News
Green Building & Eco Friendly News
We are excited to share green building industry developments, news about our Member Companies, and of course current Rate It Green information. Please feel welcome to submit interesting news you have found. Note that Rate It Green does include news announcements as a part of some sponsorship offerings.
You can also learn more by following Rate It Green on social media. We greatly appreciate your likes, follows, and general votes of support.
Microsoft Pledges to Go Carbon Negative by 2030
Microsoft took an impressive climate leadership position this week when the company announced a promise to remove all of the carbon the company has ever put in the atmosphere directly or by consumption - back to the company’s founding in a garage in 1975. The company plans to be “carbon negative” by 2030.
According to a company statement by President Brad Smith, "While the world will need to reach net zero, those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so."
To r… Show more
Google's Nevada Data Center to be Powered by a $1 Billion Solar Farm
Google’s new data center in Henderson, Nevada will be powered largely by a $1 billion solar farm. The project is one of the largest corporate solar deals signed in the US, and maybe the the world’s larges such deal once battery-backed storage is included. Expected to be completed in 2023, the farm will produce up to 690MW of electricity. 380MW of lithium-ion batter storage will also be on site.
The planned site consists of 7,100 acres of public land and is located about 33 miles northeast of Las Vegas … Show more
Arizona Utility Announces Commitment to Carbon-Free Energy Production by 2050
Arizona Public Service Company (APS) CEO Jeff Guldner announced that the company will produce all electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050 and will produce 45% of power from renewable sources by 2030.
The decision seems impressive, as according to Guldner, the plan to convert more than half of the company's energy supply will require technology that is not even currently available. "“Nobody today actually knows how you get to 100% carbon free...I take some comfort from the fact that there are others who also b… Show more
New York City Buildings to Display Energy Grades
Starting this year, approximately 50,000 midsize and large buildings in Manhattan will be required to display energy efficiency scores which include a letter grade near public entrances. The buildings may only represent only 2% of the city’s building stick, but apparently they account for up to half of all building emissions, and 67% of all carbon dioxide emissions.
EPA’s Energy Star tool will be used to generate the letter grade, which will vary from A to D (and F for failure to submit). Failure to submit a grade wi… Show more
Massachusetts, Washington Take Steps Towards NetZero Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Leaders in Washington and Massachusetts have recently taken significant and exciting steps towards net-zero emissions.
In December, Washington Governor Jay Inslee introduced climate legislation aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, through measure including a clean fuel standard, increased electric vehicle availability, and an extended tax incentive for low-income community solar projects. The state was already the fourth to commit to a 100% clean energy goal for 2045 in 2019.
In Massachusetts, Governo… Show more
Minneapolis City Council Approves “Home Energy Score" for Real Estate Transactions
Home energy data collection is now a part of required Truth in Sale of Housing (TISH) evaluations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The data is used to generate an Energy Disclosure report to be used in the City’s TISH report, which must be available to the public and displayed at all open houses. All 1-2 unit properties, townhomes, and first-time condo conversations must collect this data, unless an energy audit has been conducted within the past 5 years.
The Energy Disclosure Report provides a score that rates a… Show more
Tiny Home Communities in Development for Homeless Veterans - in Brunswick, Georgia, Kansas City, Missouri, and Beyond
The Nine-Line Foundation has partnered with the Golden Isles Veterans Village to build a new development of tiny homes for homeless veterans in Brunswick, Georgia. Between 30 and 40 homes will be located on the property.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Veterans Community Project (VCP) also works to end veteran homelessness through tiny housing communities and community and outreach centers. VCP is working to expand to other cities, including Longmont, Colorado, St. Louis, Missouri, and Orlando, Florida.
Nearly 50… Show more
Rhode Island Commits to 100% Renewable Energy by 2030 (First US State)
In her annual State of the State speech to lawmakers, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order this month calling for an end to fossil fuel reliance by 2030. The action makes Rhode Island the first state in America to plan 100% renewable electricity within a decade.
Raimondo also called for the state’s Office of Energy Resources to analyze the state’s economy and energy markets by the end of the year in order to map out the steps needed to reach the ambitious goal.
