Policymakers explore government's role in green building

Key state policymakers explored how government can help residential buildings advance broader sustainability goals at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), organized by USGBC and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.

State legislators celebrate green schools

The Center for Green Schools at the USGBC co-hosted a reception at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) alongside the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) to celebrate the growth of green schools policy activity.

New energy standards mean greener buildings

The latest proposed updates to the International Energy Conservation Code in San Antonio, Texas, would require increased energy efficiencies in new homes and commercial buildings of about 15 percent, and would come on top of already increased building standards that went into effect in San Antonio in 2010 and across Texas in 2011.

Colored Solar panels hit California market

Colored Solar is trying to grab a toehold in the solar energy market with red, emerald green, forest green, and polished marble solar panels.

Greener buildings would slash NYC's energy use

According to a report released Friday, New York City could cut its energy consumption by 18 percent if the most inefficient buildings reached just the “middle level” of efficiency.

UGC's FAQ for NYC's Energy Aligned Lease Clause

New York City has committed to using the Urban Green Council’s (UGC) Energy Aligned Lease Clause in all of the City’s leases. Following the commercial real estate industry’s initial reaction to this lease clause, the UGC has published an FAQ document to address various questions and concerns.

Vietnam's 'green revolution' underway

Sustainable design and construction is slowly catching on in Vietnam, which is facing energy, climate change, pollution, and storm-water management issues.

Arizona's first net-zero school opens

Turner Construction Company has completed construction on the new Colonel Smith Middle School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the first net-zero energy school in the state.

Chicago garage home to world's largest green rooftop

Millennium Park, which sits atop two of Millennium Garages' underground parking locations and an active commuter rail yard in Chicago, has been named the world's "Largest Green Roof" by Engineering News-Record.

Net-zero housing done right in Dunedin

Construction has commenced at the Eco Village at Dunedin, a residential building project in Pinellas County, Florida, the first affordable net-zero energy townhome community in the nation.

Miami Gardens to build green municipal complex

Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson held a ground breaking ceremony for a new $50 million, 138,000 square feet municipal complex, which the city is hoping will obtain LEED Platinum certification.

Epsten Group awarded GSA contract for consulting services

Sustainable design leader Epsten Group was awarded a GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contract for energy auditing, building commissioning, and energy consulting services.

Energy-efficient Vista Charter School opens in Colorado

The new 17,000-square foot, LEED certified, school building at Vista Charter School in Montrose, Colorado, cost about $5.5 million, $3.9 million of that coming from a Colorado Department of Education Building Excellent Schools Today grant.

NYC approves zoning for planned LEED Gold office tower

The New York City Department of Buildings approved the zoning plan for 837 Washington Street, a planned 6-story, LEED Gold mixed-use tower in the Meatpacking District.

USGBC plugs into WegoWise for LEED Homes Project

The USGBC has partnered with WegoWise on the organization’s “LEED for Homes” project. The online platform will help developers and owners benchmark energy and water performance and minimize operating costs for nearly 23,000 residential units, with an additional 86,000 registered projects in the pipeline.

Pasadena's Hudson Oaks project going for platinum

The $17-million Hudson Oaks apartment complex in Pasadena is fully rented out to 43 very low-income senior tenants, and it's now in line to become the city's first LEED Platinum multi-family housing project.

Las Vegas X Train chooses green construction company

Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (X Train), the company building a luxury passenger train between Southern California and Las Vegas, selected R&O Construction as the general contractor for the X Train's Las Vegas Station due in part to R&O Construction’s long-standing record of award-winning work, including achieving LEED Silver, Gold, and Platinum certifications for its projects.

In Portland, Office Depot gets cozy with green

Office Depot's new, smaller format store in downtown Portland, Oregon, showcases a host of green building features, as well as EcoSense certified products.