Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation’s largest public power supplier, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to power at least two major federal facilities with 100% clean energy. The deal advances the Biden administration’s goal of powering all federal facilities with carbon-pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030. Under […]
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey completed the installation of energy-efficient LED lights throughout One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the United States. The project began in April 2022. Such lighting projects directly support BuildSmart 2025, a statewide energy efficiency program administered by NYPA […]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that Newark Liberty International Airport’s new Terminal A has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The sustainability achievement aligns with the port authority’s agency-wide goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Following a $2.7 billion […]
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released a new guide focusing on the critical role of grid interactivity in the decarbonization process. The Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization: Design and Operation Resource Guide is the second in a series of guides developed by the ASHRAE Task Force For Building Decarbonization (TFBD) and provides information on […]
Triple-platinum status isn’t just for rock stars and rappers anymore! The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that its headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been awarded a prestigious triple Platinum certification in LEED, TRUE, and WELL. This trio of certifications reflects USGBC’s commitment to healthy, productive, sustainable, and responsible work environments. The new headquarters, which also houses Green Business Certification […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published the “2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report,” which summarizes the achievements of the DOE’s Better Buildings public- and private-sector partners since the initiative’s inception in 2011. The report shows that partnering entities, including more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other organizations, […]
Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, has become the first arena in the world to achieve the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification. “Our Zero Carbon Certification recognizes highly energy-efficient buildings that are designed and operated to fully account for their carbon emissions impacts,” explained ILFI CEO […]
More than 2 million new jobs and up to 141 million additional job years can be created in Europe and the United States by adopting clean energy technologies in new and retrofitted buildings, according to a joint study from Schneider Electric and Boston University. The open-access paper, “Building a Green Future: Examining the Job Creation Potential of Electricity, Heating, […]
How do we achieve net zero? This is a key question that facilities managers and other stakeholders are increasingly being required to ask themselves. The world is evolving, and a central piece in this evolution is the shift toward net-zero carbon emissions. This is a marked shift from 10 years ago, when the focus was […]
The carbon emissions associated with materials used in the built environment, referred to as “embodied carbon,” are estimated to contribute up to 11% of all global energy-related carbon emissions. According to a new report from sustainable development consultancy Arup, developed on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), California is one of the first states in […]