Business View Civil Municipal - Sept 2023

7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 9 Source - https://www.americancityandcounty.com/, Donny Simmons, First published 15, Aug, 2023 Life happens in community buildings; it’s where people work, learn, live and play. Ensuring community members have access to healthy environments, reliably comfortable public facilities and safe spaces to seek shelter in the face of crisis has never been more critical. Buildings are also one of the largest contributors to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Buildings in the United States account for 40 percent of the total energy used, and approximately 15 percent of global GHG emissions are directly attributed to heating and cooling systems in buildings. With rising temperatures creating an increased demand for cooling, governments are challenged with efficiently using taxpayer dollars to address building infrastructure and other community needs, while protecting the environment. Leaders at all levels are realizing the time to act is now. In late June, Cambridge, Mass., took bold, aggressive action—mandating net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 for existing nonresidential buildings under 100,000 square feet, and requiring all buildings more than 100,000 square feet to face a 2035 deadline. This builds upon Cambridge’s commercial stretch code, which regulates heating, cooling and energy use, and favors all-electric mechanisms. And while Cambridge’s goals are among the most ambitious thus far, cities and counties across the country, including Augusta, Ga.; Fenton, Mo.; and Claremont, Calif., are taking advantage of existing technology to proactively curb building emissions. At the state level, New Mexico’s leaders began tackling the challenge in 2018. In Santa Fe, more than 30 state-owned, executive government buildings—all more than 50 years old—had aging, inefficient HVAC systems. By launching the State Buildings Green Energy Project, New Mexico accelerated its clean energy and carbon reduction plans, saving the state more than $1.1 million dollars annually and cutting more NEW REGULATIONS FOR BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE HELP CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES OPENING LINES