Green Building & Sustainability News

Just released: The 2011 Green Building Market Impact Report is here!

Learn about the big picture, where the industry is heading, how the economy is affecting green building and how green building is affecting the economy.

Verdigris Group ranked #2 in the nation for TOP MID-MARKET GREEN BUILDING & LEED CONSULTANTS.

Ranked by Total Client Nominations for The Green Survey, conducted by Brown-Wilson Group and Black Book Research - an annual survey of clients and users from 95 countries determining Consulting Service Providers’ pro-environmental initiatives from the perspective of their client experience. (See us ranked on Page 37)

These research results are recognized as the most extensive and representative perception study of organizations, validated by 1,338 unique company respondents from service users around the globe between January 1 and March 1. Over 7,000 individual nominations were received during the survey..

Green Collar Research ranks Verdigris Group at the top of their "Top Rated LEED Consultants" AND "Top Rated Green Professional Services" companies nation-wide.

We are very proud to have been consistently rated so highly by our peers, clients and partners. Great job Verdigris Group Team!

Verdigris Group Expands Carbon Neutral Operations to Include Watershed Restoration and Reforestation as Well as Solar and Wind Investments

As an integral part of their innovative Sustainability Framework, Verdigris Group works with corporate partner Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) in order to verify and maintain their carbon neutral status. Through the purchase of Carbon Offsets, Verdigris Group balances their carbon emissions from business activities such as air travel, employee commuting and product shipping. These Carbon Offsets support the development of wind farms, solar arrays, and landfill gas and biogas projects throughout the United States. Each Carbon Offset represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. All of Verdigris Group’s offset investments are established and regulated by the globally-recognized Green-e® Climate Protocol for Renewable Energy.

Additionally, Verdigris Group utilizes Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset the carbon emissions from their business’ electricity use. And now, as part of their effort to account for and manage all of Verdigris Group’s operational impact on the environment, Verdigris Group is utilizing Water Restoration Certificates (WRCs) in order to balance direct and indirect water consumption, including water used in office space, operations or embedded in the supply chain.

Verdigris Group’s Watershed Restoration investments represent 100,000 gallons of water restored to the most critically dewatered rivers and streams throughout the United States. The Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates represent Verdigris Group’s investments in new renewable energy projects and other emission reduction developments that would not otherwise happen.

The Rise of Retrofit

Chicago shows what's next and what's needed to meet the city's ambitious performance goals.

The building sector accounts for a whopping 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and consumes fully 70 percent of American electricity. While mandatory codes and voluntary checklists are raising the standard for the efficiency of new buildings, well over half of the buildings that will count towards Chicago 2020, PLANYC 2030, and the 2030 Challenge are already standing. So if we’re to avoid Armageddon 2040, which would mean a lot for the world in 2050, it’s time for green retrofitting, the Clark Kent of the building industry, to step into the phone booth.

The Year in CSR: The Four Trends of Corporate Social Responsibility in 2010

The year started off with a bang with accountability questions related to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation. From April on, people berated BP and cringed as the CEO told us one thing about the environmental and economic damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, while images flooding the media showed quite another story.

At conferences throughout the year--from The Economist, to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and others--the more visionary company CEOs took to the microphones to proudly share their plans for corporate social responsibility (CSR). In interviews throughout the media, including blogs by Matthew Bishop and Michael Green: Philanthrocapitalism, Fast Company (mine and others), and Vault's CSR blog: In Good Company, corporate leaders talked about how their companies are committed to advancing social, economic, and environmental progress because that's just good business.

EPA moves ahead on climate change, with or without Congress

Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced on Dec. 23, only a day after the 11th Congress officially adjourned for the year – that the agency would introduce new emission standards targeted at fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries in early 2011. These two sources alone represent almost 40 per cent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA.

While it may seem the proposed regulations should require congressional approval to pass, it is actually within the EPA’s mandate to determine greenhouse gas regulations. In 2007 the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases fit within the Clean Air Act’s definition of air pollutant (the Act gives the EPA the power to regulate air pollutants).

10 World-Changing Green Trends

Capitalize on these developments and boost your bottom line.

For example, Trend No. 10: The conserver economy. In early 2009 the consumer economy slowed to a crawl amid the credit crunch, millions of lost jobs, rising fear and plummeting home values. But as the consumer economy shrinks the conserver economy is growing. The current economic crisis won't last forever, but the impact of this crisis won't pass quickly. Like the green economy, the conserver economy emphasizes being efficient with resources, but it is more closely connected to pocketbooks than to polar bears. In the conserver economy people are wasting less, saving more and thinking of the long term.

