Int'l Code Council Takes Action on ASHRAE Proposals   Mar 13, 2008
International building codes may soon incorporate requirements from a new load calculation standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association Inc. (ACCA) under recent proposals now under consideration.

ICC Developing Green Building Professional Certification   Mar 13, 2008
The International Code Council (ICC) is developing a green building professional certification exam to demonstrate a code official's ability to understand the application of green building technology and assess adherence with green building programs.

NIST: Energy Upgrades Will Meet Government Mandates   Mar 12, 2008
In a recent study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), researchers found ways to save money by cutting their own facility's energy consumption.

ASHRAE High-Performance Building Design Professional Certification Now Available  Mar 10, 2008
Registration is open for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) high-performance building design professional certification.

ASHRAE Proposed Standard 189.1 for High-Performing Buildings Open for Public Review  Mar 10, 2008
ASHRAE Proposed Standard 189.1 - Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is open for its second public review.

EC Cites Belgium, U.K. for Failures Complying with Energy Performance of Buildings Directive  Feb 29, 2008
The European Commission (EC) launched court proceedings against Belgium and the United Kingdom for failure to notify adequate national implementing measures, as required by the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

BOMA Int'l 7-Point Challenge Encourages Energy Efficiency in Commercial Real Estate Industry   Feb 29, 2008
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International announced that its international 7-point challenge, an energy reduction plan for the commercial real estate industry, is being endorsed by companies and BOMA local associations around the country.

OGC, BuildingSMART Alliance RFT Seeks Tech for Interoperability across Building Lifecycle  Feb 22, 2008
BuildingSMART Alliance, the Open Geospatial Consortium Inc. (OGC) and sponsors of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO) Testbed issued a request for technology (RFT) regarding interoperability across building lifecycle.

Frost: Energy Codes Drive Chinese Building Industry Demand for Thermal Insulation Materials  Feb 7, 2008
The Chinese thermal insulation materials market for the building industry is witnessing robust growth, according to Frost & Sullivan, thanks largely to the increasingly stringent government energy-saving codes.

EC Assesses National Energy Efficiency Action Plans  Jan 25, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently made a first assessment of European Union (EU) National Energy Efficiency Action Plans, which member states were required to submit by June 30, 2007.

ASHRAE Offers Free Download of Advanced Energy Design Guide Series for Energy-Efficient Buildings   Jan 22, 2008
To encourage energy-efficient design in a range of building types, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) and its partnering organizations have made available for free the advanced energy design guide series.

DOE Establishes Energy Efficiency Requirements for Federal Buildings  Jan 14, 2008
New regulations finalized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in mid-December could save taxpayers more than $776 million over the next 10 years, according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ICC Findings on Green Buildings to Appear in ICFAI Book  Jan 13, 2008
The International Code Council (ICC) green building white paper will be included in a green building reference book titled Green Building: An Introduction being published in May by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI).

ASHRAE Seeks Papers on Sustainable Urban Design  Jan 13, 2008
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) seeks papers focused on sustainable urban design for its 2009 winter meeting slated for Jan. 24 - 28 in Chicago.

Frost: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems Reap Benefits of Going Green  Dec 29, 2007
Energy conservation is a key priority in North America, according to Frost & Sullivan, and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems, which provide exceptional energy efficiency and enhance indoor air quality (IAQ), are in demand in these environment-conscious times.

CRRC, DRII Seek Accreditation as ANSI Developers   Dec 24, 2007
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), a new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) organizational member, and the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) submitted applications to become ANSI Accredited standards developers.

ASHRAE Winter Meeting to Target Proposed Sustainability Standard - ASHRAE 189.1P  Dec 18, 2007
A proposed standard for high-performance buildings and the long-term sustainability plan for New York City are among the topics to be addressed at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) 2008 winter meeting.

ASHRAE Focuses on Role of Operation & Maintenance in Achieving Net-Zero-Energy Buildings  Dec 4, 2007
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) will highlight the role of operation and maintenance (O&M) in achieving net-zero-energy buildings during a two-part seminar at the ASHRAE 2008 Winter Meeting, Net-Zero Energy Buildings: The Impact of O&M Practices?

