Opinion
As building electrification advances, pressure on winter grid peaks increases, making hybrid heating (air-source heat pumps plus gas furnaces) an option that balances decarbonization and reliability. However, its long-term role depends on regulatory incentives, cost recovery mechanisms, and data availability. The article notes that, if poorly designed, hybrid heating could accelerate the stranding of gas infrastructure rather than facilitate a smooth transition.
With unprecedented setbacks to federal clean energy incentives and renewable energy projects, state legislatures have become the last line of defense for clean energy deployment. Poorly designed automated permitting bills could entrench bureaucratic gridlock and stifle innovation. The key lies in adopting technology-neutral standards rather than designating specific platforms. California's SB379, which mandates the use of SolarAPP+, highlights the risks of technology designation, while Texas and Florida have chosen technology-agnostic legislative paths. States must immediately pass technology-neutral automated permitting bills to promote competition, reduce costs, and accelerate the clean energy transition.
Over the past decade, ESG considerations have become increasingly prevalent in commercial real estate development. For multifamily developers and investors, ESG is not merely an extension of green building certifications but has become a key criterion in investment evaluation. Written by two experts from Buchalter law firm, this article dissects the three dimensions of ESG and highlights key issues such as insurance costs and coverage, environmental pollution liability, and business interruption risks, advising owners and investors to protect asset value through rigorous environmental due diligence, appropriate insurance arrangements, and resilient investments.
Globally, over 1 billion tons of food are wasted each year, accounting for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Elopak CEO Thomas Körmendi believes that packaging—especially aseptic and fresh packaging technologies—is a key line of defense against this challenge. Drawing on data from the United Nations, the World Bank, and others, the article analyzes regional differences in food waste, the dilemma of plastic pollution, and the potential of paper-based packaging in reducing emissions.
Drawing on 25 years of industry experience, Julie Gorte describes how sustainable investing moved from being questioned to the mainstream, only to face politicized attacks in recent years. She points out that sustainable funds have proven capable of delivering competitive returns but are often held to a double standard; meanwhile, issues such as climate change, diversity, and biodiversity are real and important investment considerations.
The United States generates over 12 million tons of furniture waste annually, with approximately 9 million tons ending up in landfills. Facility managers often underestimate the actual climate benefits of sustainable furniture retirement. This article explores how supplementing life cycle assessment methods can increase emission reduction data in ESG reports by 91%.
Carbon terminology, once confined to sustainability teams and annual reports, has now become a focus of public and regulatory attention. From Delta Air Lines' lawsuit to the UK CMA's fining powers, and the EU's proposed Green Claims Directive, linguistic missteps can invite legal and reputational risks. Companies need to abandon vague "carbon neutrality" claims and adopt humble, verifiable, and clear wording to rebuild trust and foster a healthier market.
As some sustainability regulations in the US and EU are rolled back, companies find themselves in a gray area between self-regulation and a policy vacuum. Pierre-Francois Thaler, co-founder of EcoVadis, writes that although 87% of US companies maintain or increase sustainability investments, only 13% can meet four major regulations on time, including the CSRD, CBAM, California SB 253, and Canada's Modern Slavery Act. The article calls for replacing rigid compliance with "smart regulation" that is outcome-oriented, recognizes innovation, and adapts flexibly, to avoid a regression in sustainability progress.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released frequently asked questions on July 9, 2025, providing guidance for the implementation of two climate disclosure laws, SB 253 and SB 261. This article outlines the scope of coverage, key definitions, reporting timelines, and recommendations for corporate response.
Following federal executive orders that suspended new investments in wind and solar projects, tightened federal land leasing, and imposed tariffs, clean energy manufacturers canceled, closed, or scaled back nearly $8 billion in projects in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, fossil fuel expansion policies have accelerated. Retail energy suppliers are under pressure from heightened price volatility and rising compliance costs. This article recommends that suppliers adopt three core strategies: purchasing renewable energy certificates in advance to hedge against price increases, using predictive analytics and real-time data to optimize natural gas hedging decisions, and locking in premium customer share through smart technology and long-term power purchase agreements, thereby building long-term resilience amid policy uncertainty.