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New IMT & Appraisal Institute Guide to Energy Performance and Property Valuation
Today IMT and the Appraisal Institute unveiled an updated guide to factoring energy performance into real estate valuation. The guide explains why energy matters for cash flow and net income, how energy performance is assessed, and how energy performance is benchmarked, among other topics.
Cliff Majersik Presents to ANSI
Today, Cliff Majersik presented on "The Energy Efficiency Landscape" at an exploratory meeting for an ANSI energy efficiency standards panel. His presentation slides can be viewed here.
IMT Releases Two Major Reports on Job Creation & Building Energy Disclosure
Today, IMT releases two major new reports on the job creation potential of building energy rating & disclosure. Energy Disclosure & the New Frontier for American Jobs describes the jobs impact of local benchmarking laws in cities across the U.S. An economic analysis by IMT and PERI (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) analyzes the jobs potential of a national building energy rating and disclosure policy.
Read more in our press release and media backgrounder.
IMT Joins U.S. DOE, BOMA, NRDC, Others to Launch Green Lease Website
Today, IMT's green leasing program manager Adam Sledd and other speakers introduced greenleaselibrary.com, a new, central resource for green leasing information online. The website is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy with collaboration from IMT, GSA, BOMA, NRDC, and other groups. To learn more, see our press release or DOE's EERE News Progress Alert.
Majersik presents to Mid-Atlantic region utility commissioners
On March 22, IMT's Cliff Majersik gave a presentation titled "Role of data in transforming the market for energy efficiency and retrofits" at a Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster event. Utility commissioners from around the Mid-Atlantic region had gathered at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to explore energy efficiency opportunities. The slides are available for download here.
Report: China Makes Progress in Building Energy Code Compliance
A report released today by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) reveals that China has achieved significant gains in its compliance with building energy codes, at both the design and construction stages, since 2005. Author Shui Bin of ACEEE attributes this to strong governmental support, a national program of inspection, and other factors. Read the report or see our press release to learn more.
Transform: IMT News, March 2012
IMT's newsletter has a new design and will now appear monthly. Please read it, subscribe, and pass it on!
SAVE Act 101: Watch the Webinar
On March 14th, the Green Builder Coalition and Green Builder Media presented an informational and thorough look at the SAVE Act. Moderator and Green Builder Coalition Chairman Ron Jones was joined by Ken Gear (Leading Builders of America) and Philip Henderson (Natural Resources Defense Council). Together, they explored what the bill contains, how it proposes to modify home appraisals, and how it will benefit the owners and occupants of energy-efficient homes.
The slides shown during the webinar are available for download here.
The link for Congressional outreach is here.
New Research Identifies Ways to Boost Compliance With Building Energy Codes
Although strong energy codes are among the best tools we have to reduce energy consumption, compliance is low—around 50%, estimates IMT. How can cash-strapped local governments improve energy code compliance? After researching best practices, IMT has released five case studies documenting cost-effective strategies that local governments can use to raise compliance rates. Read our press release here.
Finding the Needle in the Data Haystack: Majersik Presents at NYAS
On Feb. 16, IMT's Cliff Majersik spoke at The New York Academy of Sciences on the panel "Finding the Needle in the Data Haystack: The Implications of a Data-Driven Built Environment." Fellow panelists were Chris Garvin of Terrapin Bright Green and Chris Pyke of the U.S. Green Building Council. Download slides for Majersik's talk, Building Energy Rating & Disclosure: A Catalyst for Efficiency.
Strategies for Energy Code Compliance: IMT Releases Two New Case Studies
IMT has released two more case studies in our series exploring innovative strategies for improving energy-code compliance. They focus on, respectively, the success of Georgia's residential performance testing requirement, and effective streamlining strategies. All five of the case studies are downloadable for free on our Code Compliance web page.
Want to learn more? Code Compliance Specialist Ryan Meres is giving a free webinar for local government officials about improving code compliance on Feb. 23. Sign up here.
Jayson Antonoff Joins Global Buildings Performance Network
We are pleased to announce that Jayson Antonoff, of the City of Seattle's Office of Sustainability and Environment, will join the Global Buildings Performance Network as U.S. Regional Director. The Global Buildings Performance Network is a new international knowledge partnership advancing building energy policies, and IMT is its U.S. hub.
IMT, Affordable Housing Partners Urge Administration to Promote Energy Efficiency
IMT and fellow members of the Green Affordable Housing Coalition cosigned a letter to HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan, urging the Obama administration to advance energy efficiency and sustainability in the country's affordable housing. Read the letter here.
IMT February News
Read about upcoming education events, the SAVE Act, Vision 2020, and more in our newsletter.
Majersik talks to DCBIA about DC Sustainable Energy Utility
On Jan. 27, Cliff Majersik joined other leaders in presenting the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) at a sold-out DC Building Industry Association luncheon. See the slideshow to learn more.
Survey Reveals That Americans Overwhelmingly Support Energy Codes
A survey conducted by the Consumers Union and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) indicates that most Americans believe that homes should meet national energy standards and agree that energy-efficient homes reduce energy use and pollution. Read our press release for more information.
