Utilities: Page 15

  • The Executive Order harnesses new capital investments to drive decarbonization by retrofitting or constructing fossil-fuel-free buildings.
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    Sean Pavone via Getty Images
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    Boston mayor bans fossil fuels in new city-owned buildings

    The executive order, which also prohibits fossil fuel use in renovations of existing city-owned structures, is part of a larger push for carbon neutrality by 2050.

    By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 8, 2023
  • A hotel under construction
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    Ziga Plahutar via Getty Images
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    Washington building codes lawsuit dropped by gas, building groups

    The litigation was an “aftershock” of a federal appeals court decision to overturn Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas in new buildings, an Earthjustice senior attorney said. 

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 8, 2023
  • A row of green bicycles on a rack next to a sidewalk.
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    Diy13 via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    How to safely store e-bikes, e-scooters in apartments

    The uptick in micromobility battery fires shows electrification is "moving faster than we’re able to necessarily adapt to," a fire protection expert at an engineering consulting firm said.

    By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 3, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Report: Cities and counties must prioritize workforce development to meet clean energy infrastructure goals

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The Biden ...

    By Andy Castillo • Aug. 2, 2023
  • U.S. flag reflects on the glass facade of the DOE.
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    Timothy Epple via Getty Images
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    Energy-efficient buildings save lives during extreme weather events: Department of Energy

    Meeting or exceeding current codes can improve habitability by up to 140% during extreme heat events, a report found.

    By Joe Burns • July 28, 2023
  • A Chevy Bolt EV plugged in at a charging station.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    7 automakers form massive EV charging network joint venture

    The collaboration will create one of North America's largest public EV charging networks and include 30,000 high-powered chargers.

    By Eric Walz • July 27, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Back to School Readiness: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing Your Facilities

    Back to School Readiness: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing Your Facilities

    July 27, 2023
  • New building codes targeting net-zero and climate goals are placing substantial strain on facilities managers whose roles have traditionally focused on keeping buildings safe and secure.
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    Porcorex via Getty Images
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    Building code, energy code updates face pushback due to cost concerns

    Codes that seek to curb emissions and fossil fuel consumption will save money in the long run, supporters say, but builders and facility managers wonder if “the juice is worth the squeeze.”

    By Nish Amarnath • July 26, 2023
  • Rear view of engineers walking along the rows of photovoltaic panels on a rooftop of a solar plant.
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    simonkr via Getty Images
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    Low-income, disadvantaged communities urged to apply for $7B federal solar grants

    The EPA Solar For All competition offers up to 60 grants for solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance like workforce development.

    By Diana DiGangi • July 25, 2023
  • Aerial shot of electric buses parked near chargers
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    Wengen Ling via Getty Images
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    Cities can afford more climate projects with new tax incentives: report

    Tax credits made available to cities through the Inflation Reduction Act are so significant “that they may warrant a re-evaluation of some previously assessed investment opportunities,” the Alliance for a Sustainable Future report says.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • July 25, 2023
  • Electric vehicles charge under a solar panel.
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Colorado releases new statewide building energy codes

    The standards, set to take effect July 1, will require local municipalities to meet minimum requirements, including electric vehicle and solar panel compatibility.

    By Joe Burns • Updated July 25, 2023
  • Exterior view of multifamily residential building under construction.
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    Sundry Photography via Getty Images
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    Vermont delays residential building energy code implementation to July 2024

    A legislative committee wants more time to create a state entity to improve international energy conservation code compliance.

    By Nish Amarnath • July 24, 2023
  • Sustainable glass office building with trees for reducing carbon dioxide.
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    Fahroni via Getty Images
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    Northampton mulls adoption of energy efficient opt-in stretch code

    The Massachusetts city is weighing the pros and cons of embracing a specialized stretch energy code to dissuade fossil fuel use in new building construction.

    By Nish Amarnath • July 24, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Department of Energy awards 27 organizations, states, local and Tribal governments $90 million to update energy codes

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The U.S. Depar...

    By Andy Castillo • July 19, 2023
  • A view of the Comcast offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Comcast Center is one of the tallest LEED-certified buildings in the U.S.
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    Cindy Ord via Getty Images
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    $90M for greener building energy codes awarded by DOE

    “Modernizing energy codes is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses and make communities more resilient to extreme weather events,” the Energy Department said.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • July 14, 2023
  • A mid-rise apartment building on a street corner.
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    Christian Columbres

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    Oregon plans to install 500,000 new heat pumps by 2030. Who’s going to do the work?

    The state plans to train and provide provide technical assistance on installing energy-efficient appliances to developers, builders, contractors, technicians and others. 

    By Kavya Balaraman • July 13, 2023
  • City skyline
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    Art Wager via Getty Images
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    Solar-powered ‘microgrids’ coming to San Diego public buildings as first of 8 projects breaks ground

    The microgrids will save the city $6 million over 25 years and boost community resiliency by providing energy during blackouts, the city says.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • July 11, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Scottsdale, Ariz. implements green building code for new commercial, multifamily construction

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.As communi...

    By Andy Castillo • July 10, 2023
  • Fleet of EV
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    Permission granted by ABM
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    Sponsored by ABM

    Ready to ride the wave of fleet electrification sweeping the US?

    Here’s how to navigate the obstacles to EV fleet charging infrastructure at your facility.

    July 10, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    3 tips for public sector leaders looking to take advantage of federal funding for infrastructure

    3 tips for public sector leaders looking to take advantage of federal funding for infrastructure

    By Bill Symon • July 7, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    How to make communal spaces truly community friendly

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Communal s...

    By Celeste Frye • July 6, 2023
  • A row of electric vehicle chargers.
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    Young777 via Getty Images
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    US electric vehicle goals will require up to $127B to install 28M chargers by 2030: NREL

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory expects there will be 30 million to 42 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads in 2030, requiring a rapid infrastructure buildout.

    By Robert Walton • July 6, 2023
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Report: More charging infrastructure is needed to support 30 to 42M electric vehicles by 2030

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Driven by ...

    By Andy Castillo • July 6, 2023
  • An aerial view of the iconic pier and boardwalk on the beach in Santa Cruz, California.
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    Courtesy of Granite Construction
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    California greenlights $4.3B funding for energy efficiency, targets underserved and rural communities

    The funding will support energy efficiency efforts from 2024 through 2027. Regulators also approved a forecasted budget of another $4.6 billion from 2028 through 2031.

    By Kavya Balaraman • July 5, 2023
  • Solar panels in New York City.
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    baranozdemir via Getty Images
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    EPA launches $7B program to fund solar development in low-income and disadvantaged communities

    The agency will assess proposals on several metrics, including whether they produce at least 20% bill savings, provide resilience benefits during power outages and support workforce development.

    By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2023