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

Will Obama's Clean Power Plan be a boon for industrial construction?

Industry firms could be "the winners" as a result of the ambitious standards for limiting carbon dioxide emissions, a columnist wrote.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 12, 2015

Kansas City startup to build city's 1st net-zero home

Acre Designs — founded by a husband- and-wife team — is experimenting with time- and cost-saving construction methods.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 12, 2015

Amazon's Indiana wind farm construction commences

The project is one of three alternative energy efforts the online retailer has started or announced since June.

By Sharon O'Malley • July 31, 2015

1st all-timber commercial structure in U.S. breaks ground in Minneapolis

The office building, designed by Michael Green Architecture, will feature engineered wood on the interior and exterior.

By Sharon O'Malley • July 30, 2015

Burgeoning U.S. green building materials market on pace to reach $69B by 2019

A BCC Research report found the demand for energy-efficient and eco-friendly buildings and supplies will continue to grow at an above average rate for at least four years.

By Sharon O'Malley • July 29, 2015

RI breaks ground on nation's 1st offshore wind farm

The federal interior secretary said the project — which is estimated to create 300 construction jobs — is the first of at least 10 similar efforts in multiple states.

By Sharon O'Malley • July 28, 2015

Wind farm construction reaches near record highs

The report from the American Wind Energy Association comes as Congress is considering the extension of federal tax credits for the industry.

By Sharon O'Malley • July 27, 2015