Efficient and Healthy Schools: Funding for Facilities’ Needs

Webinar / March 27, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm PDT

Join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program’s webinar to learn about funding for achieving efficient and healthy school improvements. K-12 schools and their supporters will hear about federal funding opportunities, approaches to leverage state and local funds, and examples of…

The Building Electrification Technology Roadmap for Schools

Report / January 29, 2024

Learn strategies tailored for K-12 schools to reduce carbon emissions from water heating, HVAC, buses, and other technologies that power classrooms and operational spaces. This report provides K-12 leaders a roadmap and decision-making tools to electrify their school buildings.

How soon do you have to buy heat pumps and EVs to avoid climate catastrophe?

News / November 16, 2023 / Zero Net Energy (ZNE)

Published by The Washington Post: “Just 1 percent of U.S. homes have installed heat pump water heaters, which deliver hot water with ultra-efficient heat pumps, making them one of the least-common climate technologies in U.S. homes.[…] The biggest reason to...

Helping Schools be BETR with the Building Electrification Technology Roadmap

Webinar / November 30, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST

Join New Buildings Institute and Resource Refocus to learn more about the Building Electrification Technology Roadmap (BETR) for K-12 schools. BETR for schools is a new technical guide for school district stakeholder and decision makers who are interested in incorporating…

2024 Getting to Zero Forum

Event / May 21, 2024 - May 23, 2024

The Getting to Zero Forum is the premier event dedicated to building decarbonization. With a growing number of climate emergencies across the United States and around the world, there is no more important time than now for the Getting to…

Trane Technologies Foundation Supports Sustainable Futures for 40 Students

News / August 23, 2023

The donation provides professional development and career opportunities in the sustainable building sector through New Buildings Institute’s Next Gen Program Portland, Ore. – Thanks to a generous donation from the Trane Technologies Charitable Foundation, 40 underrepresented students will now have...

Lower Energy Costs, Healthier Air: How Energy CLASS Prize Winners Are Transforming Their School

News / July 27, 2023

Published by NREL: 25 local education agencies (LEAs) have been named Energy CLASS prize winners and awarded $100,000 each, along with the training and one-on-one coaching needed to put those funds to work helping their schools meet health and energy-efficiency...

Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign Honors 17 School Districts for Upgrading Facility Health and Sustainability

News / July 10, 2023

On Wednesday, June 28, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign celebrated the achievements of 17 K-12 schools and districts that implemented exemplary projects to improve the energy and environmental performance of their school’s facilities. Schools...

The Future of Buildings is Net-Zero Energy

News / July 10, 2023

Published by FacilitiesNet: Verified net-zero buildings currently represent less than 1 percent of all commercial buildings according to data from the World Green Building Council. But that number is increasingly rapidly – as much as 50 percent every two years, according to...

Low carbon verification pairs greener designs with reduced interest rates

News / July 6, 2023

Published by MAREJournal: Prior to CIRRUS Low Carbon’s introduction to the market in 2022, no private capital source offered lower rates for greener buildings. Now, developers can fortify their financing with a significantly lower interest rate when a project meets...

How going electric can save construction costs in North Dakota

News / July 6, 2023

Published by KXNews: Building an all-electric home is less expensive than building a home with oil, gas, or propane appliances. According to the non-profit New Buildings Institute, all-electric homes save people about $8,000 on construction costs and reduce energy consumption,...

Reducing Embodied Carbons Key to Achieving Net-Zero Status

News / June 22, 2023

Published by Facilites Net: NBI’s Webly Bowles speaks with Facilities Net about strategies that managers can use to lessen the impact of embodied carbon resources in their buildings.

DOE Program Provides Boost for 25 School Districts

News / June 20, 2023

Published by Facilities Net: Energy manager training is conducted with the aid of organizations such as the New Buildings Institute, and ICF International through a series of virtual courses including training on topics such as finding funding and stakeholder engagement.

The urgency of cooling access: Ensuring resilience and promoting equity in the U.S.

News / June 14, 2023

Published by Refigeration Industry: Financial assistance programs can help low-income households purchase energy-efficient, climate-friendly cooling appliances (like efficient air conditioners or heat pumps) that cost less to operate due to reduced energy consumption. Similar programs can also provide low-income households with...

Yay, Your Building Is Net Zero! Meaning… What Exactly?

News / June 14, 2023

Published by Building Green: Many of ASHRAE’s own technical and energy-efficiency standards have been looking to include net-zero language and options as well, according to Jim Edelson, director of policy at New Buildings Institute (NBI) and a member of the...

