Sustainability

  • An aerial shot of modern office towers and Downtown Park in Bellevue, Washington on a sunny summer day.
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    Washington hopes to advance clean building standards implementation with nearly $8M DOE grant

    The Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network project aims to train at least 60 fellows to provide energy services to building owners and operators.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024
  • Aerial view of rooftops in a suburban neighborhood. A street curves through the houses.
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    Haizhan Zheng via Getty Images
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    30 neighborhood-scale building decarbonization pilots allowed under bill passed in California

    The bill, if signed into law by the governor, would authorize up to 30 of these pilot projects statewide. At least two-thirds of affected property owners would need to consent to a pilot project for it to move ahead.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 9, 2024
  • An exterior view of an American school building seen on a spring day.
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    Stock Photo via Getty Images
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    DOE opens application window for sustainable schools training program

    The Energy CLASS program seeks to train local educational agencies with training on funding and implementing energy management projects, the Energy Department says.

    By • Sept. 5, 2024
  • Meta's logo outside of the company's headquarters
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Meta procures geothermal power for data centers

    The agreement will provide Meta with up to 150 megawatts of renewable energy from Sage Geosystems’ installations.

    By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 4, 2024
  • A view of HVAC systems on the rooftop of a building
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    alacatr via Getty Images
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    Honeywell, Cisco integrate AI, real-time data on building energy efficiency, utilization

    Adding Cisco Spaces data to Honeywell’s Forge Sustainability+ for Buildings will provide insights into HVAC, lighting and other building systems, the companies say.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024
  • Two air conditioning units outside a building.
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    fstop123 via Getty Images
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    Bringing energy optimization to mid-market hotels

    Previously only available to luxury and full-service properties, Honeywell’s energy automation tech can now help hotel operators in select-service segments reduce their carbon footprint.

    By Noelle Mateer • Aug. 30, 2024
  • A pile of mattress toppers sits in a hallway, as a person walks by rolling a suitcase, at Boston University
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    Permission granted by Derek Palmer for BU Sustainability
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    How Boston University manages the disposal chaos of move-out season

    Partnerships with Casella, Goodwill and Helpsy are part of ongoing efforts to rethink waste systems as the university’s physical footprint continues to grow.

    By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 29, 2024
  • Electric vehicles at an EV charging station.
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    EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
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    Over $12M allocated for energy efficiency, clean energy projects in eighth round of DOE awards

    The 35 grantees announced Wednesday will use the funds for projects that include conducting energy assessments and installing EV charging stations, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

    By • Aug. 29, 2024
  • An aerial view of the Manhattan skyline at sunset.
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    Nafiz Rahat via Getty Images
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    JLL calls for action on ESG reporting mandates, in-use emissions tracking, climate resilience

    Despite a shift to more performance-based building requirements in New York and other locations, sustainability metrics continue to lag in less transparent markets, according to a report.

    By • Aug. 29, 2024
  • Large office buildings against a blue sky.
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    David Ryder/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    State, local building energy codes get makeovers with over $240M from US DOE

    Many of the selected cities will use the funds to develop and implement building performance standards, which require existing buildings to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and energy use over time.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 28, 2024
  • Wind turbines operate at a wind farm in Coachella Valley, as vehicles drive on a highway below.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    First national U.S. green bank launches with IRA funding

    The Coalition for Green Capital will mobilize capital for direct and indirect clean energy investments, funded by over $5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act.

    By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 27, 2024
  • Sign for the US Department of Energy out-front of their headquarters the James Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C.
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    The Bold Bureau via Getty Images
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    $66M available for energy efficiency projects in third round of DOE awards

    Fifteen states and two U.S. territories are receiving funds for revolving loan programs facilitating energy efficiency audits, upgrades, retrofits and measures to enhance building comfort, the Department of Energy said.

    By • Aug. 26, 2024
  • A full-length photo of representatives of the 10 organizations chosen to participate in the inaugural cohort of the new Scalable Tech Track program for cleantech adoption.
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    Courtesy of Business Wire
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    CBRE, Schneider Electric among first cohort chosen for cleantech initiative

    The program will address barriers building owners face when implementing new decarbonization technology, such as performance uncertainty and integration challenges.

