The federal government has made rapid data center construction a national priority, but state and local governments are increasingly scrutinizing new data center projects. While the Trump administration has encouraged faster permitting, streamlined environmental review and private investment in data center infrastructure, state legislators in both red and blue states are advancing bills to regulate energy costs, require reporting and in some cases, halt construction altogether. Read more
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U.S. utilities are planning a historic investment spree to patch up an aging power grid and meet rising electricity demand for the artificial-intelligence boom. Capital spending plans for 51 investor-owned utilities have reached an estimated $1.4 trillion for the next five years, according to a new report from PowerLines, a consumer education group. That is up more than 20% from a year ago, when the companies planned to spend about $1.1 trillion over a five-year period. Read more
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Seventeen health, community and environmental groups filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to implement the strengthened 2024 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter air pollution, commonly known as soot. EPA has estimated that the strengthened standard will prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths annually, avoid 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms and 2,000 emergency room visits, and yield up to $46 billion in net health benefits once implemented. Read more
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The “office air theory,” a social media trend that blames workplaces for causing dry skin, frizzy hair and acne, has gone viral because so many office workers can relate—and it’s not just a shared gripe. Experts say there's something about the office environment that can make people feel physically uncomfortable and fatigued throughout the day. Read more
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Join host Aaron Besseling along with guests Sarah Maston and Alekhya Kaianathbhatta as they offer real-world insight into the essentials of building commissioning.
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By Ben Hobbs, Kevin Mussler, Chris Reeves
In April 2018, Crittenden County in Western Kentucky was struck by tornados and flooding that damaged the Audubon Area Head Start (AAHS) center—one of the only early childhood education facilities serving the surrounding community. Urgently needing a replacement facility, Audubon Area Community Services (AACS) secured more than $7 million in disaster relief funds to construct the new 17,110 ft² (1590 m2) zero energy/zero carbon Chapel Hill Head Start Center. Download here
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ASHRAE announced the release of a new groundbreaking study from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) that, for the first time, quantified the global climate impact of BACnet. The study reveals that BACnet-enabled building automation systems have mitigated 1.4 billion tons of CO₂ since 1995. This is equivalent to removing 300 million cars from the road for one year or offsetting the entire annual emissions of Japan. The research highlights BACnet’s role as a catalyst for smart building adoption worldwide. Read more
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More than 60% of workers would choose fresher, more comfortable air over high-end amenities, according to a new report released by GPS Air, which surveyed 750 U.S. employees working in non-remote environments. More than two-thirds of the workers surveyed said they would be more willing to work in-person if their company communicated the steps it takes to ensure a comfortable, healthy environment. More than 80% of respondents said visible efforts to improve workplace comfort and safety would make them feel more respected as an employee. Read more
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