Taking advantage of this trend

We are seeing the economy shift in a new direction, a shift with long-term implications. The shift from consumer to conserver holds a wealth of opportunities for businesses that share, repair, reuse, rent, rethink and rebuild. Start a business in one of these niches in the new conserver economy.

How to Choose the Greenest Consumer Products

GoodGuide’s mission is to help shoppers pick the greenest shampoo or toothpaste. But is that a business?

Most U.S. consumers say they want environmentally responsible products—69 percent by one recent study. Yet far fewer actually buy them, and higher cost isn’t the only obstacle. As the number of “green” products on store shelves explodes—up 72 percent over the last year at a representative group of big-box retailers, according to the environmental marketing firm TerraChoice—consumers are increasingly wary of greenwashing. “There’s massive confusion about what it means to be green,” says Chuck Maniscalco, the CEO of Seventh Generation.

GoodGuide’s initial challenge was a scientific one: to develop a useful ratings system based on credible science. The company’s product information—and the software it built to process it—is highly respected by industry experts. The GoodGuide system draws data from 300 sources—including firms that do socially responsible investing research, scientific institutions like the EPA, academic studies, company Web sites, and others—to score products on up to 1,500 individual criteria. GoodGuide’s scientists determine the relative importance of each of these metrics for evaluating each product category, and those weightings are used to boil down the raw data into simple ratings on a 10-point scale. “It’s the current state of the art,” says Daniel Goleman, author of Ecological Intelligence, a book about the hidden impacts of what we buy.

Why There's Still Hope for Cutting Carbon: ‘You Don’t Need Politicians for This’

The Copenhagen climate talks failed, the U.S. Senate punted—but all is not lost when it comes to greenhouse reductions.

When President Obama announced plans this month to install solar panels on the White House, it wasn’t because any law required it; it was to set an example. When the U.S. military began using solar panels in Afghanistan, it wasn’t to avoid paying a carbon tax; it was because it costs $400 to $500 a barrel to transport diesel to bases there, and because hundreds of soldiers have died guarding supply lines. And when DuPont cut its energy use to 19 percent below what it was in 1990, says Linda Fisher, the company’s chief sustainability officer, by turning waste into fuel, making burners more efficient, and other steps, it wasn’t to stay on the right side of a cap-and-trade law. “We’ve saved $3 billion to $4 billion since 2000, so this is real money,” she says.

The 100 Greenest Companies in America

NEWSWEEK's exclusive rankings of the world's most environmentally friendly companies

NEWSWEEK’s goal in these rankings is to quantify companies’ actual environmental footprint, policies, and reputation. To accomplish this, we joined forces with top environmental researchers: MSCI ESG Research, which tracks environmental, social, and governance data; Trucost, which specializes in quantitative measurements of environmental performance; and CorporateRegister.com, the world’s largest directory of sustainability and environmental reports. Our editorial partner, ASAP Media, founded by Peter Bernstein and Annalyn Swan, coordinated the project.

Department of Energy Gives $92+ Million for Green Technology Research and Innovation

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $92 million in funds will be given to 43 clean energy research projects nationwide—a promising development in the country’s efforts to compete in the rapidly expanding global green technology sector.

In a press release included on the DOE’s Advance Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) website, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu confirmed that funding will go to “cutting-edge” projects that “accelerate innovation in clean energy technologies, increase America’s competitiveness and create jobs.”

First US House Built with Hemp Completed

The first house made out of hemp has been built in the United States, filling what advocates say is a need for more green building materials. USA Today reported the home was completed this summer in Asheville, N.C., and two more are in the works. While such homes have been built over the past two decades in Europe, Hemp Technologies co-founder David Madera told the newspaper that they are new to the United States.

The building material Hemcrete had to be imported because hemp comes from the same plant as marijuana, which is illegal to grow in the United States. Inhabitat.com said Hemcrete is made from hemp, lime and water and can be used for a variety of applications including wall and flooring construction and roof insulation.

Across Sectors, Companies Report Big Savings from Sustainability

We've seen a flurry of CSR reports released over the last week from high-profile companies touting their social and environmental achievements. Though they hail from a wide variety of sectors, the metrics used to report environmental performance fall along familiar lines, including carbon footprint, energy and water use, waste and packaging.

The following is a peek at some of the reports that crossed our desks over the last seven days, along with links to the reports so you can dig in even further.

Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy - The Latest McKinsey & Company Report

A thorough investigation of the opportunities and barriers to developing a - discussing the compelling benefits of energy efficiency and why this energy resource warrants being a national priority. The central conclusion: Energy Efficiency offers a vast, low-cost energy energy resource for the U.S. economy - but only if the nation can craft a comprehensive and innovative approach to unlock it. If we executed at scale, a holistic approach would yield gross energy savings of more than $1.2 trillion, well above the $520 billion needed for upfront investment in efficiency measures.

BEST OF GREEN 2010 - Awarding Excellence in Sustainability

For five years, TreeHugger has been discovering, debating, and discerning which people, companies, products, and ideas are helping push green into the mainstream. Along the way, we have seen green fashion blossom, international climate treaties stagnate, and electric vehicles come to market. We have seen some green ideas rise and some green leaders fall. We've ranted and we've raved. But through it all, our optimism remains.

And so, in honor of Earth Month and the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, we introduce our second annual Best of Green Awards, which highlight the individuals and organizations that are pushing the green movement forward. Going green isn't always easy, nor can it be defined in black-and-white terms. By awarding excellence in more than 200 categories across eight topics we applaud the pioneers who rise above business-as-usual in search of a better way.

New Data on the Cost of LEED, Credit-by-Credit

Just released (4.16.2010) this new report on what it costs to achieve specific LEED credits. Based on the current LEED-NC 2009 rating system, "The Cost of LEED" draws on the experience of veteran cost estimators to provide prices for specific measures a project team would consider. The report helps a team understand the implications of LEED on the cost of its own particular project, with lists of "standard" approaches compared to "high performance" options, along with cost premiums for those options.

LEED Credit Costs, Green Greed, Makeover Frontier, + Standard Dilution

* New data on the cost of LEED.

* Green building advocates take the LEED.

* Going green often starts with economic self-interest.

* Google squares off against green data center standard.

* LEED green building standards must not be diluted.

* Consumers wary of green product costs.

* The new frontier is green makeovers.\

Cultural Sustainability in Residential Architecture

A thought-provoking piece on de-mystifying what all the Green-hype is all about, what it all really means to us as consumers and where the industry is heading moving forward. A good, quck read!

Green is over. Green wants to embrace everything and everyone wants to embrace green. But when a definition becomes so overarching, it loses all significance. This term has been so used and abused that it is now completely meaningless. But make no mistake; there is still a solid reality behind all the green washing and it promises great things.

Enthusiasm notwithstanding, a chasm of mis-impressions and missed expectations persist. What makes something sustainable? Is green the same as energy efficient? What’s included in a high performance building? Within the design industry, these terms all have distinct meanings and most enlightened designers know the shades of difference. But the public at large remains considerably befuddled.

8 Things You Need to Know About LEED Credentialing Changes

With major changes occurring to LEED credentialing -- including the popular LEED Accredited Professional (AP) designation -- CoStar News combed through pages of rule changes, tuned in to instructional webcasts, and spoke with Peter Templeton, president of the Green Building Certification Institute, the organization that oversees credentialing, to compile the eight things every LEED AP and future LEED-credentialed professional needs to know.

Sustainability Gets Sophisticated

Report finds a shift from tracking carbon emissions to analyzing every link in supply chain efficiency.

Less carrot and more stick is the driving factor that may compel many U.S. manufacturing firms to mind their carbon footprint and more, according to a new report from AMR Research and software giant SAP.

The survey of 189 companies in both energy-intensive and non-energy-intensive industries paints a slightly different picture than a recent Johnson Controls study of more than 1,400 companies as to what is pushing companies towards energy and carbon efficiency.

The "Holy Grail of Energy"- Clean, Inexpensive, No Emissions - The Bloom Box is coming!

After nearly nine years, Bloom Energy (some of the old team who founded Microsoft) has finally publicly shown off its fuel cell that it says could replace a large hunk of the grid someday. The Bloom Box is essentially a device for making electricity on demand. Methane or other hydrocarbons are fed into the device along with oxygen, and the mixture is heated to around 1,000 degrees Celsius.

As the gases pass through catalytic plates, the machine produces electricity. Bloom remains a little vague on efficiency, but if the company ranks with these competitors, the device will be more efficient than the traditional grid -- less than half the power burned at power plants turns into usable power in your home. Bloom eventually hopes to make home units that cost around $3,000. ClearEdge currently sells its 5-kilowatt system for $56,000.

