New regulations prohibit cities from enacting stricter efficiency standards in new buildings.

The International Code Council, a private consortium that controls building code regulations for most of the United States and Latin America, has voted to reduce the power of cities and local jurisdictions over building efficiency requirements. "The decision came more than a year after the construction and gas industry groups that wield heavy influence at the International Code Council objected to aggressive new energy codes for which government officials voted," reports Alexander C. Kaufman in the Huffington Post.
The new system places building codes governing energy systems and insulation "under a separate 'standards' process that, despite soliciting input from local officials, will give industry more control over the outcome." While the ICC promises that government officials will still have "the strongest voice on the committee," city officials worry the move only helps private companies maximize profit and "warned that it could encourage governments to shift away from using the ICC’s code." Organizations including the American Institute of Architects criticized the new plan as "a step backwards for climate action," while industry groups "cheered" the announcement.
Local governments, many of which don't have their own building code authority, have been signing on to ICC regulations as a way to move toward more efficient building codes. "Buildings use roughly 40% of all energy produced in the U.S. for heating, power and cooking appliances, and generate a proportional share of the country’s planet-heating gases." City leaders and Biden administration officials worry the changes could "likely derail and slow" the progress made on energy efficiency in new buildings. "Kelly Speakes-Backman, the Energy Department’s acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, asked the code-making group to 'not proceed with these proposed changes until these questions and concerns can be adequately addressed.'"
FULL STORY: After Championing Greener Building Codes, Local Governments Lose Right To Vote

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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