Sustainability
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Building owners must implement retrofit, reuse strategies quickly to tackle obsolescence risks: JLL
With about $1.2 trillion needed globally to retrofit older office assets, building owners must address building age, design, regulatory pressure and locational factors to mitigate these risks, a report says.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Wells Fargo’s latest innovation cohort to focus on building decarbonization
Three startups were each awarded $250,000 to help tackle energy management and emission reduction efforts in buildings.
By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Facilities Dive
Top 5 stories from Facilities Dive
By Facilities Dive staff -
What Trump’s energy picks could mean for commercial building sustainability
The nominations point to potential impacts on federal support for renewable energy, energy efficiency and other building decarbonization efforts.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 21, 2024 -
IRS finalizes direct pay rules, increasing access to IRA’s clean energy tax credits
Under the rules released Tuesday, direct-pay-eligible entities like local governments, public school districts, churches and hospitals can invest in clean energy projects more easily.
By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Solar, batteries to power electric fleet charging at Santa Clara University
The chargers will support the facilities department's more than 30 electric vehicles used for landscaping, recycling and custodial activities.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Thermal energy networks can decarbonize neighborhoods. Meet the US cities giving them a shot.
With federal dollars, cities want to leverage heat from waste sources and the ground to move buildings away from burning fossil fuels on-site.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 20, 2024 -
Data center stakeholders must collaborate to meet clean energy targets: Deloitte
With generative AI driving energy consumption, key players must work together to assess cooling needs and identify heat and wastewater solutions, according to the consulting firm’s report.
By Joe Burns • Nov. 20, 2024 -
Trane-Autodesk partnership, C.Scale launch spotlight emissions reduction software
Integrating Trane's TRACE software with Autodesk Revit will help engineers and operators optimize HVAC systems, while C.Scale can streamline carbon emission estimates across building lifecycles, the companies said.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 18, 2024 -
Clorox prioritizes supplier decarbonization efforts
The cleaning product manufacturer is partnering with carbon tracking service Manufacture 2030 to gain visibility into its vendors’ emission reduction plans.
By Kelly Stroh • Nov. 15, 2024 -
USGBC tool aims to bridge sustainability targets, outcomes across building portfolios
The digital platform is intended to help organizations meet reporting requirements and sustainability goals related to emissions, energy, water and waste, the U.S. Green Building Council said.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Automation, efficiency upgrades at Minnesota zoo could save up to $1.8M over 3 years
Groundwater-based geothermal heat pumps and building automation systems are among the changes at St. Paul's Como Park Zoo, which a city official said accounts for about 25% of total energy use among city properties.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Better data, green financing, government support needed to decarbonize CRE worldwide: JLL
“The current mismatch between available funds and effective allocation is considerably slowing down real estate's efforts to decarbonize,” JLL’s senior director of global sustainability and climate leadership says in a report.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 13, 2024 -
Demand response programs can help boost reliability, cut emissions in New York, advocates say
Statewide legislative changes and greater incentives could boost buildings’ participation in demand response programs, according to energy policy experts.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 12, 2024 -
What Trump’s energy plans could mean for commercial building operators
Building operators using Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives “will be talking with their senators and representatives to express the need to keep these in place,” a U.S. Green Building Council official said.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 11, 2024 -
DOE earmarks nearly $150M for 67 clean tech projects at federal facilities
The AFFECT program grants will save a combined $41.7 million in energy and water costs annually while eliminating over 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, the Energy Department said.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 8, 2024 -
Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue
“There is no denying that another Trump presidency will stall national efforts to tackle the climate crisis,” but most U.S. state, local, and private sector leaders are committed to charging ahead, a clean energy advocate said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Deep Dive
Election 2024: Harris, Trump present ‘diametrically opposed’ views on ESG
A Harris administration would support proposed SEC climate disclosure rules for corporations, while “Trump would roll back the rules,” according to Morningstar Indexes’ head of ESG strategy.
By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Nov. 5, 2024 -
ENGIE strikes deal with Meta to supply 260 MW of solar
The project will supply power to a Meta data center in Temple, Texas. The power purchase agreement adds to "more than 12 GW of renewable energy procurement already announced by Meta," ENGIE said.
By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 1, 2024 -
How the U.S. presidential candidates’ climate policy differences could impact building operators: report
Clean energy programs will likely expand under a Harris presidency, while a Trump win could mean deregulation, according to Climate X. Operators can future-proof their assets regardless of who wins, its CEO said.
By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 1, 2024 -
Air quality, energy efficiency can coexist, but require intentional decision-making
To reap the benefits of IAQ and energy efficiency measures, operators must focus on design, planning and verification of building systems, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 30, 2024 -
Corix district energy system launches in Bellingham, Washington, waterfront neighborhood
The system, which captures waste heat for districtwide heating and cooling, is expected to help the district meet Washington state energy code requirements, the Port of Bellingham says.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 30, 2024 -
DOE school program helps districts decarbonize, identify best practices
Benchmarking and retrofit implementation are among the categories in which school districts can apply for recognition as part of the Efficient and Healthy Schools program, the Energy Department says.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Commercial heat pumps will benefit from tech developed for cold climate challenge, manufacturers say
After successful residential trials, heat pump technologies for temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit are being optimized for use in commercial buildings, executives at Carrier and Lennox said.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 25, 2024 -
ABM to integrate Mainspring Energy’s power generation tool to strengthen EV charging solutions
Mainspring Energy’s Linear Generator can be quickly deployed at scale and would appeal to large fleet operators seeking cost-effective and sustainable EV charging infrastructure, ABM says.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 24, 2024 -
AI can optimize most sustainable asset retrofit tasks: JLL
Currently available artificial intelligence technology can add the most value in portfolio prioritization, energy auditing and modeling, construction management and stakeholder data sharing, the firm says.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 23, 2024