Jerry Yudelson, a green expert, member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s board of directors, a LEED national faculty member, and co-founder and director of the Green Building Service consulting unit at Portland General Electric described his forecast for mega … Continue reading →

The AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel is projecting very modest growth overall for 2012. Total nonresidential activity is forecast to increase just 2 percent in 2012 over 2011 levels, with somewhat stronger growth in the commercial and industrial sectors, but … Continue reading →

Renewable sources of energy provided a greater share of U.S. domestic energy production than nuclear during the first nine months of 2011, according to a new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In its latest monthly energy review, … Continue reading →

AIA’s Architectural Billing Index (ABI)  reached 52.0 in November 2011. Continuing the positive momentum of a nearly three point bump in October, the ABI reached its first positive mark since August. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the … Continue reading →

Construction spending totaled $807 billion in November 2011, the highest level since June 2010, as homebuilding, private nonresidential construction and public construction all increased compared to October, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of new Census … Continue reading →

At the UN Climate Conference in South Africa, reports indicated that an international treaty on climate change won’t be enough to avert a rise in global temperatures. Countries are being encouraged to voluntarily make deeper cuts on carbon emissions. The … Continue reading →

A report by the Freedonia Group predicts that demand nationwide for roofing will rise an average of 5.7% per year between 2010 and 2015 to reach 263 million squares worth $24.4 billion.  That would represent a stark contrast to the … Continue reading →

A recent report from McGraw-Hill Construction found that 35% of architects, engineers and contractors now hold positions or are certified under programs related to green building practice.

The International Living Future Institute has launched a new Net Zero Energy Building Certification program for residential and commercial construction.  The program applies to new and retrofit buildings and focuses on energy conservation and controlling carbon emissions.  The program is … Continue reading →

Pres. Obama announced nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next 2 years. The investment includes a $2 billion commitment made through the assurance of a Presidential Memorandum to energy upgrades of … Continue reading →

McGraw-Hill Construction released its 2012 Dodge Construction Outlook, which predicts that construction starts in 2012 will remain flat at $412 billion. This follows the 4 percent decline expected for 2011. New construction starts dropped 24% in 2009 and leveled off … Continue reading →

Google announced that it is abandoning its efforts to make renewable energy cheaper than coal. The internet giant said is cancelling seven projects, including the aptly named Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal (RE<C) initiative. Google said that other institutions are … Continue reading →

The American Institute of Architects announced that in 2012 they plan to release “green” model contract forms that are designed to help limit legal exposure on sustainable projects.  The forms are based on the model agreements between owner and architect … Continue reading →

According to the fifth edition of the annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)  the top 10 states are: Massachusetts (taking the #1 position for the first time); California (slipping from the … Continue reading →

California formally adopted America’s most comprehensive “cap-and-trade” system calling it a   “capstone” among the suite of tools California can use to reduce the pollution linked to climate change and cut dependence on foreign oil. The board voted unanimously to approve … Continue reading →

The National Bureau of Economic Research and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory  are reporting that houses with solar panels sell for an average of 3.5% more than comparable houses without PV.  This difference is on average $17,000.   The studies showed that … Continue reading →

The Florida Green Building Coalition, a non profit organization that promotes sustainable building, announced that “Florida Green” home certifications for 2011 have hit 750 for the year. That is an all time high.

Germany based Passivhaus Institute has severed ties with the four-year old Passive House Institute US, which was the only Passive House certifier in the United States.  The reported reason for the suspension of ties was breach of contract issues and … Continue reading →

Home Creations, a Moore, Oklahoma based homebuilder has entered into an agreement with the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to provide new home buyers an important measurement of long-term energy performance of each new home the company builds. The intent … Continue reading →

Billings at architecture firms, tracked by the Work-on-the-Boards survey, rose to 51.4 in August. from 45.1 a month earlier. The inquiry index, which tracks a firm’s capacity to take on additional work, rose to 56.9. A score above 50 indicates … Continue reading →

According to McGraw Hill Construction, new construction starts in August were up 8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $424.7 billion. The gain followed a 10% decline in July, and continued the fluctuating pattern that’s been present in recent … Continue reading →

The Fifth Annual Global Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey ranks building owners’energy priorities. The survey of 4,000 building owners and operators around the world is led by Johnson Controls’ Institute for Building Efficiency and the Urban Land Institute. Among key findings … Continue reading →

The Earth Advantage Institute and the Passive House Institute US will collaborate on developing an Energy Performance Score (EPS) label that can be used for any home certified to the Passive House building energy standard. The EPS is a miles-per-gallon … Continue reading →

The development of the nation’s first consensus-based standard for the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is well underway. The buildingSMART alliance, which is releasing the National BIM Standard-United States, reports that a version of the standard will be available … Continue reading →

According to a forecast by the Fredonia Group, demand for green building products is expected to increase by 13% annually to create a $71 billion market in 2015.

