Minneapolis offers incentives for EV chargers in new garages after state code blocks requirement

News / November 25, 2022

Published by News Pub: Attempting to sort out one of many greatest challenges within the shift to electrical automobiles — the dearth of at-home charging at flats and condos — the Metropolis of Minneapolis final yr required electrical automobiles chargers...

Buy Clean: A First Step in Low-Carbon Standards

News / November 17, 2022

Published by Green Building Advisor: The federal government is ramping up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions with the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, a plan to use the government’s enormous buying power to force wider use of low-carbon building materials....

New Buildings Institute Introduces a Building Decarbonization Model Code

News / November 9, 2022

Published by Zondits: Expanding its focus on advanced building energy codes, New Buildings Institute (NBI) has announced the release of a new model code with a focus on decarbonizing the U.S. residential and commercial building stocks. Model codes are intended...

Organizations Seek Governmental Support in Lowering Building Emissions

News / November 9, 2022

Published by Environment + Energy Leader: Two dozen building organizations are calling on government representatives at COP27 to commit to decarbonization efforts in the built environment, which they say is a leading driver of climate impacts. The group of building...

Codes for Climate Early November 2022 Newsletter

News / November 4, 2022

The latest Codes for Climate newsletter includes info on the draft 2024 Commercial  and Residential International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC), a webinar explaining how to submit public comments on the Residential draft,   federal funding opportunites, codes and standards development updates, news,...

Unpacking the 2024 IECC Residential Public Comment Draft

Webinar / November 15, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am PST

The residential section of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has been released for public comment. Watch NBI and NRDC experts in this on-demand webinar that summarizes the major changes proposed, the process for submitting public comment, and ways…

Why Building Energy Codes Are Gaining Traction

News / September 29, 2022

Published by EC&M: The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), is in the latter stages of its triennial revision and could ultimately incorporate requirements that widen the code’s scope from simply energy savings and efficiency to include aggressive decarbonization strategies. Proposals...

Washington, DC, poised to ban natural gas use in new buildings

News / September 28, 2022

Published by S&P Global: Washington, D.C., could become the latest East Coast city to prohibit natural gas use in new homes and commercial buildings if a divisive all-electric construction mandate survives an upcoming vote. Many cities and states update their building codes...

A game-changing model code for existing buildings gives jurisdictions a path to eliminate carbon emissions in the current building stock 

News / September 19, 2022

The Existing Buildings Decarbonization Code is an overlay to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and covers residential and commercial retrofits  New Buildings Institute (NBI) has released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code, a new way for jurisdictions to reduce...

Existing Building Decarbonization Code

Guideline / September 19, 2022

The Existing Building Decarbonization Code is a new way for jurisdictions to reduce carbon emissions and meet Climate Action Plan and public health and equity goals. The need to address existing building stock is great, with 5.9 million existing commercial…

Existing Building Decarbonization Code: the Gamechanger We Need Right Now in the Climate Fight

Webinar / October 12, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT

The vast majority of buildings that we will use in the coming decades are already built and account for roughly 39% of the carbon footprint as well as other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We cannot address our climate crisis without…

International Code Council Honors Building Safety Professionals with 2022 Awards

News / September 13, 2022

These distinguished individuals and organizations are being recognized for their exemplary work and service to their communities, the building safety industry, and the Code Council Louisville, K.Y. – During its 2022 Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, the International Code Council recognized...

Unpacking the 2024 IECC Commercial Public Comment Draft

Webinar / September 29, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT

The commercial section of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has been released for public comment. Join NBI experts for a webinar that will summarize the major changes proposed, the process for submitting public comment, and ways that stakeholders…

Twenty-Six Health and Climate Organizations Call on EPA to Limit Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Household Appliances

News / August 23, 2022

Fossil fuel appliances are a significant contributor to smog, petition alleges the lack of standard Twenty-six health, environmental, and consumer protection groups (full list below) formally petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today to protect public health from dangerous outdoor...

Historic Inflation Reduction Act becomes law; industry celebrates

News / August 16, 2022

45 organizations welcome investments as a turning point to combat climate change and build clean energy future WASHINGTON, D.C.—Amid a rapidly warming climate, President Biden today signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal...

