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
Johnson Controls Announces Opening of Asia-Pacific Headquarters
On June 22, Johnson Controls announced the opening of its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, China. The building is 44,300-square meters and is located in Shanghai’s Chang’ning district. This building is the first in China to earn several top global efficiency awards, some of which include: IFC-World Bank Group’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies Certification, U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design platinum Certification, and the China Green Building Design Label 3 Star… Show more
Green Building Community Affirms Commitment in Reaction to Paris Accord Withdrawal
On Thursday, June 1, President Donald Trump announced that America would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, an agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between 196 countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Many state and local administrations, organizations, leaders, and other individuals have expressed their utter disagreement with this decision. Within the green building industry, organizations such as USGBC and AIA have relayed strong statements that affirm continued support for green b… Show more
groSolar Assists in Operation of New Solar Farm
Rate It Green Member, groSolar, along with companies, JEA, and AEP Onsite Partners, announced the commercial operation of their Northwest Jacksonville Solar Partners solar farm (NWJAX). The seven-megawatt farm includes single axis trackers to track the sun from east to west throughout the day allowing it to be significantly more efficient. Located in Jacksonville Florida, the project is said to produce about 17,000 MW hours of clean renewable energy in its first year of operation, which is enough energy to power more than 1,200 homes… Show more
Johnson Controls Partners with World Green Building Council
Rate It Green Member, Johnson Controls, has entered into a partnership with the World Green Building Council as the first partner of the newly formed the Americas Regional Network. The Americas Regional Network represents nineteen national Green Building Councils with thousands of member companies across North, Central, and South America. The Council’s plans for 2017 include focusing on supporting cities in the development of building efficiency policies in partnership with the World Resources Institute, exchanging green schools… Show more
Harvard University, Snøhetta, and Skanska Technology Announce The HouseZero Project
Harvard University, Snøhetta, and Skanska Technology have announced The HouseZero Project, a collaboration to retrofit an 80-year old timber-framed former house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Purchased by the University in 2011, the building serves as the headquarters for the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, created in 2014 as a part of Harvard’s Graduate Center of Design. The project will allow the team to explore and demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency improvement measures in existing buildings a… Show more
Unbelievable but True: US Withdraws from the Paris Accords
Just before 4pm today, President Trump announced that the US will with draw from the Paris Climate Accords. The agreement, ratified by 194 other countries, limited average global temperature change to below 2 degrees Celcius. Only Nicaragua and Syria had not ratified the Agreement prior to today’s announcement. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt also spoke and affirmed his support of this disappointing and potentially disastrous decision. Mt Trump’ speech left the door open to a renegotiation or to the creation o… Show more
ZeroEnergy Design Receives Fine Homebuilding's 2017 Award for Best Energy-Smart Home
Congratulations to ZeroEnergy Design for winning Fine Homebuilding's Best Energy-Smart Home 2017 Award!
Rate It Green Member ZeroEnergy Design has been awarded the 2017 Award for Best Energy-Smart Home, along with Thoughtforms Corpporation, for a Net Positive Farmhouse in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The Award is presented by Fine Homebuilding and Taunton Press for excellence in six building, design, and performance related categories.
The Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse shows that you can really have it all, consuming 70% less… Show more
Appraisal Institute Updates Green and Energy Efficiency Home Tool
The Appraisal Institute has updated a resource first released in 2011 called the "Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum." The Addendum is designed to help appraisers and real estate professionals better analyze and clearly report on data related to sustainable and energy efficient home features. The Addendum was last updated in 2013.
The Addendum is significant partly as it represents a milestone in the evaluation and valuation of green and energy efficient home features. In the past, appraisers did not… Show more
Pledge Your Support for Vehicle Emissions Standards - Climate Reality
Put simply, the President's effort to roll back vehicle emissions standards makes little sense. As Climate Reality points out, these standards "will prevent about 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save over 2 million barrels of oil a day and $1.7 trillion in fuel costs by 2025. They also show the world we’re serious about leading the fight to stop the climate crisis — while protecting our health by reducing smog and dangerous carbon pollution."Climate change and protecting our environment for f… Show more
Alliance to Save Energy Campaigns - To Support Energy Star and to Support Energy Efficiency Standards
Posted by: Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin
There are two Alliance for Energy petitions/campaigns open right now that relate to green building and energy efficiency. Add your voice!
These camaigns are highly professional. Protecting the environment should be a bipartisan issue!
To support the EnergyStar Program:https://www.ase.org/advocacy/energy-star-chopping-block
"We are urging energy efficiency supporters to write your Members of Congress and voice your support for ENERGY STAR and the Department o… 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