gbNYC selects green news items of note that were reported across the New York City area during the week of September 21, 2008, including high ranks for Columbia University and the Big Apple itself in sustainability, rumblings that Viacom may still leave SL Green’s LEED-EB hopeful 1515 Broadway, the opening of JetBlue’s $875 million Terminal 5 at JFK, and a joint effort from LIPA and ConEd to study the feasibility of an off-shore wind farm, 10 miles off of the Rockaways in Queens.
September 28th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 0 comments | ContinuedAll Posts Tagged With: "green legislation"
Green LITES: NYSDOT Introduces Sustainable Transportation Design Program
Earlier this week, the New York State Department of Transporation (”NYSDOT”) unveiled its Green Leadership In Transportation and Environmental Sustainability (”Green LITES”) design program. While NYSDOT has utilized sustainable elements in its transportation designs previously, Green LITES is an attempt to standardize the entire process and place New York State at the head of the pack when it comes to sustainable transportation design; the program, which is based on LEED, is the first in the country of its kind. “This effort is only the latest example of New York setting the standard for environmental sensitivity in transportation planning,” said Federal Highway Administrator Thomas J. Madison. “They don’t just set the gold standard, they set the green standard.” NYSDOT will review all designs submitted after September 25 under the Green LITES program, prior to the project going out to bid.
September 17th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 0 comments | Continued
Industry Groups Launch Legal Challenge to Albuquerque Green Building Codes
Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Energy Conservation Codes were signed into law back in January, but their implementation was delayed until July 1 after industry groups voiced concerns during the spring that the Codes were, among other things, preempted by federal law. The Codes purported to raise the standards on the installation of HVAC equipment for all new and retrofit commercial and residential projects to a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (”SEER”) of 15 (for air conditioning) and an annual fuel utilization efficiency (”AFUE”) of 90 percent (for heating). The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico by, among other plaintiffs, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.
July 15th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 0 comments | Continued
Albany Reaches Agreement on Amendments to Brownfield Cleanup Program Act
Earlier this week, lawmakers in Albany reached an agreement with Governor Paterson on amendments to New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program Act (”BCPA”). Under current BCPA provisions, developers can receive tax credits for up to 22 percent of the cost of remediating a brownfield site. The new Act will increase that figure to 50 percent but include a cap of $35 million (or three times the cleanup cost, whichever is less) for non-manufacturing projects; the cap increases to $45 million (or six times the cleanup cost, again, whichever is less) for manufacturing projects.
June 25th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 0 comments | Continued
Microturbine Installation Complete at New York Marriott Downtown
The New York Marriott Downtown is the latest local property to install microturbines pursuant to New York City’s new legislation (dating from December) providing for their operation (under Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York, Chapter 50, Distributed Energy Resource Standards). The hotel recently installed two PureComfort systems from UTC Power that will help offset 5800 megawatt hours of electricity each year and prevent 1700 tons of C02 emissions.
June 19th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 0 comments | Continued
Governor Paterson Looks to Turn New York State Greener
Governor Paterson recently signed an Executive Order that created the New York State Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program, a plan to, among other things, leverage the state’s buying power to boost environmentally-friendly products and services. The Governor said that it is “critically important that the State of New York take the lead as a steward of our environment.” Two new efforts detailed in the Order include the purchase of 100% recycled paper for daily use and in printed publications, and the separation of recyclable materials in all offices.
May 6th, 2008 | Meredith Taylor | 0 comments | Continued
City Council’s Environmental Protection Committee to Review Bioheat Act of 2007 on Thursday
Drafted by City Council Member David Yassky of Brooklyn’s 33rd District, the New York City Bioheat Act of 2007 would require a phase-in of biodiesel (fuel made from combining animal fat or vegetable oil, including recycled restaurant grease, with alcohol) for all heating oil purchased in New York City beginning on January 1, 2009. Pure biodiesel, which is referred to as B100, contains 100 percent biodiesel fuel, while B20 (twenty percent) can be used as an additive and combined with other fuels, obviating the need to retrofit fuel systems. The law would require B5 by 2009, B10 by 2011, and B20 by 2013.
January 22nd, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 2 comments | Continued
Upstate New York Green Real Estate Report: 2007 Year End Roundup
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Stephen and gbNYC over the past year and reporting on all things green across Upstate New York. I’d like to end the year by noting some of the biggest and best green news that came out of Upstate New York in 2007, as well as link you back [...]
January 1st, 2008 | Paul McGinniss | 1 comment | Continued
NAHB to Congress: Keep Dangling Green Building Carrots, Don’t Wave Sticks
In testimony yesterday before the House Small Business Committee, the National Association of Home Builders emphasized its belief that voluntary energy efficiency programs and tax incentives remain the best approach for reducing residential energy consumption across America rather than blanket federal mandates. Pennsylvania home builder Frank Thompson told the Committee that “Congress should be promoting [...]
October 19th, 2007 | Stephen Del Percio | 1 comment | Continued