A new industry that aims to rate the risk of climate change for individual properties is emerging.
Similar to how Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rate private companies’ creditworthiness, firms such as Climate Check, First Street Foundation, Jupiter Intelligence, Moody’s ESG Solutions Group, and RMS are assessing climate risks including flooding, extreme heat, and wildfires based on the attributes of their locations.
Risk raters use recent natural disasters to gauge how effectively their models are at predicting risk. They combine peer-reviewed research in climatology and hydrology with a climate change model to produce risk maps.
“Some models are scientifically sound and highly precise, while others are lower quality,” writes Matthew E. Kahn Provost Professor of Economics and Spatial Sciences at USC. Kahn favors having the federal government set standards for this new ratings realm “to ensure that it provides reliable, accurate information.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Oct 18, 2017
States impacted by hurricanes are improving their energy efficiency policies
Florida, Texas, rise in ACEEE state energy efficiency scorecard.
Codes and Standards | Oct 17, 2017
Updated versions of EnergyPlus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools released
Open-source apps include enhancements for urban-scale modeling.
Codes and Standards | Oct 16, 2017
New, comprehensive insurance exhibit released in AIA 2017 contract document updates
Will allow AIA to make updates more frequently as insurance market changes.
Codes and Standards | Oct 12, 2017
New AIA contract document designates responsibilities for sustainable projects
Roles of architects, contractors outlined in E204–2017.
Codes and Standards | Oct 11, 2017
Data, transparency are keys to next steps in green building, says USGBC chief
Monitoring and comparing performance are critical to advancing sustainability goals.
Codes and Standards | Oct 10, 2017
New guidelines for quality control on application of membrane roof systems released
NRCA document provides guidance for on-site evaluation.
Codes and Standards | Oct 9, 2017
New app calculates maximum allowable heights for building occupancy types, classes of construction
The app streamlines compliance on various types of construction.
Codes and Standards | Oct 5, 2017
California lawmakers pass bill that requires GCs to pay wages of sub employees if subs fail to pay
The measure will go into effect in January if the governor signs it.
Codes and Standards | Oct 4, 2017
Ambitious but realistic increase in clean energy would cut GHG emissions by 80% in the U.S.
NRDC report says goal can be achieved with existing tools.
Codes and Standards | Oct 3, 2017
Reducing duct leakage is focus on latest green building standards updates
ASHRAE 189.1 broadens testing requirements to include more types of ducts.