A new DOE partnership will work to ensure that appraisers nationwide have the information, practical guidelines and professional resources they need to evaluate energy performance when conducting commercial building appraisals

The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development started a new program that will allow owners of existing affordable rental housing developments to refinance into new mortgages that include funding for energy-efficient upgrades.

The Architectural Billings Index slipped to 45.1 in July, according to the American Institute of Architects. The indicator’s 1.2-point drop from June was the sharpest decline since February 2010, which means that recovery remains difficult for the construction sector. “Late … Continue reading →

An analysis in the Portland,OR area found that green-certified homes sold for up to 8% more on average. The study analyzed sales data for May 2010 through April 2011. Certifications came from Energy Star, LEED for Homes, Earth Advantage or … Continue reading →

McGraw Hill Construction’s midyear outlook has changed. Total construction starts in 2011 are now estimated to reach $13 billion, a 3% decline from 2010. Construction starts to-date this year have provided little evidence that the industry is heading toward sustained … Continue reading →

GAF has agreed to work with Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to promote the improvement of home energy performance in the U.S. GAF will accomplish this goal through urging its roofing contractor members to become trained and certified as RESNET … Continue reading →

Stitt Energy Systems, a builder based in Rogers, Arkansas is committing to have all of their homes rated and marketing their homes’ HERS index. This builder constructs homes in AR and MO. They have committed to build all of their … Continue reading →

Imergy Group, a builder based in Athens, Georgia is committing to have all of their homes rated and marketing their homes’ HERS Index. This will differentiate homes built by Imergy Group and put competitive pressure on the new home industry … Continue reading →

The Department of Energy has collaborated with The Appraisal Foundation to provide better tools to appraisers for energy-efficiency evaluations of commercial buildings. “If better-performing buildings have a higher value, it will help enable the upfront investment for energy efficiency upgrades,” … Continue reading →

Ryland Homes has committed to having all of their homes energy rated and marketing the HERS Index of the homes they build. Ryland Homes is the nation’s ninth largest homebuilder. It has communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, … Continue reading →

A new cool roof product has been developed by Aesthetic Solutions in Vadodara, India. The product is called Coolwrap and it uses nano-technology and infrared reflective technology to keep buildings 14 degrees cooler than standard roof products. On top of … Continue reading →

Teams from 245 buildings across the nation are in a head-to-head battle to see who can reduce their energy the most. From this field, a small group of top-performing finalists will compete to be the country’s top energy saver–and winner … Continue reading →

The CMRC is closely monitoring proposed changes to the 2011 revision cycle of Title 24 in California. The utilities in the state are proposing to change the definition of cool roofing to a product with minimum solar reflectance of 0.70.  … Continue reading →

At the recent CRRC Technical Committee meeting there were three presentations on the development of predictive aged solar reflectance formulae for different types of roof products. The equations are based on CRRC directory data of initial and aged solar reflectance … Continue reading →

The Dow Chemical Company announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will fund key lab research as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Dow and DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to accelerate the adoption … Continue reading →

The city of Boston is launching a “green building” program to construct 10 homes that produce more energy than they use. The homes are expected to be built on three city-owned parcels in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. The Boston Redevelopment … Continue reading →

There are numerous cities across the United States which can be considered “cleantech capitals.” With a large array of renewable resources, a dedication by businesses and homeowners to become more energy efficient, and a large hub for research and development, … Continue reading →

Supporters of the passive house trend achieved a landmark in Oregon this month when a committee charged with drafting the state’s building code adopted a standard recognizing passive house construction. The Oregon Reach Code Committee, a group that develops Oregon’s … Continue reading →

http://www.environmentalleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Light-bulb-resize.jpgSouth Carolina legislators are attempting to circumvent a federal law that will force the phase-out of traditional light bulbs starting in 2012. The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act aims to permit manufacturers to make incandescent bulbs in the state, as … Continue reading →

A first study of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s “green building” features has uncovered a quirk in its electrical system that has cost taxpayers $70,000 to $100,000 a year in wasted-power penalties charged by Duquesne Light Co. since 2003  … Continue reading →

