LEEDCo
Date: 2020-06-24
Following up on our 27th May report, Cleveland-based Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) is calling for the Ohio Power Sitting Board (OPSB) to reconsider its ruling that the 20.7 MW Lake Erie (offshore) Icebreaker Wind demo project cease operations every night from March until November, which renders the project "financially untenable", according to LEEDCo.

As previously reported, the project was reviewed by more than a dozen state and federal agencies including U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Ohio EPA, and others. It has the support of many environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Ohio Environmental Council. (Source: LEEDCo, Offshore Wind, 23 June, 2020) Contact: LEEDCo, Dave Karpinski, Pres., (216) 241-9201, www.leedco.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lake Erie Energy Development Corp,  LEEDCo,  Offshore Wind,  

Jersey City
Date: 2020-06-12
In the Garden State, Jersey City officials are touting the Sustainability Incentive Program (SIP), a voluntary dual-pronged approach to development designed to reduce pollution while promoting sustainable development.

The first green initiative incentivizes new and existing development to divert storm water from the sewer system by installing green infrastructure, as well as meeting strict energy and water conservation standards provided in US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. If the building is built to LEED certifications, it will receive a discount on water and sewer connection fees based on that level of LEED accreditation.

The second initiative is the Flood Overlay Zone Program, which will require new developments in FEMA-designated flood hazard zones to incorporate green infrastructure to help control localized flooding and minimize pollution runoff into local waterways. New developments will implement green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales, and permeable pavement, to absorb and filter storm water runoff, which will help avoid combined sewage overflows in which sewage and wastewater overflow and pollute local waterways. (Source: Jersey City, PR, Hudson Reporter, 10 June, 2020) Contact: Jersey City Office of Sustainability, Kate Lawrence, Director(201)-547-4632, www.erseycitynj.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=6189744&pageId=12571658, www.jcmakeitgreen.org; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sustainability,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Infrastructure,  USGBC,  

US Green Building Council,Virginia Energy Efficiency Council
Date: 2020-06-01
In the Old Dominion State, Henrico County and the University of Virginia are being lauded by the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council and the US Green Building Council for innovation in their efforts to improve energy efficiency in schools, libraries, university construction and government buildings. The two green-building programs received the council's fifth Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards last month.

The county program included building or renovating 16 government buildings and schools to LEED certification standards since 2011, and the county is pursuing certification of LEED Silver or higher on six current projects. The efforts are credited with reducing energy consumption by approximately 30 pct, according to a release. (Source: Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, Richmond BizSense, June, 2020) Contact: Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, 804-464-8233, www.vaeec.org; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  ,  

Lake Erie Energy Development Corp
Date: 2020-05-27
The Ohio Power Siting Board last week approved non-profit Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) pilot six-turbine Lake Erie offshore wind project with 33 -- including one that the turbines could not turn at night between March 1 and November 1, to limit risk to birds and bats. The developer claims the limits may kill the demonstration project which , as previously reported, received $40 million in grant funding from the U.S. DOE.

The Icebreaker pilot project has been approved by U.S. DOE, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which last year signed off on an environmental assessment that found no significant environmental impact from the project. The project is also supported by the Ohio Environmental Council and Sierra Club. (Source: LEEDCo, Cleveland.com, 23 May, 2020) Contact: LEEDCo, Lorry Wagner, Pres., (216) 241-9201, www.leedco.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lake Erie Energy Development Corp,  

Lake Erie Energy Development Corp
Date: 2020-05-27
In Columbbus, the Ohio Power Siting Board last week approved non-profit Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) pilot six-turbine Lake Erie offshore wind project with 33 restrictive conditions, including one that the turbines could not turn at night between March 1 and November 1, to limit risk to birds and bats. The developer claims the limits may kill the demonstration project which , as previously reported, received $40 million in grant funding from the U.S. DOE.

The Icebreaker pilot project was previously approved by U.S. DOE, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which last year signed off on a 180-page environmental assessment, that found no significant environmental impact from the project which is supported by the Ohio Environmental Council and Sierra Club (Source: LEEDCo, Cleveland.com, 23 May, 2020) Contact:

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lake Erie Energy Development Corp news,  LEEDCo news,  Offshore Wind news,  

Virginia Energy Efficiency Council
Date: 2020-05-19
In the Old Dominion State, the Richmond-based Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) reports it has recognized Henrico County and the University of Virginia with its fifth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards.

Henrico County was recognized the construction or renovation of 16 government buildings and schools to LEED certification standards since 2011. The county is also pursuing certification of LEED Silver or higher on six current projects that will cut energy consumption by approximately 30 percent.

