News
Green Building & Eco Friendly News
We are excited to share green building industry developments, news about our Member Companies, and of course current Rate It Green information. Please feel welcome to submit interesting news you have found. Note that Rate It Green does include news announcements as a part of some sponsorship offerings.
You can also learn more by following Rate It Green on social media. We greatly appreciate your likes, follows, and general votes of support.
All Electric Summer: Opportunities to "amp up" your electrification expertise
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s a great time to learn about electrification! Whether you are just learning about today’s energy efficient electric equipment and appliances, or you’re already somewhat expert, there’s really something for everyone to learn or contribute this summer, as several leading green building organizations are hosting some terrific educational offerings. And most are free! Check out Rate It Green's open green building calendar for these and more green bu… Show more
All About Heat Pumps
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
If you feel that recent news has been all about heat pumps, I agree! It seems there's a growing push to educate consumers and increase demand, as part of support for wider electrification and decarbonization efforts. Why are heat pumps so exciting? As you may already know, heat pumps are 300-400% efficient, as they move energy instead of generating it, and without onsite fossil fuel combustion. The numbers seem almost unreal. Heat pumps a… Show more
What Happens In Vegas... (Will We See You There?) Let's Create Some Great Green Building Content!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
I know, the leading image for this email shows some serious wattage and doesn't really make me think first about green building. And yet, suddenly it seems like everyone I know is heading to Vegas next week for the International Builders' Show. That includes Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.! I encourage you to connect with Matt to say hello, or to share your expertise or to introduce your company and what y… Show more
Looking Forward - Engaging Together as a Green Building Community
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Thank you for being a part of our green building community, and welcome to our first newsletter of 2024! With this email, we bring you so much positive energy and a reaffirmation of the spirit of what we do. As Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots said the other day, "The only way we are going to keep progressing toward solutions is to continue the conversation and share.” I wholeheartedly agree!
I am excited to report that I am&n… Show more
Happy New Year, 2024!! Looking back at Top 2023 News, and Some Sneak Previews for 2024!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024!
We expect great things from this new year! Whether you celebrate recent COP28 Results or feel anxious about insufficient progress, perhaps we can agree that 2023 was a year of foundation building and stage setting. We can then think of 2024 then as a year of great framing, where the structure and promising opportunities really come together more rapidly, where we can see tangible gains… Show more
Reframing Perspective: What Can "Positive" (Nature Positive) Look Like?
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst climate change consequences, some of which have already arrived, how is it possible that there are ongoing and disastrous wars and famine, extreme weather crises, raging fires, disease, and areas that are literally becoming uninhabitable for human life, among other global challenges which are hard to fully i… Show more
Making Smart Window Choices for Meeting Comfort, Health, Energy & Sustainability Goals
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate It Green Member questions and also interviewing manufacturers to learn about their energy efficient window and doors as well as the latest technological advances.
Matt recently recorded a series of conversations to answer key window questions, including:
How do you decide when and whether to replace windows? &n… Show more
Understanding The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Introduction and Update
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think we absolutely need to connect and share information online when we can’t be together, I of course believe it’s meaningful and impactful to gather and build community in person. I’ll be attending as I can online, and I’ll hope to ”see you” there!
I have spent a good deal of time in the past weeks &ldq… Show more
Strategies for Staying Cool: Air Sealing and Insulation
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s quite an understatement to say it’s been hot this summer. Playfully, and yet deadly seriously, Vox declared that this scorching summer might just "be one the coolest summers of the rest of your life." Scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service estimate current summer temperatures as not only the hottest since modern record keeping began, but possibly in the last 120,000 years. And summer&rsqu… Show more
The Perfect Wall - Explained
It feels a bit funny to describe a product or practice as "Perfect," but that's our task as we explore "The Perfect Wall." In a recent video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. explains this important concept and also shows how he and his team are applying theory to practice at the #1920sMakeoverATL deep energy retrofit project in Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
As Matt explains, along with fellow Rate It Green Membe… Show more
USGBC LA Turns 15!
