Blog - New Buildings Institute

Pilot project in Seattle shows central heat pump water heaters can act as massive hot water batteries that help reduce carbon emissions

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Joseph Wachunas

Central heat pump water heaters (CHPWHs) present a tremendous opportunity to reduce the substantial energy used in water heating and can act as giant thermal batteries. They do this by using energy to heat water during times of low grid...

Using Policy and Code to Help Cities Most Impacted by Urban Heat Islands

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Bryce Seymour

During the summer of 2022, there were more than 7,000 record-breaking daily temperatures reported across the U.S., according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Dangerously high temperatures in the U.S. impacted more than 40 million people,...

Schools are Leading in the Race Towards Clean Energy

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Emma Riccardi

Building efficiency and decarbonization is a movement that has the potential to dramatically curb climate change and make buildings healthy and productive spaces. K-12 schools, where staff and students spend at least 1,000 hours each year, are leading the way....

New podcasts about NBI research

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Susan Harris

In our new podcast series, we dig deeper into the research papers authored by NBI staff. We begin with NBI staff that presented at the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency. Professionals from around the world came together at...

Embodied Carbon Draws Increased Attention from the Building Sector

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Webly Bowles

Over the past 15 years, many jurisdictions have reduced operational emissions in buildings through policies focused on energy efficiency, resulting in lower energy bills, better indoor air quality, and increased comfort. As the carbon emissions associated with operating buildings continues...

Make your voice heard: Comment on the Residential 2024 IECC update

Posted on October 29, 2022 by Mark Lyles

The 2024 draft Residential International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is now out for public comment. The provisions in the 2024 code will build on the energy efficiency advancements made in the 2021 code cycle and introduce key provisions to address...

New Study Explores Potential of 120-volt Heat Pump Water Heaters

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Amruta Khanolkar

In an effort to combat climate change, lawmakers in many parts of the U.S. are pushing for building electrification—or the phasing out of fossil-fuel powered appliances and heating and cooling systems in the built environment. It’s very encouraging to see...

First-ever Heat Pump Water Heater Day spotlights climate-friendly products

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Joseph Wachunas

Most people don’t give their water heaters a second thought until they fail or leak. But exciting technologies like ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are showing how an important decarbonization solution can lie hidden in plain sight....

NBI staff contribute papers, posters and discussion at ACEEE Summer Study

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Stacey Hobart

NBI staff presented at the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study at Asilomar in Pacific Grove. Contributions included several panels, a poster, and informal discussion groups. See below for details and links to the final papers. We were also honored that Alexi...

Advance climate action by getting involved now in the commercial 2024 IECC update

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Diana Burk

With buildings currently representing 39% of U.S. carbon emissions, leading jurisdictions recognize the importance of using building codes and performance policies to respond to the effects of climate change and reduce future risks. To keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees...

The Future We Seek: Equitable and Resilient Buildings and Communities

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Ralph DiNola

For more than 25 years, New Buildings Institute (NBI) has worked collaboratively with industry market actors to promote advanced design practices, innovative technologies, public policies, and programs that improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions from the built environment. Our collective...

Net Zero Buildings Week Spotlights Heroes, Resources

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Erin Murphy

During the second Net Zero Buildings Week , June 13-17, over 250 partners (see list below) shared stories, building project examples, and resources about net zero energy and carbon neutral buildings on social media. This year’s theme “Net Zero Heroes” worked...

NBI honors energy efficiency and green building leaders as Senior Fellows

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Susan Harris

New Buildings Institute recently expanded the NBI Senior Fellows program and is excited to announce the addition of eight industry luminaries. With this program we recognize and honor their significant contribution to energy efficiency and carbon reduction in the building...

Building our future workforce today

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Bryce Seymour

Over 100,000 construction industry workers will be needed to electrify all of California’s existing and new construction buildings, and up to 4,900 full-time manufacturing workers, according to a recent study from UCLA’s Luskin Center. By 2045, assuming the state has...