The University of Virginia's Delta Force Program was recognized for achieving energy efficiency and for its $17.4 million in energy efficiency projects for a savings of $28.7 million in energy costs and 180,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions since 2009. (Source: VAEEC, NBC12, 17 May, 2020) Contact: VAEEC, Cheslea Mamish, Exec. Dir., 804-464-8233, www.vaeec.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Virginia Energy Efficiency Council,  Energy Efficiency,  USGBC,  LEED Certification,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-05-15
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced a new strategy intended to leverage LEED -- and the communities implementing the rating system -- to support buildings and neighborhoods in a post-pandemic world.

The Healthy People in Healthy Places Equals a Healthy Economy strategy promotes the idea that prioritizing the health of people, communities, and the planet is the fastest way to rebuild a healthier, more sustainable economy. USGBC is launching emergency guidance and upgrades to the LEED green building program to ensure that it reflects the realities that buildings, and more importantly, the people inside them, will face in the near future.

Under the new initiative, USGBC will update current LEED strategies in LEED v4.1 that support indoor environmental quality, cleaning, occupant comfort, operations, better materials, and risk management, while finding opportunities to introduce new approaches given the current public health crisis.

Introduce new LEED strategies and launch new pilot credits to support social distancing, nontoxic surface cleaning, air quality, and infection monitoring.

Form CEO Advisory Councils to advise and support USGBC's CEO on how the organization, its programs, and the building and construction industries can prioritize sustainability in a post-pandemic world.

Accelerate the implementation of its USGBC Equity program to better address the social, health, and economic disparities within communities.

Call for ideas and perspectives from the broader market on how LEED and healthy spaces can evolve given the current public health crisis.

Adapt a review process for LEED and other green business certification programs, and amend its LEED process to incorporate the lessons learned.

Publish a series of best practice guidance reports to help project teams assist their occupants as they re-enter their spaces.

According to USGBC, refining LEED strategies and providing guidance that clearly communicates the economic, health, and environmental benefits of sustainable buildings, communities and cities to people -- especially during this time of uncertainty -- will be a priority. (Source: USGBC, Env..Energy Leader, 13 May, 2020) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-05-06
In the Keystone State, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh reports the city's adjacent new MuseumLab has been awarded US Green Building Council LEED® Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

MuseumLab was recently honored with the 2020 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award for Construction Project Rehabilitation work dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant places. (Source: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, May, 2020) Contact: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Jane Werner, Exec. Dir., 412-322-5058, www.pittsburghkids.org; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News LEED Gold,  Energy Efficiency,  US Green Building Council,  

TalkPool,Semtech
Date: 2020-05-01
Camarillo, California-based performance analog and semiconductor specialist Semtech Corporation reports Talkpool, a provider of global Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and telecommunication network services, has incorporated Semtech's LoRa® devices and the LoRaWAN® protocol into its new line of sensor solutions for smart home energy monitoring and energy consumption reduction applications.

Additionally, Talkpool's LoRa-based solutions assist in establishing building compliance with leading sustainability initiatives including LEED and BREEAM certifications. IoT networks based on the LoRaWAN® specification have been deployed in 100 countries. (Source: Semtech, PR, April, 2020) Contact: TalkPool, www.talkpool.com; Semtech, Ronda Grech, (805) 250-1263, rgrech@semtech.com, www.semtech.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Semtech,  Energy Conservation,  Energy Management,  Energy Efficiency,  

Cora Group
Date: 2020-04-29
The Waterloo, Ontario-headquartered Cora Group reports its 104,000 evolv1 building project in Waterloo has achieved Zero Carbon Building Standard Performance certification through the Canada Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building program. The Waterloo building was previously ZCB-Design certified and is presently awaiting LEED Platinum certification.

The building's sustainability features include: solar panels and a passive solar wall system; an open-loop geothermal system; 40,000-litre rainwater cistern and daylight harvesting; 28 electric vehicle chargers, and others. (Source: The Cora Group, DCN-JOC News Services , 28 April, 2020) Contact: Cora Group, Adrian Conrad, COO, (519) 570-2672, www.coragroup.com; Canada Green Building Council/Zero Carbon Certification, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Canada Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  

Notre Dame
Date: 2020-04-20
In Indiana, the University of Notre Dame is reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification for the design, construction and operation of the three 830,000 sq-ft buildings surrounding Notre Dame Stadium -- Duncan Student Center, Corbett Family Hall and O’Neill Hall.

