Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business

Tag Archives: Kaplow

US Appeals Court Upholds Nasdaq Board Diversity Rule, However

By Stuart Kaplow on November 5, 2023 Posted in ESG, Federal

With large numbers of businesses having initiatives to advance gender and racially diverse talent, keeping track of the law on this subject is a necessity… Continue Reading

Net Zero, Carbon Offsets and more Now Require Disclosures

By Stuart Kaplow on October 29, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, Environmental, GHG, greenwashing

This new law is being heralded as anti greenwashing … Continue Reading

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

By Stuart Kaplow on October 22, 2023 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

Tenants Monetizing their Greenhouse Gas Emission Data

By Stuart Kaplow on October 15, 2023 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

We are already working with a broad breadth of businesses, including tenants and landlords, to develop strategies to assist them in taking advantage of this opportunity to monetize their GHG emission data … Continue Reading

Green Building may be our Best Hope to Repair the Planet

By Stuart Kaplow on October 8, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, GHG, Green Building, greenhouse gas

Single shooting climate change is not what the majority of people want… Continue Reading

White House to Define Zero Emission Building

By Stuart Kaplow on October 1, 2023 Posted in Federal, GHG, Green Building, greenhouse gas

The federal government will define what is a “zero emission” building.… Continue Reading

Unplugged Truth: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Charging Your Smartphone

By Stuart Kaplow on September 24, 2023 Posted in GHG, greenhouse gas

To appreciate that calculation in context, global smartphone charging is responsible for 8,050,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year… Continue Reading

California Passes Groundbreaking Climate Disclosure Bills

By Stuart Kaplow on September 17, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Codes and Regulations, GHG

California on the bleeding edge of climate disclosure and climate financial risk reporting… Continue Reading

Navigating the Urban Landscape: London’s Low Emission Zone vs. NYC Congestion Pricing

By Stuart Kaplow on September 10, 2023 Posted in City, Codes and Regulations, GHG, greenhouse gas

London's Low Emission Zone and New York City's proposed Congestion Pricing, while coming from very different places geographically and ideologically, represent dramatic strides in urban planning and environmental stewardship. … Continue Reading

US Imposes Duties on Southeast Asia Solar Panel Makers Evading China Tariffs

By Stuart Kaplow on September 3, 2023 Posted in Codes and Regulations, Energy, ESG, Federal, Legal, Solar Panel

To appreciate the scope of the issue, those countries account for nearly 80% of all U.S. solar panel supplies.… Continue Reading

Launch of the Nature Crime Alliance

By Stuart Kaplow on August 27, 2023 Posted in Legal, Sustainability

Justice for ecosystems, species, and people exploited by nature crime networks.… Continue Reading

Colorado Law Will Lead the Nation in Reducing GHGs from Buildings

By Stuart Kaplow on August 20, 2023 Posted in GHG, greenhouse gas, State

The Colorado building sector will lead the nation in building energy performance standards and GHG emission reduction … Continue Reading

Guidance on Avoiding Greenwashing while Providing Input Down Under

By Stuart Kaplow on August 13, 2023 Posted in Environmental, ESG, Green Washing, greenwashing

While American businesses continue to wait for the update to the 2012 FTC Green Guides this draft Guidance from Down Under is the best checklist, we are aware of, for mitigating the risk of greenwashing claims.… Continue Reading

Two China Based Companies Banned as a Result of Forced Labor

By Stuart Kaplow on August 6, 2023 Posted in ESG, Federal, Solar Panel

The moral equivalence of U.S. companies and individuals installing solar panels created with government-sponsored modern slavery to remedy the ills of climate change, has in the last year shifted sharply in favor of Americans doing the right thing for those in forced labor from Xinjiang. … Continue Reading

Offsets and RECs: A Powerful Duo for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Repairing the Planet

By Stuart Kaplow on July 30, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, ESG, GHG, greenhouse gas

Offsets and RECs are two powerful and complementary approaches to combating climate change and repairing the planet.… Continue Reading

Greenhouse Gas Emission Disclosures in Real Estate Contracts and Beyond

By Stuart Kaplow on July 23, 2023 Posted in Environmental, GHG, greenhouse gas

GHG emission disclosures in contracts are a response to the new era of environmental consciousness in business… Continue Reading

Wind Rights are now Blowin’ In The Wind

By Stuart Kaplow on July 16, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environmental, ESG, GHG, wind turbine

The first time any Texas court has held under Texas law that wind rights are severable from the land. … Continue Reading

The Power of Methane: Why Tackling Emissions Is Key to Curbing Climate Change

By Stuart Kaplow on July 9, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, ESG, GHG

One pound of methane traps 25 times more heat in the atmosphere than a pound of carbon dioxide… Continue Reading

In God We Trust Wins 9 – 0

By Stuart Kaplow on July 2, 2023 Posted in ESG, Federal

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it unlawful for employers “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges [of] employment, because of such individual’s .. religion.”… Continue Reading

The Positive Side of Green Hushing: Averting Backlash and Enhancing Corporate Sustainability

By Stuart Kaplow on June 25, 2023 Posted in Environmental, ESG, greenwashing

Companies seeking to avert backlash through green hushing can ultimately contribute broadly to corporate sustainability if not repairing the planet.… Continue Reading

Courts Asked to Compel Government Action on Climate Change

By Stuart Kaplow on June 18, 2023 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, Legal, State

The judicial branch will supplant the executive and legislative branches, in driving greenhouse gas and the larger global warming policy… Continue Reading

The Evolution of Environmental Offsets: From Indulgences to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

By Stuart Kaplow on June 11, 2023 Posted in Environmental, ESG, GHG, greenhouse gas

Environmental offsets have come a long way since the issuance of indulgences by the medieval church. … Continue Reading

Court Finds California Racial, Ethnic and LGBT Quotas for Boards Unconstitutional

By Stuart Kaplow on June 4, 2023 Posted in Codes and Regulations, ESG

ESG will flourish as companies address inequality, including unequal access, systemic racism, gender discrimination, and lack of inclusion in their efforts to repair the world … Continue Reading

H&M Wins Dismissal of Greenwashing Lawsuit

By Stuart Kaplow on May 28, 2023 Posted in Codes and Regulations, ESG, Green Washing, greenwashing

How courts will likely analyze the growing numbers of greenwashing claims, providing guardrails for companies and mitigating their risk.… Continue Reading