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American City and County is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC * Informa PLC * About us * Investor relations * Talent This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC’s registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067. https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png * Home * Co-op Solutions * Hybrid Work * Commentaries * News * In-Depth * Multimedia * Back * Podcast * Latest videos * Product Guides * Resources & Events * Back * Resources * Webinars * White Papers * IWCE 2022 * How to Contribute * Municipal Cost Index – Archive * Equipment Watch Page * American City & County Awards * About Us * Back * About Us * Contact Us * Advertise * Cookie Policy * Privacy Statement * Terms of Service * * * NEWSLETTER * * Co-op Solutions * Hybrid Work * Commentaries * News * In-Depth * Multimedia * Back * Podcasts * Latest videos * Product Guides * Resources/Events * Back * Webinars * White Papers/eBooks * IWCE Expo * Calendar of Events * How to Contribute * American City & County Awards * Municipal Cost Index * Equipment Watch Page * About Us * Back * About Us * Contact Us * Advertise * Cookie Policy * Privacy Stament * Terms of Service * * * newsletter * Administration * Economy & Finance * Procurement * Public Safety * Public Works & Utilities * Smart Cities & Technology * Magazine COMMENTARIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrii Yalanskyi/Alamy Stock Photo COMMENTARY THE FUTURE OF CARBON EMISSIONS AND CITIES LIES IN GREEN BUILDINGS * Written by Hilari Varnadore * 5th May 2023 * * * * * When you envision the future, what do you see? For me, it’s a place where people of all generations live, work and thrive. And it’s a place where green, efficient buildings are integrated with nature and resilient infrastructure ties our healthy and productive places together into communities. However, in the face of climate change, that dream could become much harder to realize. More than eight in 10 people in the U.S. live in urban areas, which are increasingly facing risks from sea level rise, extreme heat and drought. While events like hurricanes and flooding put a massive strain on community resources, ongoing challenges such as housing insecurity, development inequities and aging infrastructure are all made worse by a changing climate. The good news, though, is that there’s a clear roadmap to success: It’s a holistic, inclusive approach to sustainable development, and it advances nature-based solutions, decarbonization, location efficiency, circularity and many other factors contributing to quality of life. In my role at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), I oversee LEED for Cities, a rating system and certification program built by and for local governments pursuing a more sustainable future. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with leaders across the country (and the world) grappling with these issues. I’ve witnessed investments in building codes, regulations and infrastructure, adoption of land use and zoning reform, and the ratcheting up of commitments resulting in ambitious climate action plans. I’ve seen the success when cities convene diverse stakeholders to set up green banks, implement public-private partnerships and deploy creative financing that unlocks improvements. Tackling climate change requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors, including reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted within the community. And one of the biggest challenges our cities face is reducing the carbon emissions emitted by buildings. In the U.S., residential and commercial buildings produce about a third of energy-related carbon emissions and 40 percent of energy usage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Yet, much of the energy used by commercial buildings is wasted. This applies to consumers as well. The average American household is overspending as much as $400 per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, on their annual energy bills because of poorly sealed doors, drafty windows, and outdated heating and cooling systems. Green buildings, like those that are LEED certified, can be part of the solution. Green buildings lower day-to-day costs of building operation and maintenance, per research by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). They cut carbon emissions by a third, and cut water, energy use and waste, too. Even better, green buildings have important co-benefits for human health, water resources, reducing waste and other critical outcomes. There are many ways for city and county governments to be greener—and to defray the costs of these transitions, upgrades and retrofits. The federal government is helping local governments through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Passed by the U.S. Congress, the IRA and the IIJA contain an estimated $450 billion in investments to make buildings and infrastructure more climate-friendly and resilient. For example, states or localities that want to upgrade their building codes can access more than $1.2 billion. There are expanded tax incentives for making clean energy and energy efficiency investments for schools, municipal buildings, universities, and hospitals. Plus, there’s low-cost financing for all sorts of greenhouse gas reduction activities. The IRA is also providing grants to cities and regions interested in developing or expanding climate plans as well as funds to support the implementation of those plans. Later this year, many cities will be able to apply for competitive grants for efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are quickly planning to receive federal funds and ramp up their sustainability efforts. As they identify local priorities that could be eligible for funding, cities can look to successful programs for building retrofits, energy efficiency, and implementation of climate action plans. In Atlanta, for example, the city’s climate plan includes focused actions around buildings and making them more energy efficient, and city officials are tapping into the funds provided by the IRA. The city of Greensboro, N.C., worked with its local utility company to swap the city’s streetlamps for modern, energy efficient LED fixtures. Additionally, the city completed a system-wide water loss audit to assess the efficiency of the water distribution system. The city of Las Vegas created a Green Building Fund to finance sustainability incentives, specifically for permitting fee reductions for buildings meeting specific benchmarks. Plus, the city annually disclosed its municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions. City officials also used USGBC’s LEED for Cities rating system framework to inform