NY bills promote "green" construction

The New York State Senate passed two bills that promote green construction and cost-savings net utility metering. First, S3977 extends the state’s Green Residential Building Grant Program to continue encouraging green construction. Second, S4514 helps farms, municipalities, and other non-residential customers receive the cost-cutting benefits of remote net metering by clarifying an existing 2011 law.

Native Americans plan for climate change

At the American Planning Association (APA) conference in Chicago, experts discussed how the Swinomish Tribe on Camino Island, a small Native American community on the Puget Sound, has taken up the challenges of climate change planning and sustainable development, taking into account how rising water levels might impact area tourism.

Kohl's -- one of the most sustainable department store chains

Kohl’s Department Stores’ CSR report shows the fourth-largest department store chain in the U.S. well on its way to becoming one of the most sustainable retail chains. For example, 752 of its locations achieved Energy Star certification, 75 in 2012 alone.

Anti-LEED bill goes before NC House committee

North Carolina's proposed House Bill 628 would restrict the use of national green building rating programs on public projects. The proposal is slated for discussion by the state House Committee on Agriculture in Raleigh.

GSA committee endorses LEED for GSA Buildings

The GSA's Green Building Advisory Committee officially recommended that the LEED system be used for all GSA buildings as the best measure of building efficiency. The recommendation to use LEED comes from a study of more than 160 tools and standards.

Green building materials market -- $254B by 2020

A Navigant Research report predicts the worldwide market for green construction materials will grow from $116 billion in 2013 to $254 billion in 2020. This anticipated doubling of demand for green materials is based upon increasing demand for green buildings, green policies and regulations, green design, expansion of voluntary certification programs, cost reductions for green materials, consumer demand, and growing evidence that green buildings confer quantifiable market advantages.

Retailers adopting more sustainability measures

A Cone Communications survey found that 71% of Americans now consider the environment when making purchasing decisions, up from 66% in 2008.

Phoenix Biomedical Campus targeting LEED Gold

The University of Arizona College of Medicine’s Health Sciences Education Building is targeting LEED-NC Gold. The building’s features include the use of locally sourced recycled copper cladding, east-west orientation that cuts heat gain, abundant natural light, overhangs and sunshades, and vertical fins that control sun penetration on the north.

Queens University of Charlotte's new green building

Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated a new, $17.8 million science and health building. Queens is seeking LEED Platinum for the 56,500 sq.ft. center, which includes a living wall and a rooftop greenhouse.

Anheuser-Busch distributor's new Pasadena facility

Silver Eagle Distributors, the nation’s largest Anheuser-Busch distributor, started construction on a $25 million, 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Pasadena. The LEED-registered project is perched on 50 acres at 3503 Pasadena Freeway and is expected to be completed in 2014.

An overview of green construction in New York

Curbed presents an overview of green construction in New York, covering such topics as various green building standards; commonalities in sustainable features; how green buildings affect occupants; and ways green buildings reduce costs for owners and residents.

Going for gold at the Oregon Convention Center

Metro is investing $75,000 to move the LEED rating of the Oregon Convention Center from silver to gold. The center earned LEED Silver in 2008, which helped attract convention business.