New Buildings Institute released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code

New Buildings Institute (NBI) has released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code. NBI bills the document as “a new way for jurisdictions to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate action plan goals and interconnected goals around public health and equity.”

New construction represents less than 2% of building activity in any given year, NBI says, “leaving a vast opportunity to update technologies in the current building stock. By requiring existing buildings to be more energy efficient, cities could cut about 30% of all urban emissions by 2050.”

NBI’s released the Building Decarbonization Code—the first off-the-shelf solution for jurisdictions to transform energy codes into decarbonization codes for new buildings—in February 2020. Expanding on that platform, the Existing Building Decarbonization Code adds provisions for existing buildings covering both residential and commercial buildings, including all-electric and mix-fuel energy use pathways.

The new code provisions have been crafted to match reasonable and effective decarbonization strategies with replacement events. The code outlines strategies to pair key opportunities to decarbonize—including change of occupancy, additions, and alterations—with additional efficiency measures.

The Existing Building Decarbonization Code also incorporates trigger events and solutions for the inclusion of grid integration measures including renewable energy production, electric vehicles, and battery storage.

Walsh Construction, one of the largest contractors in the city of Chicago and in the United States, is leading the temporary conversion of a portion of the McCormick Place Convention Center into an Alternate Care Facility (ACF) for novel coronavirus patients. Construction on the first 500 beds was completed on April 3.

Coronavirus | Mar 21, 2020

Associated General Contractors launches eight-part webinar series around COVID-19

The programming, which begins Monday, will offer advice on how businesses might need to adjust during the virus.

Architects | Mar 9, 2020

New York's façade inspection program gets an overhaul following a death from falling terra cotta

January 14, 2020, kicked off big changes to the NYC Local Law 11 Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) for Cycle 9.

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 9, 2020

Mobile wayfinding platform helps patients, visitors navigate convoluted health campuses

Gozio Health uses a robot to roam hospital campuses to capture data and create detailed maps of the building spaces and campus.

University Buildings | Mar 9, 2020

Auburn University, Robins & Morton open Construction Field Laboratory

Robins & Morton and Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) recently celebrated the dedication of the Robins & Morton Construction Field Laboratory.

AEC Innovators | Mar 5, 2020

These 17 women are changing the face of construction

During this Women in Construction Week, we shine a spotlight on 17 female leaders in design, construction, and real estate to spur an important conversation of diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.