Verdigris Group joins the Twitter Revolution!

Folow us as we tweet with our tweeps about our latest developments and initiatives in green building & sustainable business!

We're at: http://twitter.com/verdigrisgroup

Smart Grid Presents Opportunities in Cost Savings, Power Reliability, Energy Optimization

Utilities, commercial businesses and other organizations have the opportunity to spur the development of a U.S. smart grid, which is expected to deliver significant energy and cost savings. A smart grid is the right decision to meet both social responsibility and economic business objectives, according to Dave Hardin, Invensys Operations Management, in an article written for ISA.

Hardin believes industrial customers have the opportunity to participate in transitioning toward a smarter grid, particularly since the industrial sector uses more energy than any other sector, consuming about 50 percent of the world’s total delivered energy, according to a recent Energy Information Administration report.

The Dirty Little Secret About Green MBAs

Business education programs, even green MBA programs, are failing to prepare students for the deep, complex and sticky issues that underlie sustainability strategy. In narrowly focusing on topics like cap-and-trade and carbon footprint reduction, business education has left uncovered the hidden, human dimensions to sustainability -- an exclusion that is leading to a major void in the sustainability efforts at companies across the globe.

Sustainability is not merely a series of financial decisions, but a complex web of social, environmental and economic ecosystems in which global companies need to operate in order to create long-term success and profitability. And the human elements of those systems, including working conditions, access to clean water and education, health care and other related issues, should be central to businesses' sustainability strategies.

How to Find the Greenest E-Waste Recycler

A recent seminar from the EPA offered a primer for small business and local governments on how to avoid the pitfalls of e-waste recycling, but the lessons offered apply to any organization that's sitting on old electronics.

With e-waste popping up regularly in the news, and with some e-waste collections being less green than they appear, there is no shortage of reasons why companies should focus on doing right by the environment and their brands when they're looking down the barrel of a tech refresh. The key to finding the best recycler for you and the environment is the simple motto "Trust, but verify."...

President Obama, DOE Budget Targets Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency Advances for 2011

President Barack Obama’s $28.4 billion fiscal year 2011 budget request for the Department of Energy (DOE) targets the Administration’s commitment to create jobs with the development of a clean energy economy, investment in advanced science, research and innovation, as well as improvements in energy efficiency to help meet the President’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. It also includes national security priorities.

Verdigris Group Celebrates 3rd Year as Leader in Carbon-Neutral Business Practice

Recent article from Online PR News featuring Verdigris Group as setting the standard for sustainable business for the new decade.

"Verdigris Group, the highly-progressive and ultra-green real estate development, consulting, and brokerage company, announces the commencement of their third year of commitment to carbon neutral business leadership through their ongoing corporate partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation."

"Through cost-effective financial support of America’s new renewable energy development projects, Verdigris Group, along with other progressive organizations such as The North Face, Major League Baseball, Wells Fargo, and The Nature Conservancy, continue to set the standard as a leader in sustainable business practice by partnering with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), which was named the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Green Power Supplier of the Year."

Twenty Trends for Sustainability that are changing the business landscape for 2010

1. From economic collapse to a green economic recovery.

2. From carbon footprint confusion to footprint awareness.

3. From carbon offset doubt to market development.

4. From carbon-centric to water-centric.

5. From greenwashing to green authentification...

Click the link above to learn how the green revolution is developing and where it's heading in 2010!

U.S. Green Building Activity to Grow 146% by 2013

The combined commercial and residential green building markets should grow nearly 146 percent from 2009 to 2013, according to research from Zpryme. In 2009, the combined markets represented $52.3 billion, but by 2013 the total should be $128.6 billion.

The commercial/institutional market for green building should grow 137 percent from 2009 to 2013, from $26.5 billion to $63 billion.

By sector, public facilities and education are leading 2009 green building activity at 30 percent and 24 percent, respectively. Commercial green building accounts for about 20 percent of the 2009 activity, followed by health care (11 percent) and industrial and R&D (both 5 percent).

Perkins + Will Unveils its new "Precautionary List"

At Greenbuild 2009, Perkins + Will unveiled its new Precautionary List, which tracks 25 of the most common dangerous chemicals found in commonly used building materials. The list provides an explanation of the properties of the chemicals with suggested alternatives. Some of the chemicals on the list include: arsenic, lead, urea formaldehyde, and cadmium, just to name a few. Over time, the Precautionary List will evolve and provide more information and alternatives.