Over 60 organizations celebrate introduction of historic climate provisions in Inflation Reduction Act, call for its swift passage to address climate emergency, lower household energy costs

News / August 4, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Key Democratic leaders have struck a historic deal to lower energy bills and address the climate crisis with the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – which aims to reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030...

What You Need to Know About Building Performance Standards

News / July 29, 2022

Published by FacilitiesNet:  Building performance standards are the latest tool being used by state and local governments to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in existing buildings. We talked to two noted building performance standard experts, Kimberly Cheslak, director...

Codes for Climate July 2022 Newsletter

News / July 28, 2022

The latest Codes for Climate newsletter includes info on the initiative’s one year anniversary, recent codes and standards development updates, federal, state and local action updates, recent news, upcoming events, and more. Learn more by reading the full newsletter.  

DC to Ban Gas in Most New Buildings

News / July 27, 2022

Published by PaintSquare: The Council of the District of Columbia joined several other major cities in the nation through the unanimous passing of two new pieces of legislation requiring that all new buildings and substantial renovations in Washington D.C. be...

Climate change prompts a push away from natural gas

News / July 18, 2022

Published by Everett Herald: While the gas industry describes heat pumps as “not a silver bullet,” many do consider them a major weapon in the battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Heat pumps not only provide efficient space heating but...

Groups Urge Michigan To Adopt New Building Rules For Energy Efficient Homes, Businesses

News / July 7, 2022

Publiched by Michigan Business Network: Building more energy-efficient homes and businesses across Michigan is cost-effective, will improve the health and safety of Michigan residents, and create new jobs, a group of industry, health, and environmental organizations said today. The organizations...

Codes for Climate June 2022 Newsletter

News / June 28, 2022

The latest Codes for Climate newsletter includes info about recent codes and standards development updates, including a number of proposals that will improve the efficiency of existing buildings, federal, state and local action updates, recent news, upcoming events, and more. Learn...

Proposed Building Decarbonization Bill Would Help Electrify the County’s Future

News / June 14, 2022

Published by MyGreenMontgomery.org: “We’re entering a new era of building design and construction that will bring our ambitious climate goals to life,” opened Lindsey Shaw, Chief of the Energy and Climate Section of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection,...

Natural gas legislation: What multifamily developers, owners need to know

News / June 2, 2022

Published by Constructive Dive: Bans on natural gas hookups in new buildings are spreading across the country. In 2019, Berkeley, California, was the first city to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings. So far, 77 cities in 10 states...

Contract-laden GSA calls for concrete, asphalt EPD submittals

News / May 31, 2022

Published by Concrete Products: A new U.S. General Services Administration standard targeting low embodied concrete on federal projects will require contractors to provide environmental product declarations (EPD), where available, from ready mixed suppliers. It compels procurement of concrete exhibiting production...

Podcast: The Cost of Building Decarbonization

News / May 18, 2022

Peggy and Kim Cheslak, Director of codes at New Buildings Institute, discuss a new study on building decarbonization. She says one of the primary questions is: what does it cost? Thus, it went into the study with two primary goals:...

Model Government Zero Emissions Building Policy

Guideline / May 18, 2022

Released by New Buildings Institute, the Model Government Zero Emissions Buildings Policy provides plug-and-play policy language for jurisdictions considering taking a “lead by example” approach to building decarbonization. By using their own buildings to demonstrate how new technologies and operational…

Hochul Admin. Presses for Immediate Action on All-Electric New Construction at Hearing

News / May 12, 2022

Published by Food & Water Watch: Today, the Assembly hearing on the All-Electric Building Act is demonstrating the consensus that ending gas in new construction fights climate change, creates jobs and cuts air pollution. Experts, including NYSERDA President Doreen Harris...

Cheaper to electrify US homes during construction than after

News / May 10, 2022

Published by Energy Monitor: It is cheaper to electrify buildings – or at least make them ready for future electrification – at the time of construction than retrofitting them for electric equipment afterwards, according to new research from US non-profit New Buildings Institute...

NBI Releases Cost Study of the Building Decarbonization Code

News / April 27, 2022

Published by EC&M: New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently released the “Cost Study of the Building Decarbonization Code.” The study analyzes the incremental first cost and life cycle cost of two common building types that follow the code language in NBI’s...