Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business

Tag Archives: Green

Proposals for changes to the International Green Construction Code are due by January 10

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Codes and Regulations, Construction, LEED
Proposals for changes to the International Code Council's "Green Construction Code" have been accepted since November and are due not later than January 10, 2014. Proposed IgCC changes are accepted from any member of the public. This is your opportunity to effect change in the environmental industrial complex.… Continue Reading

FTC To Ramp Up Enforcement of Environmental Claims

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in Federal
The Federal Trade Commission will begin to ramp up enforcement of environmental claims .. The coming crackdown on environmental claims follows an update of the FTC's Green Guides last year that set forth the commission's current views on environmental marketing to help business avoid making unfair or deceptive claims.… Continue Reading

Green Building is Now the Law in Dallas

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in LEED, Local Government
Dallas has now accepted the first building permit applications under its green building ordinance. All new projects must either: meet the minimum requirements of the Dallas Green Construction Code or be LEED certifiable or be Green Built Texas certifiable or be certifiable under an equivalent green building standard.… Continue Reading

LEED Creates Business Opportunities Beyond The Environmental Industrial Complex

By Stuart Kaplow on Posted in LEED
Savvy business people are finding opportunities to profit in matters ancillary to green building, including opportunities advantaged by providing services that contribute to LEED credits. The value of green building will exceed $106 Billion in 2013 and skyrocket to over $248 Billion in 2016 and the allied and ancillary services will ride that explosive growth.… Continue Reading

Did the USGBC Purchase Destiny USA Green Bonds?

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in Legal Developments
I am wrapping up my discussion of the Destiny USA project this week with one final post.  You can select the Destiny USA tag to review all of the previously published posts on this topic.  I will also be publishing a compendium of posts on the topic — plus bonus coverage — later this week.  Thank … Continue Reading

RIP LEED Certification Bodies

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in LEED, Trends
The Green Building Certification Institute’s (GBCI) use of third-party certification bodies did not last long.     You may recall that in 2009, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) outsourced green building certification to the Green Building Certification Institute:   "LEED certification became so popular that the USGBC had to begin allowing certification through independent certification bodies. . . … Continue Reading

Congress Drills Down Green Building Regulation

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in Federal, LEED
You may remember that in previous posts, GBLU warned that September was going to be a big month for green building regulations in Washington D.C. It was anticipated that the D.C. City Council would vote on new green building codes on September 16 but the codes were tabled to allow for more feedback from affected parties. But … Continue Reading

Green Bond Coming to a City Near You…

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Surety
In a previous post, GBLU referenced problems with a green building performance bond requirement in Washington D.C.’s Green Building Act.  So what are the apparent problems with this green performance bond?  On August 13, 2007,  the Surety and Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers detailed the problems with the … Continue Reading

D.C. Provides Green Roof Subsidy

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City, Trends
As part of GBLU’s monitoring of green building regulations and codes, GBLU will provide timely information regarding government green building programs that may be of interest to you.  Below is information about a Green Roof subsidy being offered by the Government of the District of Columbia, District Department of the Environment.  Please note, applications are … Continue Reading

Aspen Codes Ahead of the Green Building Curve

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in City
As green building becomes more popular, new green building regulations continue to pop up in U.S. cities.  The Aspen Daily News recently highlighted proposed changes to the Aspen Commercial Building Codes that will incorporate very progressive green building strategies.  Among the green building strategies, the proposed codes will “require either a photovoltaic solar panel system [solar … Continue Reading

A Midsummer Night’s Green

By Chris Cheatham on Posted in Trends
On August 7, I had the pleasure of attending the USGBC National Captial Region’s annual event, a Midsummer Night’s Green.  This year, the event was held in the stunning World Bank Atrium.  Tyler Coffey of Sigal Construction did a great job choosing the venue and organizing the event.  Bisnow on Business has a good summary of … Continue Reading
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