News & Commentary

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.

Eliminating carbon emissions from our building and transportation sectors will be critical to maintaining a healthy and livable climate. Decarbonizing these sectors is putting Missourians to work while investing in a cleaner, more climate resilient future.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) took a major stride toward zero-carbon emissions buildings in the 2022 update of the statewide building energy code that will require new buildings to use less energy and cut carbon pollution.

By 2030, India will have added nearly one billion square meters of new commercial floor space--more than the land area of New York City and Washington D.C combined. Building smart from the start is a real opportunity to reduce emissions…

Cooling equipment packs a potent climate threat: invisible refrigerant gases that leak into the atmosphere during the equipment’s operating lifetime. The very chemicals that will help billions of people adapt to extreme heat are themselves driving the climate crisis. 

What does resilience in buildings have to do with meeting our global climate goals? A lot, it turns out.