The University earned 60 credits in nine categories including the use of sustainable materials and resources, water efficiency, energy, innovation in design and indoor environmental quality, among several other areas. Throughout the construction of the project, more than 20 pct of the building materials consisted of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content and more than 20 pct of materials were manufactured or harvested regionally. (Source: University of Notre Dame, PR, 20 April, 2020) Contact: University of Notre Dame, www.und.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  

America University,USGBC
Date: 2020-04-17
In Washington DC, American University is reporting four buildings on its East Campus have received US Green Building Council (USGBC)LEED Gold certification for their sustainable design and construction. To qualify for LEED Gold status, East Campus incorporated the following elements:

100 pct of the buildings receive their power from green electricity;

97 pct of on-site construction waste was diverted from landfill;

the East Campus buildings are 27 pct more energy-efficient than standard buildings;

21 pct of materials used in its construction was locally sourced;

buildings incorporate 13,000 square feet of green roofs;

computerized thermostats to regulate temperature, providing optimum air quality and thermal comfort;

buildings use sealants, paints, and furniture with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs);

state-of-the-art HVAC systems;

ultra-low-flow faucets, toilets, and urinals use 43 pct less water than standard buildings, and various other energy efficient features and amenities.(Source: American School & University, 14 April, 2020) Contact: America University, www.american.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

CapitaLand
Date: 2020-04-17
Singapore-headquartered CapitaLand reports it has secured a 4-year, S$400 million ($282.65 million) in green loan funding from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC)to increase its green assets and enhance its global property portfolio by 2030.

According to the company's statement, the green loans will be used for financing or refinancing the development, investment, and acquisition of green buildings that achieve or are expected to achieve either a Green Mark Gold PLUS certification from the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) or US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification.

The statement also notes CapitaLand will purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) from the solar energy generated from over 21,000 solar panels installed atop CapitaLand's six industrial properties in Singapore. CapitaLand holds 16 properties in Singapore, China, Belgium, India, and four business parks in India that are fully or partially powered by renewable energy. (Source: CapitaLand, MERCOM India, 16 April, 2020) Contact: CapitaLand Group, Andrew Lim, CFO, www.capitaland.com/international/en.html#menu-lang-main

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Building,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-04-13
In the Golden State, the City Center Bishop Ranch retail center in San Ramon reports receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency. LEED qualifying features, programs and improvements include:

Promoting water efficiency and biodiversity by planting drought-tolerant and native plants throughout the center's landscaping and using reclaimed water for all landscaping.

Installing water-efficient fixtures that allow the center to use 36 pct less water indoors than typical buildings of the same size.

Reducing energy use by 48 pct compared to typical outdoor lifestyle/retail buildings of the same size -- equal to 1,112 metric tpy of greenhouse gas emissions.

Acquiring 25 pct of the building's energy from a solar PV array.

Diverting 98 pct of the center's construction and demolition waste from landfills through recycling or salvaging and using regionally sourced and recycled materials used in construction.

Incorporating zero or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) finish materials (Source: City Center Bishop Ranch, USGBC, Danville San Ramon News, 12 April, 2020) Contact: City Center Bishop Ranch, www.citycenterbishopranch.com US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Growth Energy
Date: 2020-04-10
"Fuel demand is cratered, foreign nations are flooding the markets with crude oil, and U.S. ethanol producers are bleeding cash. "-- Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy. Contact: Growth Energy, Emily Skor, CEO, Elizabeth Funderburk, (202) 545-4000, EFunderburk@GrowthEnergy.org, www.growthenergy.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Growth Energy,  Ethanol,  

Kuwait National Petroleum Corp
Date: 2020-04-10
The Kuwait News Agency is reporting the Kuwait National Petroleum Corp (KNPC) has completed the addition of two biofuel production units at its Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery.

The two new coal and naphtha hydro treating units will produce 37,000 and 8,400 bpd of oil equivalent respectively. (Source: Kuwait National Petroleum Corp., Reuters 8 April, 2020) Contact: Kuwait National Petroleum Corp., Waleed al-Badr, CEO, www.knpc.com

LEED Platinum
Date: 2020-04-06
Denmark-headquartered pump manufacturer Grundfos is reporting its 4456 sq-meter Grundfos Gulf Distribution (GGD) regional headquarters in Dubai has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for Operations and Maintenance.

The multi-purpose HQ building hosts a factory, service centre and an office which serves the region with sustainable water solutions. The building also serves as a training centre where hundreds of engineers, consultants and customers receive hands-on training and interact with the most advanced cloud-based water solutions in the region.

Including the Grundfos building, there are 12 LEED Platinum certifications for Operations & Maintenance in the UAE. (Source: Grundfos, Middle East Design, 5 April, 2020) Contact: Grundfor, +45 87501400 - HQ, www.grundfos.com; Grundfos Gulf Distribution, +971-4-8815166 contact@sales.grundfos.com, www.grundfos.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News LEED Platinum,  Energy Efficiency,  

University of Pittsburgh
Date: 2020-03-25
In the Keystone State, the University of Pittsburgh is reporting its $17-million, 170-bed Livingston Alexander House residence hall in Bradford has earned US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for green construction practices, water and energy efficiency, high-efficiency HVAC and thermal glass and insulation to reduce the building's energy consumption by 30 pct over standard construction.

