Member/Industry News
Member/Industry Green Building News
Learn about green building industry and member company news.
AIA Approves Resolution to Take Greater Action Against Climate Change
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board approved an official resolution to engage the architectural profession to take action in the fight against climate change. According to 2019 AIA President William Bates, FAIA, “We are making this our top priority in order to addres...
President Barack Obama to GIve Keynote Address for Greenbuild 2019
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Former President Barack Obama will be giving this year's keynote address at Greenbuild in Atlanta, Georgia, November 19-22, According to USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam, “President Obama is a global leader...
Johnson Controls Wins BIG's 2019 Sustainability Product Award
Conratulations to Johnson Controls for winning the Business Intelligence Group's (BIG) 2019 Sustainability Poduct Award for the company's YORK® Mission Critical Direct Evaporative Cooling Air Handling Units. Acording to Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business...
The Living Future Institute's Framework for Affordable Housing - 2019 Update Released
The Living Future Institute has released an update of the organization’s Framework for Affordable Housing, first published in 2014. The Framework offers guidance and resources for providing multi-family sustainable affordable housing that is safe and healthy. The Living...
South Carolina’s Energy Freedom Act - Passed with Bipartisan Support (Unanimous in the Legislature)
The number of solar installations in South Carolina may more than double in the next five years with the recent passing of the Solar Energy Freedom Act, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The new law is exciting for a number of reasons, but perhaps most no...
LEED® and USGBC Recognize Global GreenTag Product Health Declaration™ (the GreenTag PhD™)
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member, Global GreenTag LLC, Americas! The certifier’s Global GreenTag PhD, Materials Transparency Certification Program (reviewed and assessed by the LEED Committee and MR Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has been formally recognized within the LEED ...
New York Passes Landmark Climate & Community Protection Act - 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2040, Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050
With Andrew Cuomo's signature, New York joins California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Washington, in committing to generate 100% of the states electricity from carbon-free sources including solar, wind, hydropower, (and nuclear power for some, but that's a discussi...
Hunter Douglas Continues Working with Habitat for Humanity, Partnering with Local Dealers
Rate It Green Member Hunter Douglas has been a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, and the company is continuing this work this summer while partnering with local dealers around the country. A first project this summer involved North County Blind Co. and ...
Wolfworks Inc. Wins the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge
Rate It Green Member Wolfworks has won the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge sponsored by energizeCT - for the 4th time! The CT Zero Energy Challenge spotlights Connecticut homes that produce as much energy as they use. The 2018 Grand Prize award winning home&nbs...
Whole Forest, awarded Best in Show for Flooring by the IFDA at ICFF 2019
Congratulations to Whole Forest, awarded Best in Show for Flooring by the IFDA (International Furnishing and Design Association) at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) 2019! Whole Forest, a hardwoods manufacturer specializing in sustainable forestry, offers a range of&nbs...
Kari Klaus of RealtySage, Selected to Represent US at Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Kari Klaus, founder of RealtySage.com was selected by the State Department to represent the US at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the Hague in June. Realty Sage (formerly Viva Green Homes) uses big data and AI to implement, verify, and analyze&nbs...
Kirei Turns 107 Million Plastic Bottles (and Counting!) into Acoustic Panels
Rate It Green Member Kirei reported this June that the company has helped save 107 million bottles from the landfill, with plans to keep that number growing. The company's PET EchoPanels are 100% environmentally sustainable, while Coco Panels and Kirei Boards (pictured bellow) are m...
Chicago Commits to 100% Renewable Energy By 2040
Chicago has become the largest US City to date to commit to 100% Renewable Energy by 2035, and additionally the City Council voted to electrify the city's bus fleet by 2040. Sierra Club documents similar 100% commitments by additional cities, counties and states: https...
LA County - Summer Dates for Hazardous Household and Electronic Waste Collection
LA County's Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Collection Program (HHW) gives county residents a legal and cost-free way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that cannot be disposed of in the regular trash. For dates and accepted items: https://www.rateitgreen.com/green-bu...
Amherst’s Hitchcock Center Becomes the 23rd Living Building Worldwide
Amherst's Hitchcock Center for the Environment is the 23rd building globally and the 4th in Massachusetts to earn the prestigious Living Building certification from the Living Future Institute. The net zero energy building harvests and recycles its own water, contains composting toil...
Washington Becomes the 5th State to aim for 100% Clean Energy
This past week, Washington joined California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico to become the fifth state in the United States to aim for 100 percent clean energy. Senate Bill, 5116, was signed by Governor Jay Inslee in Seattle, Washington. The bill declares coal power will be cut out by 2025, along...
Submit an Abstract for Greenroofs.com Virtual Summit, September 1-30, 2019!
Submit an abstract for Greenroofs.com #VirtualSumit2019, Septeber 1-30! The Mission of the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits is to inform, share, and create a global social media experience online for learning and networking via the power of the Internet. ...
New York City to Require Green Roofs as Part of Climate Mobilization Act
The New York Citty Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act just prior to Earth Day which includes a requirement for all new buildings and buildings scheduled for major renovations to plan for vegetation, solar panels and/or small wind turbines in roof designs. Accordin...
First US Offshore Wind to Start Operations in 2022 off Martha's Vineyard
Offshore wind is finally coming to the US. The Vineyard Wind Team projects that their 84 turbines just south of Martha’s Vineyard will generate 800 megawatts of electricity when they start producing energy in 2022. This is more energy than is currently produced by the near...
EFI Releases Significant Decarbonization Report: “Optionality, Flexibility & Innovation: Pathways for Deep Decarbonization in California"
At major green building regional and national events, decarbonization is growing as popular topic, and across all sectors. But how can we achieve drastic decarbonization goals? California often leads the way and shows by example how the rest of the country and world can operate ...
AIA Announces the 2019 COTE Top 10 (with Great Timing on Earth Day)
The Americal Institue of Architects (AIA) has made its annual Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top 10 List of global projects exemplifying excellence in design and environmental performance, including considerations of social and economic criteria. Eight of the projects are loca...
Fred Davis of the Fred Davis Corporation Honored with a NESEA Distinguished Service Award
At the recent BuildingEnergy19 show, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association leaders honored Fred Davis with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. Fred has been an energy and lighting leader since before these fields became cool again. Back in high school, Fred started the Ecology Clu...
Rubio Monocoat Featured in 2 Episodes of "Heart of Oak"
Rubio Monocoat was recently featured in a popular builder-oriented TV show on the East coast called Heart of Oak. Heart of Oak is based on the South Shore of Massachusetts and follows PJ Antonik and his team from Oak Development & Design as they turn tear downs into beautiful, custo...
Topp Remodeling and Construction Wins Best of Houzz Award for Client Service
Cpngratulations to Rate It Green Member Topp Remodeling and Construction of South Murray, Utah, for winning a 2019 Best of Houzz Award for Client Service! The locally-owned company has been serving the Salt Lake County UT, Summit County UT and Utah County, (Metro) areas with customized homes...
IECC Voting Registration Deadline is Approaching - Municipalities Must Register by March 29 (This is Low Hanging Energy Efficiency Fruit!)
According to the New Buildings Institute, "Improving the efficiency stringency in the energy code is the single most impactful action we can take to improve the buildings where people live and work.” We can do this if we and our elected officials work together, and there is ...
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