Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business

Tag Archives: BEPS

President Trump’s Bold Step to Rein in State Overreach in Climate Change

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Federal, GHG, greenhouse gas
On April 8, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a powerful and consequential Executive Order with the innocuous sounding title, “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.” The impact of that Executive Order will be far broader than the title belies when it targets “burdensome and ideologically motivated ‘climate change’ or energy policies” .. of several … Continue Reading

Mandatory GHG Disclosures in Maryland Real Estate Contracts

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, GHG, greenhouse gas, State
Maryland law now requires specified greenhouse gas emissions disclosures and exchange of performance data in a contract of sale for buildings subject to the state’s Building Energy Performance Standards. Failure to comply with the regulation can have significant financial and legal consequences. Maryland has quietly taken a dramatic regulatory leap, promulgating what is one of … Continue Reading

Gas Stoves Saved: Washington Voters Reject All Electric Building Mandates

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Energy, GHG, State
While many Americans were focused on the presidential election last Tuesday, citizens from Washington State and others interested in energy were paying attention to a successful Washington voter initiative protecting access to natural gas for homes and businesses, including preventing regulatory actions to limit access to gas in favor of all electric buildings. On November … Continue Reading

With ‘new’ proposed Maryland BEPS regulations what does a Building Owner do now?

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, GHG, greenhouse gas, State
After this was posted, on January 13, 2025 citizen groups and business associations jointly filed suit in the U.S. District Court against the Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment challenging the Maryland BEPS program as preempted by Federal statute and unenforceable as a matter of law. Read more here. After this blog was … Continue Reading

Advantages of Adopting the Model State Indoor Air Quality Act: Prioritizing Human Health Amid Energy Concerns

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, GHG, Green Building, greenhouse gas
The quality of the air we breathe is fundamental to our well being if not life itself. With Americans spending nearly 90% of their lives indoors, the importance of healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) cannot be overstated. In response to the growing concerns about IAQ, a Model State Indoor Air Quality Act has just been … Continue Reading
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