News & Commentary

Currently, LA’s building stock is responsible for 43% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions. A recent report dives deep into the complex relationship between getting fossil fuels out of buildings and creating and preserving affordable housing in Los Angeles…

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest municipal utility in the country, has worked with advocates to develop a comprehensive program that provides benefits to low income tenants and is accessible by affordable housing providers.

Cities account for an overwhelmingly large percentage of global carbon emissions, primarily through transportation and buildings. But 25 cities, empowered by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge, found that when they teamed up together, they could make real strides…

The landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 will require a transformation of the power, transportation and building sectors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it’s moving forward with proposals to speed the transition away from super-pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in refrigeration, air conditioners, heat pumps, insulation, and aerosols where climate-friendlier alternatives are available.

Latinos Progresando is one of the first community organizations to go all-electric in the Chicago Area. With a small amount of funds to cover the energy assessment, upgrades not only reduced energy costs, but allowed the building to fully electrify…

Illinois just passed a new, nation-leading climate law called the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), making Illinois the first Midwest state to have legislation that completely phases out fossil fuels in the power sector. This NRDC blog delves into…

Fix VA law, for healthier air and lower bills for low-income families, by ditching dirty fossil fuel heaters.

The Denver City Council’s Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness committee is considering a policy to increase the efficiency of large buildings by 30%, provide economic and technical support for switching to 100% clean electric appliances, and set the city’s building…

With the sixth annual Energy Efficiency Day planned for Wednesday, it’s a good time to remember that efficiency is one of the most effective ways to fight dangerous climate pollution and catalyze action to address historic underinvestment in vulnerable communities.

The Department of Energy (DOE) plays a great role in supporting energy efficiency throughout the country, through which it has a substantial opportunity to make significant progress on climate action in the next four years.

The House Financial Services Committee's contribution to the Build Back Better Act presents a historic opportunity to invest in safe, affordable, and climate-resilient housing.

Becoming climate neutral by 2050 will have enormous implications for Bostonians: better air quality, reduced electricity bills, and a lower energy burden are just a few ways in which the standard will improve lives across the city.

The Build Back Better package is an important first step to meet the need for clean and efficient buildings, but it is only a first step in a marathon, and much more is going to be needed to decarbonize buildings…

With the precedent of the pandemic and moratoriums that have lasted several months, there is a unique opportunity to push even further for policies that will dynamically change the way we think about utilities and housing in the U.S.

At the start of the pandemic, many consumer, environmental, and community advocates urged both federal and state governments to undertake the responsibility of ensuring that people had access to shelter and energy in this critical time. 

Tech-crastination is an appropriate characterization of the gas industry’s claims around the suitability of hydrogen as a solution to decarbonize buildings, even though heating homes with hydrogen is one of the least-efficient and most costly options available.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created the conditions for an economic, social, and public health crisis unlike anything seen in the last century, and with it continues to exacerbate issues caused by a deeply broken utility and housing system.

New study from Schatz Energy Research Center, in collaboration with NRDC and other partners: Heating water in homes and commercial buildings, and producing low-temperature steam in multifamily and industrial facilities are one of the biggest untapped opportunities to slash carbon…

Great news for anyone who watches cable: a new report confirms that the equipment in your home used to watch cable continues to get more and more energy-efficient.