Right now, using the Precautionary List website, you can navigate based upon the health effects (for example, carcinogen or kidney toxicant) or the building material use (for example, finishes or furnishings), as well as through a few other search methods.

Deciphering the Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

The Obama Administration has extended the energy-efficiency tax credits and renewable-energy tax credits through December 21, 2010 and they are significantly better than simply tax deductions. The allowable credits aren’t just deductible expenses; they represent dollars subtracted directly from your tax bill. While the tax credit program includes illogical rules, the available tax credits can be significant.

Click the link above to read on about these intricate tax benefits AND how to use them to get the most BANG for your buck!

Case Study on Post-Occupancy Performance of 25 LEED Certified Chicago Buildings

This new report from the U.S. Green Building Council's Chicago Chapter is the first to provide detailed post-occupancy performance data on a regional level. The study looks at 25 LEED-certified buildings in the Chicago area (nearly 30% of the city's LEED-certified buildings in the city) and reports on energy and water efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, occupant comfort, and other performance indicators.

While this project is neither the first nor the largest study to analyze the costs and benefits, or post-occupancy energy performance of LEED projects, this study is unique both in its scope and collaborative approach. This project is one of the first post-occupancy studies to employ such a broad scope of metrics. It is also among the first to collect multiple years of post-occupancy data and provide ongoing analysis of initial participants while adding additional projects in subsequent years. The project employed a stakeholder engagement model based on regional partnerships, and a valuable back and forth dialog with project stakeholders. This dialog included preparing detailed individual building performance reports for each participating project and follow up meetings with project stakeholders so that project representatives could better understand their buildings’ actual performance.

Join us! Take the Energy Star Pledge

By inspiring just 100 people to take this ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge, we can save at least 28,200 kWh of energy, $2,820 in energy costs, and prevent 44,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Please join us in making a difference today!

Verdigris Group is a proud Energy Star for Homes Builder Partner doing what we can to make a difference - one home at a time!

How the Stimulus Impacts Green Building

REUTERS: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama in February to stimulate the sagging US economy. By injecting $690 billion to improve infrastructure the authors hoped to create millions of jobs pulling the US out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Interspersed within this $690 billion is $60 billion for green projects of which $45 billion is going specifically towards energy related programs. Within this $45 billion most will go directly towards the green building industry with some additional monies going towards large scale renewable energy production.

Whether in the form of a tax credit, grant, or subsidy, federal money is becoming more available to offset costs of greening your home or building. See the breakdown of the important areas and read the whole story by clicking the story link above.

Report: Sustainable Companies Outperform Peers During Financial Crisis

The report, titled “Green Winners: The Performance of Sustainability-focused Companies in the Financial Crisis” looked at 99 companies with a strong commitment to sustainability as defined by the Sustainability Index and the Goldman Sachs Sustain Focus List, with findings in the report showing that companies focused on sustainability outperformed their peers by 15% during the financial crisis.

Over the six months from May through November 2008, the study found that in 16 of the 18 industries studied, companies committed to sustainability averaged $650 million more than the industry average in protected market capitalization per company.

Follow all of Verdigris Group's Updates and Action on Facebook!

Join Verdigris Group as we make our daily / weekly efforts known across the worldwide web! Become a Facebook Fan and you'll be in the know on all of our current projects, activities and progressive work in the fields of Sustainable Business Development, Green Building & Green Real Estate!

More Green Building and Energy Efficiency Could Save U.S. Economy $1.2 Trillion

McKinsey & Company released its 165-page report, "Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy," today. The U.S. Green Building Council and 11 other governmental, non-governmental and private sector organizations helped sponsor the report.

The report examines how the nation can increase energy efficiency in buildings and other non-transportation sectors using existing technology and methods -- some of them are as basic as using the efficiency settings on equipment and appliances.

The study also takes a hard look at the barriers to progress, why the changes haven't already been made and what can be done to clear the hurdles.

New Report Proves Green Homes Sell for More $$$

Earth Advantage Institute, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, recently released a report documenting superior market performance of third-party certified homes over non-certified homes. The findings are based on an analysis that directly compares homes that were certified with appraiser-approved comparable homes. Home certifications included Earth Advantage®, ENERGY STAR®, Built Green®, and LEED® for Homes.

Certified homes in the four-county Seattle metropolitan area sold for 9.7 percent more than non-certified homes. In the five-county Portland area, homes achieved a price premium of 3 to 5 percent more. Homes with an Earth Advantage or comparable certification also sold more quickly in the Portland metro area by about 18 days.

