay for the impacts of development on the earth's atmospheric, water, and land resources.

Decoding Copenhagen, January 2010 - an insightful evaluation of some significant shifts in thinking, in spite of no binding agreement, and their implications for the global economy, from Jeremy Oppenheim of McKinsey Quarterly.

Climate Skepticism Versus Consensus, December 2009 - an excellent summary of the arguments and evidence on both sides of the climate debate, from David McCandless of www.InformationIsBeautiful.net: you be the judge! 

Green Building Principles & Practices
25 November  2009 - a review of the LEED NC standard and its application at Western Engineering's new Lassonde Pavilion

Overview of LEED ND, June 2009 - a concise summary of the proposed LEED for Neighbourhood Development standard presented to a symposium for the City of London in conjuction with Enermodal Engineering

Will the Future be Geo-Engineered? SEED Magazine 30 April 2009 - a debate about climate management: how can we risk taking over responsibility? how can we not?

Earth Hour in Ontario LFP 3 April 2009 - an op ed piece written for the London Free Press explaining how Earth Hour in Ontario actually added more CO2 to the atmosphere: illustrating how little we understand the way we use energy and its impacts

From Human to Transhuman TPL 22 October 2009 - a transcript of the Templeton Pulbic Lecture by Braden Allenby explaining the implications of current technological trends in changing what it means to be 'human' and what that will mean for the idea of 'sustainability'

ALFA Green Easy August 2008 - a list of the top ten practical ideas for for improving the performance and reducing the impact of existing buildings, from the Assisted Living Facilities Association

The Power of Green NYT 15 April 2007 - an article in the New York Times by  Thomas Friedman, discussing the potential of the emerging 'green' economy to transform U.S. society