Extreme heat watch: Will cities be ready for summer 2024?

This year could be even hotter than last year’s record-breaker, some scientists say. Cities are using the winter to prepare.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 31, 2024

Connecticut beefs up energy storage incentives to meet 1 GW goal by 2030

Residential customers can get as much as $16,000 in upfront incentives — up from the previous maximum of $7,500.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 25, 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 in 2024.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Chicago mayor proposes natural gas ban in new buildings

This marks the first time the city has introduced a building decarbonization ordinance, a city employee said. The proposal drew swift backlash from the local gas industry.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 25, 2024

ASHRAE updates energy efficiency standard for existing buildings

The 2024 edition of Standard 100 contains new metrics for setting emissions targets and a “simple” compliance mechanism for energy-efficient and low-emission buildings.

By Joe Burns • Jan. 22, 2024

Robot worms, lasers, drones and AI: How the DOE wants to move the US power grid underground

The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday announced $34 million in funding to explore novel approaches to undergrounding power lines to increase resiliency.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 19, 2024

Affordable housing faces building performance standards challenges, report says

Facing costly upgrades, hefty fines and lacking technical assistance, the affordable housing sector needs more help from cities and states with such policies, says a new American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy report.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 18, 2024

6 trends that could shape US cities in 2024

Cities will contend with a shifting transportation picture, increased urgency to act on climate change, and innovative policies and technologies to address longstanding concerns.

By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski , Rachel H. Pollack • Jan. 17, 2024

Air taxi charging infrastructure coming to 3 states in Archer, Joby deals

The two eVTOL manufacturers are moving closer to commercial passenger flights as federal officials urge state and local governments to plan for the needed infrastructure.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 17, 2024

US greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2023, despite economic growth: Rhodium

Preliminary estimates show emissions are now 17.2% below pre-2005 levels, but the emissions reduction rate needs to more than triple to reach Paris Agreement goals.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 16, 2024

Hertz reverses course on electric vehicles

The company, which once said EVs would account for a quarter of its rental fleet by 2025, is selling some 20,000 electric vehicles and replacing them with gas-powered cars.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 12, 2024

Buildings can reduce energy intensity by up to 38%: report

Undertaking energy savings and energy efficiency measures by 2030 can garner up to $2 trillion in annual savings, according to a white paper by the World Economic Forum and PwC. 

By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 11, 2024

New buildings that use natural gas lose final utility subsidy in California

Incentives that indirectly help expand the gas system don’t align with the state’s climate goals, the California Public Utilities Commission said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 9, 2024

To spur more EV chargers, regulators must get creative with demand charges

No matter what the incentives for installing an EV charger, very few businesses will enter this marketplace if selling the product leads to thousands of dollars in charges that aren’t made up for with revenue.

By Chris Kaiser • Jan. 8, 2024

To define zero emissions for buildings, Biden administration seeks input

Feb. 5 is the deadline to submit information on Part 1 of the definition, which addresses operating emissions, including those from tenants.

By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 5, 2024

Federal court won’t reconsider decision to overturn Berkeley, California, natural gas ban

The denial of the city’s request for a rehearing left the court divided, with a strong dissent by 11 judges. If Berkeley wants to continue to appeal the decision, its next stop would be the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 2, 2024

What US cities could look like in 2024: 6 predictions

Safer, greener communities with more housing, greater civic participation, and diversified downtowns are what these experts envision for the coming year.

By the Smart Cities Dive Team • Jan. 2, 2024

Legal threats to city, state natural gas bans: A timeline

Berkeley, California’s legal battle with the California Restaurant Association comes to a close as the city agrees to repeal its first-in-the-nation ban on gas in new buildings.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Updated March 27, 2024

DOE allocates $40M for energy audit training

The funds aim to help states upskill a workforce that will evaluate energy efficiency to help building owners save money and combat climate change.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 22, 2023

Gas industry sues DOE over new furnace efficiency rule, citing cost and other concerns

The new rule will require gas furnaces to be 95% efficient, but the American Gas Association and other stakeholders say it effectively bans a product class and will drive prices higher for many consumers.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2023

Tesla EV charging stations are coming to these North American hotels

The partnership is the latest between a hotel company and EV charging provider as hotels increasingly seek to cater to eco-conscious guests.

By Noelle Mateer • Dec. 21, 2023

NYC releases second set of final rules for Local Law 97 implementation

The rules define what a good-faith effort to decarbonize is, create a framework for retroactive enforcement, limit the use of renewable energy credits and more.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 20, 2023

$530M in building code technical assistance grants available from DOE

The grants will support a wide range of energy code and building performance standards activities, including workforce development, by state, local and tribal governments.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 20, 2023

Microgrids can drive resiliency, efficiency and profitability: JLL

Government buildings and healthcare facilities are among those that can benefit most significantly from microgrids, the report says.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 19, 2023

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

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