According to the SZ&W Group, the global market for green building material is expected to be worth $406 billion by 2015, driven largely by environmental consciousness, high energy costs, and the understanding that green buildings contribute to long-term benefits such … Continue reading →

According to BEPAnews, pushing for the construction of more net-zero energy buildings and homes may be the key to greatly decreasing the United States’ overall energy consumption. The Zero and Net-Zero Energy Buildings + Homes report by Building Design+Construction, published … Continue reading →

Fannie Mae had previously dropped its Energy Efficient Mortgage feature.  It has replaced that product with a new Energy Improvement Feature.  The new feature only applies to the upgrading of an existing home through a purchase or re-finance mortgage.  The … Continue reading →

A study commissioned by the EPA found that the energy savings realized through location efficiency are greater than those achieved through home efficiency.  “Location efficiency” includes walkable access to public transit and work, school, and retail centers.   The study showed … Continue reading →

The nonprofit Architecture 2030 has issued an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products in terms of imbedded carbon.  The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon of building products 50% by 2030. According to … Continue reading →

The STAR Community Index, a livability and sustainability rating system for communities, is launching this year with ten participating communities. Developed by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability in partnership with the USGBC and the Center for American Progress, the STAR rating … Continue reading →

Scientists in China have made a reflective coating with a structure that mimics the underside of a poplar tree leaf.   Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, mimicked the structure of the leaf’s lower surface using polymers spun into … Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting a 21% increase in single-family home starts in 2011.  The number is estimated to be 575,000, as compared to 475,000 units started in 2010.  Multi-family housing starts are expected to rise 16% … Continue reading →

The White Roofs Alliance recently changed their name to Global Cool Cities Alliance (GCCA).  GCCA is a global initiative dedicated to advancing policies and actions that increase the solar reflectance of buildings and pavements (i.e., cool surfaces) as a low- … Continue reading →

The Board of Supervisors in San Francisco passed an ordinance requiring commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet to conduct energy-efficiency audits every five years and to require owners of all other non-residential buildings to make public how much energy the … Continue reading →

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has released a preliminary report titled “Life Assessment of Buildings”.   The report sets a new LCA standard for buildings by establishing the lifetime for a building to be 75 years. MIT found that most … Continue reading →

Dow Chemical Co. plans to start commercial production of its Powerhouse solar roof shingles this year, even before it starts operating its new plant in Midland, Mich. Dow’s thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells currently are manufactured on a … Continue reading →

In its 2010 “Sins of Greenwashing” report, environmental marketing company TerraChoice found some form of green washing in more than 95% of consumer products labeled as “green”.  The construction sector by itself fared only slightly better with green washing evident … Continue reading →

Houston’s mayor Annise Parker announced a new city wide program that offers up to $200,000 to commercial building owners to retrofit their buildings to make them more energy efficient.  The program is also supported by funding from DOE’s Conservation Block … Continue reading →

November marked the third straight monthly increase in construction activity after a dismal summer. The Commerce Department reported that construction spending increased 0.4 percent in November 2010.  However, building activity is only 2.3 percent higher than in August, when it … Continue reading →

Builders in North Carolina worked with the state Building Code Council to adopt new codes that go into effect in January 2012 raising the standards for residential energy efficiency by 15% above current code.  This is instead of the 30% … Continue reading →

The California Air Resources Board endorsed its own cap-and-trade regulation in December. The measure sets a statewide limit on the emissions from sources responsible for 80% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions and establishes a price signal needed to drive long-term … Continue reading →

Seattle University is now the sixth university to stop selling plastic bottled water on campus. It is participating in the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign developed by Corporate Accountability International. This initiative aims to restore faith in public tap water … Continue reading →

Building Green and Healthy Building Network have announced a new strategic partnership.  Part of that partnership is the formation of the Materials Research Collaborative which will investigate and evaluate building material claims.  The purpose of the collaborative is to serve … Continue reading →

McGraw Hill Construction has published a special report titled “Green Outlook 2011”.  It points to green buildings as one of construction’s fastest growing sectors. Between 2008 and 2010 green building starts increased 50%.  In 2011 McGraw Hill estimates that green … Continue reading →

For the first time since January 2008, the Architecture Billings Index from the AIA indicated growth in design activity in September 2010.  The data are part of a four-month trend showing increased billings. The index reflects a lag of approximately … Continue reading →

A five-year initiative was launched as the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC). The initiative, one of several energy innovation hubs in the country, was funded by $129 million in federal grant money.  The hub will focus on ways to improve … Continue reading →