To read the … Show more
City Buildings in River Falls Wisconsin, Go Green as of January 1, with 100% Renewable Energy
On January first and after years of effort to cut dependence on fossil fuel use, River Falls Wisconsin “flipped a switch” to power all city buildings with 100% renewable energy. This arguably makes the college town of 15.000 one of the most environmentally friendly US cities.
City Buildings going green as of January 1, 2020 include City Hall, the Public Library, Public Works Garage, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Public Safety Building, Ambulance and the town’s Glen Park Pool.
According to Mike Noreen, the city… Show more
Kebony Wins Two 2019 Architizer A+ Awards!
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member Company Kebony for winning two Architzer A+ Awards in 2019, for Opening, Windows and Skylights, for Kebony Modified Wood Panels. The panels were used twice in the University of Miami Buildlab project, and won both the Jury and Popular Choice Awards.
The panels were also used throughout for the National Museum for Peace and Justice, for decking, seating, fencing and cladding, a project which also won an award for Cultural-Religious Buildings & Memorials.
To read more:&… Show more
Microsoft Pledges to Go Carbon Negative by 2030
Microsoft took an impressive climate leadership position this week when the company announced a promise to remove all of the carbon the company has ever put in the atmosphere directly or by consumption - back to the company’s founding in a garage in 1975. The company plans to be “carbon negative” by 2030.
According to a company statement by President Brad Smith, "While the world will need to reach net zero, those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so."
To r… Show more
Google's Nevada Data Center to be Powered by a $1 Billion Solar Farm
Google’s new data center in Henderson, Nevada will be powered largely by a $1 billion solar farm. The project is one of the largest corporate solar deals signed in the US, and maybe the the world’s larges such deal once battery-backed storage is included. Expected to be completed in 2023, the farm will produce up to 690MW of electricity. 380MW of lithium-ion batter storage will also be on site.
The planned site consists of 7,100 acres of public land and is located about 33 miles northeast of Las Vegas … Show more
Arizona Utility Announces Commitment to Carbon-Free Energy Production by 2050
Arizona Public Service Company (APS) CEO Jeff Guldner announced that the company will produce all electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050 and will produce 45% of power from renewable sources by 2030.
The decision seems impressive, as according to Guldner, the plan to convert more than half of the company's energy supply will require technology that is not even currently available. "“Nobody today actually knows how you get to 100% carbon free...I take some comfort from the fact that there are others who also b… Show more
New York City Buildings to Display Energy Grades
Starting this year, approximately 50,000 midsize and large buildings in Manhattan will be required to display energy efficiency scores which include a letter grade near public entrances. The buildings may only represent only 2% of the city’s building stick, but apparently they account for up to half of all building emissions, and 67% of all carbon dioxide emissions.
EPA’s Energy Star tool will be used to generate the letter grade, which will vary from A to D (and F for failure to submit). Failure to submit a grade wi… Show more
Massachusetts, Washington Take Steps Towards NetZero Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Leaders in Washington and Massachusetts have recently taken significant and exciting steps towards net-zero emissions.
In December, Washington Governor Jay Inslee introduced climate legislation aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, through measure including a clean fuel standard, increased electric vehicle availability, and an extended tax incentive for low-income community solar projects. The state was already the fourth to commit to a 100% clean energy goal for 2045 in 2019.
In Massachusetts, Governo… Show more
Minneapolis City Council Approves “Home Energy Score" for Real Estate Transactions
Home energy data collection is now a part of required Truth in Sale of Housing (TISH) evaluations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The data is used to generate an Energy Disclosure report to be used in the City’s TISH report, which must be available to the public and displayed at all open houses. All 1-2 unit properties, townhomes, and first-time condo conversations must collect this data, unless an energy audit has been conducted within the past 5 years.
The Energy Disclosure Report provides a score that rates a… Show more
Tiny Home Communities in Development for Homeless Veterans - in Brunswick, Georgia, Kansas City, Missouri, and Beyond
The Nine-Line Foundation has partnered with the Golden Isles Veterans Village to build a new development of tiny homes for homeless veterans in Brunswick, Georgia. Between 30 and 40 homes will be located on the property.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Veterans Community Project (VCP) also works to end veteran homelessness through tiny housing communities and community and outreach centers. VCP is working to expand to other cities, including Longmont, Colorado, St. Louis, Missouri, and Orlando, Florida.
