Newsletter
Defining Zero Emission Buildings
What exactly is a sustainable building? The Washington Post reports that the White House set out to define that, hoping to get more built.
- The new building standard requires that buildings are energy efficient, produce no on-site emissions, and use 100 percent renewable energy.
Why does this matter? Up until now, states were responsible for defining what a sustainable building is, complicates things for real estate owners with national portfolios.
- California's definition required new residential buildings to be “zero net energy” as of 2020, and require the same for commercial buildings by 2030.
- New York City adopted a landmark law in 2019 that requires most buildings over 25,000 square feet to reduce their emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
What's more: Some executives are calling for a single national standard and referring to the current regulatory environment as chaotic, reports the Washington Post.Bottom line: One executive at the U.S. Green Building Council (the group that developed the LEED certification program) told the Washington Post that states and municipalities "would benefit from having an aligned definition at the national level."
- In turn, it could steer investment toward climate-friendly buildings. Plus, policymakers and private companies could benchmark their own goals against a federal standard. And it could help guide tax incentives or low-cost financing programs.
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