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.
USGBC's LEED Surpasses 100,000 Commercial Green Building Projects
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that there are now over 100,000 registered and certified LEED commercial projects.
According to USGBC Presisdent and CEO, Mahesh Ramanujam, “Today millions of us are living, working and learning in LEED-certified buildings around the world. These spaces are using less energy and water, mitigating the environmental burden on their communities, saving money and offering the people who occupy them a better quality of life. This latest milestone demonstrates how the globa… Show more
Bethesda Green’s Spring 2020 Accelerator Cohort - Applications are Now Open (Apply by November 10)
Applications are now open through November 10, 2019 for Bethesda Green’s Spring 2020 Accelerator Cohort!
They’re looking for eco-entrepreneurs who have achieved product market fit and are ready to scale. Specifically, they’re looking for companies that have environmental sustainability woven into the fabric of their business models, or otherwise contribute to a sustainable and responsible food supply chain.
For information on program benefits, minimum requirements, upcoming open house events, and application details, cli… Show more
The Global Climate Strike is On - September 20 - 27! UN Climate Action Summit September 23
Image: https://globalclimatestrike.net
The Gobal Climate Strike kicked off on Friday, September 20, with strikes and protests around the globe, estimated by 350.org and The New York Times at an impressive 4 million people on day 1. Events as part of this global climate protest continue until September 27th. To find a strike near you, visit: https://globalclimatestrike.net/#map
According to the New York Times, "Rarely, if ever, has the modern world witnessed a youth movement so large and wide, span… Show more
The Numbers Are Out: Energy Efficiency Jobs in America Grow to More than 2.3 Million
The third annual installment of Energy Efficiency Jobs in America brings expected good news in reporting continued growth in energy efficiency jobs to more than 2.3 million in 2019, with a current growth rate of 3.4% and an expected growth rate in the next year of 7.8%. The energy sector is now the largest sector of the economy, with energy efficiency as its fastest growing segment. No state experienced declines in energy efficiency employment in 2018. Efficiency businesses added 76,000 new jobs in 2018… Show more
AIA Approves Resolution to Take Greater Action Against Climate Change
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board approved an official resolution to engage the architectural profession to take action in the fight against climate change. According to 2019 AIA President William Bates, FAIA, “We are making this our top priority in order to address the crisis our communities face. Moving the needle on this critical issue—that threatens the future of our planet and humanity—requires our firm commitment to achieving carbon neutral goals in the built environment and our immediate action… Show more
President Barack Obama to GIve Keynote Address for Greenbuild 2019
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Former President Barack Obama will be giving this year's keynote address at Greenbuild in Atlanta, Georgia, November 19-22,
According to USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam, “President Obama is a global leader and a longtime friend of the green building community. While in office, his administration negotiated the landmark Paris Climate Accords, expanded the impact of our field and helped open the door for energy efficiency investments in both the public and… Show more
Johnson Controls Wins BIG's 2019 Sustainability Product Award
Conratulations to Johnson Controls for winning the Business Intelligence Group's (BIG) 2019 Sustainability Poduct Award for the company's YORK® Mission Critical Direct Evaporative Cooling Air Handling Units. Acording to Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group, "“The role of sustainability is becoming more prevalent in most organizations, but these nominees have provided everyone with a leadership standard we can all model."
BIG's Sustainability Awards "honor … Show more
The Living Future Institute's Framework for Affordable Housing - 2019 Update Released
The Living Future Institute has released an update of the organization’s Framework for Affordable Housing, first published in 2014. The Framework offers guidance and resources for providing multi-family sustainable affordable housing that is safe and healthy. The Living Future Institute also works with 27 leading housing developers to build multi-family housing projects that have no energy bills and are free from toxic materials.
To download the Toolkit, and to learn more and view related, additional resour… Show more
South Carolina’s Energy Freedom Act - Passed with Bipartisan Support (Unanimous in the Legislature)
The number of solar installations in South Carolina may more than double in the next five years with the recent passing of the Solar Energy Freedom Act, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The new law is exciting for a number of reasons, but perhaps most notable is that the South Carolina Senate and House votes were unanimous. This bipartisan support is exciting and a great sign at a time when reducing energy use and promoting sustainable and renewable energy are critical to meet climate goals requ… Show more
LEED® and USGBC Recognize Global GreenTag Product Health Declaration™ (the GreenTag PhD™)
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member, Global GreenTag LLC, Americas! The certifier’s Global GreenTag PhD, Materials Transparency Certification Program (reviewed and assessed by the LEED Committee and MR Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has been formally recognized within the LEED framework of Rating Systems. The program is among the most stringent product disclosures in the world, and now noted by LEED and USGBC (US Green Building Council) as a Program that is formally recognized for not only LEED v4.1 but also v4.0, appearing in th… Show more
IPCC Report: Global Warming Crisis Could Come As Early As 2030
The new IPCC report issued in 2018 is "quite a shock, and quite concerning." said Bill Hare, an author of previous I.P.C.C. reports and a physicist with Climate Analytics, a nonprofit organization. In 2016, the IPCC accepted an invitation to analyze the impact of 1.5 °C above the industrial level instead of 2 °C. The new report is contributed by 91 authors from 40 different countries, citing more than 6,000 scientific researches and included a total of 42,001 expert and government review comments. The report not only summarize… Show more
2018 International Green Construction Code (2018-IgCC), Released on November 8
The 2018 International Green Construction Code (2018-IgCC) was released on November 8 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), International Code Council, ASHRAE and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
The 2018 International Green Construction Code, or 2018-IgCC, will help governments streamline code development and improve industry standardization through a comprehensive document that emphasizes easy adoption, use and enforcement.
