Energy costs in multifamily properties have risen by 20 percent over the past decade. These rising costs are squeezing operating income for building owners and managers, and they’re making apartments and condos less affordable for residents.
“Do you want to have more food on your table? Get a programmable thermostat.” The students in the mentoring program laughed, thinking my comment must have been entirely facetious. To an extent, it was: some new techno-gadget is not going to make a meal appear at dinner. It might, however, help pay for some of it.
The premiere health policy journal, Health Affairs, released a special issue this week focused on the intersection between community development and public health that was accompanied by a briefing at the National Press Club today. The issue compiles a range of articles focused on building healthy communities, measuring community health and collaborating for community health.
It’s a nasty habit we’re all trying to break. The paper habit, that is. We’re all looking to trim our consumption, both at home, and on the job.
But in the marketing and communications world, sometimes it’s not that easy. We build websites and e-books, but sometimes the takeaway that makes the biggest impression is the one that comes printed on paper.
This year I spent much of my time at Greenbuild working with our LEED User Groups—and it was fantastic!
In case you’re not familiar with the User Groups, they are collaborative peer networks with the common goal of working together and with USGBC to share best known practices for green buildings in their sector, to collaborate on how LEED can be more applicable to their use type, and lead the way for greater adoption and efficiency.
California could be the first major economy in the world to abandon fossil fuels as its primary energy source. California’s strategic energy policies foster an economic climate which generates funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency and innovative technology. In particular, proceeds from the state’s cap and trade auctions, mandates on utilities and the attraction of venture capital are funding renewable energy generation, energy efficiency
The artistic brilliance of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes are often said to take one’s breath away. An instinctive act of reverence for time-tested talent—but, in reality, the simple act of breathing, exhaling carbon dioxide, by the Chapel’s six million annual visitors has been contaminating, and deteriorating, the frescoes. The problem became so severe that the Vatican considered closing the chapel to the public.
We all have our favorite places to browse, to hangout, to eat and to splurge. We have our favorite products that we reach for day after day.
But how are we, as consumers, to know what our favorite brands are up to behind the scenes, and if they’re walking the walk, rather than just talking the talk about sustainability?
While admittedly biased on the subject, as great as Greenbuild 2014 was, I’m not sure any aspect of this year’s conference moved me any more than the magical moment in the closing plenary when new USGBC president Roger Platt introduced eight seminal figures in the Green Building movement—Bob Berkebile, David Gottfried, Scot Horst, Martha Jane Murray, Tom Paladino, Peter Templeton, Kath
Happy Diwali, India (and world)!
This Diwali, USGBC wants to celebrate the tremendous leadership demonstrated by India, now one of the top five largest markets in the world for LEED, in the areas of environmental sustainability and green building.