IMT Fellow Profiled in Article
Mostafa Hussein, a visiting fellow at IMT until late December, has been profiled in a publication of the U.S. Department of State. The article describes Hussein's efforts to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in his home country of Egypt, and some of his projects in D.C. this fall and winter.
Obama Pledges Billions for Efficiency, MD & DC Move to Adopt 2012 IECC, and More News
IMT's December update rounds up the recent energy-efficiency news.
IMT Releases Case Studies on Energy Code Compliance
Underfunding of code compliance initiatives is a nationwide problem, but some jurisdictions--including Austin, Texas, and the state of Wisconsin--are forging innovative, cost-effective approaches. Read more about their strategies for improving compliance in IMT's case studies, the first three in a series.
Maryland Adopts 2012 IECC - First State in U.S. to Adopt Advanced Energy Code
Maryland has become the first U.S. state to adopt the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. Read our press release to learn more.
Report on Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings in EU Now Available
The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has released online a major new report on how EU member states can meet the requirement that all new construction be nearly zero-energy by 2020. A higher resolution pdf of the report and more information can be found on their website, bpie.eu.
Majersik Addresses National League of Cities, HPBCCC
Cliff Majersik gave a talk on D.C.'s energy benchmarking policy last week to the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition. The week before, he was in Arizona, addressing the National League of Cities' Congress of Cities & Exposition on Why Building Energy Code Compliance Matters.
CNBC Interviews Sen. Michael Bennet About SAVE Act
Watch the clip: CNBC reported on how the SAVE Act could help homeowners recoup the upfront costs of energy efficiency and stimulate homebuilding activity.
Majersik Addresses GPIC
Last week Cliff Majersik gave a presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) on "The Role of Data Collection and Disclosure Policies in Influencing Regional Markets for Energy Efficiency." GPIC is a U.S. DOE Energy Innovation Hub located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
BPIE Unveils Research on European Building Performance & Nearly-Zero-Energy Buildings
Last week, the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) presented findings from two major new reports - on the energy performance of the European building stock and on principles for nearly-zero-energy building - at an event in Brussels. The first of the studies, European Buildings Under the Microscope, is now available online. The second will be available at the end of the month. Visit bpie.eu for more information.
GSA Issues New Green Lease Provisions
The General Services Administration (GSA) has updated its sustainable lease provisions in order to improve competition from lessors and promote efficiency in the more than 8,000 buildings where U.S. government agencies lease office space. IMT offered technical guidance on the revisions. See our press release for more information.
IMT November Newsletter
SAVE Act is introduced in Congress; GSA greens its leases; and more news.
Majersik Addresses Environmental Banking Association
On October 25, IMT's Cliff Majersik spoke to the Environmental Bankers Association about energy benchmarking and disclosure policy for commercial buildings. His presentation can be viewed here.
District DOE Publishes Proposed Benchmarking Regulations
The District Department of the Environment has published its proposed ENERGY STAR benchmarking regulations for a 30-day public comment period, as well as draft guidance for building owners and tenants. With this key accomplishment, DDOE now anticipates a reporting deadline for buildings over 200,000 square feet at the end of January 2012.
AEDG for K-12 School Buildings Now Available
The U.S. Department of Energy has released an Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in K-12 school buildings, which is available for free download.
Senators Bennet, Isakson Introduce SAVE Act in U.S. Congress
Today at the U.S. Capitol, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) introduced the SAVE Act, a bill to factor energy costs into the mortgage underwriting process. The SAVE Act would raise lending standards, make energy-efficient homes more affordable, and create 83,000 jobs by 2020. IMT strongly supports the SAVE Act. Our press release has more information.
Majersik Speaks at Resources for the Future Seminar
On Wednesday, October 5, IMT's executive director Cliff Majersik spoke on a panel at Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C., entitled "Can Creative Financing Programs Close the Energy Efficiency Gap?" Watch a video of the seminar or download Majersik's presentation (pdf).
COMNET Announces Technology Partnership With LEED
COMNET announces a technology partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building program. Coined LEED Automation, the partnership enables users of LEED to easily sync up data and information with LEED Online, the software platform that manages the LEED certification process. Read the press release to learn more.
IMT September Newsletter
IMT and ICLEI-USA partner on commercial energy policy toolkit; SAVE Act attracts additional backers, and more news.
IMT July Newsletter
IMT releases major report on building energy transparency; 2012 IECC published; and more news.
Majersik addresses AEA Multifamily Buildings 2011 conference
On August 10, IMT's Cliff Majersik spoke at a conference in Chicago, Multifamily Buildings 2011: The Energy Efficiency Edge, organized by the Association for Energy Affordability. Majersik's presentation - "Multifamily Rating and Disclosure as Market Drivers for Energy Performance" - can be viewed here.
D.C. on Track to Adopt New Green Energy Code
As the District of Columbia revises its construction code, the city looks ready to become one of the first jurisdictions to adopt the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which would yield energy efficiency gains of 30 percent more than the 2006 IECC. See our press release for more.
IMT Releases First Report on U.S. Rating and Disclosure Policy Implementation
This new report presents a comprehensive review of U.S. building energy rating and disclosure policies, and creates the first blueprint policymakers can use to guide implementation of this emerging policy tool.