According to forecasts from McGraw Hill Construction, an 8% increase in total construction starts in 2011 is foreseen.  Much of that increase is based on the growth in the single-family housing market. Other caveats include growth in employment, banks loosening … Continue reading →

A new global initiative was launched in the summer orf 2010 under the name of White Roofs Alliance (WRA). It is dedicated to advancing policies and actions that increase the solar reflectance of buildings and pavements as a low or … Continue reading →

The mayor of Rosemont-Petite Patrie has proposed a bylaw requiring all new roofs to be cool.  The mayor cites public health, environmental and energy efficiency benefits.  Reportedly, about 121 Montrealers die due to extreme heat and 818 from air pollution … Continue reading →

An article was recently featured on CNBC and in the Washington Post touting the fact that cool roofs can be a quick and effective solution for saving energy in the summer and fall heat. In the article, the author joins … Continue reading →

Local Governments for Sustainability USA has launched a Climate Resilient Communities Program to help local governments learn how to adapt to climate change. The site guides communities through the process of assessing vulnerabilities, setting goals for resilience, and developing adaptation … Continue reading →

Monier Lifetile has introduced “smog eating tile” concrete roofing that the manufacturer claims will reduce the amount of pollution in the atmosphere. According to the company, titanium dioxide incorporated into the blending process allows the surface to react with sunlight … Continue reading →

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is upgrading the requirement for new federal building construction from LEED Silver to LEED Gold certification. The new requirement will also apply to substantial renovation projects. GSA announced on October 28 that the higher … Continue reading →

The Residential Energy Services Network, RESNET, announced the creation of COMNET to address the ratings for energy efficiency of commercial buildings. COMNET will offer guidelines for energy modeling and certification of commercial energy auditors and raters. The standardized modeling practices … Continue reading →

The California Public Utilities Commission has created a strategic plan calling for net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2030, and net-zero energy residential construction by 2020. The plan also raises minimum energy performance through codes and developing financial tools for the … Continue reading →

Underwriters Laboratory Environment has acquired Terrachoice, the manager of the EcoLogo Program. Terrachoice is based in Ottawa, Canada. Both brands will continue. The EcoLogo brand will be emphasized in Canadian markets where it is already established. It restricts certification to … Continue reading →

ICLEI USA, in partnership with USGBC, Center for American Progress and the National League of Cities is creating a national sustainability rating system for cities in the country. The STAR Community Index program is set to launch in spring of … Continue reading →

The EPA released the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments. This kit gives an assessment of the various codes and ordinances that relate to green building practices. It leads officials through site development and planning to green … Continue reading →

Production home builder Pardee Homes is building homes with high efficiency 1.4 kW photovoltaic systems on new homes in two of their planned communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties this summer. Production builder Beazer Homes is offering customers in … Continue reading →

California opened its first Passive House in June. Blue 2, an affordable housing unit owned by CLAM, the Community Land Trust of Marin, was recently completed. In Oregon, the nation’s first paint “take back’ program was launched. Consumers pay a … Continue reading →

A report released by BOMA and USGBC states that the Obama administration is authorized to use more than 30 existing federal programs worth approximately $72 billion to enhance efficiency in commercial buildings and multi-family housing – with no new legislation … Continue reading →

The EPA ranked 25 US cities by the number of Energy Star certified buildings. Los Angeles led the way with 294 buildings, with Washington DC in second place with 204 and San Francisco in third place with 173

In response to President Obama’s National Export Initiative, announced on March 11, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce are working with the interagency Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) to develop the first U.S. … Continue reading →

The Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency reports that global carbon dioxide emissions held steady last year. This was the first time since 1992 that no growth was registered. The recession has slowed industrial activities in rich countries resulting in a 7% … Continue reading →

A new study in nine cities examined the life cycle analysis of swimming pools. Inputs, included electricity, water and pool chemicals.  The environmental impact is worse in cities like Phoenix that have little water and use coal-fired electricity. The operating … Continue reading →

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is offering a 5 percent discount to policyholders with Energy Star buildings. This is the latest expansion of the firm’s green insurance coverage. Earlier this year Fireman’s Fund introduced several new endorsements for policyholders who have … Continue reading →

Google has introduced their PowerMeter progam which is a free energy monitoring tool for saving energy.  The Google PowerMeter allows one to view a home’s energy consumption from anywhere online. It uses utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices to … Continue reading →

