Massachusetts city mandates net-zero emissions for some large buildings by 2035

Cambridge, Massachusetts, touted its new requirements as the most aggressive in the country, as building performance standards emerge as a key tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings.

By Ysabelle Kempe • June 30, 2023

San Francisco invites proposals to convert downtown office spaces into housing, other new uses

The city’s initiative to repurpose underused downtown commercial space solidifies legislation passed last week to simplify commercial building conversion processes.

By Nish Amarnath • June 29, 2023

Coastal cities are sinking as sea levels are rising, increasing flood risks

Individual communities are limited in their ability to stop either phenomenon, experts say, but governments can take steps to minimize the flooding that might result.

By Adina Solomon • June 28, 2023

US will need to triple building retrofit rate to meet decarbonization targets: report

The report urges building owners and occupiers to strengthen their relationships, upskill the labor force and electrify major building systems to avoid a “brown discount” on lease negotiations.

By Joe Burns • June 26, 2023

To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits

The first round of the $4.8 billion GRRP covers upgrades for 28 rent-assisted properties.

By Mary Salmonsen • June 22, 2023

When wildfires hit, homes built under fire-resistant codes are surviving. Communities are noticing.

Building code changes resulted in more saved homes in the 2018 Camp Fire in California. With more frequent, intense wildfires likely, Western communities are taking a look but hearing concerns about costs and property rights.

By Amanda Loudin • June 16, 2023

To reduce carbon footprint of existing buildings, Seattle proposes new standards

Mayor Bruce Harrell called the legislation “among the most impactful proposals [the city] can advance to reduce emissions.”

By Ysabelle Kempe • June 15, 2023

New York City Housing Authority says heating system improvements reduced outages by 9%

New York City’s upgrades are just some of many taking place in municipalities across the country, with others also using energy performance contracts to save money to fund future installations.

By Joe Burns • June 12, 2023

Land-use reform efforts could bring 135K new homes to downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood

To address its acute housing shortage, the city is allowing greater housing density, relaxing parking requirements and creating affordable housing incentives and mandates in updates to decades-old community plans.

By Kalena Thomhave • June 12, 2023

Federal funding fuels modern infrastructure and economic recovery

How to leverage funding to make long-term investments that stimulate economic recovery and promote growth.

June 12, 2023

Dallas in the homestretch of ransomware attack recovery

Security operations and tools are also getting a refresh as city officials rebuild impacted systems and make upgrades across multiple departments.

By Matt Kapko • June 8, 2023

Building performance standards becoming key climate policy in US cities: report

The number of jurisdictions adopting standards has nearly doubled since 2020, with legislation enacted in three states and nine localities, says a new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Ysabelle Kempe • June 6, 2023

Collecting data to support energy-burdened communities poses unique challenges, experts say

Census data isn’t collected often enough to reflect neighborhood demographic shifts, and asking communities to self-report can present additional burdens, panelists said at a clean energy summit.

By Diana DiGangi • May 24, 2023

The ‘infrastructure decade’ is here, but challenges loom for local governments at the helm

“Money is flowing, grant applications are live, private capital is ready to move. But there are real constraints to achieving public goals,” Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Adie Tomer said at an event last week.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 23, 2023

In San Jose, city climate plans must have ‘the cool factor’

After winning a national climate leadership award, the city’s chief sustainability officer discussed how libraries can win over electric stove skeptics and how house parties might boost community engagement.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 22, 2023

Los Angeles mayor announces next steps in plan to build shelters, housing on city properties

Mayor Karen Bass said she would spend the rest of her term trying to make “the disposition and development of City owned land faster, cheaper, and more streamlined” in a Tuesday letter to the public.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 18, 2023

How NYC is preparing its infrastructure for extreme weather

Thu-Loan Dinh, who helps lead infrastructure design for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, discusses the agency’s biggest resilience concerns and how to address them.

By Julie Strupp • May 17, 2023

Why Boston is turning bus stops into digital pop-up libraries

Users are not required to have a library card or download an app to access the primarily English- and Spanish-language offerings.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 16, 2023

NYC hotel reopens as asylum seeker center

The reopening of the Roosevelt Hotel will give the city a space to offer resources and short-term housing to a rising number of asylum seekers.

By Jenna Graber • May 16, 2023

NREL energy audit tool may help cities meet climate, building decarbonization goals

Local governments often lack the staff and resources to conduct energy audits on thousands of buildings, an engineer at the National Renewable Energy Lab said, but technology can help overcome those challenges.

By Joe Burns • May 16, 2023

Parking minimums will soon be history in Austin, Texas

“Our priority should be allowing space for people rather than mandating space for cars,” City Council member Zohaib Qadri said.

By Michael Brady • May 12, 2023

Bank failures could slow new apartment construction

Last year’s interest rate hikes have made it more challenging to get construction loans, which could slow multifamily construction starts by 60%, one real estate executive said.

By Leslie Shaver • May 9, 2023

Dallas restores core emergency dispatch systems after ransomware attack

“At this point, we do not have evidence or indication that there has been data removed during this attack,” Dallas CIO Bill Zielinski told city officials Monday.

By Matt Kapko • May 9, 2023

Advocates push for housing owned by communities, rather than by investors

It’s still unclear what broad-scale programs would look like, but there is some evidence that decommodifying housing can work.

By Gaby Galvin • May 4, 2023

How governments are updating ‘operational technologies,’ including AI, and the challenges that remain: survey

Over half of the survey respondents reported their agency plans to upgrade systems by 2025, a Center for Digital Government and Samsara survey found. Operational efficiency and cost savings are a big reason why.

By Michael Brady • May 4, 2023