Reports & Fact Sheets / Buildings
Better Buildings Approach
Our Better Buildings Approach is a framework built to optimize the climate, health, equity, and job creation potential that the buildings sector represents.
Updates & Resources
All Updates & Resources
Reports & Fact Sheets / Buildings
Back to School: Federal Investments for Energy-Efficient, Healthy, and Climate Resilient Schools
This factsheet lists the broad range of programs now available to K-12 public schools, school districts as well as state, local and Tribal governments—and guides them on how to maximize the social and economic impact of these dollars.
Testimony & Comments / Buildings
The BlueGreen Alliance Responds to Proposed IRS Regulations on Accessibility of Tax Credits Through Elective Pay to Accelerate Clean Energy Deployment
We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the proposed IRS Regulations on Elective Pay to ensure the maximum uptake of these uncapped credits. These credits will support U.S. climate and equity goals and will create good jobs that are built into the tax credits through incentives for using high-road labor standards.
Reports & Fact Sheets / Clean Economy Union Jobs
Making Clean Energy Tax Credits Deliver for the Public: A User Guide for Governments, Schools, and Nonprofits
The Inflation Reduction Act extended and strengthened tax credits for investment in and production of a range of clean energy technologies—including solar, geothermal, wind, heat pumps, clean hydrogen, electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure—and energy storage technology. Critically, tax-exempt entities, such as public schools, non-profit hospitals, and Tribal, local, and state governments can now claim the tax credits in the form of “direct pay.”
Blog / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Five Reasons to Invest Federal Funding into Retrofits for Schools, Hospitals and other Public Buildings
The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—previously known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—and the Inflation Reduction Act means more federal funding is available to upgrade and retrofit our public-serving institutions. In particular, Municipal, University, School, and Hospital (MUSH) buildings that serve as essential community assets represent a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health outcomes, build climate resilience, and support and create good, local jobs all while addressing equity and environmental justice.
Reports & Fact Sheets / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Roadmap to Navigating Federal Funding for Public Buildings
The 117th Congress passed historic infrastructure legislation that can be utilized to retrofit buildings, including Municipal, University, School, and Hospital (MUSH) buildings. MUSH buildings are particularly important, serving as essential community assets that represent significant opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health outcomes, build climate resilience, and support and create good, local jobs all while addressing equity and environmental justice. The objective of this roadmap is to identify the federal funding opportunities available through the Inflation Reduction Act, The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and, in the case of schools, the American Rescue Plan, that can be used to upgrade MUSH buildings.
Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
New Direct Pay Guidance from Biden Administration Will Allow Schools, Tribal Governments, and More to Get Clean Energy Projects Off the Ground
The Inflation Reduction Act extended and strengthened tax credits for investment in and production of a range of clean energy technologies. The law included a “direct pay” option for which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released new guidance. The guidance will help public and tax-exempt entities—public schools, nonprofit hospitals, and tribal, local, and state governments—to recoup a significant portion of a clean energy project’s cost as a cash payment from the IRS.
Press Releases & Statements / Clean Economy Union Jobs
Governor Polis Signs on for Thermal Energy in Colorado’s Clean Energy Future
Governor Jared Polis today signed HB23-1252—The Thermal Energy Act, which expands the definition of a clean heat resource to include thermal energy systems, requires the Public Utilities Commission to create rules around this technology, and encourages developers to propose new thermal energy pilot projects.
Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
HUD Green and Resilient Retrofits Program Will Advance Equity and Climate Goals
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the rollout of the $1 billion Inflation Reduction Act Green and Resilient Retrofits Program. The announcement took place at the Dunn Family Coop Apartments in Center Line, MI and was followed by a roundtable discussion attended by BlueGreen Alliance Michigan Regional Program Manager Frank Houston.
Press Releases & Statements / Clean Economy Union Jobs
Mayor Carter, Local Leaders Highlight How Geothermal And Ground-Source Energy Can Create Good Jobs, Fight Climate Change
Steamfitters Pipefitters Local 455, Fresh Energy, and the BlueGreen Alliance today hosted a tour of a cutting-edge geothermal energy system with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and local labor, environment, and civic leaders and local community members.
Letters / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
The BlueGreen Alliance Writes Letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Urging Incorporation of the Latest Applicable Consensus-Based Codes That Include Hazard-Resistance Criteria
The resiliency of America’s buildings relies on a robust ecosystem of codes and standards developed by standards developing organizations. Today’s buildings are more resilient because of this ecosystem, and the increased involvement of stakeholders interested in improving efficiency and resiliency.