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Maryland is Leading the Transition to All Electric Buildings

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environmental, ESG, greenhouse gas
There is a move toward all electric buildings as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The state of Maryland is leading the way in this movement, including several local jurisdictions adopting all electric building code laws. All electric building codes require that new construction and major renovations be powered by … Continue Reading

EPA (Finally) Finalizes Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Rule

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental
On December 15, 2022, EPA took final action to amend the All Appropriate Inquiries Rule to reference ASTM International’s E1527-21 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process” and allow for its use to satisfy the requirements for conducting all appropriate inquiries under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, … Continue Reading

FTC Seeks Public Input on Update to Green Guides for Environmental Claims

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, Federal, greenwashing
The Federal Trade Commission announced last Wednesday that it is seeking public comment on updates and changes to the Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Claims. In an era when charges of greenwashing and green hushing are proliferating across social media while at the same time governments are mandating ESG including environmental disclosures by businesses, … Continue Reading

Selling the Sun: Sale of a House with Solar Panels is Fraught with Peril

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, ESG, Green Building, Solar Panel
  There are more than 3 Million houses in the U.S. with solar panels installed on the roof.  The Inflation Protection Act of 2022 extended the 30% federal tax credit for residential solar panels through 2034 which is predicted to more than triple that number of solar installations. And as those houses are each year … Continue Reading

EPA Proposes Designating PFAS as Hazardous

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Environmental, ESG, Federal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to designate two of the most widely used per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the “Superfund” law. The proposal applies to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural … Continue Reading
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