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World Green Building Council, Architect Group Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Steve Rizer, Editor
Green Building Insider

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the International Union of Architects (UIA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that is designed to "take a step toward strengthening their working relationship" in promoting green buildings. WGBC is a business-led group of national councils whose mission is to accelerate the transformation of the global property industry toward sustainability. IUA is a non-governmental organization representing more than 1.4 million architects in 124 countries.

Lawmakers Want 10 Million Solar Rooftops

Congressional lawmakers earlier this month introduced legislation designed to get photovoltaic solar panels installed on 10 million rooftops across the United States over the next 10 years. The bill, offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), also would increase the capacity of solar hot water by an estimated 10 million gallons over the same period.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Adds Resource Pages to Whole Building Design Guide

With help from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the nonprofit Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has contributed new resource pages on site security design to the "Whole Building Design Guide" (WBDG).

Bill to Spur Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits Gains House Approval

The House recently approved a bill that would allow federal loan guarantees to be applied to energy efficiency projects funded through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds.

Tekla Equips MTSU Program with Suite of 3D BIM Software

Tekla Inc., through its Education Program, has equipped Middle Tennessee State University's (MTSU) Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program with Tekla's complete suite of 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, Tekla Structures. The software will be available to every student and professor and is expected to become an integral part of course work.

Ecobuild Attendees Hear Encouraging News About City Green Building Programs, Receive Advice

Green building programs are continuing to flourish in U.S. cities despite the country's economic downturn, an American Institute of Architects (AIA) official told the Ecobuild America annual conference here.

Bill to Encourage Energy-Efficient Buildings Stands Good Chance of Passage

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 8 -- New congressional legislation designed to encourage energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings stands a good chance of passage, James Hoff, the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing's research director, told attendees of the Ecobuild America annual conference.

Fullmer Construction's Global Access Lot 1 Receives LEED Gold Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Fullmer Construction's Global Access Lot 1 in Victorville, Calif., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

Lot 1 is a one-million-square-foot speculative industrial distribution facility. The LEED Gold certification qualifies the facility as the largest speculative green industry facility in the world and the first LEED-certified project in southern California's High Desert region, according to Fullmer.

China's Green Building Materials Market Expected to Continue Growing

The market for green building materials in China has surpassed RMB 100 billion (US $15 billion) and is expected to continue growing, according to a study that GCiS China Strategic Research recently conducted.  Growth is expected to remain in double digits for much of the next decade as the torrent of construction spreads to China's interior. Greener building standards and rising energy costs are the market's primary propellants, GCiS stated.

ANSI Approves Greenguard Mold and Moisture Management Standard for New Construction

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved GreenGuard Environmental Institute's (GEI) Mold and Moisture Standard for New Construction. It is believed to be the first standard to focus solely on mold and moisture issues that can arise in the construction of new buildings.