"This investigative research demonstrates the clear value of certified homes to homeowners and professionals in the home construction and sales industry," said Sean Penrith, executive director of Earth Advantage Institute. "The results of this study will help us in our certification outreach efforts by supplying our constituents with specific data on the value of sustainable home standards."

Green Biz Philosophy 3.0 : The Invisible Force Powering Today's Most Visible Green Brands

"Green" has gone mainstream, and for many companies caring for the environment is not just a philosophy, it's a marketing strategy. So how does a company that's genuinely committed to green principles differentiate itself from its greenwashing competitors?

Brand expert Richard Seireeni interviewed over two dozen "ecopreneurs" from a broad range of industries - home improvement, transportation, household products, food and beverage, energy, real estate, finance, and fashion. The collective experience of leaders such as Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm, Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation, and the grandsons of Dr. Bronner, as well as other green experts, are a rich source of wisdom for green businesses getting off the ground or for any business aiming to improve its environmental performance.

The result of these interviews is the discovery of "The Gort Cloud" - a term coined by the author that describes the vast and largely invisible network of NGOs, trendspotters, advocacy groups, social networks, business alliances, certifying organizations, and other members of the green community that have the power to make or break new green brands.

Sustainable Industries Names Top Ten Green Building Products

Sustainable Industries has named its choices for the top 10 green building products of 2009.

Green building products help projects earn points towards LEED certification. There are a wide variety of green building products available and with anything in the “go green” product market, savvy consumers must be aware of greenwashing. To help combat inflated eco-friendly claims, Sustainable Industries has named its choices for the top 10 green building products of 2009.

U.S. Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions See Biggest Drop in Nearly 30 Years

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sky-high fuel prices, declining energy use and a slumping economy gave the U.S. its largest annual decline in fossil fuel-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions since 1982, when emissions fell 5.3 percent.

Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2008 fell 2.8 percent compared to the year before, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). By comparison, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) inched up a modest 1.1 percent in 2008. At the same time, energy demand shrunk 2.2 percent. This means the amount of energy used to produce one unit of GDP dropped 3.3 percent last year.

The decline in carbon dioxide intensity -- the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of GDP -- was even more dramatic at 3.8 percent. Since 1990, U.S. carbon dioxide intensity has plummeted 29.3 percent.

USGBC to Monitor Performance of LEED Certified Buildings

Exactly how energy-efficient are the nation’s most sustainable buildings? That question has puzzled experts because of insufficient data, but the U.S. Green Building Council will soon have an answer.

Landlords seeking the coveted LEED badge must now agree to submit the energy and water consumption of their buildings to USGBC as a precondition for certification, a major change from previous requirements. The provision is part of a suite of changes to the LEED rating system that became mandatory for newly registered projects on June 27.

AIA Releases its Top 10 List of Green Building Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment have selected the organization's Top 10 List of outstanding examples of environmentally responsible architecture and design for 2009.

The honorees, which range from the Synergy segment of the sweeping Dockside Green redevelopment project in British Columbia to the community government center of a Northern California town, will be recognized at the AIA's annual National Convention and Design Exposition, which runs April 30 to May 2 in San Francisco. Click the link above for the list.

An Energy Dashboard for Buildings

The idea of a so-called smart grid and smart metering — where digital technology facilitates more precise management of electricity distribution, and more accurate, real-time monitoring of use for end-users — has been slow to develop in the United States. Part of the reason is infrastructure improvements needed in the grid itself. But several companies are exploring ways to monitor and deliver more detailed end-use data even now.

“The research suggests that the more immediate the feedback, the more effective it will be,” Mr. Murray explained. “The once-a-month bill is a pretty poor motivator.”

The Seven Sins of Greenwashing - The TerraChioce Report

Green-wash (green’wash’, -wôsh’) – verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. This Report reveals detailed consumer concerns about manufaturing and marketing claims of "being green". Since the first study in 2007, consumers, journalists, marketers, policy-makers and activists have used this tool for analyzing environmental claims and NOW you can too!

The first edition of the Sins of Greenwashing report, published in November 2007, identified the following Six Sins:

1. Sin of the Hidden Trade-off, committed by suggesting a product is ‘green’ based on an unreasonably narrow set of attributes

without attention to other important environmental issues. Paper, for example, is not necessarily environmentally-preferable

just because it comes from a sustainably-harvested forest. Other important environmental issues in the paper-making process,

including energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and water and air pollution, may be equally or more significant.

