News
40,000 charging stations for electric vehicles planned for Southern California
Los Angeles Daily News – July 12
What will come first? More electric cars on California’s roadways or additional electric vehicle chargers? This chicken-and-egg problem has plagued the changeover from gasoline-powered to electric passenger cars, which according to a goal set by Governor Gavin Newsom, is supposed to be completed by 2035 as a way to reduce smog and greenhouse gases. Southern California Edison announced a plan on Monday to exponentially multiply the number of passenger-car electric chargers it has placed in Southern California, by going from around 3,000 at present to more than 40,000 in the next four years.
San Diego enhancing city’s fight against climate change after critical audit
The San Diego Union-Tribune – July 12
San Diego’s efforts to fight climate change will shift from a set of ambitious goals to a more comprehensive and detailed blueprint in response to a new audit that criticizes the city’s previous efforts as relatively vague and weak. City officials said Monday that a revised version of San Diego’s 6-year-old climate action plan will be far more robust, including a thorough “implementation” plan prioritizing key projects that reduce greenhouse gases. The revised plan, expected to be ready in coming months, will require city officials to rate individual projects, decide how they fit the overall climate plan, estimate their costs, identify funding sources, and explain possible funding gaps.
DOE working to develop building materials from carbon ore
Environment and Energy Leader – July 12
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working to develop and commercialize a new class of building materials made from carbon ore. The materials could be used in both the precast and cast-in-place construction markets as a cementitious substitute for Portland cement, the world’s predominant building material. Carbon ore or coal, like any other natural mined ore (iron, calcium, etc.) does not create air pollution unless it is heated. Portland cement, on the other hand, is very energy intensive to manufacture. In fact, its production and use are responsible for 5% to 8% of total global CO2 emissions.
Highlights of LEED multifamily certifications in 2020
Multi-Housing News – July 9
According to U.S. Green Building Council data on the progression of LEED certifications on the residential front, in 2020, 30 communities across the country received the highest certification level—LEED Platinum. California led all states by far with 14 winning communities. Next in line were Oregon (4), Washington (3), New York and Arizona (2 each), and Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ohio (1 each). At the Gold level of LEED certification, a total of 93 properties received the award, with California still in the lead with 27 communities.
Silicon Valley pedals closer to region’s first bicycle superhighway
San Jose Spotlight – July 9
Santa Clara County is planning the region’s first bike superhighway—but a route still needs to be selected. The idea of a superhighway stems from VTA’s Santa Clara Countywide Bike Plan released in 2018. The plan proposes a central bikeway to help cyclists travel more easily and safely. Santa Clara County already has 800 miles of bikeways and 200 miles of dedicated bike trails, but many popular routes are not connected through a continuous, uninterrupted path. VTA allocated $903,000 in funding toward the project, and aims to complete an analysis of the preferred route by January.
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