The nation’s largest Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, GreenFinanceSF  received stimulus funds in the spring of 2010.  GreenFinanceSF announced it intends to use the stimulus funds to reduce the interest rate paid by property owners by approximately 1.5% for … Continue reading →

The City of Philadelphia has approved a new ordinance that amends their building code to require that certain buildings have cool roofs.  The requirements for new construction call for all buildings with low sloped roofs to have cool roofs as … Continue reading →

In an effort to further reduce cooling energy and to mitigate urban heat islands, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that as of June 1, 2010  roof replacements and roofs for new construction on all DOE buildings shall be cool roofs, … Continue reading →

The Green Products Innovation Institute (GPII) was officially launched in California on May 26, 2010.  The nonprofit organization is dedicated to transforming the way companies design and manufacture products by advancing the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) framework as developed by … Continue reading →

The Energy Performance Score index provides homeowners with energy consumption and carbon emission scores. The EPS software uses in-home measurements, diagnostic data and utility energy source data to calculate the scores. The DOE has reportedly targeted October 2010 as the … Continue reading →

The Building Codes Assistance Project (BECAP) has launched a campaign to recognize 10 states and localities that demonstrate a commitment toward energy efficient buildings.  BCAP is looking at those regions that have adopted the IECC code and ASHRAE 90.1 standard, … Continue reading →

On May 20, California announced the formation of the first-in-the-nation, non-profit Green Products Innovation Institute (GPII). The Institute will be headquartered in San Francisco, California and dedicated to developing comprehensive chemical standards for every day products that are safe and … Continue reading →

The Construction Specifications Institute, EPA and GreenBlue organization are attempting to form a new organization called Green Building Products Coalition.  An organizational meeting was held in conjunction with the CONSTRUCT convention in Philadelphia on May 11, 2010.  Over 100 industry … Continue reading →

California has enacted legislation that will establish a statewide program for the retrofit loan option known as PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy).  The legislation establishes a PACE Reserve program enabling businesses and homeowners to make energy improvements through lower financing … Continue reading →

According to Climate Progress magazine the top five cities currently seeing the most growth in green jobs are San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Portland and New York City. Arkeena’s Andalay AC solar panels are now available at Lowes retail stores in … Continue reading →

The Home Energy Savers Pro calculator has been developed for the DOE by the Environmental Energy Technologies group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The simplified calculator tool estimates the home energy consumption based on the location, the age of the … Continue reading →

The Construction Specifications Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and GreenBlue are forming the Green Building Products Coalition (GBPC). Its first meeting will take place on May 11 in Philadelphia, PA. The GBPC will allow building product manufacturers to leverage their … Continue reading →

The US Energy Information Administration reports that renewable energy sources provided 10.51% of domestic energy production during the first nine months of 2009. Oakland City Council voted for a state plan that allows residential and commercial property owners to make … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

The Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) coversthe leading 20% in terms of sustainability of the 600 biggest North American companies in the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index. The Dow Jones Sustainability United States Index … Continue reading →

The 350.org group, formed in March 2008 by the environmental pioneer Bill McKibben, has gathered a global community of supporters to raise awareness of the power of community groups in changing public policy.  The number 350 is based on the … Continue reading →

The Keynote speaker at METALCON 2009, Mr. Bob Berkebile, FAIA, received the prestigious Heinz Award. Berkebile is a founding principal of BNIM Architects in Kansas City, MO and has 30 years of experience in architecture and environmentalism.  The Heinz Award … Continue reading →

The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability announced a new set of underwriting standards for investors interested in backing commercial green building projects.  The forthcoming standards are ANSI Approved.  They are the result of a four-year collaboration with Capital Markets … Continue reading →

The Construction Management Association of America has released their updated Construction Management Standards of Practice. For the first time, the standards include sections on sustainability, building information modeling and risk management.  The document was last revised six years ago.  The … Continue reading →

DaVinci Roofscapes has started paying to have unused synthetic roofing tiles and/or waste remnants shipped back for recycling from building projects within a 500-mile radius of the company’s Kansas City manufacturing facility. They will also accept waste/unused tiles from any … Continue reading →

A publicly disclosed industry survey of over 600 architects, commissioned by PPG Industries, concluded that architects consider Durability to be the most important attribute of a “green” building product. Other criteria cited as being important to architects include ENERGY STAR … Continue reading →

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure ordinance in the city of Austin now requires owners of houses that are more than 10 years old to have an energy audit performed before resale. The results of the audit will include recommendations … Continue reading →