their 2050 Master Plan, a 30-year comprehensive plan to foster community-driven implementation and improve quality of life for all residents. In Tallahassee, Fla., the city provided development bonuses for construction projects that included green-certified structures. And in the city of Washington, D.C., one of the first cities to earn LEED for Cities certification, local officials switched municipal buildings to 100 percent renewable energy and entered into some of the largest wind and solar purchase agreements of their type. In short, cities are already acting to improve their buildings and infrastructure, to reduce greenhouse gas pollution while enhancing community resilience. With new federal funding, taking these steps is even more accessible to cities. We don’t have to wait, and we shouldn’t. The challenges are here, and the solutions are, too. Now is the time to address carbon emissions. Now is the time to fight climate change and rising energy costs. Now is the time to protect communities and ensure they remain enriching environments for generations to come. Now is the time for all cities and counties to create a future that is built to last, which means it’s built to be green. Hilari Varnadore is vice president for cities at the U.S. Green Building Council, where she supports local governments around the world engaged in sustainability reporting and accountability. She heads up USGBC’s LEED for Cities program, which includes administering the Local Government Leadership Program. Tags: homepage-featured-1 homepage-featured-2 homepage-featured-3 Administration Economy Procurement Public Works & Utilities Commentaries Administration Commentaries Economy Procurement Public Works & Utilities Commentary MOST RECENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs With Memorial Day weekend upcoming, Americans everywhere are gearing up for longer days, warmer nights and seasonal summer jobs to begin. A new ranking from WalletHub lists the top cities for summer work based on criteria like employment outlook, availability of summer jobs, median income for part-time workers, affordability, and downtown-friendlinesss. “For some people, especially […] * How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government The rapid evolution of digital technologies transformed the way governments function, making them more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly. Rather than relying on crystal trophies, governments can leverage digital tools to drive innovation and streamline processes, benefiting the population they serve. Open data and crowdsourcing Open data refers to making government data available to the public, […] * With many cities facing a fiscal cliff as ARPA funding ends, debt ceiling debate continues on Capitol Hill As debate over the debt ceiling continues, cities and counties across the nation are facing an uncertain future as American Rescue Plan Act funding dries up. The federal government reached its spending cap of $31.4 trillion, previously set in 2021, in January. Since then, with lawmakers on Capitol Hill locked in impasse, the U.S. Department […] * How green last-mile infrastructure benefits your community Overseeing transportation is one of the most important jobs of municipal leaders as it underpins a wide range of aspects within a municipality, including its economy, community connectedness and the health of the local environment. One of the most deceptively challenging elements of effectively overseeing transportation is the development of last-mile transit infrastructure. That is, […] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A COMMENT CANCEL REPLY -or- Log in with your American City and County account Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below: Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ RELATED CONTENT * Green building and clean energy: Key considerations for municipalities during the planning process * When thinking about green energy and new construction, build smarter * Local governments rely on ICMA to help make communities more resilient and sustainable * Predictions for local governments in 2022: Resiliency and sustainability * WHITE PAPERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 PERMITTING & LICENSING FAILS SLOWING COMMUNITY GROWTH * * * * 24th May 2023 THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE RETENTION * * * * 23rd May 2023 SUPERCHARGE YOUR ERP: HOW ERPS AND PURPOSE-BUILT SOLUTIONS WORK TOGETHER TO FUTURE-PROOF YOUR DIGITAL STRATEGY * * * * 15th May 2023 view all WEBINARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO CENTRALIZE AND BUILD A GRANTS MANAGEMENT PROCESS AT YOUR ORGANIZATION * * * * 24th May 2023 MAKING PERMITTING EASIER: WHAT WE’VE LEARNED HELPING AMERICA’S LARGEST CITIES IMPROVE THEIR PERMITTING PROCESS * * * * 16th May 2023 DIGITAL PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES OF MODERNIZATION * * * * 16th May 2023 view all PODCAST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUNG LEADERS EPISODE 4 – CYRIL JEFFERSON – CITY COUNCILMAN, HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA * * * * 13th October 2020 YOUNG LEADERS EPISODE 3 – SHANNON HARDIN – CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COLUMBUS, OHIO * * * * 27th July 2020 YOUNG LEADERS EPISODE 2 – CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PLANNER, GOODYEAR, ARIZ. * * * * 1st July 2020 view all GALLERIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GALLERY: TOP 10 AMERICAN CITIES FOR SEASONAL AND SUMMER JOBS * * * * 25th May 2023 GALLERY: 10 OF AMERICA’S MOST AFFORDABLE CITIES * * * * 9th May 2023 GALLERY: TOP 10 AMERICAN CITIES MOST FRIENDLY TO EVS * * * * 7th April 2023 view all TWITTER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GALLERY: TOP 10 AMERICAN CITIES FOR SEASONAL AND SUMMER JOBS DLVR.IT/SPDFWY 25th May 2023 HOW TO LEVERAGE DIGITAL TOOLS TO DRIVE INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT DLVR.IT/SPCKTB 25th May 2023 WITH MANY CITIES FACING A FISCAL CLIFF AS ARPA FUNDING ENDS, DEBT CEILING DEBATE CONTINUES ON CAPITOL HILL DLVR.IT/SPZLPH 24th May 2023 7 PERMITTING & LICENSING FAILS SLOWING COMMUNITY GROWTH DLVR.IT/SPYQBS 24th May 2023 HOW TO CENTRALIZE AND BUILD A GRANTS MANAGEMENT PROCESS AT YOUR ORGANIZATION DLVR.IT/SPYP5C 24th May 2023 HOW GREEN LAST-MILE INFRASTRUCTURE BENEFITS YOUR COMMUNITY DLVR.IT/SPXV8R 24th May 2023 OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ADDRESSES NTIA REAUTHORIZATION, FCC BROADBAND MAP AHEAD OF BEAD PROGRAM FUNDING ALLOCATIONS DLVR.IT/SPW6TQ 23rd May 2023 THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE RETENTION DLVR.IT/SPVFLX 23rd May 2023 NEWSLETTERS Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments. 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