Dear Decaturish – Getting City Schools of Decatur to net-zero emissions

News / June 14, 2023

Published by Decaturish: This article mentions a Getting to Zero Forum panel discussion, “Catalyzing on Student Energy to Achieve Net Zero,” moderated by NBI’s Reilly Loveland that discussed the value of student advocacy in building better environments for education, using...

All-Electric Commercial Kitchens

Webinar / July 26, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm PDT

Commercial kitchen electrification is a critical component of building decarbonization but is often thought of as a stumbling block due to its perceived expense, complexity and the affinity of the restaurant industry for gas powered cooking equipment. This webinar explores…

Reflections on the 2023 Forum: Equitable decarbonization, showcasing innovation, and supporting the next generation

Post / June 5, 2023

With historic federal funding setting the stage, the seventh iteration of the Getting to Zero Forum was an opportunity to convene at a pivotal time, when there is more support and resources for decarbonizing the built environment than ever before....

Interactive Map of Carbon Neutral School Districts

Online Tool / June 1, 2023

This interactive map includes districts that have addressed healthy, efficient, resilient schools by adopting formal goals to tackle carbon emissions. These goals may be written into policies, resolutions, plans, design standards, or other formal mechanisms. Carbon emissions reductions encompass a…

Net Zero Conference

Event / September 13, 2023 - September 14, 2023

The Net Zero Conference has been bringing together climate leaders to build a net zero, decarbonized future for a decade. We showcase the latest on: Carbon + Climate + Equity + ESG + Net Zero + Resilience

Podcast: Transformative Leadership in Business— Identifying and Addressing the Barriers for Decarbonizing the Built Environment

News / May 9, 2023

In this episode, Bill interviews Ralph DiNola, CEO of the New Buildings Institute (NBI), an organization that works collaboratively with industry market players to promote advanced design practices, innovative technologies, public policies, and programs that improve energy efficiency and decarbonize...

Zero Emission Building New Construction Guide

Guideline / May 4, 2023

Zero Emission Building New Construction Guide: This guide supports compliance with the Santa Monica ZEB Code and EV Charger Reach Code by providing guidance for meeting all of their requirements, including All-Electric Design, EV charging spaces, and tips to maximize…

Port of Camas-Washougal solar project planned in partnership with Clark Public Utilities

News / May 4, 2023

Published by The Columbian: Community Solar East came after the port collaborated with New Buildings Institute, a Portland-based energy performance nonprofit, in 2022 to compile resources to help agencies and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. The document outlines energy efficiency,...

Net Zero Buildings Week

Event / June 12, 2023 - June 16, 2023

Net Zero Buildings Week is Back! Join us on social media the week of June 12-16, 2023 to promote the benefits of net zero and low-carbon buildings. Showcase your resources, thought-leadership, art, memes, and more to help us collectively imagine…

Pueblo Community Health’s new East Side Clinic is first zero energy health center in U.S.

News / April 24, 2023

Published by The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Community Health Center’s new East Side Clinic received its net zero verification from New Buildings Institute, which is believed to use the “gold standard” in gauging net-zero facilities. In the clinic’s first year, it...

2023 Getting to Zero Forum Brings Together Leading Experts to Share Climate Solutions in the Built Environment

News / April 13, 2023

2023 Getting to Zero Forum Brings Together Leading Experts to Share Climate Solutions in the Built Environment  The premier event dedicated to building decarbonization invites interested parties to join virtually or in-person in Minneapolis, May 10-12. MINNEAPOLIS, Apr. 13, 2023...

Continuing Education: Architects Zero in on Zero to Define Building Performance

News / April 3, 2023

Published by Architectural Record: What do we mean when we call something “zero carbon”? Its definition is self-evident, like “gluten free” or “tax-deductible.” But does the term need a qualifier? The contributors to a building’s carbon output can be broken...

Podcast: The Intersection of Getting to Zero and ESG

News / March 8, 2023

This special podcast episode, The Intersection of Getting to Zero and ESG, was created in collaboration with USGBC. In honor of International Women’s Day, NBI’s Leada Fuller-Marashi sits down with Melissa Baker, Senior Vice President, Technical Core at USGBC and...

Recently Verified Projects from CIRRUS Low Carbon

News / March 6, 2023

The CIRRUS™ Low Carbon program charts a practical and actionable course to a low carbon future. Using a low carbon design specification, developed collaboratively by PACE Equity and New Buildings Institute, CIRRUS Low Carbon provides lower interest rates to developers...

Why we can’t solve the climate crisis without schools — and teachers

News / March 2, 2023

Published by the Los Angeles Times: A a new report — released Thursday and shared exclusively with The Times — explores how K-12 schools can educate students about climate change, while contributing to climate solutions themselves. It’s a fascinating read,...