USGBC-LA is turning 15 years this week! The organization is celebrating over 80,000 LEED projects across 162 countries, including more than 32,500 certified commercial projects, and over 770 v4 projects registered. Stacy Sinclair makes this the theme of her blog post this week - Read more about it here: http://www.rateitgreen.com/green-building-community/discussions/sustainable-building-communities/usgbc-la-turns-15/2076 Show more
Renewable Energy Will Be The Cheapest Energy Source by 2020
In recent research done by Morgan Stanley, it has been estimated that renewable energy will be the cheapest resource by 2020. If this pans out, analysts predict that the U.S. will meet the Paris commitment goals regardless of Trump’s withdrawal from the climate agreement.
“By our forecasts, in most cases favorable renewables economics rather than government policy will be the primary driver of changes to utilities’ carbon emissions levels,” writes the bank in a statement. “For example, notwithstandi… Show more
Volvo Announces A Big Commitment to Electric Vehicles - All Models to be Hybrid of Electric by 2019
This week, automaker Volvo made a significant announcement - the company will make all models hybrid or electric by 2019. Volvo is the first major automaker to annnounce such a shift. According to the New York times, "Volvo's move may be the latest sign that the era of the gas guzzler is slowly coming to an end." Is this a risk while EV sales are still fledgling though growing rapidly, or will Volvo now have a singificant advantage as the company is positioned as a leader? As other companies ramp up EV investments and … Show more
Zero Energy Design Project Featured in New Book: "Passive House Details"
Congratulations to Zero Energy Design - ZED's Hollis Montessori School Project is featured in the new book "Passive House Details," by Donald B. Corner, Jan C. Fillinger and Alison G. Kwok. The book, now available for pre-order, profiles top energy-efficient healthy and sustainable buildings in New England. ZED provided Passive House Consulting and Mechanical Design for the Passive House Certified Hollis Montessori School project. Show more
Former President Jimmy Carter Leases 10-Acre Site For Solar Farm
Earlier this year, in February, Jimmy Carter launched a solar farm big enough to power over 50% of his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The former president initiated the project by leasing 10 acres of land to SolAmerica, an Atlanta based solar development and construction firm. A long time solar supporter, he commented on the project, “Distributed, clean energy generation is critical to meeting growing energy needs around the world while fighting the effects of climate change. I am encouraged by the tremendous progress that solar… Show more
Member Viva Green Homes' Founder and CEO will be speaking at US Embassy's Speaker Program
Rate It Green Member, Viva Green Homes' founder and CEO, Kari Klaus, will be speaking in Budapest during the US Embassy’s Speaker Program on July 13. She will be discussing sustainable economic development and sharing her experience and advice for incorporating sustainability into existing industries such as real estate.
More about the US Embassy’s Speaker Program in Budapest: https://www.facebook.com/hungary.usembassy/ Show more
Study Finds Green Homes in Texas Show Increase in Value by $25,000
The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Green Building Council conducted a new study that suggests new homes in Texas that are built to meet green building standards such as LEED (Leadership in energy and Environmental Design), are valued higher in resale by an average of $25,000 compared to conventional homes.
The study, “The Value of LEED Homes in the Texas real Estate market: A Statistical Analysis of resale Premiums for Green certification,” shows that homes that were built to LEED standards between the years… Show more
France Plans to Ban Diesel and Gas Vehicles by 2040
On Thursday, June 6, France’s environment minister, Nicolas Hulot announced the plan to ban the sale of all diesel and gas vehicles in France by 2040. The decision is a part of the country’s renewed commitment to the Paris Climate deal. Diesel vehicles are to blame for a good portion of the pollution that surround France’s capital, and the mayor of Paris wants them banned by 2020.
Hulot says financial assistance would be given to lower-income drivers to help replace their gas vehicles. He admits this decision will be chall… Show more
Ireland Sets Up Its First nZEB Training Centre in Wexford
In an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change, the 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive required that Ireland develop a plan to make all new buildings near Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB) by the end of 2020. Additionally, all new public buildings must be nZEB by 2018. To achieve this goal, the building industry will have to transition to these new standards and regulations, a feat which is not as straightforward as it may sound. In order to facilitate this transition, the nearly Zero Energy Buildings Resource Agency (nZEBRA) is … Show more
Sustainable Comfort, Inc. - Deep Energy Retrofit of Triple Decker in Worcester
Worcester-based Sustainable Comfort, Inc. (SCI), is conducting a deep energy retrofit of the triple decker building at 38 Stanton Street in the Bell Hill neighborhood of Worcester, MA. This is the first project of its kind for SCI in Worcester.