"Our hope is that building professionals and policymakers alike adopt better, greener b… Show more
What are You Doing Today for Energy Efficiency Day?
October 5 has been declared Energy Efficiency Day, by the US Senate, and over 40 local governments and more than 300 communities, companies and organizations: https://bit.ly/2RtpohM
To learn more and to take action in your home or neighborhood, visit: https://www.energyefficiencyday.org/take-action/
Show more
World Green Building Week - September 24-30
It's Green Building Week September 24th-30th! This is a time every year when the USGBC, World GBC and partnering chapters and organizations work to promote and really celebrate sustainable building materials, products, companies/organizations - and people - in a way designed to support cooperation and growth in green building generally.
The campaign's focus this year is on residential green building and change - what steps can each of us take to start or continue chanigng our habits and reducing th… Show more
California Votes in Carbon-Free Electricity Generation, with a 2045 Target
Following Hawaii's lead and pending Governor Brown's expected signature, California lawmakers voted at the end of August to require 100 percent carbon-free electricity generation by 2045.
California currently gets 29% of electricity, up from 11% a decade ago. The state currently has a commitment to obtain 50 percent of its electricity from wind, solar and geothermal power by 2030. This legislation increases that commitment to 60 percent by 2030, and then to 100% by 2045... read more. Show more
Ireland Will Become the World's First Country to Divest from Fossil Fuels
We know that UK church plans to dump $21 billions of fossil fuels if the companies do not align to climate change goals by 2023. Now, the practice levels up to a national action in Ireland. The Republic of Ireland will become the first country in the world to sell off its investments in fossil fuel companies, after a bill was passed with all-party support in the lower house of parliament on July 12th (Yessenia Funes).
The bill is expected to pass the upper chambers of parliament easily (Yessenia Funes). If that happens… Show more
UK Church Plans to Dump $21 Billion in Fossil Fuels if the Companies Do Not Align to Climate Change Goals by 2023
One of the UK's largest charity fund managers, The Church of England's parliament, has voted 347 to four in favor with three abstaining to sell $21 billion worth of investments in fossil fuels if the companies do not align to climate change goals by 2023.
The vote applies to the Church of England Pensions Board, the Church Commissioners and the CBF Church of England Funds.
To read more, please visit:
Kanika Sood
Financial Standard
https://www.financialstandard.com.au/news/church-threatens-to-dump-21bn-of-f… Show more
India will Abolish All Single-Use Plastic by 2022, with an Immediate Ban in Delhi
The world’s oceans will be filled with more plastic mass than fish mass by 2050, the World Economic Forum study reported in its 2016 study.
Combating plastic waste, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to get rid of all single-use plastic in India by 2022 with an immediate enforcement in Delhi.
According to the Economic Times, India's plastic consumption is 11kg per capita in 2014-2015, which is a tenth of US's. Even though the plastic use per person is much lower in India … Show more
Toyota Sails the World's First Hydrogen-Powered Vessel on a Six-Year Voyage
A few days ago, we talked about hydrogen fuel research vessel was proven to be feasible. See Discussion "Carbon Free Research Vessel is Now Proven to Be Technically and Economically Feasible." Now, there is an even crazier news. The world's first autonomous hydrogen-powered ship is going to its six-year world voyage, sponsored by Toyota.
This race boat, Energy Observer, uses solar, wind, wave-generated power, and hydrogen that collected from seawater to fuel itself.
As we mentioned before, … Show more
Carbon Free Research Vessel is Now Proven to Be Technically and Economically Feasible: Team Designs Zero-Emissions Research Vessel
Marine research activities can be carbon free now, thanks to a ship design developed by Sandia National Laboratories.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology has existed for decades. Its advantages include zero-emission and zero-noise. Using hydrogen fuel cell in a ship will protect research samples collected from air or water in vulnerable ecological zones and protect marine animals that have sensitive hearing.
Despite its benefits over diesel, the feasibility of a hydrogen fuel research vessel has never been proven un… 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