Member/Industry News
Member/Industry Green Building News
Learn about green building industry and member company news.
China, the Largest Importer of Trash, Refused to Continue to Be the Major Dumping Land
For decades, China was the world's largest importer of waste. However, Beijing imposed a ban of 24 types of scraps into the border, effective January 2018. Before the restriction, China acted as a dumping ground for more than 50 percent of the world’s trash. ...
A look into the future – Fresno community gets a head start on solar energy homes
California became the first state in the nation to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment buildings starting in 2020. As a part of the overall strategy, California is hoping to offset greenhouse gas emissions with the addition of solar arrays to these new buildings. The ...
How The New Tax Bill Can Help Your Commercial Solar Business Financially
The new tax bill that was implemented this January provided good news for solar businesses and for companies interested in going solar. First, the bill reduced the corporate tax rate of commercial entities that include solar PV systems. Before, solar companies were saving money on operating e...
Green Buildings Becomes Mandatory in Ajman, United Arab Emirates as of June 1, 2018
You might know that California became the first state in the United States of America to require all new homes to have solar power starting in 2020. But do you know that Ajman, UAE has required all constructions to go green, effective on June 1? The policy was announced by the Munic...
4 Passive House Dorms Planned for Bowdoin's Park Row this Summer
This summer Lavallee Brensinger Architects will help Wright-Ryan Construction’s team build four passive house dorms for the upperclassmen of the college to reside in. 22 students will live in each of the four buildings that stretch over 3.56 acres on the college’s Park Row. ...
Dubai is Getting Green-- Dewa Signs Green Building Agreement
In May 2018, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed a contract with Green Business Certification Inc (GCBI). According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the two organizations will cooperate research and development, training, and promoting green building. The MoU w...
California State Senator Kevin de Léon: "100 Percent Clean Energy is Within Reach"
California State Senator Kevin de Leon shared his optimism about renewable energy. Kevin de Leon said, the state’s policy not only turns environmental issue into economics opportunities, but also provide a green place for residents in California, who enjoy higher quality of air, hea...
The first LEED platinum certified Ice arena at Bentley University
Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, recently has opened a new LEED certified multipurpose arena. This building is the first of Bentley’s architecture to earn a LEED certification; however, like many other schools across the country, they are trying to continue to ...
Tesla and South Australia Will Turn 50,000 Homes into the World's Largest Virtual Solar Power Plant
Tesla's Powerball battery in a solar powered home -- Tesla State of South Australia announced on February 2018 that Tesla and South Australia will turn 50,000 homes into a virtual solar power plant, which will become the world largest virtual power plant. The South Aust...
Here is the Green Apple-- Apple is Now Globally Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy
On April 9, 2018, Apple announced its global facilities are powered by 100 percent clean energy, including offices, data centers, retail stores, and co-located facilities throughout 43 countries in the world such as the United Kingdom, China, and India. In addition, there are nine additional m...
California to Require All New Homes to Have Solar Power Starting in 2020
In May of 2019, California became the first US state to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment, starting in 2020. Unanimously approved by the five members of California Energy Commission, the standard is the first statewide mandate in the United States and affrms...
The First Municipal Building Free and Open to the Public in the U.S. to Achieve The Living Building Certification
Photo by Alexander Denmarsh and Kent Suhrbier The Frick Environmental Center has become the first municipal building free and open to the public in the U.S. and is currently one of 21 buildings in the world to achieve the prestiguous Living Building Challenge Certification. A joint ve...
Study: Four Percent Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Year in China = $339 Billion Health Savings
A new MIT study affirms as might be expected that if China reduces carbon dioxide emissions, Chinese residents will experience significant benefits to air quality and human health. However, the study additionally reports that the benefit of monetary savings offsets the cost of implementin...
Governor Baker Files Legislation to Require Home Energy Scores and Ratings
On April 4, Massachsetts Governor Baker filed legislation that may ultimately have a significant impact on home energy efficiency throughout the state. Called "An Act Relative to Consumer Access to Residential Energy Information," Bill H.4371 would require that a home e...
Fuel Efficiency Rollback Plans Make No Sense - For the Environment or the Economy
Although not a total surprise, the EPA’s announcement of plans to roll back auto emissions adopted by the Obama Administration in 2012 just makes no sense. Not only were President Obama’s plans to require automakers to reach aggressive mileage standards by 2025 great for the ...
Will LEED v4.1 Be A Game-Changer for Product Manufacturers? The GreenCE team recently sat down with Mahesh Ramanujam, USGBC CEO, to learn more
Recently, the GreenCE Team had the opportunity to speak with USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam in some detail. Topics discussed included data collection, international LEED green building project growth, and the upcoming LEED v4.1 update. As of March 26, Building profession...
Is Bottled Water Doing Most of Us Any Favors? Recent Study Suggests Most Contain MicroPlastics
Out of 1 million water bottles purchased every minute globally, we're apparently drinking plastic according to 93% of those tested in a recent study by Orb Media. For more information: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-4338887 Sadly, we're also on...
236 US Mayors Submit Comments Opposing EPA Clean Power Plan Repeal
On Feburary 20, US Mayors from 47 states and territories representing over 51 million constituents, submitted a comment letter opposing the EPA's propsed Clean Power Plan repeal. Key points include that climate change may be global but affects cimmunities locally and n...
Day Zero a Threat to Capetown, Now Estimated for July - What City is Next?
Recent rain and a widespread water saving effort have helped push the current "Day Zero" estimate for Capetown out to July from a one-time prediction of April. Day Zero is the day that there will literally be no drinking water available for this city of 4 million people.&...
Did You Know? California Phased out the Incandescent Bulb as of January 1st!
California has officially retired the incandescent light bulb, more than 125 years old, as of January 1st. The new standards cover nearly all common bulbs used in homes, and require bulbs manufactured on or after January 1, 2018, sold in the state to achieve a minimum efficiency leve...
USGBC Announces Annual #Top10LEED List
The USGBC's Top 10 LEED States completed 1399 projects in 2017, encompassing 314.73 million gross square feet of space. The list ranks states in terms of certified square feet per resident. The list aims to draw attention to states that are making significant strides in sus...
USGBC's Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED in 2017
USGBC's annual Top 10 Countries for LEED recognizes markets outside the U.S. working through the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) system to create healthier, more sustainable spaces that work to improve quality of life. List members completed 6,657 LEED-certified projects totali...
Project Green Schools is Now Accepting Nominations for Green Difference Awards 2018
Nominate Green Schools Leaders for the 10th Annual Green Difference Awards! Nominate a Green Difference Maker! Project Green Schools honors and recognizes Outstanding National Environmental Education & STEM Education efforts led in ...
Pearl's Premium was recently featured on The Water Zone!
Jackson Madnick and Pearl's Premium grass were recently featured on the award winning radio show, The Water Zone. To listen to the episode featuring Pearl's Premium on January 4: http://podcasts.kcaastreaming.com/water/20180104.html To learn more about The W...
ZeroEnergy Design Makes Dwell's Top 10 Design Pros AND ARCHITECT Magazine's Top 50!
Congratulation to ZeroEnergy Design for not only making it to ARCHITECT Magazine's Top 50 Firms List, but coming in at #2 for Sustainability and #12 overall. Additionally, Dwell named ZeroEnergy Design a Top 10 Design Pro at #7! Swell credits ZeroEnergy Design with theconsistent abi...
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