Tag: energy efficiency

New York Offers $100 Million Under Clean Green Schools Initiative

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $100 million is now available through the Clean Green Schools Initiative. The funding will support under-resourced public schools with projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve environmental sustainability, and decarbonize school buildings. “Creating a safe and healthy learning environment is critical to providing our children the best education […]

Top 10 States for LEED Buildings in 2023

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its annual list of U.S. states leading the way on green buildings, and New York topped the list for the first time during a record-breaking year in 2023. The USGBC ranking is based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified gross square footage per capita over […]

Federal Facilities Receive $104 Million for Clean Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $104 million for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 federal facilities, with more funding on the way. The projects align with President Joe Biden’s goal for the federal government to “lead by example” on sustainability. This represents the first of three disbursements from $250 million […]

Updated ASHRAE Building Efficiency Standard Shifts Focus to Decarbonization

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released the latest version of its energy efficiency standard for existing buildings, with an expanded focus to incorporate building decarbonization. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2024, Energy and Emissions Building Performance Standard for Existing Buildings is a code-ready building performance standard that provides processes and procedures for reducing energy consumption […]

Net-Zero Commercial Building Market Poised for Dramatic Growth: Report

The market for net-zero commercial buildings is expected to grow dramatically over the next decade, largely due to the implementation of net-zero building codes by national and state governments across Europe and North America. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, the number of net-zero commercial buildings around the world is estimated to be nearly 500 in […]

EPA Offers $32 Million to Help Schools Boost Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of up to $32 million to address indoor air pollution at K-12 schools in “overburdened communities.” The announcement comes just days after the EPA awarded nearly $1 billion for zero- and low-emission school buses. This new funding opportunity is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act and […]

Education Dept. Awards $47 Million in School Infrastructure Grants

The U.S. Department of Education announced eight new grant awards totaling more than $37 million over five years under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program and one new grant for $10 million over five years under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program. According to the department, this $47 million investment bolsters the capacity of states to […]

Biden Admin Seeks Input on National Definition for Zero-Emissions Buildings

What constitutes a zero-emissions building? The Biden administration is working to create a national, standardized, and verifiable definition for all stakeholders. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed Part 1 of a draft national definition for zero-emissions buildings and is now seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders through […]

Seattle Convention Center’s New Building Earns LEED Platinum Certification

The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) announced that its Summit building has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as part of the council’s New Construction (v3) rating system. Opened in January 2023, Summit nearly doubled the center’s capacity by adding 573,770 square feet of event […]

Back to Basics: 6 Commercial HVAC Maintenance Tips for Winter

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Before Jack Frost comes knocking on their doors, facilities managers should ensure their commercial facility’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are in tip-top shape. A failed HVAC system can not only lead to discomfort […]