Babcock Ranch Was Designed To Be Sustainable & Resilient. Hurricane Ian Was Its First Real…
Babcock Ranch and Punta Gorda both survived Hurricane Ian with little damage, thanks to robust building codes and good planning.
building codes
With LA’s Vote, America’s Two Largest Cities Have Said No New Fossil Gas
The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to prohibit fossil fuels in new construction. The Council directed departments to develop a plan over the next six months “that will require all new residential and commercial buildings in Los Angeles to be built so that they will achieve zero-carbon emissions.” … [continued]
U.S. DOE Seeks Input on Funding for Cost-Effective Implementation of Updated Building Energy Codes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) has issued a request for information (RFI) to gather responses from the public that will inform the program development and execution of Section 40511 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This provision makes $225 million available over the next five years to state agencies and … [continued]
Washington State Could Lead USA In Building Electrification Codes
By Jonny Kocher & Talor Gruenwald In the unglamorous pages of local and state law books lies one of the most powerful tools for reducing carbon emissions: building codes. Local governments in Washington State, including Seattle, Tacoma, and Shoreline, have already put this powerful tool to use, amending their building codes … [continued]
Tyler, City In Texas, Changes Its Law Banning Solar Panels From Public View
I recently wrote about a senseless law in Tyler, Texas, that banned residents from getting solar if the panels were visible to the public. Well, we have great news! That law has been changed. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported on July 28 that the City of Tyler removed its restriction on … [continued]
Bringing Back Clean Air
Originally published on RMI.org. By Christian Roselund, Ali Rotatori, Ben Holland With the promise of vaccines curtailing the spread of COVID, states and economies are beginning to open up again, and we find ourselves getting back not only the good but also some of the negative aspects of pre-pandemic life. Businesses are … [continued]
California Energy Commission Proposal Makes Important Climate Progress, But Falls Short of Widely Supported All-Electric…
Proposal will reduce, but not fully eliminate, fossil fuel pollution from new buildings throughout the state
It’s Time To Stop Relying On Outdated Building Codes
Building codes and referenced standards need to be updated to replace historical weather data with future-focused climate data.
Philly Wants To Wean Off Gas. The City-Owned Gas Utility Is Refusing To Go Along.
In a bid to cut carbon pollution, a growing number of local leaders are working to phase out gas in buildings. In Philly, the city-owned gas utility is using ratepayer money to thwart this goal.
2020: Watt a Year for Building Electrification!
While 2020 brought a host of challenges to the country, many states and cities still forged ahead with actions to address the climate impacts of a stubborn sector: buildings. Across the United States, local leaders are acknowledging the climate, economic, and health impacts of burning fossil fuels in buildings and accelerating the transition to modern, clean electric appliances.
