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Published by CleanTechnica: In 2019, the nonprofit-led Advanced Water Heating Initiative saw the need for a water heater that could be plugged into a typical outlet and avoid the electric panel upgrades to help people easily switch from gas to electric...
California Municipal Building Takes Net-Zero Standard to Another Level
Published by Facilities Net: The Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) city building in California provides power for about 500,000 people in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and is going beyond the net-zero goal line by recently unveiling its all-electric headquarters after a...
World’s First “GridOptimal” Building is Sonoma Clean Power’s Headquarters
SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) recently unveiled its new all-electric headquarters which features an innovative microgrid, and goes far beyond “net zero energy” standards by reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the State’s electric...
A game-changing model code for existing buildings gives jurisdictions a path to eliminate carbon emissions in the current building stock
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...
International Code Council Honors Building Safety Professionals with 2022 Awards
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...
Will the Inflation Reduction Act Accelerate Decarbonization Within the Real Estate Industry?
Published by Propmodo: Buried within the 730-page Inflation Reduction Act that Congress recently passed is a dizzying array of proposals that directly and indirectly impact the commercial real estate sector. It also includes corporate tax reform, a huge expansion of...
Codes for Climate September 2022 Newsletter
The latest Codes for Climate newsletter includes info on the draft 2024 Commercial International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), a webinar explaining how to submit public comments on the draft, federal, state and local action updates, recent news, upcoming events, and more....
Advanced Water Heating Initiative September 2022 Newsletter
The latest newsletter from the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) features information on the new 120V heat pump water heater technology, upcoming meetings, working group progress, the date for the upcoming Heat Pump Water Heater Day, resources, and more. Inflation Reduction...
NBI’s Smita Gupta to serve as Director for Federal Facility Decarbonization
New Buildings Institute is proud to announce that Director of Building Innovation Smita Gupta has been appointed as a detailee to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)! The CEQ is one part of the Executive Office of the President and...
Finally, a heat-pump water heater that plugs into a standard outlet
Published by Canary Media: Last month’s launch of Rheem’s ProTerra 120-volt heat pump water heater might not seem like a big step forward in the fight against climate change. In terms of home electrification accessories, it’s not as sexy as...
It’s About Progress, Not Perfection, in Real Estate Net-Zero Pledges
Published by Propmodo: The term “net-zero” is everywhere, including in the real estate industry. It’s hard to avoid, even if people may not know how to define it. Solemn “net-zero by 2050” oaths have filled newsfeeds and become a call...
How to Prepare Your House for Climate Change
Published by Bloomberg: Living on a warming planet requires protecting your home from threats exacerbated by climate change. But protection doesn’t only mean playing defense: In addition to anticipating extreme weather or wildfire threats, for example, homeowners can make proactive...
Twenty-Six Health and Climate Organizations Call on EPA to Limit Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Household Appliances
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...
How can schools help climate change?
Published by Market Business News: Schools play a major part to play in diminishing emanations of unsafe ozone depleting substances that cause an over-burden of carbon dioxide. Learn Now is environmentally friendly. The country’s schools yearly produce as much carbon...
Historic Inflation Reduction Act becomes law; industry celebrates
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Building-integrated Photovoltaics Global Market Report 2022
Published by Globe Newswire: The global concern regarding the carbon emissions from buildings and buildings construction is rising the demand for zero energy buildings. Building-integrated photovoltaics materials provide a reasonable option for building skins and help in achieving zero energy...
Groups Urge Michigan To Adopt New Building Rules For Energy Efficient Homes, Businesses
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
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...
June 2022 Newsletter from NBI
Our latest newsletter includes information on NBI’s 25th Anniversary, our recent Decarbonization Roadmap Guide for School Building Decision Makers, The CIRRUS™ Low Carbon program, our Cost Study of the Building Decarbonization Code, and more.
The Cost of Building Decarbonization
Published by Electrical Construction & Maintenance: New Buildings Institute’s findings put meat on the bones of a code the advocacy group crafted Building Decarbonization Code – New Buildings Institute for developers interested in designing and building structures with smaller or non-existent carbon...
Climate resilience and the new era of urban infrastructure
Published by GreenBiz: The path to revitalize our infrastructure as an engine of future economic growth must begin with a series of “lighthouse projects” that prove viability. The energy industry, real estate sector and city government can’t swallow the elephant...
USGBC Announces more than 23 Million Square Feet of LEED Certified Net Zero Space
Published by Building Enclosure: The U.S. Green Building Council announced nearly 100 net zero certifications earned under the LEED Zero program, representing more than 23 million square feet of space. One-fourth of LEED Zero projects earned multiple certifications, demonstrating achievement of net zero goals in several categories....
Raising the Profile for Net Zero: Deep energy retrofits for zero emissions
Published by Electrical Contractor: Net-zero building is gaining attention. In a world acutely focused on decarbonization, a building’s ability to combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as can be produced has regained the...
Proposed Building Decarbonization Bill Would Help Electrify the County’s Future
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,...
Washington board moves closer to natural gas ban in new homes
Published by The Center Square: – The Washington State Building Code Council’s Technical Advisory Group on Friday morning passed a motion disapproving of a code proposal that would require new residential buildings to be built all-electric. But it was largely...