ASHRAE Proposes Updates to Energy Savings Standard - ASHRAE 90.1  Nov 9, 2007
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) estimates an annual energy savings of 13% relative to ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004 - Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings should result from a proposed addendum regarding air- and water-cooled chillers.

Frost: Building Directive Implementation to Result in Reduced GHG Emissions, Greater Energy Efficiency  Oct 31, 2007
According to Frost & Sullivan, the European Union (EU) is aiming to tackle global warming, as well as increased energy import dependency and concerns over the worldwide supplies of fossil fuels, as part of a new focus on climate change.

Frost: Building Automation Systems Ease Minds of Hotel Owners  Oct 31, 2007
As hotel owners operate in an industry with high overheads, they are eager for a system that offers precise communication between devices, as well as decreases maintenance, energy and operational costs.

U.K. Homeowners Eligible for Green Boiler Rating  Oct 25, 2007
The U.K. Communities and Local Government announced homeowners will now be able to request a free A-G energy rating for their boiler with advice to help cut fuel bills, when an engineer visits.

Frost: Cost, Energy-Efficiency Drives Adoption of Intelligent Buildings in N. America  Oct 22, 2007
The North American intelligent building market continues to stay at a nascent stage with considerable skepticism and speculation in the minds of builders and other stakeholders.

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 Up for Review  Oct 8, 2007
ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 - Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings was designed to provide minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings.

NECA Zeros in on Green Energy  Sep 12, 2007
The 2007 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention and Trade Show will focus on helping the electrical industry increase its proficiency in "green" energy and building systems.

BRE, RIAS Launch Design Certification Schemes for the Energy Performance of Buildings in Scotland   Sep 9, 2007
Scottish Executive Minister Stewart Stevenson announced his support of two new design certification schemes for the energy performance of buildings in Scotland.

U.K Government Unveils Next Stage for Home Information Packs, Energy Performance Certificates  Aug 29, 2007
The U.K. Communities and Local Government announced Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be introduced for three-bedroom properties beginning 10 Sept. 2007.

CIOB Study: Construction Professionals See Future in Building Green  Aug 28, 2007
The Green Perspective report from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) revealed that more than 94% of construction professionals believe that "green" building is the future for the construction industry.

DOE Launches Initiative to Address Energy Savings across Nationwide DOE Complex   Aug 20, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, a department-wide effort aimed at reducing energy intensity across the nationwide DOE complex by 30%.

ASHRAE Strives to Provide Advanced Energy Savings by 2010  Aug 17, 2007
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) announced its intention to increase building energy efficiency in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 - Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.

NRC: Canada Invests $5M to Update Model National Energy Code for Buildings  Au 10, 2007
The National Research Council Canada (NRC) and the Canadian government announced a $5 million joint initiative to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings.

BSRIA, CEM Develop Existing Home Environmental Property Audit  Aug 10, 2007
BSRIA and County Estate Management (CEM) jointly developed a carbon footprint tool for existing homes.

BRE Certification Unveils Green Book Live  Jul 30, 2007
BRE Certification launched the Green Book Live web site, an online source of reference information for specifiers and users of environmental products and services.

U.K. Delays Energy Performance Certificates, Home Information Packs  Jun 21, 2007
The U.K. Communities and Local Government announced the government will not begin implementing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Home Information Packs (HIPs) until August 1.

CIOB Survey: Construction Supports Green Technology  Jun 5, 2007
A Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) innovation in construction survey found nearly half of the 459 managers and directors surveyed would develop "green" technology and techniques.

First Houses Designed to Conform to Code for Sustainable Homes Unveiled  Jun 5, 2007
Companies in the U.K. and abroad plan to demonstrate the first houses designed to demonstrate compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes at Offsite 2007 in June.

U.K. Publishes Tech Guidance for Code for Sustainable Homes  May 23, 2007
The U.K. Communities and Local Government published technical guidance for the Code for Sustainable Homes standard to help the building industry deliver improvements to the energy efficiency of new homes.

U.K. Minister Supports Low Energy Rated Homes  May 23, 2007
The U.K. government wants to make it easier for homebuyers to access grants for energy efficiency measures by linking them to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

CIBSE Addresses Building Sustainability  May 23, 2007
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) launched three tools to address building sustainability: an introduction to sustainability; Guide L: Sustainability, which addresses the fundamentals of sustainability; and a searchable online tool.

