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 | Aug 21, 2015
Post-Katrina roofing codes creating more resilient buildings on Gulf Coast
Ten years after storm, notable progress on stronger roofs, IBHS says
Smart Buildings | Aug 21, 2015
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes offers plan to strengthen codes for disaster resilience
Some states losing ground on resilience, group says
Codes and Standards | Aug 21, 2015
After disease outbreak, ASHRAE legionella standard adopted in New York
City Council acts after 12 die of legionellosis
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015
Research indicates major earthquake looming for Pacific Northwest
Most structures built before seismic codes instituted; extreme damage predicted
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015
New York City may allow affordable housing developers to ‘double dip’ in subsidies
New York City may allow affordable housing developers to ‘double dip’ in subsidies
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015
L.A. considers controversial traffic calming measures
Goal is to encourage alternative transportation
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2015
Proposed facility smart grid standard open for public review
Goal is common way to describe, manage, communicate about electrical energy consumptions, forecasts
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
AAMA updates methods for testing of exterior walls
The standard specifies test methods, specifications, and field checks to evaluate structural adequacy of exterior wall systems composed of curtain walls, storefronts, and sloped glazing.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
Difference in male-female thermal comfort is due to clothing, ASHRAE says
Women wear lighter clothing in the summer, so they tend to be cooler in air-conditioned rooms, according to the group.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
ConsensusDocs releases new CM agency contract standard agreement
For use when owner acts as the construction manager, hires a construction manager, or uses multiple prime contractors
