The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and 15 other partner organizations joined the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to announce the release of a report that recommends almost three-dozen executive actions across 23 agency programs where the Obama Administration … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the release of the third installment in a series of four 50% Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs). This latest guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient retail buildings, … Continue reading →

The EPA and US Army have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on the Army’s Net Zero initiative.  Under the agreement, the EPA and Army will work to advance the development and demonstration of new applications and technologies … Continue reading →

The Sensible Accounting to Value Energy  (SAVE) Act introduced in the US Senate recently would allow federal mortgage loan agencies to consider a homeowner’s  expected energy costs when determining the homeowner’s ability to make monthly mortgage payments. The bill has … Continue reading →

The EPA partnered with the Pew Center on Global Climate Change to create the Climate Leadership Awards. The award recognizes corporations for excellence in greenhouse gas management and supply chain and organizational leadership. The first award will be presented during … Continue reading →

EPA announced that new multifamily high-rise buildings are now eligible to qualify as Energy Star projects. To qualify new or substantially rehabilitated multifamily high-rise buildings must meet energy-efficiency guidelines and be at least 15% more energy efficient than buildings that … Continue reading →

EPA reports that in 2010 one fourth of all single family homes built in the US earned the EPA’s Energy Star certification. This is up from 21% in 2009.

A new program from DOE will complement the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, which building managers use to track and score actual energy performance on as-built buildings.  The new asset rating will give potential buyers or tenants information on how energy … Continue reading →

Under a proposed bill, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac  would be forced to stop blocking state and local financing programs that offer low cost PACE energy efficiency loans. The loans are actually an assessment to the property paid through property … Continue reading →

The Department of Energy announced that the weatherization program under the Recovery Act has now made more than 500,000 low-income homes nationwide more energy-efficient. According to the DOE, the weatherization program is helping families save on their energy bills, while … Continue reading →

Commercial and high-rise residential buildings, including federal buildings, must now meet requirements in ASHRAE/IESNA’s 2007 energy efficiency standard, under recent rulings issued by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that finds the standard saves more energy than the 2004 … Continue reading →

The DOE has revamped their interactive website information platform for saving energy. Energy.gov has been improved to allow consumers and businesses to access information and resources they need to save money and energy while improving the Departmental staff’s ability to … Continue reading →

The US DOE and National Science Teachers Association announced the kick-off of registration for a nationwide student contest to help families save money by saving energy at home. The America’s Home Energy Education Challenge will engage students in elementary and … Continue reading →

In February, President Obama announced the Better Buildings Initiative, a new White House initiative to drive energy efficiency in the built environment. One of the main planks of the initiative is the goal to improve commercial building efficiency 20 percent … Continue reading →

The Office of Sustainable Communities in EPA’s Office of Policy is seeking letters of interest from state capital cities that want to develop in ways that reflect the principles of smart growth, green building, and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, announced the release of the first in a new series of Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) to aid architects and engineers in the design of highly energy efficient office buildings. The 50 % … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the release of five case studies from a series spotlighting some of the most innovative projects funded under the Department’s BetterBuildings program. BetterBuildings is a national program that is working to transform the marketplace … Continue reading →

Federal mandates for buildings to meet green standards are challenging with the budget constraints at all levels of government.  Only seven of twenty agencies graded by the Office of Management and Budget met the 2010 green mandates to have a … Continue reading →

To support the goal announced by President Obama to reduce America’s oil imports by one-third by 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will be accepting applications for $12 million in funding for laboratory or small pilot-scale projects … Continue reading →

President Obama renewed his call for America to become more energy independent by increasing the use of clean and renewable energy technologies that will reduce our reliance on foreign oil, maximize energy efficiency, and protect the environment. During a speech … Continue reading →

DOE joined with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration and its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship on March 10 to kickoff the $12 million i6 Green Challenge. The funding will support the six regional teams with the most innovative … Continue reading →

In the proposed legislation that would keep the federal government funded through October, most agencies even under the Senate’s proposed budget still take a hit. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would lose $238 million from its environmental programs and management, … Continue reading →

Rep. Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s 6th District, said Wednesday that she has reintroduced her Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act in the U.S. House. It would repeal a portion of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act that phases out … Continue reading →

U.S. Army officials will adopt and adapt ASHRAE Standard 189.1 as a new green building standard. ASHRAE Standard 189.1: Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings is the first green building standard in the U.S. intended to be enforced … Continue reading →

