W. Casey Murphy

The Feedback Form for EPA’s Whole-Building Energy Data Campaign Submission Deadline is approaching: The EPA seeking feedback for Whole-Building Energy Data Campaign and is seeking insights from building owners, managers, benchmarking service providers, and other stakeholders. The primary aim is to understand the specific needs for energy data and the reasons behind these needs. Submissions are due by Friday, June 7. Overview of EPA’s Whole-Building Energy Data Campaign: Despite an increasing number of utilities providing whole-building energy data, over 90% of U.S. utilities still do not offer this information. To address this, the EPA has initiated a campaign to aid building owners in advocating for access to this essential data. The campaign includes four key components: 1. Input Collection: Soliciting feedback from building owners, managers, and related parties on specific needs for energy data and the reasons for these needs. 2. Resource Development: Crafting resources that outline the issue and aid building owners in engaging with utilities across the nation. This includes a summary of the inputs gathered in the first phase of the campaign. 3. Facilitated Meetings: Organizing interactions between utilities and building owners in selected areas to promote dialogue. Participation in these meetings depends on commitments from building owners. 4. Utility Support: Assisting utilities interested in providing data, ensuring alignment with industry best practices. Call for Input - due June 7: The campaign’s initial phase focuses on collecting input to better understand where and why energy data is crucial. We encourage submissions from building owners, managers, benchmarking firms, and others by the upcoming deadline, Friday, June 7. This initiative not only aims to gather critical insights but also to foster a cooperative dialogue between utilities and building stakeholders, paving the way for enhanced energy data accessibility.

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🌡 New Report Alert: The National Energy Assistance Directors Association, a grantee of ClimateWorks Foundation’s Clean Cooling Collaborative, has released a critical new report highlighting the escalating costs of keeping cool this summer in the U.S. 🏠 Families living on low incomes bear the brunt: 1. $2B cut to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding 2. 33 states have no summer shut-off protections 3. Nearly 20% of families living on very low-income lack AC 📊 For more details, read the full press release and report here: https://lnkd.in/djvpkiUP #CoolingForAll #SustainableCooling #CoolCities #ClimateAdaptation #ClimateMitigation #ClimateAction #ExtremeHeat #HeatWave

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Public participation is key to achieving Clean Water Act goals. A new guide from EIP, Source Water Collaborative members, and allies is designed to provide fundamental information for Public Water Systems (PWSs) and stakeholders to understand and provide meaningful comments on Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that impact drinking water sources. It includes tips, tools, examples, and a template for providing comments on different types of NPDES permits, including permits with discharges that may contain PFAS and other contaminants. Read the guide: https://lnkd.in/ek9AKDFU Source Water Collaborative, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, Clean Water Action, American Water Works Association, West Virginia American Water, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Association of Clean Water Administrators, Greater Cincinnati Water Works #cleanwater #waterpollution #water #cleanwateract #drinkingwater #waterpermits

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(2/5: Home retrofits in #Budget2024) In the Retrofit Reset brief (see link below), the Affordability Action Council recommended that the federal government launch a new program to offer free and turnkey retrofits for low-income households, while generating savings for renters by allowing private landlords with smaller, affordable buildings to access the program and requiring them to sign agreements to maintain or improve affordability.  #Budget2024 announced more details on the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, which received $800 million over 5 years, starting in 2025-26. This program will support direct installations of energy retrofits for low- to median-income households, and it will be co-delivered with provincial and territorial partners. The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program is accompanied by two other retrofit-related spending announcements: $73.5 million to improve energy efficiency tools for building owners and $30 million to continue developing a national approach to home energy labelling. These measures are promising because they will enable renters and homebuyers to consider energy costs in their long-term home affordability picture. The funding allocated to these measures is significantly less than the amounts previously allocated to Greener Homes programs yet is more targeted to low and median-income households.