The 3-story dormitory also utilizes renewable energy, organic compounds and furnishings made from recycled materials. (Source: University of Pittsburgh, PR, 23 Mar., 2020) Contact: University of Pittsburgh, Rhett Kennedy, Dir. Auxiliary Services, 412-624-4141, www.pitt.edu; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-03-18
"If Antarctica and Greenland continue to track the worst-case climate warming scenario, they will cause an extra 17 centimetres of sea level rise by the end of the century. This would mean 400 million people are at risk at annual coastal flooding by 2100. These are not unlikely events with small impacts; they are already underway and will be devastating for coastal communities." -- Prof. Andrew Shepherd, University of Leeds, A.Shepherd@leeds.ac.uk, www.environment.leeds.ac.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Albemarle Corporation
Date: 2020-03-13
North Carolina-based specialty chemicals industry leader Albemarle Corporation is reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Gold certification for its headquarters 141,000 square-foot expansion project in Charlotte.

The USGBC recognized the company for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in the following categories: water efficiency, energy use and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, location and transportation. (Source: Albermarle Corp., Mar., 2020) Contact: Albemarle Corporation , Luke Kissam, CEO, 225-388-7402, www.albemarle.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Albemarle Corporation,  USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

USGBC
Date: 2020-03-09
In Illinois, the Kane County Dept. of Resource Management reports the county is one of 20 agencies nationwide -- and the only one in Illinois -- awarded a US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED for Cities and Communities program grant to tackle larger-scale energy efficiency and sustainability objectives with help from regional partners.

The LEED for Cities and Communities program offers participants access to a performance platform, educational tools and professional liaison to support LEED certification, according to the USGBC website.

The grant program, which also receives support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, allows county leaders to measure how their sustainability efforts fare both internally and globally. The program provides an award package to communities that have shown commitment in addressing climate change, resilience and social equity.

Each recipient receives an annual silver membership to the Green Building Council; registration and certification review fees in the LEED Cities and Communities program; access to the Arc platform that encourages improvement and benchmarking; and the availability of online educational resources, project management tools and monthly conference calls. (Source: US BC, Daily Herald, 7 Mar., 2020) Contact: Kane County Resource Management, Jessica Mino, Management Coordinator, 630-208-8665, minojessica@co.kane.il.us​, www.county ofkane.org; USGBC LEED for Cities and Communities Program, www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/leed-for-cities, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  

U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2020-02-28
In the Sunshine State, the city of Tampa (pop. 400,000 +-) reports it has been selected by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its 2020 LEED for Cities and Communities Grant Program aimed at accelerating progress on resiliency, social equity and climate change planning.

The program provides climate change and resiliency educational resources, data, performance bench marks and establishes a peer network for increased communications and idea sharing. More than 100 cities and communities worldwide have already participated in the program. (Source: City of Tampa, FLAPOL, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: US Green Building Council. LEED for Cities and Communities Program, www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/leed-for-cities, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Green Building Council,  Climate Change,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-29
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced its list of Top 10 States for LEED green building. The list ranks states based on the number of LEED certified sq. ft. per person. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world with more than 100,000 projects engaged. This year's top states are home to more than 105 million people, including more than 80,000 LEED green building professionals with the skills to support the sustainable transformation of buildings.

The top LEED state is Colorado, followed by Illinois, Mass., New York, Hawaii, Maryland , Virginia, Minnesota, Oregon and California in that order. (Source: US Green Building Council, Jan., 2020)Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification ,  

U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-24
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports the Land of Lincoln slipped to second place, behind Colorado, on its list of top 10 states for LEED green building, based on the number of LEED-certified square feet per person.

Illinois certified 3.85 square feet of LEED space per resident in 2019, representing 121 projects and more than 49.3 million gross square feet of space.

The Top 10 list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified throughout 2019. (Source: US Green Building Council, RE Journals, 23 Jan., 2020)Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-10
Following up on our November 9, 2018 coverage, in the Windy City, Equity Office, the U.S. office arm of private-equity giant Blackstone Group, reports its 1974-vintage, 110-story Willis Tower -- fka the Sears Tower -- has became the largest building in the U.S. to reach the US Green Building Council's LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency. The building received a $500 million energy efficiency and sustainability upgrade in 2018.