Built a century ago in 1917 as an economical way to provide workforce housing, the SCI team is using an integrated project delivery technique to repurpose the 4,395-square foot building for today’s target market and its next 100 year lifetime.
The 38 Stanton… Show more
All Electric Summer: Opportunities to "amp up" your electrification expertise
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s a great time to learn about electrification! Whether you are just learning about today’s energy efficient electric equipment and appliances, or you’re already somewhat expert, there’s really something for everyone to learn or contribute this summer, as several leading green building organizations are hosting some terrific educational offerings. And most are free! Check out Rate It Green's open green building calendar for these and more green bu… Show more
All About Heat Pumps
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
If you feel that recent news has been all about heat pumps, I agree! It seems there's a growing push to educate consumers and increase demand, as part of support for wider electrification and decarbonization efforts. Why are heat pumps so exciting? As you may already know, heat pumps are 300-400% efficient, as they move energy instead of generating it, and without onsite fossil fuel combustion. The numbers seem almost unreal. Heat pumps a… Show more
What Happens In Vegas... (Will We See You There?) Let's Create Some Great Green Building Content!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
I know, the leading image for this email shows some serious wattage and doesn't really make me think first about green building. And yet, suddenly it seems like everyone I know is heading to Vegas next week for the International Builders' Show. That includes Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.! I encourage you to connect with Matt to say hello, or to share your expertise or to introduce your company and what y… Show more
Looking Forward - Engaging Together as a Green Building Community
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Thank you for being a part of our green building community, and welcome to our first newsletter of 2024! With this email, we bring you so much positive energy and a reaffirmation of the spirit of what we do. As Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots said the other day, "The only way we are going to keep progressing toward solutions is to continue the conversation and share.” I wholeheartedly agree!
I am excited to report that I am&n… Show more
Happy New Year, 2024!! Looking back at Top 2023 News, and Some Sneak Previews for 2024!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024!
We expect great things from this new year! Whether you celebrate recent COP28 Results or feel anxious about insufficient progress, perhaps we can agree that 2023 was a year of foundation building and stage setting. We can then think of 2024 then as a year of great framing, where the structure and promising opportunities really come together more rapidly, where we can see tangible gains… Show more
Reframing Perspective: What Can "Positive" (Nature Positive) Look Like?
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst climate change consequences, some of which have already arrived, how is it possible that there are ongoing and disastrous wars and famine, extreme weather crises, raging fires, disease, and areas that are literally becoming uninhabitable for human life, among other global challenges which are hard to fully i… Show more
Making Smart Window Choices for Meeting Comfort, Health, Energy & Sustainability Goals
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate It Green Member questions and also interviewing manufacturers to learn about their energy efficient window and doors as well as the latest technological advances.
Matt recently recorded a series of conversations to answer key window questions, including:
How do you decide when and whether to replace windows? &n… Show more
Understanding The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Introduction and Update
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think we absolutely need to connect and share information online when we can’t be together, I of course believe it’s meaningful and impactful to gather and build community in person. I’ll be attending as I can online, and I’ll hope to ”see you” there!
I have spent a good deal of time in the past weeks &ldq… Show more
Strategies for Staying Cool: Air Sealing and Insulation
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s quite an understatement to say it’s been hot this summer. Playfully, and yet deadly seriously, Vox declared that this scorching summer might just "be one the coolest summers of the rest of your life." Scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service estimate current summer temperatures as not only the hottest since modern record keeping began, but possibly in the last 120,000 years. And summer&rsqu… Show more
The Perfect Wall - Explained
It feels a bit funny to describe a product or practice as "Perfect," but that's our task as we explore "The Perfect Wall." In a recent video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. explains this important concept and also shows how he and his team are applying theory to practice at the #1920sMakeoverATL deep energy retrofit project in Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
As Matt explains, along with fellow Rate It Green Membe… Show more