Pew Research: Swelling home sizes hinder progress made in energy efficiency

The average new single-family home completed last year was 2,657 square feet — 57% larger than 40 years ago.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 10, 2015

Study: Buyers spend 3.5% more for homes with green features

An analyst said builders and sellers who "are not factoring in energy efficiency when selling a home are leaving money on the table."

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 29, 2015

NY startup Delos aims to elevate building wellness program to LEED heights

Is this new standard "bigger than anything in real estate since the invention of the roof"?

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 26, 2015

Chicago suburb considering bird-friendly building regulations

Between 100 million and a billion birds a year die after flying into glass structures.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

Can green roofs bloom into cost savings for building owners?

With plant-covered roofs garnering major attention for being featured on Facebook's new campus and a proposed Silicon Valley shopping mall, some advocates are trying to get construction decision-makers to give them more consideration.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 15, 2015

NYC tops list of 'greenest' cities in U.S.

WalletHub's list ranks cities according to how much they embrace a "green" way of life.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 15, 2015

CA renewable energy bill likely to trigger construction boom

The governor has signed the bill, which changes the state's previous goals of 33% renewable energy by 2030 to 50%, along with a 50% increase in existing building energy efficiency. 

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 8, 2015

SolarCity factory project exceeds minority hiring goals

The mayor of Buffalo said the construction hiring numbers are a good sign that SolarCity will continue its practices when employment triples at the site over the next few months.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 6, 2015

ULI report: Real estate firms reduce building emissions, energy use

Greenprint is aiming for its members to reach a 50% reduction in building emissions and energy use by 2030.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 6, 2015

'Urban farm' concept wins in battle for CA property development

Core Companies beat out other developers with its "agrihood" design for the 6-acre, Santa Clara space.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 1, 2015

Lennar to build 1st 'solar-standard' community in Austin, TX

Owners in the planned development will have the choice to either lease pre-installed solar panels for $50 a month or buy them outright for $15,000.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 1, 2015

NYC mayor introduces 'retrofit accelerator' to cut building emissions

The announcement was part of Bill de Blasio's "One City Built to Last" initiative, which outlined measures to retrofit all city-owned buildings by 2025.

By Deborah Barrington • Sept. 29, 2015

Amazon scores final permit to begin construction on massive VA solar farm

Community Energy is set to begin construction on the Accomack County facility later this year, and it is scheduled to open for commercial use in the fall of 2016.  

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 29, 2015

USDA names Tall Wood Building Prize winners in effort to boost sustainable materials industry

The chosen designers were each awarded $1.5 million to get their tall timber building projects underway in New York City and Portland, OR.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 18, 2015

Green building growth set to add $304B to GDP by 2018

The green construction sector will account for more than one-third of jobs in the overall construction industry in the next three years, a new report predicted.

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 17, 2015

Duke University retrofits building glass to counteract spike in bird deaths

Researchers have said dozens of birds die every year after flying into the LEED-certified Fitzpatrick Center's glass panes.

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 16, 2015

US Green Building Council announces new CEO Mahesh Ramanujam

The current COO will take over the role after Rick Fedrizzi, who founded the council, steps down at the end of 2016.

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 9, 2015

'Precedent-setting' green apartment complex coming to Kansas City, MO

The $60 million Second and Delaware project will be the largest multifamily development in the U.S. to use building standards certified by the Passive House Institute.

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 8, 2015

CO county advises slower implementation of net-zero housing plan

Boulder's sustainability examiner said the recommended delay in requirements for 4,000-square-foot homes was due to his findings that the plan was "moving faster than the marketplace could handle."

By Emily Peiffer • Sept. 4, 2015

World's largest green roof planned for Silicon Valley shopping center

The developer will spend $3 billion to renovate the mall and another $40 million to build a school nearby.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 28, 2015

Out of the woodwork: 'Plyscrapers' emerge as designers embrace timber for tall buildings

Michael Green, one of the most well-known architects of wood buildings, said of the trend, "We're not reinventing the wheel, we're bringing back a very good wheel."

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 27, 2015

Colorado breaks ground on state's largest solar farm

The project is the latest in a rush of huge projects designed to help utilities comply with alternative-energy laws.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 24, 2015

Tesla Powerwall buzz sparks booming demand for solar energy storage as new-home amenity

As homebuilders and buyers wait for the new device, pockets of early adopters have emerged.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 20, 2015

Carnegie Hall earns LEED Silver certification

The concert venue, which first opened in 1891, joins the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in preserving history while updating to modern standards of efficiency.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 18, 2015

Code clash: MO environmentalists, builders square off over energy efficiency upgrades

St. Louis County is on track to remove some potentially costly measures meant to reduce energy usage in new homes as it updates to the 2015 IECC.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 17, 2015