NYC removes rooftop zoning restrictions for solar, heat pump and electrification equipment

The "City of Yes" initiative, which takes effect Dec. 11, is expected to help facilitate environmentally friendly retrofits for over 50,000 buildings.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 11, 2023

Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, IFC unveil plans for future green building certification

At the COP28 summit in Dubai, the organizations said they will use the new certification to measure progress toward SHA’s “Net Positive Hospitality” initiative.

By Noelle Mateer • Dec. 11, 2023

How facilities managers capitalize on hybrid work to better control costs, maintain sustainability, utilize space

Approximately 50% of major global companies will reduce their real estate in the next three years, according to a Knight Frank survey.

Dec. 11, 2023

5 tips for cutting property insurance costs amid climate change

As extreme weather damage increases, firms can upgrade buildings with storm shutters, flood barriers and fire-suppression systems, among other moves, to reduce premiums.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 7, 2023

Final SEC climate disclosure rule pushed to April 2024

The long-awaited timing update comes via the Biden administration’s regulatory agenda for next year, which also unveiled new timetables for other ESG-related proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 7, 2023

LED lighting 44% more efficient that fluorescent in linear recessed systems: University of Michigan research

Troffer lights offer one of the largest areas of opportunity for energy efficiency and cost savings, researchers reported.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 7, 2023

UN report proposes measures to slash up to 96% of cooling emissions by 2050

Passive cooling, higher energy efficiency standards and a quicker phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants could save $1 trillion by 2050, according to the United Nations report released during the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 6, 2023

Decarbonization strategies require corporate buy-in, USGBC says

While Inflation Reduction Act funding is a “key lever to decarbonization,” building owners, operators and occupants must do more to ensure that the U.S. reaches its Paris Agreement goals, the U.S. Green Building Council says.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 6, 2023

White House unveils national greenhouse gas monitoring strategy ahead of COP28

The framework looks to combine scattered emissions measurement, monitoring and data capabilities across federal and nonfederal entities into a streamlined resource to better support climate action.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 6, 2023

Existing building stock challenges decarbonization goals

Experts at an ASHRAE panel discussed the role of model codes, zero-energy codes and building performance standards in decarbonization, emphasizing solutions for effective energy and emissions management.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 5, 2023

Warehouse roofs house New Jersey’s largest rooftop community solar project to date

Solar Landscape will own and operate the two installations on Heitman Capital Management buildings, delivering a combined 8.8 megawatts of clean energy.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 4, 2023

Bloomberg tool to map data based on UN Sustainable Development Goals

The company said its data mapping tool is the first to provide insights into how companies’ operations impact the UN’s 2030 agenda.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 1, 2023

AI-driven approaches can expedite building decarbonization: McKinsey

Machine learning, artificial intelligence and physics-based models can accelerate net-zero efforts, providing a more than 100-fold increase in the pace and scale of decarbonization, according to the consulting firm.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 1, 2023

Building operators, decision-makers seek help in meeting sustainability goals

While sustainability is accelerating as a business priority, 40% of leaders believe they lack the internal skills to measure environmental impact, new research by Johnson Controls and Forrester Consulting found. 

By Joe Burns • Nov. 30, 2023

Detroit joins growing cohort in adopting energy, water benchmarking policy

The ordinance, which requires large buildings to annually report their energy and water use starting in 2024, is a key component of the city’s climate strategy.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 30, 2023

Deloitte, EY partner with tech to accelerate clients’ sustainability goals

Deloitte is linking up with IBM, while EY collaborates with AspenTech, as the two consulting firms look for software tools to help mitigate companies’ carbon footprint.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 29, 2023

Demand for sustainable buildings outstripping supply, JLL says

Rising demand has led to an over 7% rental premium on green-certified office buildings across major markets in the U.S. and Canada.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 29, 2023

Global Reporting Initiative proposes climate change, energy standards

The two proposals focus on how organizations can cut their greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy consumption.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 28, 2023

Without BPS compliance, owners risk reputational damage, lower revenue

As building performance standards gain momentum, properties could face several negative impacts if they fail to meet energy efficiency and decarbonization targets, a CBRE report finds.

By Joe Burns • Updated 2 hours ago

DOE releases $31M+ in grants for retrofits, infrastructure upgrades

The funding aims to give states flexible capital to perform audits, studies and retrofits that help meet net-zero emission goals.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 27, 2023

Without significant interventions, US building emissions will continue to increase

U.S. buildings need a 73% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 20 years to meet net-zero emissions goals, a new report says.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 22, 2023

Renew Energy Partners, EnergyRM will finance up to $200M in CRE energy retrofits

Building owners can receive project capital through EnergyRM’s fintech transaction platform and make repayments through post-retrofit energy savings, Renew says.

By Joe Burns • Nov. 22, 2023

DOE allocates $169M to propel electric heat pump manufacturing across 13 states

The nine projects funded across 15 sites will create more than 1,700 jobs and reduce emissions, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 21, 2023

Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 20, 2023

Matterport partners with Belden on industrial automation, smart building infrastructure

The agreement will help facilities manage their physical environments by improving sustainability and bolstering cost efficiencies across operations, the companies say.

By Joe Burns • Nov. 20, 2023