As previously reported, the building scored LEED Gold in 2018. In moving up to Platinum, building efficiency was improved via upgrades to heating and cooling systems, hot water generators, lighting, plumbing and an ongoing major overhaul of the elevator systems which make more than 46,000 trips daily and serve about 5.8 million people every year. (Source: USGBC, Star Tribune, 19 Dec., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Willis Tower,  Energy Efficiency,  US Green Building Council,  LEED Platinum,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-01-06
In the Bay State, the Boston-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is claiming the LEED energy efficiency certification of more more the 100,000 commercial projects.

The widely recognized LEED green building rating system, which is available for virtually all building and interior space types, provides a framework for highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. Certification signifies a building has gone above and beyond to ensure it is designed, constructed, operated and performing to the highest level of sustainability. (Source: US Green Buildings Council, Green Buildings, NEREJ, Dec., 2019)Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Rutgers University,USGBC
Date: 2019-12-23
In the Garden State, Piscataway-based Rutgers University reports its 106,000 sq-ft Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering -- Busch campus, was recently awarded LEED™ Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Richard Weeks Hall energy efficiency features include: energy cost savings of 29 pct through solar orientation and superior envelop design; mechanical systems include active chilled beams; ventilation with 100 pct outdoor air with energy recovery; occupancy controled LED lighting; a 38 pct reduction of potable water use; diversion of 97 pct of construction waste from landfills, and other energy efficiency and sustainability features. (Source: Rutgers University, School Construction News, 18 Dec., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rutgers University,  LEED Certification,  USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-12-20
In the Windy City, Equity Office, the U.S. office arm of private-equity giant Blackstone Group, reports its 1974-vintage, 110-story Willis Tower -- fka the Sears Tower – has became the largest building in the U.S. to reach the US Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency.

As previously reported , the building scored LEED Gold in 2018. In moving up to Platinum, building efficiency was improved via upgrades to heating and cooling systems, hot water generators, lighting, plumbing and an ongoing major overhaul of the elevator systems which make more than 46,000 trips daily and serve about 5.8 million people every year. (Source: USGBC, Star Tribune, 19 Dec., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  

ACEEE
Date: 2019-12-16
A recent CommercialCafe study ranking the top 50 U.S. cities on CO2 emissions reductions, air quality improvements, improvements in air quality, the number of US GReen Building Council LEED certifications, growth in environmentally focused occupations, ratings given by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and other related factors has rated top ten 10 U.S. cities making the most progress toward sustainability. According to the study , Washington, D.C. leads followed by New York City, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta and Portland, Oregon, in that order. (Source: CommercialCafe, KATU News, 14 Dec., 2019) Contact: CommercialCafe, www.commercialcafe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,  ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-12-11
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is reporting Canadian LEED v4 project registrations have surpassed the 1,000 mark and more than 4,350 LEED certifications overall, making Canada a leader in LEED certifications.

Of Canadian LEED v4 projects, almost half are commercial and institutional new construction, with Ontario leading the way regionally with 27 per cent of projects, followed by British Columbia at 17 per cent and Alberta at 15 per cent. The CaGBC reached another milestone Nov. 27 with the first 10 certifications under the Zero Carbon Building Standard. To date, 20 projects are registered. (Source: Canada Green Building Council, Daily Commercial News, 9 Dec., 2019) Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Peter Whitred, Senior Manager, Green Building Programs, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council ,  LEED,  Energy Efficiency,  

RenewAire,USGBC
Date: 2019-12-04
Waunakee, Wisconsin-based RenewAire reports its 111,000-square-foot, 35 year-old HVAC manufacturing plant has achieved LEED Gold certification in the “Optimize Energy Performance” category in. received 60 out of a possible 110 points for its efforts. Of the 60 points awarded, RenewAire received 14 in the. The ERVs and DOAS processes, which reduce cooling/heating loads and result in smaller chillers and boilers and less refrigerants, earned two points in the refrigerant management category. Other energy performance credits came from LED lighting, which cut lighting costs by 50 pct compared to industrial/office space lighting.

RenewAire has previously received two Green Globes and a LEED Silver certification for its former headquarters, a 32,000-square-foot Madison-based indoor soccer stadium it retrofitted in 2005 for its manufacturing headquarters. (Source: RenewAire, PR, HVAC, Dec., 2019) Contact: RenewAire, Chuck Gates, CEO, (800) 627-4499, www.renewaire.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  

U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-27
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is touting LEED Positive -- a new vision statement and LEED development roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED and guide USGBC in transitioning LEED from strategies that reduce the harm done by buildings to strategies that cause no harm and begin the process of healing and repair.