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The White House, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Define “#ZeroEmissions #Building”: New definition will help U.S. achieve #clean #energy and #climate goals while lowering energy costs, cutting air #pollution, and creating #jobs. #Buildings #Facilities #FacilityManagement

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📣A new survey suggests that operational costs for wastewater utilities could increase by more than 60% — some, three times higher than federal projections — as a direct result of new PFAS regulations in the U.S. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (#NACWA), which led the survey, says that U.S. wastewater utilities and their customers will be responsible for tens of billions of dollars in additional costs to address PFAS. The exorbitant costs associated with removing PFAS underscores the need to address #PFAS long before it gets into the waste stream - at the source. Learn how large industrial leaders are attacking this challenge with the ALTRA team. Want to know more? 🔜Join Martin Bureau at the Water Online Virtual Water Expo in September.

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Providence recently passed an ordinance requiring its municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by 2040. But what does that really mean? And what has to happen to make a building carbon neutral? We explain in our latest episode:

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As part of New York City’s decarbonization efforts, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is implementing Clean and Circular: Design and Construction Guidelines for the Built Environment - a guide to reduce embodied carbon in NYC’s built environment 🏙   Jacobs is proud to have played an instrumental role in shaping these guidelines which aim to minimize waste, foster material reuse and recycling and reduce embodied carbon in construction projects. A strategy designed to help New York City achieve its goal to reduce embodied carbon by 50% by 2033 ⬇   Our team conducted thorough research, focused interviews and insights ranging from local to global industry leaders. We contributed technical expertise and content to develop key components of the guidelines, including 🔁 circularity goals, 💡 strategies for teams to incorporate circularity and 📊 the necessary deliverables to document project teams' approach to circularity.   These guidelines present a cutting-edge approach to combat climate change by incorporating sustainability into the construction and deconstruction process. The hope is that these practices will serve as inspiration for other cities, encouraging them to evaluate and embrace circular construction methods that suit their unique needs. Our team stands ready to assist other cities on this transformative journey🏗️   Access the full guidelines here ➡ https://lnkd.in/eSqwxXrd For more information about this project or Jacobs circular construction capabilities, please contact: Lyndsey Lopez or Janet Goodrich.

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Groundwater recharge is tricky to estimate, especially when climate is changing Does groundwater availability decrease at the same rate as rainwater declines? Will a 10% reduction in rainfall lead to a 10% reduction in groundwater recharge? It’s a critically important question for water managers but it’s very challenging to answer. https://lnkd.in/dH_bap2U

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In an effort to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. buildings, the U.S. Department of Energy has introduced a national definition of a zero emissions building, setting clear criteria: buildings must be highly energy-efficient, free of onsite emissions from energy use and powered solely by clean energy. Find out more about these new standards and criteria. https://lnkd.in/gN8xBzrx

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Delve into the world of energy-efficient structures with the new open-access book, “Advanced Energy Systems in Zero/Positive Energy Buildings, Communities, and Districts.” This comprehensive guide, published by MDPI Books, explores energy efficiency, HVAC systems, and renewable energy integration. Aligned with SPARCS’ objectives of transforming urban areas into smart, sustainable communities, the book also serves as a platform to disseminate SPARCS project information. A must-read for researchers and experts advancing knowledge in advanced energy systems. Dive in now 👇 https://lnkd.in/eq6DwBZe

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#GreenIN #GreenCommunity When it comes to innovative green community initiatives, many ideas come to mind. One simple yet effective measure is to establish waste sorting and recycling stations within the community. This initiative can help reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment and encourage residents to pay more attention to sustainable resource utilization. Additionally, by providing education and training, environmental awareness among residents can be enhanced, prompting them to actively engage in environmental activities. Another innovative initiative is to promote the use of green energy. Communities can invest in the construction of solar panels or wind turbines to provide residents with clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This not only helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also lowers residents' energy costs. Furthermore, promoting sustainable transportation is key to building green communities. Encouraging walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation can reduce car emissions, improve air quality, and promote residents' health. Constructing bike lanes and sidewalks, improving public transportation systems, and providing facilities for shared bicycles and electric vehicle charging are feasible measures. Finally, green communities should also focus on protecting the natural environment and increasing green spaces. This includes protecting wetlands, trees, and wildlife, constructing parks, gardens, and green belts to provide residents with recreational spaces, and improving the health of urban ecosystems. These innovative initiatives can help communities achieve ESG goals, improve residents' quality of life, and contribute to the sustainable development of the planet. #ESG绿色建筑 #ESGGreenBuilding #绿色基建 #GreenIntrastructure #ESG能源效 #ESGEnergyEffciency #ESG绿色办公 #ESGGreenOffice

