Glass facades cause an estimated 750 million bird deaths each year, according to estimates by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
At some properties, the problem is so bad that skyscraper owners hire workers to remove dead birds from the base of their buildings. To address the problem, the American Bird Conservancy created two avian research facilities at the Powdermill Nature Reserve near Pittsburgh and another inside a modified shipping container at the Bronx Zoo.
The group partnered with the US Green Building Council to develop a LEED pilot credit for incorporating bird collision deterrence into new buildings. This credit aims to make buildings as visible to birds as possible by incorporating through-glass technologies, exterior building treatments like screens and louvers, and decreased night lighting levels.
That measure has become LEED’s most popular pilot credit. Legislation in San Francisco, Oakland, and other Bay Area cities established citywide bird safe building standards. Mandatory and voluntary ordinances have also been passed in New York, Minnesota, and Toronto.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 8, 2020
Standards for reducing risk of COVID-19 in senior living communities
AIA releases strategies and illustrations for the sector.
Codes and Standards | Jul 6, 2020
Guide presents benefits of public-private partnerships
Discusses process from project conception to construction.
Codes and Standards | Jul 1, 2020
COVID-19 public health guidelines may be downplaying building systems solutions
Emphasis on cleaning surfaces overlooks importance of mechanical infrastructure.
Codes and Standards | Jun 30, 2020
WELL building institute steps up health safety rating for hotels and resorts
Certification body forms advisory group of industry leaders and health experts.
Codes and Standards | Jun 30, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 30, 2020
Affordable housing comes to the Bay Area and this is not the end of cities.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2020
Mandated building retrofits are necessary to meet climate crisis
Performance standards could greatly reduce GHG emissions.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2020
New buildings can fall short of designed performance
Similar structures can produce different energy usage results.
Codes and Standards | Jun 25, 2020
Arc offers tools, analytics for safe workplace re-entry
Platform helps sustainability teams to collect data, benchmark progress, measure impact, and improve performance.
Codes and Standards | Jun 24, 2020
New API enables design and construction technology platforms to connect
Construction Specifications Institute offers “digital classification engine.”
Codes and Standards | Jun 23, 2020
State lawmakers encouraging transition to heat pumps for building heating
Policies aim to replace gas heaters with electric units.