2. Sin of No Proof, committed by an environmental claim that cannot be substantiated by easily accessible supporting

information or by a reliable third-party certification. Common examples are facial or toilet tissue products that claim various

percentages of post-consumer recycled content without providing any evidence.

3. Sin of Vagueness, committed by every claim that is so poorly defined or broad that its real meaning is likely to be

misunderstood by the consumer. ‘All-natural’ is an example. Arsenic, uranium, mercury, and formaldehyde are all naturally

occurring, and poisonous. ‘All natural’ isn’t necessarily ‘green’.

Click on the link above to read on about these ever-more common Sins of Greenwashing...

Top 15 Best Carbon Calculators - for individuals, homes, businesses, kids...

A round up of some of the Web's most useful tools for shrinking your footprint. A basic carbon calculator offers a ballpark figure of a person's, business's or household's "carbon footprint" — that is, all the greenhouse gases emitted either directly or on one's behalf. A good carbon calculator will offer tips for minimizing your carbon footprint and many will allow you to calculate how to offset it.

America's 50 Greenest Cities

Want to see a model for successful and rapid environmental action? Don't look to the federal government—check out your own town. Here, our list of the 50 communities that are leading the way. Does yours make the cut?

EPA: What are the most energy-efficient cities?

Last year's 50 percent nationwide growth of Energy Star buildings, in the face of a festering recession, bodes well for the United States' push for more efficient use of energy. And the EPA list doesn't even include LEED buildings, which doubled in 2008.

EPA Proposes National Reporting of Green House Gas Emissions

In a far-reaching move, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing that all major sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions be reported into a national database. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the proposal March 10.

“Through this new reporting, we will have comprehensive and accurate data about the production of greenhouse gases,” Jackson said in a press release. “This is a critical step toward helping us better protect our health and environment - all without placing an onerous burden on our nation’s small businesses.”

U.S. Solar Installed Costs Fell Nearly 28% Over a Decade

In a new study, Berkeley Lab researchers found that commercial solar's installed costs are falling faster than residential ones, thanks to more lucrative incentives. The trend could be reversed as a result of changes in federal laws.

The costs of installing solar energy systems dropped from $10.50 per watt in 1998 to $7.60 per watt in 2007, according to a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study released Thursday.

Will the Stimulus Help Wind and Solar?

The stimulus package, while welcome, may not be a quick fix for the struggling wind and solar industries, experts say.

The package is loaded with tax credit provisions that both industries have long sought — including a three-year extension of the production tax credit for wind, and an option of converting tax credits from both industries into direct cash. In theory, that means the federal government could end up footing the bill for 30 percent of the cost of a wind farm or solar array.

Nationwide Survey Finds: Americans See Watershed Era for Environmental Investing

Americans see a golden age for green investing, according to the results of the second-annual survey on environmental investing released here today by Allianz Global Investors, a leading global investment firm.

National Green Building Standard Approved: ICC-700

The National Green Building Standard, known as ICC-700, has been approved as an American National Standard. The new Standard provides guidance for safe and sustainable building practices for residential construction, including both new and renovated single-family to high-rise residential buildings. This is the first and only green standard that is consistent and coordinated with the Code Council’s family of I-Codes and standards.

National Studies Show Green Building as Key Part of America’s Economic Future

Even as the dire financial news continues to dominate year-end headlines, a cascade of newly released studies and reports points to green building as one of the growing bright spots for the U.S. economy.

Some very compelling statistics revealed - read the full release from the US Green Building Council linked here.

Data dispels 'green' building cost myths

There is a perception in the real estate industry that constructing green buildings is more expensive than traditional buildings.

A study sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council and other real estate and architectural groups has found that building green costs an average of 2.5 percent more up front. The study found, however, that the financial savings over the life of the building would, conservatively, exceed this initial investment tenfold.

Top 10 Green Jobs of the Next Decade

Fast Company has created a list of what it considers to be the best green jobs for the coming decade. You may be surprised!

Green Building on Upswing Despite Down Market: Report

Building green is a market advantage in tough times and eco-friendly construction continues to grow even in the current economy, according to the newest report on residential building by McGraw-Hill Construction. The National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Program follows a similarly optimistic report on green building worldwide last month by McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics.

"Green building has definitely reached its upper tipping point," Harvey M. Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives, said in a statement.

