Minneapolis public works facility earns LEED Platinum

The Hiawatha Public Works Facility in Minneapolis received LEED Platinum certification, making it the state’s greenest government building. Designed by local firm RSP Architects, the 200-person facility has 32,000 sf of office space and 26,000 sf of shop and interior storage space. The complex also has more than 250,000 sf of yard space for multiple public works divisions, including maintenance, paving construction, sewer maintenance, sewer construction, bridge maintenance, and central stores. The facility occupies the site of 18 existing city buildings—all but two of which were removed; 90% of demolition material was recycled. The new building’s footprint is 43% smaller than the combined footprint of the previous buildings.

Gas and construction industry groups recently moved to dismiss a lawsuit they had filed to block new Washington state building codes that require heat pumps in new residential and commercial construction. The lawsuit contended that the codes harm the industry groups’ business, interfere with consumer energy choice, and don’t comply with federal law.

Green | Aug 7, 2023

Rooftop photovoltaic panels credited with propelling solar energy output to record high

Solar provided a record-high 7.3% of U.S. electrical generation in May, “driven in large part by growth in ‘estimated’ small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar PV whose output increased by 25.6% and accounted for nearly a third (31.9%) of total solar production,” according to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Government Buildings | Aug 7, 2023

Nearly $1 billion earmarked for energy efficiency upgrades to federal buildings

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades to federal buildings across the country. The investment will impact about 40 million sf, or about 20% of GSA’s federal buildings portfolio.

Codes and Standards | Aug 7, 2023

Cambridge, Mass., requires net-zero emissions for some large buildings by 2035

The City of Cambridge, Mass., recently mandated that all non-residential buildings—including existing structures—larger than 100,000 sf meet a net-zero emissions requirement by 2035.

Affordable housing multifamily development with artistic exterior at night

Multifamily Housing | Jul 31, 2023

6 multifamily housing projects win 2023 LEED Homes Awards

The 2023 LEED Homes Awards winners in the multifamily space represent green, LEED-certified buildings designed to provide clean indoor air and reduced energy consumption.