Biden administration seeks public input to define zero emissions for buildings

The administration plans to base Part 1 of the definition on three pillars: an adherence to energy efficiency guidelines, the use of 100% clean energy and zero on-site emissions generation from energy use.

By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 8, 2024

To spur more EV chargers, regulators must get creative with demand charges

No matter what the incentives for installing an EV charger, very few businesses will enter this marketplace if selling the product leads to thousands of dollars in charges that aren’t made up for with revenue.

By Chris Kaiser • Jan. 5, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Building Electrification

Decarbonization goals are spurring building electrication efforts across the U.S. While the use of heat pumps and other technologies is expanding, some policies are facing legal challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Legal threats to city, state natural gas bans in 2023: A timeline

The nation’s first gas ban was overturned. One state changed its building codes to avoid legal challenges. Here’s the biggest gas ban news of 2023.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 4, 2024

9th Circuit declines to reconsider decision rejecting Berkeley, California, natural gas ban

If the city wants to continue to appeal the decision, its next step would be the U.S. Supreme Court. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 3, 2024

$530M in building code technical assistance grants available from DOE

The grants will support a wider range of energy code and building performance standards activities, including workforce development, by state, local and tribal governments.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 20, 2023

Gas industry sues DOE over new furnace efficiency rule, citing cost and other concerns

The new rule will require gas furnaces to be 95% efficient, but the American Gas Association and other stakeholders say it effectively bans a product class and will drive prices higher for many consumers.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2023

To be truly net-zero, buildings must buy 100% renewable energy, global council says

A globally consistent definition of net-zero buildings is needed, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says, while analysts note current carbon compliance ambiguities.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 19, 2023

Seattle requires large buildings to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

As building performance standards gain traction nationwide, Seattle’s policy is the city’s most ambitious plan ever to reduce building emissions, the City Council said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 13, 2023

NYC removes zoning restrictions for rooftop solar, energy storage and electrification equipment

The "City of Yes" initiative, which took effect Dec. 11, is expected to help facilitate environmentally friendly retrofits for over 50,000 buildings.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 12, 2023

Ford, Resideo launch joint vehicle-to-home energy management project

The two companies will study how Ford’s future electric vehicle batteries can supply power to homes to help reduce energy costs.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 12, 2023

VW is launching a vehicle-to-home EV charging pilot in Sweden

Today’s EVs, equipped with larger batteries, can provide even more power than Tesla’s Powerwall, which delivers 13.5 kWh of usable energy..

By Eric Walz • Dec. 11, 2023

HUD announces new building decarbonization efforts at COP28

As the U.S. pledges to make near-zero-emissions buildings the “new normal” by 2030, the housing agency is teaming up with other departments for access to the best available data and research.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 11, 2023

UN report proposes energy efficiency, other measures to slash cooling emissions up to 96% by 2050

Passive cooling, higher energy efficiency and a quicker phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants could save $1 trillion by 2050, according to the report released during the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 8, 2023

Xcel Energy, Ford partner to help business fleets install 30,000 EV chargers

The partnership will begin by connecting Ford Pro, a commercial division of the automaker, with Xcel’s electric vehicle supply infrastructure programs in Wisconsin and Colorado.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 5, 2023

AI-driven approaches can expedite building decarbonization: McKinsey

Machine learning, artificial intelligence and physics-based models can accelerate net-zero efforts, providing a more than 100-fold increase in the pace and scale of decarbonization, according to the consulting firm.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 4, 2023

The US could still get to net zero

Reducing nearly 90% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 can be done without any Hail Mary innovations.

By Michael Jung and Adam Agalloco • Dec. 1, 2023

Wisconsin bills would enable retail EV charging, drop ‘cumbersome’ utility requirement

To access federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Wisconsin lawmakers must allow private businesses to charge drivers by the kilowatt-hour.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2023

EV sales climb and are on track to be 9% of US new car purchases in 2023: Atlas Public Policy

U.S. sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles reached 17.7% of new light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter, according to the Energy Information Administration.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2023

Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 27, 2023

The key ingredient in the transition to EVs: Charging reliability

A challenge in the EV industry is the role charging reliability has in growing demand for EVs.

Nov. 27, 2023

DOE allocates $169M to propel electric heat pump manufacturing across 13 states

The nine projects funded across 15 sites will create more than 1,700 jobs and reduce emissions, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 22, 2023

DOE grants aim to expand clean energy workforce, enhance building efficiency

The $40 million-plus funding will add new building training and assessment centers and industrial assessment centers, which provide technical assistance to commercial and institutional buildings and some manufacturers. 

By Joe Burns • Nov. 20, 2023

Boston ends efforts to ban fossil fuels in new buildings through state program

Massachusetts’ largest city pursued inclusion in a state climate pilot program, but the mayor reported she got “clear indications” that Boston would not be selected for the last of 10 spots.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 16, 2023

Clean energy manufacturing is on the rise in New York

The state has established multiple funding programs to entice sustainable production and development, bringing wind energy companies, heat pump manufacturers and others to the area. 

By Sakshi Udavant • Nov. 14, 2023

EV sales are rising. So why are automakers nervous?

Slower sales growth, lower prices and growing inventories have spooked carmakers, leading some to reconsider their electric vehicle plans to bolster their finances.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 13, 2023