LEED Positive will encourage development that allows buildings to become a vehicle for environmental restoration and repair. The vision is composed of several parts that will work together to guide the development of the LEED rating system, including:

Proposed LEED Positive targets for energy and carbon reduction that will require new construction to go further and push existing buildings with high energy usage to substantially increase their efficiency efforts;

Define LEED Positive targets for other LEED credit categories that make up the holistic LEED rating system;

Continue investment in LEED v4.1 to accelerate the implementation and adoption of LEED for both new and existing buildings; and

Support category level performance certificates through the Arc platform to provide existing buildings with a pathway to LEED certification. (Source: US Green Building Council, Floor Daily 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Building,  LEED Certification,  

U.S. Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-22
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is reporting the launch of "Insight", a new data-driven tool that highlights building project design features that can lead to better performance.

Insight is available as a feature of the Arc platform and provides information on the design attributes of LEED certified buildings within a specified geographic region. Using the tool, project teams can compare and rank potential sustainability strategies to see how they stack up against the performance of other buildings.

Insight leverages the depth of the existing LEED data to aid designers and builders in adopting smart, practical and achievable sustainability strategies.

Insight can be leveraged by LEED and green building teams to improve the design -- and eventually performance -- of their buildings by encouraging the implementation of best practices during the design and construction stage. Insight helps green building and LEED project teams identify practices that could improve building performance and eliminate those that pose a risk to their long-term investment. (Source: USGBC, Milehigh CRE, 20 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News LEED Certification,  U.S. Green Building Council,  Energy Eficiency,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-20
The University of Illinois - Urbana is reporting receipt of its 21st US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for its recently completed $98 million Electrical and Computer Engineering Building. The UI campus claims 4 Platinum, 10 Gold and 7 Silver certified buildings.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building was cited for: sustainable site development; construction and waste management; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; a $3 million rooftop solar array with 950 panels; stormwater storage system; passive heating and cooling features; and various other energy efficient features. (Source: University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette, 18 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

USGBC
Date: 2019-11-18
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) reports its LEED ratings system for sustainable building has reached a new milestone with more than 100,000 registered and certified LEED commercial projects with 2.6 million square feet being certified every day. .

"Today millions of us are living, working and learning in LEED-certified buildings around the world. These spaces are using less energy and water, mitigating the environmental burden on their communities, saving money and offering the people who occupy them a better quality of life. This latest milestone demonstrates how the global green building community is delivering on the vision we set forth more than 20 years ago with better buildings and spaces that equal better lives," said USGBC Pres. Mahesh Ramanujam. (Source: USGBC, 17 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Energy Efficiency,  

Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation
Date: 2019-11-18
In the Buckeye State, the Cleveland-based Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) is reporting the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners have come out in support of LEEDCo's long delayed plan to construct the first freshwater offshore wind project approximately 8 miles off the shores of Cleveland in Lake Erie.

LEEDCo's six-turbine "Icebreaker Windpower" project has been in the works since 2009.

In supporting LEEDCo, the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners noted the County has potential for its own wind energy projects down the road, and the LEEDCo project will serve as a regional starting point for future Lake Eries offshore wind projects. (Source: LEEDCo, Ashtabula Star Beacon, 17 Nov., 2019)Contact: LEEDCo, Lorry Wagner, Pres., (216) 241-9201, www.leedco.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation,  LEEDCo,  Offhsore Wind,  

Royal Canadian Navy
Date: 2019-11-18
Montreal-based international engineering and construction firm reports The Royal Canadian Navy's new 12-story Tribute Tower housing facility at CFB Stadacona in Halifax has been awarded Canadian Green Building Council LEED Silver certification.

The $65 million construction contract was awarded to a Design Build Joint Venture partnership of SNC-Lavalin Construction and Aecon Atlantic in 2013 but was constructed by Pomerleau. Architecture and LEED consulting services were provided by A49 of Halifax.

Additionally, SNC-Lavalin collaborated with Texas-based Protection Engineering Consultants to design Tribute Tower in accordance with the United States Unified Facility Criteria (UFC) 4-023-03 standard, making it the first Canadian structure built to this standard. (Source: SNC Lavalin, Daily Commercial News, Contact: SNC Lavalin, www.snclavalin.com; United States Unified Facility Criteria, www.iccsafe.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News SNC-Lavalin ,  LEED Certification,  Canadian Green Building Coucil,  

United States Steel Corporation
Date: 2019-11-15
Along the banks of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, Pittsburgh-headquartered United States Steel Corp, (US Steel) is reporting plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity across its global footprint by 20 pct, as measured by the rate of CO2 equivalents emitted per ton of finished steel shipped, by 2030 based on 2018 baseline levels.

