6 sustainability trends impacting commercial properties: Cushman & Wakefield

The SEC’s final climate rule will require public companies to disclose their climate-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions, pending an ongoing legal review, per a report.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 20, 2024

GM Fort Wayne plant cuts natural gas use by 30%, wins DOE award

General Motors’ assembly plant captures waste heat from landfill gas-powered generators. The recovered heat can provide over 80% of the site’s building heating needs, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 15, 2024

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Top 5 stories from Facilities Dive

Top 5 stories from Facilities Dive

By Facilities Dive staff

Budderfly acquires tech for distributed energy resource management

The company says Sunverge Energy’s system allows it to create virtual power plants that can help improve customer site resiliency and add load flexibility to the grid.

By Joe Burns • Updated Aug. 13, 2024

SEC defends its authority for climate disclosure rule in court

Against allegations of overreach and unconstitutionality, the agency argues the rule provides necessary and consistent climate data and is within its regulatory scope.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 9, 2024

GSA updates federal building standards in clean energy push

The latest P100 update, which applies to 300,000 federal buildings, mandates clean energy use in facilities, sets new benchmarks for efficiency and strengthens protections against unsafe labor practices.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 8, 2024

21 phase-1 winners selected for 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize

Sixteen winners will advance to the next phases, entering cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy and other entities to implement energy improvements, DOE said.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 7, 2024

Thermal energy networks can slash water use in buildings, study shows

Eight of the 10 sites the Building Decarbonization Coalition reviewed showed annual water savings of 18% to 46%, or 3,000 to 18,000 gallons per cooling or heating ton, depending on system design and connected buildings.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 6, 2024

Clean energy tax credits are tough. This new tool could help.

The free online navigator includes resources on EV charging infrastructure and clean energy projects eligible for elective pay.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 5, 2024

AI could halt energy use growth in US buildings: LBNL study

Combined with policy measures and low-carbon generation, building carbon emissions can decline over 90% by 2050 compared with business-as-usual scenarios, according to national lab researchers.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 2, 2024

GSA to source carbon-free power for federal facilities in Illinois

In a multiyear deal between the U.S. General Services Administration and Homefield Energy, 80% of buildings' energy will come from wind power.

By Nish Amarnath • July 31, 2024

Deloitte partners with property management platform for decarbonization solution

Akila, which produces virtual copies of facilities for building management, will target both companies’ clients to help them reduce emissions and prepare for disclosures.

By Lamar Johnson • July 25, 2024

US cities sharpen focus on building performance standards to meet net-zero goals

Over 40 cities will have these standards in place by 2026, compelling building owners to prioritize energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures, according to a report from JLL.

By Nish Amarnath • July 25, 2024

IHG unveils low carbon program, targets energy efficiency in hotels

As part of the pilot, each hotel will come with amenities such as fully electric kitchens and high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and generating hot water, the hospitality company says.

By Zoya Mirza • July 24, 2024

Energy storage systems can lower costs for building operators, even as average electricity prices rise

The return on investment for installing thermal energy storage systems is moving closer to between three and five years, with buildings joining programs like demand response, Nostromo Energy’s CEO says.

By Yoram Ashery • July 24, 2024

Measurabl’s upgraded platform aims to help owners, operators reach net-zero emissions

New tools will allow users to automate internal and external reporting to global frameworks, help plan capital expenditures for decarbonization projects and align with sustainability targets, the company says. 

By Nish Amarnath • July 23, 2024

How cities are using Biden’s $4.3B climate pollution reduction grants

The grants “put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions,” a federal official said. The projects that are being funded will include emissions reduction efforts in commercial buildings, per the EPA

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 23, 2024

600+ NYC facilities pledge to cut energy use as part of expanded demand response program

The city plans to additionally install over 1,150 real-time meters in city buildings to help manage electricity use, the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services says.

By Nish Amarnath • July 22, 2024

17 emerging sustainable building technologies to be evaluated by GSA, DOE

The $9.6 million effort spans technologies for building envelopes, HVAC systems, on-site renewables, and occupant comfort and building health, the U.S. General Services Administration said.

By Nish Amarnath • July 19, 2024

New York wants tall commercial, multifamily buildings to test low-carbon heating retrofits

Gov. Kathy Hochul called on real estate owners to offer demonstration opportunities for the seven finalists in a $10 million competition for proposed heating and distribution systems.

By Nish Amarnath • July 18, 2024

AWS, Google, Meta, Microsoft, others push for digital infrastructure emissions transparency

Suppliers' widespread adoption of environmental product certificates will help data center operators calculate the impact of their scope 3 emissions, a climate accord governing body said.

By Lamar Johnson • July 18, 2024

Schneider Electric upgrades cloud-based energy management platform

The enhancements include an automation feature that provides building operators with real-time calculations of renewable energy coverage against consumption data, a company executive says.

By Nish Amarnath • July 17, 2024

JLL integrates IBM software into sustainability program management

By leveraging the IBM Envizi ESG Suite, JLL aims to help commercial real estate clients overcome challenges with managing data across their portfolios and adhering to ESG reporting requirements, it says.

By Nish Amarnath • July 16, 2024

Amazon leans into on-site renewables, building management systems, alternative fuels to lower emissions

In addition to making energy efficiency upgrades at its facilities, the company says it plans to invest in nuclear energy to power its data centers.

By Joe Burns • July 15, 2024

With geothermal systems, higher ed institutions go underground for heating and cooling

From Colorado to Vermont, universities are drilling wells and building closed-loop district water systems to cut emissions and costs associated with heating and cooling.

By Joe Burns • July 12, 2024

Cushman & Wakefield, Catalyze partner to increase renewable energy installations

Expanding the use of solar and energy storage technology at U.S. commercial and industrial facilities can reduce emissions and save money, the companies say.

By Nish Amarnath • July 12, 2024