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...

Washington state to require electric heating in building code update

News / April 25, 2022

Published by S&P Global: Washington will require all-electric space and water heating in new commercial and multifamily construction, making it the first state to incorporate building electrification mandates into statewide energy codes. One proposal would require all-electric systems and appliances...

Codes for Climate: A Vehicle for Change

News / April 25, 2022

Published by MTBA Architecture: One of the biggest obstacles for deep green retrofits to existing & historic spaces is the lack of regulations and building codes that enforce climate goals. The opportunity to create new building codes for climate is...

Report spells code-geared carbon benchmarks

News / April 19, 2022

Published by Concrete Products: The most recent New Buildings Institute (NBI) report presents language to incorporate embodied carbon requirements in codes, and explains the need for jurisdictions to address such criteria for materials or products with the highest carbon dioxide...

Demystifying Energy Code Development

News / April 18, 2022

Published by NRDC: Historically, the energy code has been developed through a public process where stakeholders submit proposed changes to the code, then come together to debate the proposals in front of a technical committee that makes recommendations for whether...

Cost Study of the Building Decarbonization Code

Report / April 13, 2022

This “Cost Study of the Building Decarbonization Code” analyzes the incremental first cost and life cycle cost of two common building types that follow the code language in NBI’s Building Decarbonization Code. The study, which was supported by the Natural…

Building contract-rich GSA to require concrete, asphalt EPD submittals

News / April 11, 2022

Published by Concrete Products: A new 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 or precast suppliers. It compels procurement of concrete exhibiting...

Embodied Carbon Limits: New Language for Codes and Specs

News / April 7, 2022

Published by BuildingGreen: Aspirational limits on embodied carbon in our buildings are all well and good, but how do you actually determine and implement those limits? New code language and a new model specification could be the ticket. New Buildings...

Biden Administration Takes Important Step In Buying Clean

News / April 6, 2022

Published by Natural Resources Defense Council: The Biden Administration has taken an important step forward in leveraging the purchasing power of the federal government to grow the market for cleaner industrial materials. For the first time, the Government Services Administration...

Government Sets Carbon Limits on Concrete for Federal Projects

News / March 31, 2022

Published by Scientific American: The procurement arm of the federal government is imposing new limitations on high carbon-emitting building materials for all its major projects, a move that will affect billions of dollars of federal infrastructure investments. GSA only will...

Why the Natural Gas Industry Wants to Make Sure You Never Get an Electric Car

News / March 8, 2022

Published by Slate: After failing to overturn an election expected to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels, conservative industry groups last year managed to get future votes canceled and tightened their grip over the process used to develop new...

A Battle Over Building Codes May Be The Most Important Climate Fight You’ve Never Heard Of

News / March 3, 2022

Published by The Huffington Post: After failing to overturn an election expected to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels, conservative industry groups last year managed to get future votes canceled and tightened their grip over the process used to...

Energy Standards To Perform

News / February 23, 2022

Published by Facility Executive: This past January, President Biden announced the establishment of a Buildings Performance Standards Coalition during remarks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting. The announcement highlighted the importance of enacting policy to support emission reductions...

Report gauges building codes’ impact on embodied carbon in project specs

News / February 22, 2022

Published by Concrete Products: The most recent New Buildings Institute (NBI) report presents language to incorporate embodied carbon requirements in codes, and explains the need for jurisdictions to address such criteria for materials or products with the highest carbon dioxide...

2024 IECC Code Change Proposal Updates

Codes & Policy / February 15, 2022

June 2022 Updates The full consensus committees approved several NBI code proposals, a number of proposals that will improve the efficiency of existing buildings including: CEPI-217 which requires existing buildings undergoing an addition, alteration or change of occupancy to be...

2024 IECC proposals address energy use in budding industry

Post / February 14, 2022

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...

Embodied Carbon

Codes & Policy / February 13, 2022

Building operations and construction-related activities are responsible for approximately 39% of humanity‘s global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More than a fourth of those are embodied carbon emissions, those associated with the production of building materials, construction activities, operations, and end...

A New Coalition Takes Aim at Emissions from Existing Buildings

News / February 1, 2022

Published by Architectural Record: At the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting, held earlier this month in Washington, D.C., President Biden announced a new collaboration with state and local governments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. Known...

Unions, Industry, Environmental Leaders, and Elected Officials Agree New Building Performance Standards Coalition Will Deliver

News / January 25, 2022

Published by The White House: Last week, President Biden announced during his remarks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors that his Administration is teaming up with states, cities, labor, and industry to launch the Building Performance Standards Coalition, a first-of-its-kind partnership between 33 state and...

White House forms coalition with local governments to pursue building performance policies

News / January 24, 2022

Published by Smart Cities Dive: President Joe Biden on Friday announced the launch of a Building Performance Standards Coalition, a partnership between more than 30 city and county governments along with the states of Colorado and Washington. The announcement came during...

Commentary: It’s time for Delaware to act on climate change

News / January 21, 2022

Published by Bay to Bay News: Please join us in urging the elected officials at all levels to take prompt legislative and administrative actions at the systemic level to reduce the risks to life and property in Delaware from declining biodiversity,...

Building Performance Standards

Codes & Policy / January 21, 2022

Building performance standards (BPS) set targets for existing building energy performance and are one of the best tools we have for achieving deep energy savings and emissions reductions in existing buildings. They can be written to optimize the energy use...

The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2022

News / January 20, 2022

Published by Governing: State legislatures will have a lot on their plates. They’ll deal with issues in wildly differing ways. This article sets the context for the 2022 session with an overview of everything from abortion to taxes. Kim Chelsak,...

Lifecycle GHG Impacts in Building Codes

Report / January 18, 2022

NBI’s report presents language to incorporate embodied carbon requirements in building codes. Researchers explain the need to address the embodied carbon of the highest emitting materials and the carbon emission benefits for jurisdictions. This report examines the current lack of…

Maryland Green Buildings Bill To Be Based on Commission Report

News / December 20, 2021

Published by RTO Insider: Commercial and multifamily residential buildings in Maryland would be required to eliminate their carbon emissions and new buildings would be all-electric under a bill being drafted in the state’s House of Delegates. And ideas in the...

How New Buildings Institute is Pushing CRE Toward Net Zero Carbon

News / December 9, 2021

Published by Leverage.com: One of the key teams that are helping the building sector get to zero is New Buildings Institute. This nonprofit organization sits at a peculiar intersection in the building world, as they help improve the energy performance...

Denver plans to send large buildings into the warm embrace of renewable electricity

News / November 24, 2021

Published by Denverite: In its latest attempt to fight climate change, Denver City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance to supercharge the city’s big buildings. The city crafted the ordinance alongside New Buildings Institute, a Portland-based advocacy group that keeps...