Green building and sustainability

Words: Karen HickeyAccording to a recent study by Dodge Data & Analytics, global green building is expected to double by 2018. The report found that the percentage of firms expecting to have more than 60 percent of their projects certified – by LEED or another green building program – is expected to grow from 18 percent currently to 37 percent.

Not surprisingly, the top sector for green building growth is commercial construction. EnvironmentalLeader.com reported, “The study found that almost half – 46 percent – of respondents expect to build a green commercial project in the next three years.” The website continued: “Similar to other recent studies, this one finds the No. 1 business benefit to green building is lower operating costs, such as reduced energy costs and total lifecycle costs.”

The contribution of masonry to green building, LEED certification and other sustainability efforts is obviously continuing to grow as well, and mason contractors must keep pace. Therefore, the April issue of Masonry Magazine features an article with some essential information on the new LEED v4 system. It’s all part of perpetuating a sustainable construction industry for the future.

The issue also offers some practical information on using anchors and renting equipment.

Finally, we provide a final wrap-up of the BRICKLAYER 500™ World Championship that took place in February at the 2016 World of Concrete.
The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Stephen Borg
Government Affairs
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Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

Justin Stengel
Masonry in the Media
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The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
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The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
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