DOE spurs new building energy codes with another $90M

Construction-heavy states that lack the latest energy-efficiency codes are among the focus areas for this round of federal funding, a U.S. Department of Energy official said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 16, 2024

Want federal funds for climate-resilient projects? The EPA’s new website aims to help.

The resource comes as experts voice concerns about communities struggling to navigate complex, often overlapping federal funding programs.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 12, 2024

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

New compost program framework offers a starting point for local officials

Resources from two composting-focused groups and a platform to connect local leaders seek to close the knowledge gap for officials planning an organics recycling program in their community.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 12, 2024

Retrofits more effective in cutting operational, embodied carbon emissions than new builds: study

Notre Dame researchers analyzed over 1 million Chicago buildings. The team plans to measure buildings’ embodied carbon in most U.S. metropolitan areas by the end of 2025, a researcher said.

By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 11, 2024

Washington hopes to advance clean building standards implementation with nearly $8M DOE grant

The state’s Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network project aims to train at least 60 fellows to provide energy services to building owners and operators.

By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 10, 2024

Google pilots heat resilience tool in 14 US cities

The artificial intelligence-driven tool predicts how changes in tree canopy and reflective surfaces could reduce land surface temperature across neighborhoods.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 9, 2024

Robust community engagement good for locals, renewable energy developers: Berkeley Lab

In a first-of-its-kind survey, wind and solar developers cited community opposition and strict local siting ordinances as leading causes of project delays and cancellations.

By Brian Martucci • Sept. 6, 2024

20-acre electric bus operations center under construction in South Florida

The "largest all-electric bus maintenance and transit operations center" in the U.S. will be home to 100 articulated 60-foot buses, a county official said.

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 4, 2024

OSHA sets late December comment deadline for extreme heat standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule would require employers to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, among other actions.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 4, 2024

30 neighborhood decarbonization pilots allowed under bill passed in California

If the governor signs it, the legislation will let natural gas utilities planning to replace old gas pipelines decarbonize pilot areas instead.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 4, 2024

Low-carbon materials a ‘huge opportunity’ to green the transportation sector

The U.S. Department of Transportation is releasing $800 million for state, local and other agencies to reimburse builders for using cleaner construction products, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

By Julie Strupp • Sept. 3, 2024

Cooling is expensive, and more federal assistance is needed, advocates say

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is “chronically underfunded,” argues a policy brief by the Natural Resources Defense Council and WE ACT for Environmental Justice. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 29, 2024

What to know about BERDO, Boston’s building performance standards law

While many buildings already meet 2025 emissions limits, facility managers and owners should start planning now for how they’ll meet future requirements, city officials say.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 28, 2024

State, local building energy codes get makeovers with over $240M from US DOE

Nineteen states and localities, including Seattle and New York City, got grants announced Tuesday by the Department of Energy. The agency encouraged more communities to apply by Sept. 13 for a second round of funding.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 28, 2024

Cities assert tenants’ right to cooling in a warming world

Grappling with fatal heat waves, local governments are passing laws that make landlords provide working air conditioning. Financial and other challenges remain, however.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 27, 2024

Will New York City make landlords provide air conditioning? Its climate chief is optimistic.

Coordinating any such mandate with the city's building decarbonization law requirements could reduce the burden it might create for building owners, Rohit Aggarwala explained.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 26, 2024

Resilient renewable infrastructure needs reliable materials

Expand the possibilities of long-distance renewable energy transmission with the right materials. 

Aug. 26, 2024

Seattle libraries get $5.5M for air conditioning in FEMA grant offered post-pandemic

The city is betting on the upgraded facilities to serve as cooling and clean-air centers to protect residents from the rising danger of extreme heat and wildfire smoke.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 23, 2024

2 California commuter railroads implement zero-emission trains

Caltrain and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority join other commuter rail lines in replacing diesel-powered trains with battery, electric or hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 22, 2024

Focus on heat illness intensifies after death of Baltimore sanitation worker

In the wake of the death of Ronald Silver II, a city employee, labor groups are calling for more heat safety protections — and fast. Pending state and federal heat standards could help.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 22, 2024

An air conditioning law, the first in its region, changed tenants’ rights in this Maryland county

Montgomery County began requiring landlords to provide AC in 2020 amid climate concerns and renter complaints. Despite a shaky start, officials say things are going smoothly now.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 22, 2024

Urban forests are ‘critical but underfunded.’ A report looks at how to fix that.

Carbon credit programs, revolving funds and partnerships with conservancies could provide some of the money needed to prevent these green spaces from degrading, the Natural Areas Conservancy says.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 21, 2024

Municipal pools are popular, but they come at a price for cities

Cities tout the numerous benefits public pools provide. As costs to maintain, operate and staff them grow, however, funding strategies become increasingly important.

By Karen Kroll • Aug. 21, 2024

Composters add pickup services for hard-to-recycle items, addressing gap

The small, independent haulers are partnering with recyclers in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and elsewhere to divert materials. 

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 20, 2024

More efficient electric vehicles can reduce grid stress, cut charging costs by almost a third: ACEEE

Local governments can leverage registration fees and subsidies to encourage EV efficiency, says research published Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2024