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

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards

Cities are using these levers to meet climate goals and address everything from data centers to building decarbonization.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

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

White House advances office-to-residential conversions with new resources

The guidance, financing and technical assistance aim to address a 30-year high in office vacancies and ease the affordable housing crisis.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 30, 2023

Debate swirls at NYC hearing on proposed delays to building emissions enforcement

Participants weighed in on whether “good-faith efforts” toward compliance should delay penalties and whether renewable energy credits provide a worrisome loophole.

By Joe Burns • Updated Oct. 30, 2023

Is Phoenix’s construction market hot? It depends on who you ask.

With few natural disaster risks, a stable climate and business-friendly practices, the Arizona metropolis has experienced a burst in industrial building.

By Matthew Thibault • Oct. 26, 2023

Heat pumps are hot, but commercial retrofits face cold realities

Government decarbonization strategies call for widespread deployment of heat pumps for building heating and cooling, but experts warn of retrofit costs, disruption and other concerns.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 23, 2023

NYC project looks to support climate law with building inspection tech

The AI-powered technology under development uses robots and drone scans to detect structural flaws that reduce energy efficiency.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 16, 2023

FEMA makes ‘key changes’ to $1.8B climate resilience grant programs

Amid concerns that some communities struggle to access federal climate resilience funding, the agency moved to lower the administrative and financial burden for certain applicants.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 13, 2023

NYC launches ‘smart city testbed’: Here are the first 3 pilot technologies

Initial projects aim to pull pollution out of the air and scan buildings for flaws that reduce energy efficiency.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 12, 2023

Notable 2024 conferences for smart city leaders

Newly added events focus on traffic safety, technology and green infrastructure.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated Aug. 2, 2024

‘Empty’ federal buildings under scrutiny

Unused office space poses financial and environmental issues federal agencies must address, lawmakers from both parties said at a Senate committee hearing.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 9, 2023

US Green Building Council’s LEED v5 doubles down on decarbonization

The proposal for existing buildings would set new requirements to boost climate resilience, assess social impact and cut emissions from embodied carbon, refrigerants and transportation.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 6, 2023

Office utilization rates on a climb to pre-pandemic levels

Culture, collaboration and communication are bringing employees back into the office on their own terms, said participants in a recent webinar by FM: Systems.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 4, 2023

NYC’s ‘mass timber studio’ aims to warm builders up to the material

The wood products represent a “huge untapped potential” to drive down the city’s carbon footprint, said the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 4, 2023

Biden administration will define zero emissions for buildings

Use of 100% clean energy and meeting strict energy-efficiency guidelines are part of the proposed definition, White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi said.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 2, 2023

Governments can cut buildings’ embodied carbon with new policies, reports say

Targeted incentives and building code changes can support the transition to more climate-friendly building materials, say research, advocacy and industry groups.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 28, 2023