Tag Archives: green building

Yesterday, the Daily Environment Report noted the formation of the Coalition for Better Buildings, or C4BB, an alliance of environmental, business, and real estate interests intended to increase the incentives to make buildings more energy-efficient. Its members include real estate trade groups such as the Real Estate Roundtable and the Building Owners and Managers Association, as well as some heavyweight companies, such as Vornado. It also includes environmental groups such as the NRDC and companies who will look to profit from investments in building efficiency,… More

We have previously noted that efforts to achieve economy-wide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will necessarily go beyond the electricity generating sector. One obvious target will have to be greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which EPA estimates account for 17 percent of U.S. carbon emissions.

Although there have been efforts, particularly in California and Massachusetts, to use state NEPA analogues to control carbon emissions from new projects going forward,… More

The new Determination of Need Guidelines for Environmental and Human Health Impact adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are further evidence that sustainability and green development are much more than just buzzwords in Massachusetts. It appears that this administration is serious about incorporating green development principles into all executive branch decision-making.

In brief, the Guidelines require a health care facility applying for a Determination of Need (“DoN”) for new construction or gut renovation to meet LEED-HC “silver level” green building standards.… More