flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Commercial properties address state carbon-reduction policies

Codes and Standards

Commercial properties address state carbon-reduction policies

EV charging stations, batteries, and microgrid technology are all part of effort to meet demand for cleaner power.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | August 28, 2017
Wind turbines and smokestacks

Pixabay Public Domain

Though the federal government may be retreating from carbon-reduction policies, states and cities are moving ahead with some ambitious initiatives.

California, for example, recently extended its Cap-and-Trade Program into 2030. California’s carbon auction is linked to Quebec and may soon include Ontario, which launched a cap-and-trade program earlier this year.

Some commercial property owners, faced with new regulations and increasing demand for greener features, are not only offering more energy efficient structures, but also are adding EV charging stations, onsite battery storage for solar power, and microgrid technology adapted to local renewable energy generation.

Microgid solutions can lead to lower electricity rates, fewer supply disruptions, and less reliance on carbon-emitting back-up-generators.

Related Stories

Resiliency | Aug 7, 2023

Creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain

As temperatures in many areas hit record highs this summer, cities around the world are turning to creative solutions to cope with the heat. Here are several creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain.

Government Buildings | Aug 7, 2023

Nearly $1 billion earmarked for energy efficiency upgrades to federal buildings

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades to federal buildings across the country. The investment will impact about 40 million sf, or about 20% of GSA’s federal buildings portfolio.

Codes and Standards | Aug 7, 2023

Cambridge, Mass., requires net-zero emissions for some large buildings by 2035

The City of Cambridge, Mass., recently mandated that all non-residential buildings—including existing structures—larger than 100,000 sf meet a net-zero emissions requirement by 2035.

Sustainability | Jul 27, 2023

USGBC warns against building energy code preemptions, rollbacks

In a recent editorial, the USGBC cited a growing number of U.S. state legislators who are “aiming to roll back building energy code standards and/or preempt local governments from advancing energy-efficient building codes.”

Resiliency | Jul 27, 2023

'Underground climate change' can damage building foundations, civil infrastructure

A phenomenon known as “underground climate change” can lead to damage of building foundations and civil infrastructure, according to a researcher at Northwestern University. When the ground gets hotter, it can expand and contract, causing foundations to move and sometimes crack.

Adaptive Reuse | Jul 27, 2023

Number of U.S. adaptive reuse projects jumps to 122,000 from 77,000

The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).

Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023

San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings

The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.

Urban Planning | Jul 24, 2023

New York’s new ‘czar of public space’ ramps up pedestrian and bike-friendly projects

Having made considerable strides to make streets more accessible to pedestrians and bikers in recent years, New York City is continuing to build on that momentum. Ya-Ting Liu, the city’s first public realm officer, is shepherding $375 million in funding earmarked for projects intended to make the city more environmentally friendly and boost quality of life.

Concrete | Jul 19, 2023

Public policy hindering widespread adoption of sustainable concrete

Researchers are making significant strides in reducing embedded carbon in concrete, but public policies have been slow to adopt this more sustainable option.

Sustainability | Jul 19, 2023

California lawmakers approve governor’s plan to accelerate green construction

California lawmakers recently approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s infrastructure streamlining plan that aims to accelerate clean energy and infrastructure projects.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021