Monthly Archives: January 2010

New York City Green Program

On December 9, 2009 the New York City Council passed legislation known as the “Greener, Greater Buildings Plan”. This legislation is designed to reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 5% (equivalent to the entire carbon footprint of Oakland, CA).  The … Continue reading

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Owens Corning Recycling Program

Owens Corning has announced a partnership with Heritage Environmental Services to create a national recycling program for their asphalt shingles. The new program gives contractors access to recycling facilities through OC’s preferred contractor program.  It is the first program of … Continue reading

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Energy Innovation Fund

In the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill signed by Pres. Obama approximately $50 million was included for an Energy Innovation Fund as part of the appropriations for HUD.  The Energy Innovation Fund will speed the process being used by FHA … Continue reading

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IECC

The New Buildings Institute (NBI), AIA and DOE proposed changes to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Those changes are now one step closer to adoption by ICC.  The proposals would result in 20-25% energy savings over the current code. … Continue reading

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California Green Code

California’s Building Standards Commission has adopted a mandatory Green Building Standard Code (CALGREEN).  This is the first mandatory code of its kind in the nation. It requires all new buildings in the state to be more energy efficient and environmentally … Continue reading

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“Building EQ” labeling program

On December 8, 2009 ASHRAE launched a pilot of the new “Building EQ” labeling program.  ASHRAE’s renovated headquarters building, which received LEED Platinum certification, scored an A- in the building energy labeling program.  The US GSA has committed to participate … Continue reading

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ASHRAE 189.1 Moves Closer to Launch

As publication of the nation’s first code-intended high-performance green building standard draws nearer, a Webpage providing the detailed information about ASHRAE Standard 189.1 , including a draft copy of the document, has been launched.  Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the … Continue reading

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Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) introduced Green Footstep

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) introduced Green Footstep, a new online carbon footprint calculator that is the first to account for a building’s emissions over time.  The tool allows design teams set goals for carbon emission reductions through the lifetime … Continue reading

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Test Homes

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Building America, has built three houses in Tennessee to different energy-efficiency specifications. The houses are fully instrumented and will be monitored un-occupied for several years. The energy modeling … Continue reading

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The Sustainability Consortium

This summer Walmart announced that they would be establishing scientific benchmarks for sustainability of all products sold in their stores.  The early workings of that system led to the establishment of the Sustainability Consortium as an independent group of global … Continue reading

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