Nearly 50… Show more
Rhode Island Commits to 100% Renewable Energy by 2030 (First US State)
In her annual State of the State speech to lawmakers, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order this month calling for an end to fossil fuel reliance by 2030. The action makes Rhode Island the first state in America to plan 100% renewable electricity within a decade.
Raimondo also called for the state’s Office of Energy Resources to analyze the state’s economy and energy markets by the end of the year in order to map out the steps needed to reach the ambitious goal.
To read the … Show more
City Buildings in River Falls Wisconsin, Go Green as of January 1, with 100% Renewable Energy
On January first and after years of effort to cut dependence on fossil fuel use, River Falls Wisconsin “flipped a switch” to power all city buildings with 100% renewable energy. This arguably makes the college town of 15.000 one of the most environmentally friendly US cities.
City Buildings going green as of January 1, 2020 include City Hall, the Public Library, Public Works Garage, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Public Safety Building, Ambulance and the town’s Glen Park Pool.
According to Mike Noreen, the city… Show more
Kebony Wins Two 2019 Architizer A+ Awards!
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member Company Kebony for winning two Architzer A+ Awards in 2019, for Opening, Windows and Skylights, for Kebony Modified Wood Panels. The panels were used twice in the University of Miami Buildlab project, and won both the Jury and Popular Choice Awards.
The panels were also used throughout for the National Museum for Peace and Justice, for decking, seating, fencing and cladding, a project which also won an award for Cultural-Religious Buildings & Memorials.
To read more:&… Show more
Green Building Melting Pot - A Quick Look at Our 100 Most Recent Company Members
Who’s joining the Rate It Green community, and how are we evolving? We were curious at to what we'd learn if we took a snapshot of the most recent 100 companies to become Rate It Green Members.
I was pleased to see the diversity we’re seeing as we grow. 12 of our most recent organization members are Building/Contracting organizations, which makes sense, but we saw higher percentages of other service organizations, including cleaning/remediation services (9), plumbing (9), and real … Show more
Spotlight on GreenCE Inc., our Newest Premium Listed Company
We’re pleased to introduce GreenCE, Inc. as a sponsor for the Rate It Green platform. GreenCE is an AIA Education Provider and USGBC Education Partner based in the Portland, Oregon area. GreenCE provides free AIA continuing education for design professionals seeking their mandatory CE hours. In addition, the organization offers no-cost LEED specific hours and the only free LEED Exam Prep program in North America.
“We are very excited to be working with Rate It Green. Collaboration and innovation are the core principle… Show more
Rate It Green's Open Green Building Calendar
We're excited to announce the launch of Rate It Green's open Green Building Calendar. More than the tool itself and the events we can now host and promote, this calendar represents the idea of expanding collaboration. As a platform, Rate It Green of course facilitates online connecting and discussion. But we all know that when we can get together in person, we can also learn and collaborate in tremendous ways.
What's so exciting about a Calendar? Lots! For one thing, the calendar will accept events in ANY&… Show more
Post Election '16 - What Can You Do?
Rate It Green is not a political organization to be sure, but this community resource supports the natural environment by working with others to lessen the impact of the built environment. We promote healthy and sustainable building practices, and it's our goal to help as many people and companies connect and share informatoin to help green building become mainstream. As such, our goals pretty much make it clear that we support safe air and water, healthy and green materials and buildings, resouce and energy efficiency , reuse a… Show more
See you in New Orleans!
Allison Friedman will be attending the Healthy Building Materials Summit and Greenbuild October 21 - 25, in New Orleans. Email afriedman@rateitgreen.com if you are also attending and want to meet in person. Here's to a great week! Show more
Build YOUR Ideal Rate It Green!
With Rate It Green's Community features now live, it's now time to build YOUR ideal Green Building Community! Ideas for participation include:
Create a Profile, and show off your talents and expertise
Register Your Company and List your Products and Services
Rate Products and Services you have worked with
Start or join a Discussion, and ask or answer questions
Create or Join a group of folks with similar interests
Submit a "Comments" for a Directory listing
Reach out to other M… Show more