The planned reduction will be achieved through various initiatives including: the development of electric arc furnace steel-making at U. S. Steel's Fairfield Works and at Big River Steel, the first LEED-certified steel mill in the nation; the introduction of state-of-the-art endless rolling and casting technology; and construction of a cogeneration facility at its Mon Valley Works; and implementation of ongoing energy efficiency measures, continued use of renewable energy sources and other process improvements. (Source: US Steel, PR 13 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Steel, Kevin Lewis, Inv. Relations, (412) 433-6935, klewis@uss.com, www.uss.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Steel,  Carbon Emissions,  United States Steel Corporation,  

LEED Gold,USGBC
Date: 2019-11-11
In Dubai, Empower, the district cooling service is reporting construction is underway on its $76.2 million headquarters in Al Jaddaf.

The 10-story mixed use office and residential building will be constructed to US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold Certification standard and is expected to be inaugurated in Q1 of 2021. (Source: Empower, MEP, 10 Nov., 2019) Contact: Empower, www.empower.ae; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  Dubai Empower,  Energy Efficiency LEED Gold,  Energy Efficiency,  

CBRE
Date: 2019-11-08
According to the 2019 National Green Building Adoption Index published by CBRE Group Inc., Maastricht University and the University of Guelph, Chicago is the nation's leader in energy-efficient office buildings for the third year in a row. The city added a near 2 pct gain over 2018, outranking San Francisco, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles.

The index analyzed green-certified office space across America's 30 largest office markets and found the highest in the index's history at 42.2 pct -- up from 41.9 pct from 2018. According to the report, 71.1 pct of Chicago's office buildings are market-certified green and hold either an EPA ENERGY STAR® label, USGBC LEED certification, or both.

(Source: CBRE, Lawndale News, 7 Nov., 2019) Contact: CBRE, National Green Building Adoption Index www.cbre.com/about/corporate-responsibility/pillars/environmental-sustainability/green building adoption index; CBRE, Corpcomm@cbre.com, www.cbre.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Building Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  CGRE,  

Minnesota Twins , USGBC
Date: 2019-11-01
In the baseball world, the Minnesota Twins are reporting receipt of US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for sustainability. The certification was in recognition of the team organization's contributions to green building and sustainability in the sports industry.

The Twins were the first professional sports franchise to earn LEED Silver for both new construction and operations and maintenance, receiving those distinctions in 2010 and 2011, respectively, following the opening of Target Field and the team's first two seasons in their home ballpark. The Twins earned LEED Gold for facility operations and maintenance in 2017 and was recertified in 2019. (Source: Minnesota Twins, Ballpark Digest, Oct., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-10-28
In Washington, the US DOE reports it will allocate $28 million in funding to to 13 projects aimed at wind energy cost reductions, with a focus on offshore, distributed and onshore utility-scale wind.

Of the total, as much as $10 million will go to two offshore wind technology demonstration projects -- Lake Erie Energy Development Corp (LEEDCo) will deploy innovative sensing technologies for tracking bird activity near wind turbines, while the University of Maine will develop a floating substructure design for a 10 MW -- 12 MW wind turbine and install it at a project off Maine.

Roughly $7 million will support the testing of innovative offshore wind technologies at national-level testing facilities, with the funding to be shared by six projects including Clemson University which is aiming to improve offshore wind turbine nacelle testing. In another project, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Centre in Boston is seeking to upgrade its testing facility to make possible the structural testing of wind turbine blades with lengths of between 85 metres and 120 metres.

Other recipients include Oregon State University of Corvallis for tests on the combined effects of wind and waves on floating offshore wind turbines. Four of the 13 selected projects will receive a total of $6 million to support rural utilities by developing technologies that integrate wind with other distributed energy resources. (Source: US DOE, 23 Oct., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Wind,  

USGBC
Date: 2019-10-23
In the Golden State, Block D, downtown San Diego's first multi-tenant commercial office building to be constructed in more than a decade, has been certified LEED Platinum by the USGBC. The six-story, 60,000-square-foot mixed-use Makers Quarter building is the first to hold this designation in downtown San Diego. (Source: Connect California, 22 Oct., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC,  LEED Platinum,  Energy Efficiency,  

Teknion,USGBC
Date: 2019-10-18
In the Big Apple, furniture design firm Teknion Corp. is reporting its 15,514 square foot New York City showroom located at 641 Avenue of the Americas has achieved WELL Gold certification from The International WELL Building Institute and LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The New York property is Teknion's fourth to achieve WELL certification, and its second showroom this year. The New York showroom is also Teknion’s twelfth LEED certified showroom. (Source: Teknion, Woodworking Network, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: Teknion, www.teknion.com; International WELL Building Institute, 646.883.5001, 646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News WELL Building,  Energy Efficiency,  USGBC,  LEED Certification,  

USGBC,Well Building
Date: 2019-10-16
Castalla (Alicante), Spain-headquartered furniture design and manufacturer Actiu reports it has become the fifth office complex in the world to receive the Well v2 Platinum certification and the first in the world to hold both WELL v2 Platinum and US Green Building Council LEED Platinum.