The FY12 federal budget includes $3.2 billion for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The budget request for EERE represents a 44% increase over the current FY 2010 appropriation of about $2.2 billion. The proposed budget aims … Continue reading →

The White House has launched a package of proposals–including a new tax credit and grant competition among states and cities–that aim to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient over 10 years. The “Better Buildings Initiative,” which President Obama announced … Continue reading →

Energy Secretary Steven Chu outlined the administration’s strategy for producing 80 percent of the nation’s electricity from clean sources by 2035 — and how much it might cost.  The strategy includes doubling the number of the department’s energy innovation hubs … Continue reading →

On December 17 President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010.  Most of us recognize this as the Bush era tax rate extension bill.  Included in that legislation were a variety … Continue reading →

A new cool white roof installation on the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Headquarters West Building has been completed. There was no incremental cost to adding the cool roof as part of the roof replacement project and it will save taxpayers … Continue reading →

Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced a new pilot program that will offer credit-worthy borrowers low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), … Continue reading →

At a recent U.S. House Subcommittee meeting on “Green Building Practices in the Public Sector”, the National Institute of Building Sciences stated that federal projects should continue to go high performance but should also look beyond sustainability.  NIBS also stressed … Continue reading →

The EPA has introduced new guidelines for states and local jurisdictions to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the best available control technologies.  The guidance is aimed at air-permitting authorities in identifying cost-effective options under the Clean Air Act … Continue reading →

The International Energy Agency warned that the global natural gas glut could last a decade.  Environmentalists see this as a barrier to developing cleaner energy sources.  Another blow to environmentalists is news from China.  Despite China’s public commitment to greening … Continue reading →

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that 24 projects are receiving a total of $21 million in technical assistance to dramatically reduce the energy used in their commercial buildings. This initiative, supported with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment … Continue reading →

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed changes to their Green Guides.  The changes include new guidance on marketers use of product certifications and seals of approval, renewable energy claims, renewable material claims, and carbon offset claims. The FTC is seeking … Continue reading →

Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) have introduced a bill in the US Senate that would create a national renewable electricity standard (RES). Bill S. 3813 is titled the “Renewable Electricity Promotion Act of 2010″. … Continue reading →

Last year President Obama signed an executive order calling on the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 28% by 2020. Since then federal agencies have been developing plans to achieve that goal. Over 50 federal agencies have already submitted … Continue reading →

The original Waxman – Markey climate change bill had proposed a National Energy Efficiency Code. That same proposal appeared in the Senate’s first American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA).  In both versions there were specific energy efficiency targets, timelines, adoption … Continue reading →

Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced at a recent Cool Roof Rating Council meeting that a Cool Roof Roadmap meeting of industry and DOE representatives will be held in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The intent is to gather ideas for … Continue reading →

The  EPA is releasing their online ToxRefDB database of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals. It is intended to make it easier for product developers, scientists and researchers to search for that type of information.

NSF-International and Greenguard Environmental Institute announced that they will be developing a standard for measuring chemical emissions in building products and determining exposure limits. The new standard is to be rolled out in about 18 months.

The U.S. Department of Energy proposed standards that would require new and renovated federal buildings to include sustainable building design elements which should lead to less energy and water use and less impact on the local environment. The newly proposed … Continue reading →

The DOE announced today a new Cool Roof Energy Savings Calculator that will replace the DOE Cool Roof Calculator and the EPA Roof Comparison Calculator.  The consolidation of those two roof calculators has been underway through collaboration between Oak Ridge … Continue reading →

According to Sustainable Industries magazine, the US General Services Administration is hiring a Chief Greening Officer. The agency reports that the person filling this position will be in charge of identifying and implementing green building technologies and practices across GSA’s … Continue reading →

President Obama has committed to doubling America’s investment in science. As part of that strategy the DOE has launched three Energy Innovation Hubs to advance highly promising areas of energy science and engineering.  One of the three hubs will address … Continue reading →

HOME STAR is proposed new legislation to create jobs in existing industries by providing strong short-term incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings. The initiative is being discussed in the Senate and House with strong support from the White … Continue reading →

Can White Roofs Battle Global Warming?  (NYT) A forthcoming study in Geophysical Research Letters reinforces the idea that painting urban rooftops white — a tactic that would reflect sunlight — could have a cooling effect on the planet.  White roofs … Continue reading →

