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.
The first LEED platinum certified Ice arena at Bentley University
Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, recently has opened a new LEED certified multipurpose arena. This building is the first of Bentley’s architecture to earn a LEED certification; however, like many other schools across the country, they are trying to continue to implement more aspects of sustainability into the university.
Although there has been a developing trend in both green sport buildings and green colleges, Bentley’s new arena is the first ice arena to earn a platinum certification, the highest rating … Show more
Tesla and South Australia Will Turn 50,000 Homes into the World's Largest Virtual Solar Power Plant
Tesla's Powerball battery in a solar powered home -- Tesla
State of South Australia announced on February 2018 that Tesla and South Australia will turn 50,000 homes into a virtual solar power plant, which will become the world largest virtual power plant. The South Australian government said the project will generate 250 MW of electricity, which is half of the energy produced by a coal-fired power station.
The initial trial has begun equipped with a 5kW solar panel system. Tesla will offer for free its 13… Show more
Here is the Green Apple-- Apple is Now Globally Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy
On April 9, 2018, Apple announced its global facilities are powered by 100 percent clean energy, including offices, data centers, retail stores, and co-located facilities throughout 43 countries in the world such as the United Kingdom, China, and India. In addition, there are nine additional manufacturing suppliers that commit to 100 percent green energy. The company's last milestone was in 2016, 93 percent of its global operations supplied by clean energy. Now Apple achieves a total 23 suppliers commit to sustainable energy.
Currently,… Show more
California Becomes the First State to Require All New Homes to Have Solar Power Starting in 2020
On Wednesday May 9, 2019, California became the first state to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment, starting in 2020.
Unanimously approved by the five members of California Energy Commission, the standard is the first statewide mandate in the United States and affrms California's status as a renewable energy pioneer. To meet the standard, builders must either make individual homes available with solar panels or build a shared solar-power system serving the community.
According to the California Energy Commis… Show more
The First Municipal Building Free and Open to the Public in the U.S. to Achieve The Living Building Certification
Photo by Alexander Denmarsh and Kent Suhrbier
The Frick Environmental Center has become the first municipal building free and open to the public in the U.S. and is currently one of 21 buildings in the world to achieve the prestiguous Living Building Challenge Certification. A joint venture between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (also suported by more than 600 donors), the Center serves as an experiential environmental eduction classroom and resource for the surrunding community. Part of a 4-acre site with … Show more
Study: Four Percent Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Year in China = $339 Billion Health Savings
A new MIT study affirms as might be expected that if China reduces carbon dioxide emissions, Chinese residents will experience significant benefits to air quality and human health. However, the study additionally reports that the benefit of monetary savings offsets the cost of implementing the climate policy.
Published in Nature Climate Change, the study shows that meeting current greenhouse reduction goals would result in preventing significant deaths due to air pollution across every province. The health savings from fewer deaths ca… Show more
Governor Baker Files Legislation to Require Home Energy Scores and Ratings
On April 4, Massachsetts Governor Baker filed legislation that may ultimately have a significant impact on home energy efficiency throughout the state. Called "An Act Relative to Consumer Access to Residential Energy Information," Bill H.4371 would require that a home energy score card and energy rating be provided to homewoners as a part of free energy assessments and also that home energy ratings be made available to potential homebuyers for 1-4 unit family homes that are publicly listed or sale, after January 1, 2021.&nb… Show more
Fuel Efficiency Rollback Plans Make No Sense - For the Environment or the Economy
Although not a total surprise, the EPA’s announcement of plans to roll back auto emissions adopted by the Obama Administration in 2012 just makes no sense. Not only were President Obama’s plans to require automakers to reach aggressive mileage standards by 2025 great for the environment, but they make economic and political sense as well.
California and other states representing approximately a third of all US auto sales would likely continue to follow the Obama-era rules, as allowed under the Clean Air Ac… Show more
Will LEED v4.1 Be A Game-Changer for Product Manufacturers? The GreenCE team recently sat down with Mahesh Ramanujam, USGBC CEO, to learn more
Recently, the GreenCE Team had the opportunity to speak with USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam in some detail. Topics discussed included data collection, international LEED green building project growth, and the upcoming LEED v4.1 update.
As of March 26, Building professionals are now able to register to participate in a LEED v4.1 O+M beta. It seems that significant changes are pending in the Operations + Maintenance Materials and Resources category, including 4 new Prerequisites and one Credit regarding Purchasing (b… 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
The first LEED platinum certified Ice arena at Bentley University
Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, recently has opened a new LEED certified multipurpose arena. This building is the first of Bentley’s architecture to earn a LEED certification; however, like many other schools across the country, they are trying to continue to implement more aspects of sustainability into the university.