ASTM Int'l Releases Standards for Sustainability in Buildings  Apr 20, 2007
The 3rd edition of ASTM International Standards for Sustainability in Buildings is available on

CIBSE: U.K. DCLG 'Greener' Consultation in Line with Sustainability Guide  Apr 16, 2007
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) announced its forthcoming sustainability guide, which calls for environmental and energy issues to be addressed at the outset of projects, matches the message portrayed in consultation papers from the U.K. Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

TRADA to Detail Changes in Scottish Building Standards  Apr 16, 2007
The Scottish Buildings Standards Agency (SBSA) published 2007 versions of its regulations, which will come into effect in May.

NAHB, ICC Partner for Residential Green Building American National Standard   Feb 19, 2007
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) plan to jointly develop an American National Standard for residential green building based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines (2004).

ASHRAE, REHVA Team to Promote Sustainability  Feb 12, 2007
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) and the Federation of European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations (REHVA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase cooperation between the two associations in an effort to encourage sustainability.

ICC Issues Position on Building Green  Feb 12, 2007
The International Code Council (ICC) board of directors issued a policy position on Green Building/Sustainable Communities to emphasize its commitment to social responsibility and expand the boundaries of public safety.

U.K. Government Issues Climate Change Consultation  Feb 12, 2007
The U.K. Communities and Local Government published a new consultation designed to boost efforts to tackle climate change and promote energy efficiency by proposing estate agents must include energy performance certificates (EPCs) with their property particulars for the first time.

Canada Launches $300 Million ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative  Feb 6, 2007
Canadian homeowners, businesses, industry and the building/renovations sector are being encouraged to use energy more wisely through the $300M ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative.

Frost: Building 'Green' Spurs N. American Energy, Water, Building Facilities Management Markets   Feb 6, 2007
Rising energy prices and growing concerns over global warming are helping ensure the growth of the green buildings market in North America.

U.K. Approves BRE Certification for Home Inspector Certification Scheme  Jan 30, 2007
The U.K. Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) appointed BRE Certification to operate a certification scheme for home inspectors.

Phase 2 Grants Available for Installation of Microgeneration Technologies  Jan 26, 2007
Applications for grants are being accepted for phase 2 of the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Low Carbon Building Programme (LCPB) which will provide around £50 million of grants over the next two to three years to encourage uptake of renewable energy technologies in the U.K.

U.K. Aims for Zero Carbon Homes  Jan 15, 2007
U.K. Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly published Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development - a set of measures for planners and housebuilders designed to reduce carbon emissions.

ASHRAE Shares Energy Savings Efforts  Dec 29, 2006
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) acknowledged that guidance is being developed by organizations in the building environment industry to enable building design engineers and owners to cut buildings' energy usage in half by 2010.

Eu.bac Introduces Certification Scheme for Environmental Controls  Dec. 19, 2006
The European Building Automation and Controls Association (eu.bac) developed a scheme for assessing and certifying performance and reliability of building environmental controls.

ASHRAE, AIA, USGBC Address Global Warming  Dec 18, 2006
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at the 2006 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in an effort to confront global warming.

ASHRAE Promotes Environmental Design, Issues New Guide  Dec 18, 2006
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) published the ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings to help teach designers how to participate effectively on design teams charged with producing green buildings.

ASHRAE, AIA, USGBC Address Global Warming  Dec 18, 2006
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at the 2006 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in an effort to confront global warming.

Research Uncovers Potential for Home Carbon Savings of 7 Million Tonnes  Dec 12, 2006
Millions of tonnes of carbon and billions of pounds from fuel bills could be saved by simple measures like cavity wall insulation, according to analysis from the U.K. government.

DOE Partnership to Create Window Prototype  Dec 7, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Sage Electrochromics Inc. to produce a next-generation residential and commercial window prototype.

ASHRAE, Canada Green Building Council Team to Advance Sustainability  Dec 4, 2006
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to advance buildings that are healthy, productive, environmentally responsible and economically viable.

ASHRAE Publishes Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings  Nov 25, 2006
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) issued Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings.