New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently released a guide to help schools identify funding programs for facilities improvements available from federal and state government programs.
“The Decarbonization Roadmap Guide for School Building Decision Makers and accompanying toolbox of resources can help districts leverage these funding opportunities to develop a district decarbonization roadmap to identify cost-effective strategies and approaches to achieve net zero carbon and other greenhouse gas emission reductions across a portfolio of buildings,” according to an NBI news release. The document provides key elements for creating a roadmap, outlining goals and approaches to consider when building lifecycle events occur.
The guide was developed during the inaugural Getting to Zero Over Time in California Schools cohort, facilitated by NBI and the California Division of the State Architect’s Sustainability Education & Outreach Program. “Efforts like this will springboard and showcase the leadership of the school sector working towards achieving the California state goal of economy-wide decarbonization by mid-century,” said Ida Clair, California State Architect.
Funding opportunities are part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. These programs, as well as federal financial support for state energy offices and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will provide schools with financial support to bring buildings and district portfolios up to modern standards and provide resilient community spaces.
Related Stories
| Jul 5, 2012
New Joplin, Mo. hospital being built to withstand tornado that destroyed predecessor
After the May 22, 2011, EF-5 tornado destroyed St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., architects and engineers analyzed how the nine-story structure reacted to the storm.
| Jul 5, 2012
Continued tax breaks necessary for widespread adoption of net zero buildings
Tax breaks passed by the U.S. government to encourage construction of green buildings are set to expire in 2012 and 2013.
| Jun 28, 2012
Six buildings now recognized under Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge (LBC), a green ratings system for design and construction that judges a building based on its actual performance, not just its projected performance at the design stage, has recognized six buildings to date.
| Jun 28, 2012
Label for building products will have ‘global warming number’
The director of the 2030 Challenge for Products says that the organization is aiming to place a label on building products that will list what’s in it, and how much embodied carbon each product represents.
| Jun 28, 2012
Top building material executive urges building resilience in sustainability standards
A meeting of 1,000 business executives at the recent Rio+20 environmental conference featured a passionate plea to include building resilience in efforts to boost sustainability.
| Jun 28, 2012
Following spate of skyscraper balcony glass panel breakages, Ontario adopts code change
Ontario's housing minister announced new building code rules to help prevent glass panels from breaking off high-rise balconies during hot weather.
| Jun 28, 2012
Factory worker deaths in Italy raise questions on building codes after earthquakes
Italian officials are questioning seismic building standards and inspection procedures in the aftermath of two damaging earthquakes.
| Jun 21, 2012
Brazilian engineering/construction firm Odebrecht sues Florida over ban on companies doing business in Cuba
Odebrecht Construction Inc., a Brazilian engineering and construction company, is suing the State of Florida over a new law that bans governments from hiring companies with business ties to Cuba.