The White House announced on January 29 that the federal government will take steps to cut its energy use and reduce its heat-trapping emissions by 28 percent by 2020, compared with 2008 levels. The White House said the emissions reduction … Continue reading →

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 →

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act in late October 2009.  The Act includes bi-partisan support and is endorsed by the US Chamber of Commerce.  The bill authorizes $350 million for solar R&D beginning in October … Continue reading →

The Department of Energy is launching Open Energy Information (www.openEI.org) – a new open-source web platform that will make DOE resources and energy data widely available to the public. The data and tools contained on the free website will be … Continue reading →

A new report from McGraw Hill Construction predicts the market for nonresidential green building retrofits will significantly grow. The growth represents a better opportunity for designers and builders involved with existing buildings than the new construction market.   The market for … Continue reading →

The US General Services Administration (GSA) began using building information modeling (BIM) in 2003.  As of 2007 the GSA was requiring basic models for all of their projects and encouraging models that incorporated energy performance and construction scheduling. Now the … Continue reading →

Senator Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and some other Senators are considering removing the climate legislation (ex. Cap and trade language) from the Climate Bill in order to make it a bill related only to energy. … Continue reading →

President Obama is offering a US target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.  That target is consistent with legislation that passed in the House of Representatives, but differs from the Senate … Continue reading →

The DOE released an updated version of the EnergyPlus simulation software for modeling HVAC and other building energy flows.   DOE also released OpenStudio plug-in software for Google’s SketchUp program. EnergyPlus 4.0 includes two new application guides: “Energy Management System Application … Continue reading →

Energy Secretary Chu has announced that the DOE is awarding more than $185 million in funding under the ARRA for over 40 industrial energy efficiency projects.  Those awards are for heat and power systems, district energy systems, and grants to … Continue reading →

The DOE selected the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) to convene the Zero-Energy Commercial Buildings Constortium. The consortium will include representatives from over 300 organizations involved in the following building areas: design professionals construction industry financial industry real … Continue reading →

On September 30 the EPA announced it might use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases.  On that same day, Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) introduced their version of a global warming bill.  The EPA plans … Continue reading →

On October 5, 2009 President Obama signed an Executive Order 13423 that sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance. The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 … Continue reading →

The High Performance Commercial Green Building Partnership, chaired by ASHRAE, was formed earlier this year to advise the DOE about high-performance buildings in response to a DOE request for such an organization. The partnership is comprised of professional organizations, trade … Continue reading →

Tax incentives, including the $2,000 tax credit available to qualified contractors for energy efficient homes, is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2010 unless extended by Congress . Bi-partisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to extend the … Continue reading →

A recent study from the National Academy of Sciences is predicting that the refrigerants that replaced ozone-depleting ones will contribute to global climate change if left unchecked. The study reports that hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are classified as greenhouse gases, could … Continue reading →

According to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, even with deterrents in carbon emissions, through significant prices or taxes,  market forces alone will not achieve the 77% reduction in building energy use by 2050 that the Council feels is … Continue reading →

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) , member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has  introduced legislation that would provide financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy use. The bill, “The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance … Continue reading →

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes an extension and improvement to the tax incentives related to energy efficient improvements made to existing homes. Homeowners who make qualified energy efficient improvements, including a cool metal roof,  to existing … Continue reading →

Actions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate advanced proposals to improve energy efficiency policy. In the House, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) released a “discussion draft” of energy and climate change legislation that contains … Continue reading →

US Senator Diane Feinstein is developing federal legislation under the “Eco-Labeling Act of 2008” to address the confusing proliferation of environmental product labels.  The current draft would “establish a voluntary eco-label aware program intended to promote products with a reduced … Continue reading →

The US General Services Administration (GSA) released a collection of case studies and best practices in a book titled “Sustainability Matters”. The 220 page publication is available to the public on the GSA website. The book includes examples of how … Continue reading →

The US Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released their first technical report showing that a 50% reduction in energy is possible in certain types of commercial buildings.  The reports show techniques used to achieve this … Continue reading →

Tax Incentives The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included a $500 tax credit available to homeowners who installed prepainted ENERGY STAR labeled metal roofs.  That provision expired at the end of 2007.  The US Senate and House of Representatives have … Continue reading →

In Pres. Obama’s inaugural address, he called for the expanded use of renewable energy to meet the challenges of energy security and climate change.  He said that the U.S. will “harness the sun and the winds and the soil to … Continue reading →