Notes from the Field

Practical thinking on cost, performance, and risk for teams building at community scale.

Planning

1 min read

What is the Best Energy Design Software for a Green Home or Building?

Picture of Tim Sweeney

Tim Sweeney: Jun 23, 2023, 1:56:59 PM

Opinions of what’s the “Best” software depends upon whom you’re talking to. What’s actually being used typically depends upon the preference of the...

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3 min read

Why Rising Energy Costs Make Smarter Housing a No-Brainer

Timothy Lorang: Jul 29, 2025

What a recent Ezra Klein episode reveals about cost, permitting, and how to rebuild faster On a recent episode of The...

6 min read

Wildfire Resilient Homes: Policy and Building Solutions That Work

Timothy Lorang: Jul 13, 2025

Wildfires don’t just destroy homes—they upend entire communities. From Paradise to Lahaina to Los Angeles, fire...

4 min read

Wildfire Resilient Homes: Safe Indoor Air with Passive House Design

Timothy Lorang: Jul 6, 2025

When a wildfire hits, most people worry about flames. But smoke is often both the immediate killer and the more...

4 min read

Wildfire Resilient Homes: Fireproofing with MgO Panels That Don’t Burn

Timothy Lorang: Jul 6, 2025

When it comes to wildfires, speed is everything. Fires can jump highways, level homes in minutes, and spread from...

3 min read

The Land Is There. The Real Question Is How We Build On It

Timothy Lorang: Apr 22, 2025

The Housing Crisis Isn't Just About Land The United States doesn’t have a land shortage. From booming metro areas in...

3 min read

The 3 Simple Steps to Maximize Energy Efficiency Without Increasing Costs

Tim Sweeney: Apr 3, 2025

The Way Forward The way we design and construct buildings today will shape the future of our planet. With rising energy...

3 min read

Why We Can’t Rebuild the Old Way After the LA Fires

Timothy Lorang: Mar 24, 2025

LA Is at a Crossroads The wildfires that tore through Los Angeles County this January weren’t just devastating—they...

15 min read

Before It's too Late, Distinguished Speaker Series

Tim Sweeney: Nov 6, 2024

On September 19, 2024, Tim Sweeney gave a presentation to the Dianne Dodd Cheseldine Distinguished Speaker Series at...

1 min read

Building to Benefit the Planet: Join Tim Sweeney at the Dianne Dodd Cheseldine Distinguished Speaker Series

Timothy Lorang: Sep 12, 2024

As climate change continues to be one of the most pressing challenges of our time, the call for sustainable building...

2 min read

Beyond Affordable Student Housing

Timothy Lorang: Apr 22, 2024

Cal State Long Beach Breaks Ground on $115 Million La Playa Residence Hall Project. According to this recent article in...

3 min read

Earn Tax Credits for your Energy Ready Multifamily Building Now

Timothy Lorang: Mar 30, 2024

Your next multifamily building project could earn thousands of dollars in tax credits. To help the country meet its...

1 min read

‘Passive House Design’ could be the future of sustainable living

Timothy Lorang: Feb 16, 2024

After Tim Sweeney after his presentation of "Before It's Too Late," at the Nevada AIA Luncheon, KOLO 8 Reporter Taylor...

1 min read

Tim Sweeney Interviewed on Disruptive CEO Nation Podcast!

Timothy Lorang: Feb 16, 2024

Tim Sweeney, Owner and CEO of Sweeney Architecture and creator of the Simplus Building System, was recently featured in...

1 min read

Building a More Sustainable Future: A Conversation with the Inventor of Simplus Building System™

Timothy Lorang: Feb 1, 2024

The exclusive interview by QeCAD with lead architect Tim Sweeney, posted on EINPresswire.com., highlights the Simplus...

3 min read

Why Most Uninsulated Concrete Tilt-up Construction should be Prohibited

Tim Sweeney: Jan 5, 2024

There is more than adequate proof that poorly and uninsulated tilt-up concrete construction is a terrible Loop Hole in...

2 min read

Six Reasons Universities Should Support More Efficient and Sustainable Building Projects.

Rod Aeschlimann: Nov 24, 2023

When it comes to selecting the most beneficial construction systems for new Residential Life, Housing, and Foodservice...

3 min read

The Rise of Sustainability-Minded Builders: Shaping the Future of Construction

Tim Sweeney: Nov 2, 2023

Discover how sustainability-minded builders are revolutionizing the construction industry and shaping a greener future...

2 min read

Sweeney Architecture Brings the Benefits of the IMPEL Program to Nevada

Tim Sweeney: Oct 25, 2023

As our climate crisis increases the demand for more sustainable building solutions, the U.S. Department of Energy's...

2 min read

Why We MUST Switch to Truly Sustainable Construction NOW!

Tim Sweeney: Oct 14, 2023

Aren't the Building Codes all that we need to comply with? Why must we switch to truly Sustainable Construction NOW?...

6 min read

What do MgO + Passive House™ Panels Really Cost vs Wood Framing?

Tim Sweeney: Sep 12, 2023

One of the most common questions we hear is “OK, so what will it really cost me?” Obviously, the answer depends upon a...

1 min read

What are "Embodied Carbon" and a "Carbon Footprint"?

Tim Sweeney: Jun 23, 2023

Homes, like any building, use materials when they are built, and materials need to be obtained from many sources in...

1 min read

What is the Best Energy Design Software for a Green Home or Building?

Tim Sweeney: Jun 23, 2023

Opinions of what’s the “Best” software depends upon whom you’re talking to. What’s actually being used typically...

2 min read

What are "SIPs" and Which Are the "Best" SIPs?

Eduardo Semoto: Jun 23, 2023

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are factory-fabricated panels that can be used as load bearing walls, floors, roofs,...

2 min read

What Does A "Green" or "Sustainable" Home Really Cost?

Tim Sweeney: Jun 23, 2023

Firstly, your Green or Sustainable Home does not have to look like something from another world. In fact, if you're...

2 min read

Your Future Depends Upon Switching to Green Energy & Green Buildings

Tim Sweeney: Jun 23, 2023

The Simple Truths are: Fossil Fuels are the predominant source of energy for most of our lives. They power vehicles,...

2 min read

So, Why Should I Have a “Green” or “Sustainable” House or Building?

Tim Sweeney: Jun 9, 2023

Being “Green” means being truly “Sustainable”. Something that is “Sustainable” is something you can do for a long...

5 min read

How to Choose the Best “Green” House or Apartment

Tim Sweeney: May 17, 2023

What makes the “Best Green” anything? Maybe the hardest thing to know is which thing is really “Best”. There are so...