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Read this story from Betty Bassett on Medium: https://lnkd.in/g-jppigt Hashtags: #CleanWaterSuccess #WaterCrisis #FrackingImpacts #ClimateChangeEffects #WaterConservationStrategies #IntegratedWaterManagement #PublicHealthAwareness #EnvironmentalSustainability #ClimateActionNow #WaterSecuritySolutions

U.S. cities are working to center equity in their climate and #CleanEnergy priorities, but how are they doing in translating ambitions for equitable outcomes into specific policies and programs? Find out in @ACEEEdc’s 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard! https://lnkd.in/eaYZfBvV

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The Climate Smart Buildings Initiative (CSBI) sets a goal for the #federalgovernment to achieve 2.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction annually by 2030. 🏙️ To help agencies track their progress toward this goal, we created the CSBI Target Tracker, an Excel-based workbook that supports you with setting GHG emissions reduction targets that you can achieve using performance contracting. 🎯 Watch our new overview video to learn more about the CSBI Target Tracker: https://lnkd.in/gyjEC9Ex #SmartBuildings #GreenBuildings

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An amazing overview! We do have to confront the unconstrained, unplanned and unfairn increase in electrical demand. We need an energy impact analysis by the SCC and Virginia Department of Energy for each new data center, building on the precedent of traffic impact analysis of significant new land uses for the impact of regional and state transportation networks, BEFORE local government approvals. Right now, the tail is wagging the dog. Local governments approve day centers, Dominion enters contracts to supply electricity without knowing where the energy will come from, and then PJM, essentially a trade association of utilities, recommends that Dominion invest in transmission. The SCC is asked to approve the “necessary “ investment. No local government should be able to approve a land use that requires several gigwatts of electricity, the equvivent to a city or county of 250,000 homes without prior public review at the state level. As Ivy Main correctly points out, it puts our clean energy goals severely at risk.

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With new federal efficient standards, local air quality regulations, and government incentives, we’re changing the game for water heating systems through clean energy technologies that could save working families money and slash emissions. https://lnkd.in/e4azfcgX

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As #city after city reels under the worst water crisis, the urgency to address water shortage has never been more prominent. This calls for #sustainable actions, #innovation on multiple fronts, and bringing those directly impacted by the #watercrisis to the locus of the solution space. In this LiveMint article, our Co-founder and Director, Dharmendra chandurkar, discusses citizen-centric approaches leveraging behavioral insights as one of the lines of action towards sustainable solutions to ameliorate the #crisis. #behavioralinsights #waterconservation #citiesandclimatechange #urbanwater #behavioraleconomics #behavioralscience #humanbehavior #climatechange #climateaction #sustainability #sustainablelifestyles

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A recent EPA survey reveals a dramatic 73% increase in funding needs for U.S. water infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need to address aging systems and climate change impacts. This increase points to a necessary $630 billion investment from 2022 to 2041 to maintain water quality and public health. At WSG & Solutions, we are poised to support these infrastructure challenges with our advanced wastewater and stormwater management technologies. Our solutions are designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of water treatment facilities, ensuring they meet the modern demands of environmental stewardship and operational efficiency. As we face these growing challenges, WSG & Solutions invites water professionals and stakeholders to explore our innovative solutions and understand how we can assist in advancing water infrastructure projects. Let's work together to ensure our water systems are robust, efficient, and capable of meeting future demands. For more detailed insights, you can read the full article on the recent EPA survey here: https://lnkd.in/eq7xg7_d

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