Sustainability
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Strong compliance in first year of NYC’s Local Law 97 building performance mandate
About 95% of required properties filed compliance reports in 2025, with 95% of those meeting emissions goals. For some of the others, fines have started.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 28, 2026 -
Permission granted by New York City
Green roofs, reflective materials on bus shelters aim to beat the heat in NYC pilot
Living or green roofs can reduce surrounding air temperatures by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, a construction engineering researcher says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 25, 2026 -
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TrendlineEnergy Resilience
Energy supply disruptions, price increases and reliability issues require facilities managers to have an energy resilience plan in place to ensure the continuity of their critical operations.
By Facilities Dive staff -
Screen grab/Facilities Dive, data from University of Pennsylvania
‘Elephant skin’ tiles show promise for reducing AC: research
Building operators can use the tiles to reduce air conditioning, even during heat waves, say University of Pennsylvania and Syracuse University scientists.
By Robert Freedman • Sept. 25, 2026 -
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Oberlin project shows path to implementing geothermal system
The Ohio college used climate bonds to finance a geothermal heating and cooling system on its campus that has helped it attract students and retain staff.
By Joe Burns • Updated 6 hours ago -
Building decarbonization blueprint looks at emissions ‘beyond core building operations’: USGBC
Refrigeration and transportation emissions are among the opportunities the blueprint highlights. The group also released a corporate practice toolkit for high-performance buildings.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 22, 2026 -
Courtesy of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Meta, Apex Clean Energy agree to 144-MW Texas solar PPA
Meta will receive “exclusive rights to all environmental attributes associated with energy” from the project, including all renewable energy credits, according to Apex.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 22, 2026 -
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Lighting impacts occupants’ sense of temperature: Penn State research
Adjusting light to optimize HVAC is a promising strategy, researchers say. It could cut energy use by up to 11.4%.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Screen grab/Facilities Dive, data from U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
DOE supports bringing back incandescent bulbs
If the market gets flooded with cheap imports, that’s a trade policy issue, not an issue for the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE associate deputy secretary says.
By Robert Freedman • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Daphne Howland/Facilities Dive
Burlington advances on-site solar strategy across distribution network
The off-price retailer is planning installations at upcoming facilities in Arizona and California, as well as an existing warehouse in Georgia.
By Kelly Stroh • Sept. 16, 2026 -
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Maryland offering $103M in grants for energy efficiency, electrification
The program covers commercial building system retrofits and upgrades. Government and nonprofit buildings can apply for renewable energy and storage projects as well.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 14, 2026 -
Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
Is it time for big facilities to look at heat reuse?
The technology promises energy-cost savings for facilities managers who overcome the educational barrier, advocates say.
By Ramona Dzinkowski • Sept. 10, 2026 -
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Look at needs, not regulatory landscape, when upgrading HVAC: CEO
Policy priorities will shift, but your needs are clear when you evaluate them, says Chris Drew of boiler manufacturer Burnham Holdings.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Stephen Brashear via Getty Images
Microsoft inks long-term PPA for Washington solar project
The project is adding 104 megawatts direct current/80 MW alternating current of electricity generation to the region’s power system, of which Microsoft will be the long-term offtaker.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 8, 2026 -
Courtesy of Resorts World Las Vegas
How an AI-powered system optimizes Resorts World’s central utility plant
Johnson Controls says its Metasys and OpenBlue technology has saved the Las Vegas resort $110,000 in annual energy costs.
By Jenna Graber • Sept. 4, 2026 -
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Supporters hopeful as DOE and EPA finalize Energy Star transition plan
The U.S. Department of Energy’s success with its Better Buildings Initiative shows the agency knows how to make a public-private partnership like Energy Star work, an industry supporter says.
By Robert Freedman • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Meta
Data centers’ indirect water use is a bigger part of their water footprint than the water they use directly
While data centers’ massive direct water use for cooling has come under scrutiny, the electricity that powers them consumes even more of the resource, according to a report.
By Lauren Schenkman • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
US Army selects 5 companies to deploy microreactors at military installations
The $2.2 billion in federal funding is intended to boost resilience and the commercial viability of next-generation nuclear power.
By Marlene Wilden • Aug. 28, 2026 -
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Microsoft taps solar company Qcells to power AI infrastructure
Under an expanded partnership, Qcells would build new capacity to deliver power to Microsoft or the utility serving the communities around new data centers.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 27, 2026 -
Courtesy of Form Energy
Facilities betting big on low-cost, 100-hour iron-air batteries
A $1 billion project with Google and Xcel would create the world’s largest battery, producing 30 gigawatt-hours of energy at roughly $33 to $50 per kilowatt-hour, according to estimates.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 26, 2026 -
John Nilsson via Getty Images
California BPS proposal focuses on owner flexibility, tenant protections
The state’s building performance standard draft strategy recommends alternative compliance pathways while deferring to local governments with stronger standards.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 26, 2026 -
Permission granted by Energy Trust of Oregon
ColumnPipes as power plants: How cities can use their water systems to generate clean energy
Excess pressure in city water pipes can be converted into electricity if the pipes are large enough and there’s enough pressure differential and flow, among other things.
By Dave Moldal • Aug. 25, 2026 -
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Removing emissions-related addenda from Standard 90.1 reflects input, committee members say
Addenda M and N, which were added last year to curb greenhouse gas emissions but are now being removed, will be available to jurisdictions as part of an optional publication.
By Brian Martucci • Aug. 24, 2026 -
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Taking the cost-effective approach to Class B building upgrades
Owners can renovate their office buildings and attract occupiers at a more manageable cost if they align incremental building system and space upgrades with leasing cycles, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 21, 2026 -
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Best Buy achieves zero waste goal at supply chain facilities
Best Buy said it optimized how it packaged goods, built on its recycling programs and introduced employee-led “green teams” at each of its facilities to reduce waste and increase efficiency of its resources.
By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 20, 2026 -
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Oak Park, Illinois, gas appliance ban legal, federal judge rules
In the latest legal tussle between localities and gas appliance defenders, the Chicago suburb can keep its ban because it doesn’t impose efficiency standards in conflict with federal law.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 20, 2026
