To be truly net-zero, buildings must buy 100% renewable energy, global council says

A globally consistent definition of net-zero buildings is needed, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says, while market commentators decry carbon compliance ambiguities.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 18, 2023

Cities: Our time is now

In recent years, cities have faced myriad challenges. Technological advancements in government operations and significant federal investment into cities are driving transformative change.

Dec. 18, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

More climate-friendly housing, faster, is the goal of NYC proposal to speed environmental reviews

Each eligible housing project could save an average of $100,000 and two years of review time, the city estimates.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 14, 2023

Seattle requires large buildings to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

As building performance standards gain traction nationwide, Seattle’s policy is the city’s most ambitious plan ever to reduce building emissions, the City Council said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 13, 2023

NYC overhauls zoning to boost renewables, electrification

The “City of Yes” initiative, which took effect Dec. 11, is among the most significant zoning changes in New York City's history, the city's chief climate officer said.

By Joe Burns and Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 12, 2023

Fully remote work plummets, EY finds

The move away from full-time remote work is welcome news for the corporate real estate sector, but organizations face challenges in optimizing office space for their needs, the consulting firm said.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 12, 2023

Ford, Resideo to study how EVs can power homes

The automaker and smart home product company will test how Ford’s future electric vehicle batteries can reduce home energy costs.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 12, 2023

Warehouse roofs house New Jersey’s largest rooftop community solar project to date

The two installations will provide more than 1,400 nearby homes with discounted solar energy.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 11, 2023

Existing building stock challenges decarbonization goals

New construction codes that don’t align with performance standards for existing buildings pose a “serious problem,” said Sustainable Energy Partnerships’ managing director at an ASHRAE conference.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 8, 2023

HUD announces new building decarbonization efforts at COP28

As the U.S. pledges to make near-zero-emissions buildings the “new normal” by 2030, the housing agency is teaming up with other departments for access to the best available data and research.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 7, 2023

Cooling cities while reducing emissions: 3 takeaways from UN report

Increasing air conditioning and refrigeration needs threaten to drive up greenhouse gas emissions, pushing experts to recommend more passive solutions in a Dec. 5 report.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 6, 2023

3 communities turning to the dark side with dark-sky retrofits

Reducing light pollution has tourism, sustainability, safety and health benefits, proponents say.

By Kalena Thomhave • Dec. 4, 2023

Demand for sustainable buildings outstripping supply, JLL says

Rising demand has led to an over 7% rental premium on green-certified office buildings across major U.S. and Canadian markets, with significant variations from city to city.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 30, 2023

Office construction may never return to pre-pandemic levels

Despite some massive office towers breaking ground, the chief economist for a construction analytics firm expects starts in the sector to continue to tumble.

By Sebastian Obando • Nov. 29, 2023

As building performance standards gain steam, noncompliant owners face business risks

Some cities respond to policy violations with financial penalties, but green lease clauses and submetering provide other levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says real estate firm CBRE.

By Joe Burns • Updated Dec. 11, 2023

DOE releases $31M+ in grants for retrofits, infrastructure upgrades

Some cities will use the funds for resilience hubs, while others plan to conduct energy audits and upgrade facilities. Local governments can continue applying for the grants through April 2024.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 28, 2023

Without significant interventions, US building emissions will continue to increase

Federal, regional and local government bodies must collaborate to create “consistent and stringent building standards,” a new report says.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 27, 2023

How 7 cities transformed asphalt with art in 2023: photos

Bloomberg Philanthropies recently announced which 25 cities will receive Asphalt Art Initiative grants to undertake projects in 2024.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 27, 2023

Office-to-residential conversion costs can be 30% lower than new construction: Gensler

However, only 25% of the office buildings the firm assessed for adaptive reuse were deemed suitable for conversion, according to the analysis. 

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 21, 2023

Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 20, 2023

2 years in, infrastructure law has funded 40,000 projects

The largest portion of 2021 infrastructure law money is flowing to road and bridge construction, according to White House data analyzed by CNBC.

By Julie Strupp • Nov. 17, 2023

LA’s I-10 to reopen in 3 to 5 weeks after intense blaze

No demo is needed to repair the freeway, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. He called the damage "substantially greater” than a portion of Interstate 95 that collapsed on the East Coast in June.

By Joe Bousquin • Nov. 15, 2023

Boston ends efforts to ban fossil fuels in new buildings through state program

Massachusetts’ largest city pursued inclusion in the state climate pilot program, but the mayor reported she got “clear indications” that Boston would not be selected for the last of 10 spots.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 15, 2023

23 federal properties on the chopping block to ‘right-size’ government’s real estate

The U.S. General Services Administration said it will engage with local communities to “maximize the benefits of new uses and minimize any potential adverse impacts."

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 13, 2023

75% of companies plan to cut office space in 2024

Of more than 500 business owners and facilities managers surveyed, 82% are concerned about their ability to retain current office space, according to a report from workspace platform provider Robin.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 10, 2023