WASHINGTON, DC (March 8, 2011) – The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today announced the launch of BuildingRating.org, the world’s first comprehensive resource on energy performance rating and disclosure policies for homes and commercial buildings.
BuildingRating.org contains a searchable library of rating and disclosure information and a user-friendly, interactive map of global policies and programs. BuildingRating.org users can search more than 100 countries and jurisdictions to learn where policies are enacted and how they are being implemented, what types of rating systems are used to evaluate energy performance, and how policies are impacting markets.
“We are pleased to launch BuildingRating.org at this important time in the evolution of global energy rating and disclosure policy,” said Andrew Burr, director of IMT’s Building Energy Rating program. “This resource will be a conduit for policymakers to find and exchange ideas and best practices, and a tool for the real estate industry to track and comply with local policies and programs.”
Energy rating and disclosure encourages energy efficiency by raising consumer awareness about the energy performance and energy cost of homes and buildings. The European Union, China, Australia and a number of U.S. states and cities have enacted rating and disclosure policies.
“Governments around the world are embracing building energy rating and disclosure as a policy tool to reduce energy usage in homes and buildings, drive investments in building energy efficiency and boost local economies by creating jobs,” said Dale Bryk, director of NRDC's Air and Energy Program. “BuildingRating.org is a valuable resource that will help accelerate this trend in U.S. states and cities.”
Last month, the city of San Francisco enacted a commercial rating and disclosure policy, one of nearly 20 such policies related to homes or commercial buildings that are now in place in the United States. IMT staff is in frequent contact with government officials in many U.S. states and cities and updates BuildingRating.org weekly to reflect new policies, policy proposals and research from around the world.
“The initial information-gathering process for BuildingRating.org took more than four months to complete,” said David Leipziger, research associate at IMT and the lead researcher for BuildingRating.org. “We believe cataloguing this information and making it accessible will benefit diverse stakeholders in the public and private sectors.”
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR MARKET TRANSFORMATION
The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization promoting energy efficiency, green building and environmental protection in the United States and abroad. IMT’s work addresses market failures that inhibit investment in energy efficiency and sustainability in the building sector. Visit us at www.imt.org.
ABOUT THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Livingston, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2015
DOE releases Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines
The guidelines are aimed at strengthening and streamlining commercial building workforce training and certification programs for workers in energy auditing, building commissioning, building operations, and energy management.
Energy Efficiency | Apr 2, 2015
C40 cities across the globe are making sustainability a policy
The U.S. Green Building Council and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group with the World Green Building Council released landmark green building city market briefs highlighting sustainable building policies in 66 cities around the world.
Green | Apr 1, 2015
Global wind power installations expected to slow through 2019
After a 20% falloff in 2013, the global wind power industry made a strong comeback in 2014, with a record 51.2 gigawatts installed. But a new report from Navigant Research forecasts a curtailment in growth.
Sponsored | Walls and Partitions | Mar 25, 2015
Metl-Span systems meet design needs in cost effective manner
The goal from the beginning was to construct an energy efficient building with insulated metal panels.
Energy Efficiency | Mar 19, 2015
Sealing the deal: An easier way to dike air leaks in buildings
An aerosol product injected into ductwork allowed Hyundai to open its new U.S. HQs on time.
Sponsored | Energy Efficiency | Mar 16, 2015
California cuts its carbon footprint with solar
Spanning four locations in Central Valley, the California Renewable Energy Small Tariff projects pack a lot of power and are prime examples of the real-life benefits of going solar.
Energy Efficiency | Mar 4, 2015
DOE launches crowdsourcing website for technology innovators
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory launched a new crowdsourcing website called the Buildings Crowdsoucing Community to collect and share ideas by innovators for energy-efficient technologies to use in homes and buildings.
Cultural Facilities | Feb 25, 2015
Bjarke Ingels designs geodesic dome for energy production, community use
A new building in Uppsala, Sweden, will serve as a power plant during the winter and a venue for shows, festivals, and music events during the warm months.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 18, 2015
Make It Right unveils six designs for affordable housing complex
BNIM is among the six firms involved in the project.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015
ASHRAE, USGBC, IES consider biomass requirements in green building standard
The proposal would add biomass to approved renewables.