The WELL v2 Platinum Certification, granted by the Well Building Institute (IWBI) and audited at Actiu by CBRE, accredits, through a rating system for buildings and communities, to what extent these spaces have been built to ensure the health and well-being of its occupants.

This accreditation, together with the one achieved in 2017 when the company's headquarters in Castalla consolidated its LEED Platinum Certification (before that, LEED Gold in 2011) due to its Technology Park's sustainable architecture, has made it the first industry in the world to gain these two international awards. (Source: Actiu, infurma, International Habitat News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Actiu, +34 966 560 670 www.actiu.com/en; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; International WELL Building Institute, +646.883.5001, +646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Platinum,  Well Building,  Energy Efficiency,  

Zero-Carbon
Date: 2019-10-14
In Manila, ARTHALAND Corp. is reporting its 31-story Century Pacific Tower office building has been accredited as "green and sustainable" with EDGE Zero Carbon certification from International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.

The first in the world, the Arthaland building was recognized for its projected savings of 45 pct in energy consumption, 64 pct in water use, and 34 pct incorporation of embodied energy in materials, surpassing the benchmark of 20 pct less use for each category. The Arthaland building is now the country's only triple-certified project Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE), LEED Platinum and green building system BERDE five-star ratings since it opened in 2018. (Source: Arthaland, Business Mirror, Oct., 2019) Contact: Arthaland Corp., +63 2 8403 6910, www.arthaland.com.ph; International Finance Corp., www.ifc.org; BERDE, www.berdeonline.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News International Finance Corp.,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-10-09
In the nation's capital, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) reports it has been named as the US Green Building Council's first world-wide LEED Platinum for Communities certification recipient.

The 43-square block Golden Triangle currently hosts 63 LEED-certified buildings -- representing 42 pct of the total built area in the BID. (Source: Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, citybizlist, 7 Oct., 2019) Contact: Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, Leona Agouridis, Executive Director, (202) 463.3400, feedback@goldentriangledc.com, www.goldentriangledc.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Eficiency,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-09-25
The Canada Green Building Council reports it has awarded LEED Platinum certification (Existing Building) to the Sun Life Building in Montreal. The Sun Life Building is the first century-old building in North America to obtain triple Platinum certification in environmental performance and digital connectivity, having already earned BOMA BEST Platinum certification from BOMA Canada and WIRED Platinum certification from WiredScore.

The 1 million sq-ft, 1914-vintage Sun Life building scored higher than the level required for Platinum certification in the LEED system which measures a building's performance and efficiency in five sectors related to human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. (Source: Canada Green Building Council, Cdn Consulting Engineer, 24 Sept., 2019)contact: Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  Canada Green Building Council,  

USGBC
Date: 2019-08-30
August 29, 2019 Portland’s Moda Center is the first arena to receive LEED O+M (v4.1) Platinum Certification, a major milestone in the greening of sports. The facility is part of a 30-acre sports and entertainment district on the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. It includes the 19,393-seat Moda Center and 12,888-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter’s Chris McGowan says, “We are very proud to be the first existing professional sports arena to receive LEED Platinum certification. Nine years ago, we were the first existing arena to achieve LEED Gold status, and we continue to innovate and develop our sustainable processes and procedures to provide a healthy, sustainable arena for our community.” The green effort includes turning food waste into soil used throughout the Rose Quarter campus, contributing to the one million pounds of material diverted from landfills annually. After every event, crews sort through every bag of waste and put materials into appropriate streams. (Source: ConnectCRE, 28 Aug., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News USGBC news,  Energy Efficiency news,  LEED Certification news,  

Architectural Association of Kenya
Date: 2019-08-30
The Nairobi-based Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) reports Kenya could have its own "green" buildings rating tool as early as next year. The new rating system would take Kenya's climate, building materials, materials availability and other related issues into account. The new Kenyan tool would cover water conservation, energy conservation, planning areas, design areas, innovation, use of local materials and buildings with historical value.

Kenya presently uses foreign based green building certification tools like Green Star Rating System, U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Environmental Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE). (Source: Architectural Association of Kenya, Kenya Standard, 29 Aug., 2019) Contact: Architectural Association of Kenya, Gideon Olawo, Environmental Design Chairman, +254 20 2224806, www.aak.or.ke

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  Energy Efficiency,