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Archives: Environmental

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Reliance Letters: An Essential Part of Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments

By Stuart Kaplow on February 9, 2025 Posted in Environmental, Legal

Reliance letters are an indispensable tool in the due diligence process… Continue Reading

The Change in Administration will be “the” Environmental Issue of 2025

By Stuart Kaplow on January 5, 2025 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, greenhouse gas, Paris Accord

A legacy of deregulation… Continue Reading

Top 10 (or 12!) List of Environmental Blog Posts

By Stuart Kaplow on December 29, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, LEED

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the environmental matters that dominated the year, those that captured attention, sparked debate, and influenced the trajectory of environmental policy and innovation. In the spirit of David Letterman’s iconic countdowns, we present a Top 10 List (with a bonus two for good measure!) of … Continue Reading

Heat Pump Shipments Are Declining Precipitously

By Stuart Kaplow on December 15, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental

It is all but certain that heat pump shipments will see a further decline in 2025.… Continue Reading

Key Considerations Before Installing an EV Charging Station

By Stuart Kaplow on December 8, 2024 Posted in Energy, Environmental

The installation of new EV charging stations would today be characterized as a “sell” and not even a hold.… Continue Reading

Greenwashing Lawsuit Alleging Plastic Pollution by PepsiCo is Dismissed

By Stuart Kaplow on December 1, 2024 Posted in Environmental, Green Washing, greenwashing, recycling

After this blog was posted, on December 9, 2024, Letitia James, the Attorney General of the State of New York filed a Notice Of Appeal of her office’s loss described below, to the Supreme Court of the State of New York. On October 31, PepsiCo won a victory obtaining the complete dismissal with prejudice of … Continue Reading

Greenwashing? Court Says Coca-Cola’s Aspirational Statements May Mislead Consumers

By Stuart Kaplow on October 13, 2024 Posted in Environmental, Green Washing, greenhouse gas, greenwashing

A recent ruling from a federal appellate court is bringing new attention to claims of greenwashing including specifically that a business’s aspiration statements about environmental matters (e.g., “we will be net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040” or “we will use at least 50% recycled material in our packaging by 2030”) can be actionable. The … Continue Reading

Environmental Justice at Risk After Louisiana Ruling

By Stuart Kaplow on August 25, 2024 Posted in Environmental, Federal

Last Thursday, the Federal Court in Lake Charles, Louisiana, issued a judgment that may have far reaching implications for environmental justice across the United States. … Continue Reading

The Paradox of Banning Electric Vehicles in Older Garages: Legislative Intent vs. Structural Reality

By Stuart Kaplow on August 4, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental

Residential condominium boards are increasingly restricting or outright prohibiting the use of such EV charging equipment within older garages… Continue Reading

Reduce Methane Emissions with Kitchen Garbage Disposals

By Stuart Kaplow on July 21, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, greenhouse gas

By embracing in sink garbage disposals and complementing them with waste reduction and composting efforts, we can all play a part in slowing climate change and creating a more sustainable future.… Continue Reading

The Government is Coming For Your Gas Stove But Voters May Save You

By Stuart Kaplow on July 7, 2024 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, Environmental

Washinton state citizens are going to vote in the November elections to repeal government's efforts to mandate decarbonization because all electric building laws are wronngheaded environmental public policy.… Continue Reading

In Ohio v EPA Supreme Court Reins in EPA: A Win for Environmental Protection

By Stuart Kaplow on June 30, 2024 Posted in Environmental, Federal

Together with other recent Supreme Court cases, this provides a path for good stewardship of the environment without overreaching government. … Continue Reading

Maryland’s Offshore Wind Ambitions Set to Soar with New Agreement

By Stuart Kaplow on June 9, 2024 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, Environmental, wind turbine

The next step will be when BOEM holds a sale for the proposed offshore wind projects off the Maryland coast later this year. … Continue Reading

Constitutional Rights vs. Climate Change: Inside the Juliana Case Dismissal

By Stuart Kaplow on May 12, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, greenhouse gas

The Ninth Circuit’s decision that environmental climate change is not justiciable is already having repercussions… Continue Reading

New Environmental Laws in Maryland: 2024 Brings Opportunities for Businesses

By Stuart Kaplow on April 28, 2024 Posted in Environmental, State

business opportunities to lead and profit in environmental and sustainability matters advantaged by these newly enacted state laws… Continue Reading

EPA Takes Action: PFOA and PFOS Now Hazardous Substances Under Superfund Law

By Stuart Kaplow on April 21, 2024 Posted in Environmental, Federal

PFAS is no doubt a developing environmental catastrophe but this just announced EPA action listing PFAS as a hazardous substance in the U.S. is yeeting the matter without regard that this solution may do more harm than good.… Continue Reading

Shedding Light on the Future: The Evolution of Lightbulbs in the Wake of New Energy Efficiency Standards

By Stuart Kaplow on April 14, 2024 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, Environmental

In 2024 there is nothing wrong with doing that better than Thomas Edison in 1860, with LEDs, and repairing the planet … Continue Reading

Hawaii Considers $25 Climate Tax

By Stuart Kaplow on February 25, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, Environmental, State

A $25 tax to create a “special fund to prevent climate crises and more effectively respond to climate crises when they occur.”… Continue Reading

Defense Contractor Prohibition on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures

By Stuart Kaplow on February 18, 2024 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Federal, GHG, greenhouse gas

Defense contractors are not permitted to “disclose a greenhouse gas inventory or any other report on greenhouse gas emissions.”… Continue Reading

France is an Example of How Not to do Residential Greenhouse Gas Reduction

By Stuart Kaplow on February 4, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

A Green Challenge: France's Struggle with High Emission Rental Properties… Continue Reading

National Definition for a Zero Emissions Building

By Stuart Kaplow on January 28, 2024 Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

Provide feedback on the draft national definition for a Zero Emissions Building.… Continue Reading

Measuring and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions will be “the” Environmental Issue of 2024

By Stuart Kaplow on December 31, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

Decarbonization of the world’s economies is the biggest business opportunity in history, waiting to be unlocked… Continue Reading

Unmasking “Green Bleaching”: A New Chapter in Sustainability Strategies

By Stuart Kaplow on December 17, 2023 Posted in Environmental, greenwashing, Sustainability

As the world grapples with the urgent need for sustainable practices, the emergence of green bleaching adds a new layer of complexity to the conversation… Continue Reading

Greenhouse Gas Data Confidentiality Takes Two Steps Forward

By Stuart Kaplow on November 12, 2023 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

Businesses must protect their data, not to mention monetize it for their benefit, and can do both while at the same time leading the way toward decarbonizing the economy and repairing the world. … Continue Reading