Buildings and their construction together account for 35 percent of global energy use and 38 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to the United Nations Environment Program. In the United States, residential and commercial buildings accounted for 40 percent of energy consumption in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In California, the most populous of the United States, the California Air Resources Board identifies the building sector as the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state, surpassed only by transportation.
The Building sector offers great potential to reduce GHG emissions. Recognizing the GHG emissions associated with buildings, building efficiency standards and standardized building codes have been developed to reduce energy use and associated emissions. Locally mandated “stretch” or “reach” codes require even greater levels of energy efficiency than the state building code. Other local building codes place limits on the embodied energy of building materials. Together, these local codes reduce both energy use and GHG emissions from the design, construction and operation of buildings.
A number of states, including California, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Vermont, and Rhode Island allow local stretch or reach codes to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce building related GHG emissions.
Description: Across the country, many cities and states are taking steps to address the harms of natural gas emissions within […]
Prohibiting Natural Gas (methane) Infrastructure in New Buildings (update) Read More »
Description: Across the country, many cities and states are taking steps to address the harms of natural gas emissions within
Description: The implementation of networked geothermal, also referred to as community geothermal and geothermal districts, began in the United States
Multi-Building Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Read More »
Description: The implementation of networked geothermal, also referred to as community geothermal and geothermal districts, began in the United States
Description: Creating a local microgrid improved resilience, expanded local clean energy production, and reduced dependence on transmission lines and remote
Creating Solar Microgrids for Clean Energy and Resilience Read More »
Description: Creating a local microgrid improved resilience, expanded local clean energy production, and reduced dependence on transmission lines and remote
Description: In March of 2023 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted first-in-nation rules to phase out and
Regional air district adopts rule phasing out gas-fired heating appliances Read More »
Description: In March of 2023 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted first-in-nation rules to phase out and
Description: To reduce carbon emissions from buildings, the City of New York enacted Local Law 97 (LL97) in 2019 as
Commercial Building Deep Energy Retrofit Read More »
Description: To reduce carbon emissions from buildings, the City of New York enacted Local Law 97 (LL97) in 2019 as
Description: In 2019, the Common Council of Ithaca, New York approved the Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND), which allowed the
Using Low Risk Opt-in Loans to Decarbonize Buildings Equitably Read More »
Description: In 2019, the Common Council of Ithaca, New York approved the Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND), which allowed the
Description: Some cities are requiring building owners to publicly disclose the annual energy and water used in their buildings. New
Energy use reporting Read More »
Description: Some cities are requiring building owners to publicly disclose the annual energy and water used in their buildings. New
Description: The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), also known as the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, was a measure that appeared
Create clean energy fund Read More »
Description: The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), also known as the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, was a measure that appeared
Description: Brisbane, CA adopted a local amendment to California’s 2016 Title 24 Building Efficiency Standards. The amendment requires installing cool roofs
California reach code for cool roofs and solar PV Read More »
Description: Brisbane, CA adopted a local amendment to California’s 2016 Title 24 Building Efficiency Standards. The amendment requires installing cool roofs
Description: Effective January 1st, 2017, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to mandate solar and living roofs on most
California reach code requiring solar and living roofs Read More »
Description: Effective January 1st, 2017, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to mandate solar and living roofs on most