Two influential leaders added to NBI Board of Directors

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Connie Umphress

New Buildings Institute (NBI) enthusiastically welcomes two influential leaders to its Board of Directors this year. Dr. Tina Jayaweera is a Power Planning Resources Manager at Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Susan Rochford is Vice President of Energy Efficiency, Sustainability...

New Zero Emissions Buildings Policy helps jurisdictions lead by example

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Erin Beddingfield

With building construction and operations making up nearly 40% of U.S. carbon emissions, many jurisdictions have made reducing emissions from the built environment a top strategy for meeting climate action goals. The new Model Government Zero Emissions Buildings Policy released...

Future-ready buildings: increase asset value and reduce real estate investment risks by preparing for building performance standards now

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Ralph DiNola

New construction codes have been driving toward net zero performance in jurisdictions around the country but building performance standards (BPS) with similar aims are emerging for existing buildings. Building performance standards are state and local laws that require existing buildings...

New study on electrification costs shows benefits to building owners and society

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Sean Denniston

Building electrification and decarbonization policies are being discussed by cities and states as well as in boardrooms across the country. Just last month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealed a much-anticipated proposal to require public companies to disclose certain...

Using Passive House to fast-track building electrification

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Bronwyn Barry

This guest blog was written by Bronwyn Barry, CPHD, board member of the North American Passive House Network and NBI Senior Fellow. A growing body of research tells us achieving deep carbon reduction targets of 75% or more will require electrification, including...

2024 IECC proposals address energy use in budding industry

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Diana Burk

With the rapid growth of new indoor agriculture facilities growing vegetables, cannabis and other plants, the increased demand for energy and carbon intensive lighting and dehumidification for plant growth has skyrocketed. Lighting can consume between 50-70% of an indoor grow...

2022 is the year of the electricity grid; new GridOptimal resources can help

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Alexi Miller

With the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2022 will be a big year for energy efficiency, building codes and grid modernization. As we make gains in energy efficiency, and continue to add more intermittent renewables to our...

New coalition to tackle emission reductions in existing buildings

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Sarah Chaney

Source: IMT President Biden announced Friday the first-of-its-kind Buildings Performance Standards Coalition during remarks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting. The announcement highlights the importance of enacting policy to support emission reductions in all buildings—both new and existing....

Scaling up market transformation for heat pump water heaters

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Smita Gupta

While the average person might not think about it when turning on the faucet, changing the way you heat water in your home or business could drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Water heating accounts for a large share of the...

Hopeful in 2022 during this make-or-break year on climate change

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Ralph DiNola

We are optimists, and a new year offers opportunities for inspiration and hope. Our current challenges seem unrelenting. But even as we battle several emergencies all at once, we see bright spots of opportunity for necessary and significant progress to...

Proposals to drastically cut GHG delivered to IECC committees

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Kimberly Cheslak

This week, New Buildings Institute (NBI) submitted code change proposals to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) residential and commercial development committees. These proposals have the potential to drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector and help...

Schools collaborate on the roadmap to zero carbon

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Reilly Loveland

As we witness the consequences of rapid, widespread and intensifying climate change, our students face the prospect of worsening impacts in the world they will inherit. Students are demanding a more hopeful and sustainable future and are also asking for...

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at New Buildings Institute

Posted on September 28, 2021 by Leada Fuller-Marashi

We recognize there are structural injustices and inequities in our systems and climate work. NBI is committed to the journey necessary to ensure every member of our society has equal access to and benefits from zero energy and zero carbon....

An Insider’s Guide for Our Clean Energy Future

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Webly Bowles

The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change (the Sixth Assessment Report) sounded an alarm about the urgent need to transition to net zero carbon emissions to avoid global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius. With buildings representing...

Empowering Communities to Accelerate Distributed Energy Resources

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Diana Burk

In many parts of the United States, navigating the building permits required for distributed energy resources such as solar, storage, and electric vehicles (EVs) can be a daunting process. Many communities have burdensome requirements for installing such technologies and/or lack...

Codes for Loads – Making Our Buildings Work with Renewable Power Grids

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Jim Edelson

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have adopted Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), policies that require or set goals for all energy supply to be renewable by a chosen date mostly within the next two decades. The Biden Administration earlier...