Although there has been a developing trend in both green sport buildings and green colleges, Bentley’s new arena is the first ice arena to earn a platinum certification, the highest rating … Show more
Tesla and South Australia Will Turn 50,000 Homes into the World's Largest Virtual Solar Power Plant
Tesla's Powerball battery in a solar powered home -- Tesla
State of South Australia announced on February 2018 that Tesla and South Australia will turn 50,000 homes into a virtual solar power plant, which will become the world largest virtual power plant. The South Australian government said the project will generate 250 MW of electricity, which is half of the energy produced by a coal-fired power station.
The initial trial has begun equipped with a 5kW solar panel system. Tesla will offer for free its 13… Show more
Here is the Green Apple-- Apple is Now Globally Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy
On April 9, 2018, Apple announced its global facilities are powered by 100 percent clean energy, including offices, data centers, retail stores, and co-located facilities throughout 43 countries in the world such as the United Kingdom, China, and India. In addition, there are nine additional manufacturing suppliers that commit to 100 percent green energy. The company's last milestone was in 2016, 93 percent of its global operations supplied by clean energy. Now Apple achieves a total 23 suppliers commit to sustainable energy.
Currently,… Show more
California Becomes the First State to Require All New Homes to Have Solar Power Starting in 2020
On Wednesday May 9, 2019, California became the first state to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment, starting in 2020.
Unanimously approved by the five members of California Energy Commission, the standard is the first statewide mandate in the United States and affrms California's status as a renewable energy pioneer. To meet the standard, builders must either make individual homes available with solar panels or build a shared solar-power system serving the community.
According to the California Energy Commis… Show more
The First Municipal Building Free and Open to the Public in the U.S. to Achieve The Living Building Certification
Photo by Alexander Denmarsh and Kent Suhrbier
The Frick Environmental Center has become the first municipal building free and open to the public in the U.S. and is currently one of 21 buildings in the world to achieve the prestiguous Living Building Challenge Certification. A joint venture between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (also suported by more than 600 donors), the Center serves as an experiential environmental eduction classroom and resource for the surrunding community. Part of a 4-acre site with … Show more
Study: Four Percent Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Year in China = $339 Billion Health Savings
A new MIT study affirms as might be expected that if China reduces carbon dioxide emissions, Chinese residents will experience significant benefits to air quality and human health. However, the study additionally reports that the benefit of monetary savings offsets the cost of implementing the climate policy.
Published in Nature Climate Change, the study shows that meeting current greenhouse reduction goals would result in preventing significant deaths due to air pollution across every province. The health savings from fewer deaths ca… Show more
Governor Baker Files Legislation to Require Home Energy Scores and Ratings
On April 4, Massachsetts Governor Baker filed legislation that may ultimately have a significant impact on home energy efficiency throughout the state. Called "An Act Relative to Consumer Access to Residential Energy Information," Bill H.4371 would require that a home energy score card and energy rating be provided to homewoners as a part of free energy assessments and also that home energy ratings be made available to potential homebuyers for 1-4 unit family homes that are publicly listed or sale, after January 1, 2021.&nb… Show more
Fuel Efficiency Rollback Plans Make No Sense - For the Environment or the Economy
Although not a total surprise, the EPA’s announcement of plans to roll back auto emissions adopted by the Obama Administration in 2012 just makes no sense. Not only were President Obama’s plans to require automakers to reach aggressive mileage standards by 2025 great for the environment, but they make economic and political sense as well.
California and other states representing approximately a third of all US auto sales would likely continue to follow the Obama-era rules, as allowed under the Clean Air Ac… Show more
Will LEED v4.1 Be A Game-Changer for Product Manufacturers? The GreenCE team recently sat down with Mahesh Ramanujam, USGBC CEO, to learn more
Recently, the GreenCE Team had the opportunity to speak with USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam in some detail. Topics discussed included data collection, international LEED green building project growth, and the upcoming LEED v4.1 update.
As of March 26, Building professionals are now able to register to participate in a LEED v4.1 O+M beta. It seems that significant changes are pending in the Operations + Maintenance Materials and Resources category, including 4 new Prerequisites and one Credit regarding Purchasing (b… Show more
Is Bottled Water Doing Most of Us Any Favors? Recent Study Suggests Most Contain MicroPlastics
Out of 1 million water bottles purchased every minute globally, we're apparently drinking plastic according to 93% of those tested in a recent study by Orb Media.
For more information:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-4338887
Sadly, we're also only recycling fewer than 50% of plastic bottles.
According to an article posted by BBC on March 15th, "Research led by journalism organisation Orb Media discovered an average of 10 plastic particles per litre, each larger than… 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