    By • Aug. 23, 2024
  • The financial district in Boston, seen against the Boston Harbor at sunrise showcasing a mix of contemporary and historic buildings.
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    Marcio Silva via Getty Images
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    What to know about BERDO, Boston’s building performance standards law

    While many buildings already meet 2025 emissions limits, facility managers and owners should start planning now for how they’ll meet future requirements, city officials say.

    By • Updated Aug. 29, 2024
  • A skyline of New York City
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    TomasSereda via Getty Images
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    New York City releases Local Law 97 guide, updates to building categories

    The first mandatory annual greenhouse gas emissions reports are due by May 1, 2025. Penalties for late filings start at $12,500 per month for a 25,000-square-foot building.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • A view of business towers with a green, lush tree in front.
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    Chunyip Wong via Getty Images
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    6 sustainability trends impacting commercial properties: Cushman & Wakefield

    The SEC’s final climate rule will require public companies to disclose their climate-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions, pending an ongoing legal review, per a report.

    By • Aug. 20, 2024
  • A signpost for General Motors' assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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    Retrieved from General Motors on August 15, 2024
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    GM Fort Wayne plant cuts natural gas use by 30%, wins DOE award

    General Motors’ assembly plant captures waste heat from landfill gas-powered generators. The recovered heat can provide over 80% of the site’s building heating needs, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

    By • Aug. 15, 2024
  • Photovoltaic cells and battery systems on a building.
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    Kyoshino via Getty Images
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    Budderfly acquires tech for distributed energy resource management

    The company says Sunverge Energy’s system allows it to create virtual power plants that can help improve customer site resiliency and add load flexibility to the grid.

    By • Updated Aug. 13, 2024
  • Senate Holds Hearing On Reform Of US Financial Market Regulations
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    Brendan Smialowski / Stringer via Getty Images
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    SEC defends its authority for climate disclosure rule in court

    Against allegations of overreach and unconstitutionality, the agency argues the rule provides necessary and consistent climate data and is within its regulatory scope.

    By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 9, 2024
  • A facade of a building with the General Services Administration signboard
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    GSA updates federal building standards in clean energy push

    The latest P100 update, which applies to 300,000 federal buildings, mandates clean energy use in facilities, sets new benchmarks for efficiency and strengthens protections against unsafe labor practices.

    By • Aug. 8, 2024
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) sign is seen at its headquarters, the James Forrestal Building, nicknamed the Little Pentagon, in Washington, DC.
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    21 phase-1 winners selected for 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize

    Sixteen winners will advance to the next phases, entering cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy and other entities to implement energy improvements, DOE said.

    By • Aug. 7, 2024
  • An interior of a lake source cooling system at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
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    Retrieved from Cornell University on August 06, 2024
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    Thermal energy networks can slash water use in buildings, study shows

    Eight of the 10 sites the Building Decarbonization Coalition reviewed showed annual water savings of 18% to 46%, or 3,000 to 18,000 gallons per cooling or heating ton, depending on system design and connected buildings.

    By • Aug. 6, 2024
  • Workers install solar panels on a roof.
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    ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
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    Clean energy tax credits are tough. This new tool could help.

    The free online navigator includes resources on EV charging infrastructure and clean energy projects eligible for elective pay.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 5, 2024
  • Engineers look at digital twins to monitor building energy use.
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    Andrey Popov via Getty Images
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    AI could halt energy use growth in US buildings: LBNL study

    Combined with policy measures and low-carbon generation, building carbon emissions can decline over 90% by 2050 compared with business-as-usual scenarios, according to national lab researchers.

    By • Aug. 2, 2024
  • Wind turbines on a corn field
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    welcomia via Getty Images
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    GSA to source carbon-free power for federal facilities in Illinois

    In a multiyear deal between the U.S. General Services Administration and Homefield Energy, 80% of buildings' energy will come from wind power.

    By • July 31, 2024