Category Archives: Green Building

EPA Announces U.S. Cities with the Most Energy Star Certified Buildings

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Laura B.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010. The list of 25 cities is headed by Los Angeles; Washington, … Continue reading →

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New Guide Provides Daylighting Designs to Maximize Students’ Health and Performance

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full story from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The body’s internal clock is responsible for regulating the timing of our sleep and other daily biological cycles, called circadian rhythms. During school months, however, teenagers miss out on essential morning … Continue reading →

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Obama Administration Announces Launch of i6 Green Challenge to Promote Clean Energy Innovation and Economic Growth

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Laura B.

The U.S. Department of Energy joined with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship today to announce the opening of the $12 million i6 Green Challenge, which will also be conducted in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Fuels, Awards & contests, Energy, Funding Opportunities, Green Building, Green Business, Renewable Energy | Leave a comment

The future of light bulbs is in silicon, startup says

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full story at SmartPlanet. Soon, “Silicon Valley” may not evoke an image of server stacks, but light bulbs. Solid-state lighting startup Bridgelux announced on Tuesday that it achieved a “major breakthrough” by demonstrating a 135 lumens-per-watt LED bulb … Continue reading →

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The buzz on BEES: New web app simplifies use of NIST’s economically green building products tool

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Laura B.

A powerful scientific tool for selecting cost-effective and environmentally preferable building products is now available as a free, web-based application. Developed and maintained by the National Institute Standards and Technology (NIST), BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) Online is … Continue reading →

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DOE, Interior Department Announce New Solar Decathlon Site

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Laura B.

Via EERE. DOE and the Department of the Interior announced on February 23 that DOE’s Solar Decathlon 2011 will be held beginning in late September at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park. The competition—featuring 20 highly efficient solar homes designed … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards & contests, Green Building, Schools, Solar Energy | Leave a comment

Inside the Retrofitted Empire State Building

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full story at Earth911. More than 3.5 million visitors pay $21 to stand on its observation deck every year, but the Empire State Building’s biggest financial endeavor is well below the 102nd story. In October 2010, the Empire … Continue reading →

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Can we live without plastic?

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full post at SmartPlanet. Last week I went to a program at the National Building Museum, Life After Plastic, during which panelists discussed the impact of rising oil prices on the cost of plastic building materials; the life … Continue reading →

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SF Requires Energy Audits, Benchmarking for Commercial Buildings

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full story at GreenerBuildings. The city of San Francisco will require owners of commercial buildings of at least 10,000 square feet to conduct an energy audit every five years and benchmark the energy performance annually under an ordinance … Continue reading →

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Are Smart Buildings Green Buildings? And Vice Versa

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Laura B.

Read the full post at GreenerBuildings. I’m here at Day 1 of the State of Green Business Forum in Washington DC, the beginning of the end-cap of a three-week, cross-country marathon that began in San Francisco February 4th, wound through … Continue reading →

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