President Obama and the Future of Green Building

Of course President Obama will inherit enormous problems, both at home and abroad, and no one expects him to place green building anywhere near the top of his priorities. But a look at the green culture of Chicago and the philosophies of those on the short list to cabinet posts will reveal a potential national shift toward environmental building practices.

"The Greenest Home in Chicago" exhibit at The Museum of Science & Industry

Explore this three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in the Museum’s own backyard to learn about the ways, big and small, that you can make eco-friendly living a part of your life.

Opening again March 9th, 2009 the home/exhibit: Smart Home: Green + Wired was conceived by Michelle Kaufmann Designs and built by All American Homes.

Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home offers guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Bring your family to discover the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.

Four Lean, Green Strategies for an Uncertain Economy - Harvard Business

Both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times recently reported that the renewable energy industry is facing challenges in a tight credit market because of the high capital costs of technologies like solar and wind. Yet some green strategies have a lot to offer in this risk-averse, credit-scarce environment. Here are some ways to make lean, green initiatives part of your company's belt-tightening efforts.

The Dollars and Sense of Green Retrofits

A growing number of companies are implementing green retrofits of their buildings to save money, improve productivity, lower absenteeism and healthcare costs, strengthen employee attraction and retention, and improve their corporate sustainability reports and brand equity – all at a relatively modest cost.

However, timing is important for companies seeking to use green retrofits as a point of competitive differentiation. The earlier a company performs a green retrofit, the more differentiation it stands to gain, as we believe that the increasing interest in green building among businesses and lawmakers will soon make green construction practices mainstream.

President Signs Green Building Tax Deduction and R&D Tax Credit

Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction

Extended through December 31, 2013. Section 179D(a) is a deduction for commercial building owners whose buildings meet certain energy standards. The deduction is as much as $1.80 per square foot for buildings that achieve a 50 percent energy savings target. Before claiming the deduction, the owner must obtain written certification from a professional engineer not related to the company using approved software that the required energy savings will be achieved.

Research and Development Tax Credit

The R&D tax credit was extended for two years through December 31, 2009. If you are involved in developing new products/processes, improving existing products, creating more reliable products, developing prototypes, design tools/jigs/molds/dies, apply for patents, testing new concepts, investment in manufacturing process activity, developing new technology or employ outside consultants and/or contractors to do any of these activities, you may qualify for the R&D Tax Credit.

America's Hottest Green Job Markets

Despite the gloom and doom pouring out of Wall Street, there is at least one genuine bright spot left in the U.S. economy--and it has a decidedly green hue.

The U.S. had tallied more than 750,000 green jobs in 2006 and is set to add millions more in the next few decades, according to a new report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research firm.

The green economy could soon become the nation's fastest-growing job segment, accounting for roughly 10% of new jobs over the next 20 years. The report forecasts that by 2038, renewable electricity production will create 1.23 million jobs; alternative transportation fuels, 1.5 million jobs; engineering, legal, research and consulting positions will be more than 1.4 million; and commercial and residential retrofits at 81,000 jobs, for a total of 4.2 million.

U.S. Leads World In Wind Power Production

Although the Congress’ failure to extend the production tax credit for the renewable energy industry threatens to slowdown further development, U.S. wind capacity for 2008 is still expected to increase by 7,500MW or up 45 percent from a year ago, according to the American Wind Energy Association, Environmental Finance reports.

America is now the leader in wind electricity generation with total installed wind power capacity at about 19,600 MW, up about 2,700 MW from end of 2007, according to AWEA’s second quarter 2008 market report.

Financial Crisis Threatens EU’s Carbon Plans

European legislators voted for a tougher emissions trading scheme but the financial crisis and slumping economic activities are threatening Europe’s plan to slash GHG emissions, AFP reports.

The EU’s French presidency wants European leaders to agree to abide by Europe’s ambitious plans to cut CO2 emissions. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also wants EU nations to confirm the objectives in the plan.

However, it seems governments are eager to avoid putting extra burdens on companies. A senior EU official told AFP that, “the governments are on the defensive, they are less favorable towards the agenda and discovered a lot of problems.”

Big Jump in Growth, Profits Projected for Green Building Worldwide: Report Highlights

SHANGHAI, CN -- A study of construction professionals around the world has found that the majority expect more than 60 percent of their projects will be focused on green building within the next five years.

Environmentally friendly building currently accounts for more than 10 percent of domestic projects for almost a third of the respondents who participated in the study. It is the first to examine green building market trends and drivers on a global scale, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics, which conducted the research and produced a report on the findings in partnership with the World Green Building Council.

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