EPA publishes Clean Air in Buildings Challenge

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 28, 2022 - Policy, Ventilation

Guidance to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health The “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” is a call to action and a set of guiding principles and best practices to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other contaminants indoors. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a range of recommendations and resources available for improving ventilation and indoor…

Biden launches green buildings partnership with states, cities

Posted by NYPH , March 22, 2022 - News, Policy

president biden

The Biden administration is launching a new partnership with two states and several cities aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions from buildings. President Biden is expected to announce the new "Buildings Performance Standards Coalition" during remarks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Friday. According to a White House fact sheet first shared with The Hill, the partnership will include 33 state and local governments that encompass 20 percent of the country’s…

Biden Administration Launches Effort to Improve Ventilation and Reduce the Spread of COVID-⁠19 in Buildings

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 21, 2022 - HVAC, News, Policy, Ventilation

FACT SHEET: Earlier this month, the Biden-Harris Administration released the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, a roadmap to move the country forward safely and continue to fight COVID-19 as Americans get back to their more normal routines.  Today the Administration is launching the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s Plan, that calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations of all kinds…

Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average Book out March 29

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 17, 2022 - Member News

Smaller homes with eco-friendly features, for people who value experiences more than stuff. The mass shift away from expensive urban living has resulted in people searching for smaller, more affordable homes. Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average includes 26 examples of small-house options around the country, including ADUs (accessory dwelling units). SHERI KOONES is an expert on the subject of small houses and sustainable building, having written nine previous books…

If your hospital suddenly feels more like an Apple store or greenhouse, biophilic design is why

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 17, 2022 - Industry News, News, Sponsor

Healthcare spaces are increasingly using nature as a way to make their buildings better for patients. Among a certain subset of designers, there’s a growing feeling that the more natural a space is, the better. So-called biophilic design, or design that integrates nature and natural processes, is making its way into the world of architecture and urban development. In architecture, biophilia is seen as a way to make people happier and…

NYC Enacts Legislation to Promote All-Electric Buildings

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 16, 2022 - News, Policy

NYC is now the largest city in the U.S. to enact legislation relating to the electrification of buildings. On December 15, 2021, the NY City Council voted in support of Int. 2317A-2021, which effectively mandates the electrification of most new buildings by prohibiting the on-site “combustion of a substance that emits 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy.” Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a…

New Acraline Roll Adhesive – Where Functionality and Performance of Flexible Airtight Connections Meet

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 15, 2022 - Industry News

Partel upgrades the performance and functionality of the ACRALINE ROLL adhesive with new technical features, which offers a unique sealing solution of membranes for professionals in the construction of passive houses and low-energy buildings. ACRALINE ROLL is the innovative response by Partel to increased demands for adhesive solutions as an alternative to conventional air sealing technologies such as liquid adhesive. “It is a unique compound, because it combines the advantages…

The Double-Stud Wall Simplified: Low Cost, High Performance

Posted by Andreas Benzing , March 11, 2022 - Construction, Industry News

The double-stud wall is a well-established method for creating a very economical, durable, and high R-value assembly in new construction - and is one reason it’s included as one of the basic 475 Smart Enclosure System assembly types. We know pushing standard code-minimum construction toward high performance is complicated. So we're always looking for ways to simplify - to simultaneously reduce cost while optimizing efficiency and occupant comfort. Read More

‘It’s a sanctuary’: the magic of quiet, low-cost, allergy-free ‘passive’ homes

Posted by NYPH , March 4, 2022 - News

Energy-efficient passive design is catching on in New York and other cities as climate concerns rise by Aliya Uteuova with photographs by Danielle Amy   The first night Stephanie Silva spent at her new Brooklyn apartment was uncommonly quiet. So was the following morning and the next day. The 32-year-old native New Yorker had forgotten the last time she was able to mute the city of 8.8 million. Read More…

EIA: US Electricity Prices Increased by 4.3% During 2021

Posted by NYPH , March 3, 2022 - Industry News, Policy

Author : Michael Tobias March 1, 2022 4 Minutes Read KEY TAKEAWAYS The US Energy Information Administration reported an electricity price hike of 4.3% for 2021, the highest 12-month increase since 2008. Between December 2020 and 2021, the EIA Electric Power Monthly report shows a 7.6% increase in residential and commercial kilowatt-hour prices. Rising electricity prices affect building owners directly, but they also represent a greater opportunity to save with…

NYC Gas Ban (Local Law 154 of 2021)

Posted by NYPH , March 3, 2022 - Policy

Giovanni E. Melendez | Wednesday March 2, 2022 In December 2021, NYC signed into law a ban on natural gas and other combustion fuels in most new buildings. The natural gas ban (Local Law 154 of 2021) will take effect in December 2023 for buildings under seven stories and in 2027 for buildings greater than seven stories. Under the law, construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 must use sources…