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
Environmental Design + Construction Magazine to Cease Publication
We were sorry to hear that Environmental Design + Construction Magazine will cease publication this December. It just seems that in an industry predicted to keep growing like a runaway train to $200 billion and beyond, there should be sufficient demand for information to make this kind of great sustainable building content rewarding to produce. I personally wish everyone at ED+C the best. This seems like a great team with extensive industry knowledge, and I hope everyone finds a place in what I call the "green building in… Show more
The People's Climate March. Ok, so what's next?
It was so exciting to see 300,000+ people attend the People's Climate March in New York City on September 21st. Even though I could not attend, I watched the news excitedly and committed to joining in all of the activities that were sure to follow. At first, I worried that we aren't seeing enough concrete results soon enough. But thinking about it and searching for other opinions, I feel a little better. Because I believe that things are changing in so many smaller ways that can be harder to perceive. The p… Show more
More Certification Negativity as Jerry Yudelson signs on as GBI President
Healthy competition is a good thing. but I don't know what to make of the recent "advice" to new GBI (Green Globes) President Jerry Yudelson, delivered on the USGBC site by Roger Platt: http://www.usgbc.org/articles/bit-advice-gbi%E2%80%99s-new-ceo-how-improve-green-globes%E2%80%99-sorry-reputation-and-lack-market-uptake?goback=.gde_1485897_member_5827832082595876868#!.
Personally, I am very concerned and think we all need a dialogue about certification in the green building industry. As with any indust… Show more
Cut the certification politics; let's focus on the built environment instead.
I am interested and open to supporting every standard, certification and conversation which can help us share more green building information and reduce the impact and footprints of our buildings. Why is this important? Because the climate is warming, the oceans are rising, and darn it, we now have enough information that clearly describes the environmental, resource, efficiency, productivity, health benefits, economy (jobs!) and even property value gains from building in a more sustainable way.
I have tried to follow rec… Show more
USGBC Offers Free LEED Education, Resources to Community Colleges
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced September 10 that the Community Green Program is offering one free year of USGBC membership to students at community colleges. In addition, students in some states will have access to financial assistance in preparing for and taking the Leadership in Energy and the Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate Certification exam. Faculty and staff are already working with the USGBC at many schools to bring green building activities to their campuses and develop green building c… Show more
Boston Skyscraper Earns LEED Platinum
Boston Properties’ Atlantic Wharf, Boston’s first green skyscraper, has been designated LEED Platinum for Core and Shell. This is a crowning achievement for a city that has been at the forefront of green building practice. As the mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, pointed out during his announcement that the skyscraper has achieved platinum LEED, Boston is a leader in green building. Boston fosters a green built environment with programs such as green building zoning and energy usage disclosure ordinances.
The building has many … Show more
LEED V4 Postponed
Under pressure from the green building community, the USGBC decided to postpone the release of the new version of LEED. The new version of LEED, named LEED V4, will not be sent to ballot until June 2013.
Pressure came from the many LEED users who lack the capabilities to advance to the next version due to a weak real estate market. There was also resistance from members who realized that the resources needed to achieve LEED credits under the new system would not yet be widely available at the time of the release.
This is not the first L… Show more
New Building Energy Standards for California
Showing its environmental leadership, California approved Building Energy Standards on May 31st which are 25 and 30 percent more efficient than previous standards for residential and nonresidential construction, respectively.
The California Energy Commission's decision, to take effect on January 1st, 2014, was unanimous. Goals include saving energy consumption and money, while also improving building efficiency and occupant comfort.
The Standards address windows, insulation, lighting, ventilation systems and other features that redu… Show more
Green Building Demand Exceeds Workforce Supply
According to a SmartMarket report released by McGraw-Hill, green jobs currently represent 35% of the construction workforce and 650,000 jobs. This figure is expected to grow to 48% by 2015.
The report, titled, "Construction Industry Workforce Shortages: Role of Certification, Training and Green Jobs in Filling the Gaps," focuses on skilled workers. A combination of rapid industry growth, pending retirements, and the recession itself contribute to the problem. The shortage is expected to be particularly severe for staff with ten or… Show more
Green Homebuilding Expected to Continue to Rise
Green homes will comprise to 29%-38% of the green building market at an estimated value of $87-$114 billion, according to McGraw-Hill's 5 year calculation, published in a SmartMarket report titled, "New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market."
Released May 1 at the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Conference and Expo, the report finds that perceptions of quality and expectations of savings are driving consumer demand. First Cost concerns are decreasing, as consumers recognize the pot… 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