In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the U.S., the city of Ithaca, N.Y., voted to electrify and decarbonize all buildings within the community—not just municipal buildings.
Ithaca, a community of about 30,000 people, contains about 6,000 homes and buildings. The decarbonization plan would involve regulations on things like how a building is heated and the types of appliances it uses to eliminate consumption of fossil fuels.
This legislation is part of the broader “Green New Deal” that the city approved in 2019. That measure calls for city government to meet all its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2025 and reduce its vehicle emissions by half. It also set an ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral city by the end of the decade.
Building improvements could include swapping natural gas and propane cooking stoves with electric induction cooktops and installing solar panels. Cornell University is working on modeling to help inform what buildings to address first. The program is likely to unfold in two phases—the first covering 1,600 buildings, and then another 4,400 in a second wave.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 14, 2017
California bill would require purchase of low-carbon construction products
Contractors would have to source products based on greenhouse gas impact, not price, on state projects.
Codes and Standards | Nov 13, 2017
New AIA contract document for facility support services released
Updated form intended to be used with owner-architect agreements.
Codes and Standards | Nov 9, 2017
NIBS, NBI issue guidance document to help communities achieve energy goals
Outcome-based codes compliance path looks at building’s actual performance.
Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2017
Underwriters Laboratories launches wellness certification
First certification program that verifies products’ compliance with the WELL Building Standard.
Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2017
Registration now open for Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) program
Standard is designed to be applicable across many types of new and existing buildings.
Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2017
AIA releases new architect commissioning document
It will be used with the standard form for owner/consultant contracts.
Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2017
ASHRAE releases new version of Thermal Comfort Standard
Update includes calculations from direct solar radiation.
Codes and Standards | Nov 1, 2017
Drone users can now get instant authorization from FAA
Skyward offers app to receive permission for low altitude flights.
Codes and Standards | Oct 31, 2017
Real estate giant launches global tenant health and wellness certification initiative
Tishman Speyer will use Fitwel health certification system to guide building improvements.
Codes and Standards | Oct 30, 2017
AIA revises architect scope documents in latest contract form release
Design-bid-build forms last updated in 2007.