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.
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
Brookline Massachusetts Bans Oil and Gas Pipes in New Construction
In a bold, sustainable move and a 200-3 vote, the Town Meeting Members of Brookline, Massachusetts voted in a ban of oil and gas pipes for new buildings and also for significant renovations of existing buildings. This means that these buildings will have heating and hot water systems, and appliances that use electricity. Additionally, occupants of these same buildings will also increasingly be driving electric vehicles.
The measure is the first in Massachusetts, following a growing number of communities in California which … Show more
Recent Awards for ZeroEnergy Design
It’s been a busy award-filled November for ZeroEnergy Design!
Boston Home Magazine awarded the firm Best Sustainable Architect in its 2020 Best of Boston Home issue.
Architect Magazine, the official journal for the American Institute of Architects, ranked ZeroEnergy Design in the top 50 firms nationally for Sustainability.
ZeroEnergy Design was also named as a Top 50 Coastal Architect by Ocean Home Magazine, a leading resource for oceanfront real estate and lifestyle.
Congratulations to the firm for these continu… Show more
Global GreenTag Upgrades CarbonRATE™ Embodied Carbon Product Certification, Details Shared at Greenbuild
Congratulations to Global GreenTag for the relauch of CarbonRATE™ - a unique peer reviewed Embodied Carbon Product Certification Program. According to Daniel A. Huard, CEO of Global GreenTag Americas, "CarbonRATE™ has been upgraded to strongly challenge the market to design, manufacture and use only products that can scientifically identify carbon impacts and benefits.”
The Global GreenTag International team was on hand at Greenbuild this week to share more information about the program. David Baggs, P… Show more
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
ZeroEnergy Design's Farmhouse Wins Sustainable Design Award from Boston Society of Architects (BSA)
Congratulations to ZeroEnergy Design for winning a Sustainable Design Award from the Boston Society of Architects at the 8th annual BSAAwards Gala this January. ZeroEnergy recieved this honor for the company's Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse project.
The 2900 sf Net Positive Farmhouse, built by Thoughtforms, was designed to produce 67% MORE energy than it consumes annually, and was designed with a super-insulated building envelope, high performance windows, an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator… Show more
Appraisal Institute's FREE Guide to Value Green Buildings and Homes
Did you know that the Appraisal Institute published and offers a Commercial Green and Energy Efficient Addendum? This document provides a unique framework for assisting appraisers to value commercial asset and the value of its green component, such as solar panels and other energy efficient infrastructures. There are also articles published on the Appraisal Institute on a quarterly basis available on www.appraisalinstitute.org/publications. They teach appraisers on green topics as well as industry trends.
The link below leads… Show more
Falling Prices Help Solar Add Value to Your Home
Having solar panels on your home used to be "more of an 'earth warrior' statement than a great way to power a home while reducing electric bills." It is no longer the case. When the solar panels were first introduced back in the 1970s, the cost per watt used to $70. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) most recent report, it is now only $2.8 per watt in early 2017. It has now become a truly worthy investment for many homeowners.
More than 1.4 million American homeowners hav… Show more
Green Building Certifications Reach Record Levels in Nation’s Largest Cities
The number of America's certified green buildings are hitting a record high. Researchers have found green certified office space (either LEED certified or EPA's Energy Star label) across America’s 30 largest metro areas has reached 41 percent of market totals – the highest in the index’s history.
Chicago again claimed the top spot by having nearly 70% of its buildings green certified, followed by San Francisco at around 64%. Atlanta took the third place by having 58% of all buildings green certi… 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
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