ICLEI members across the nation are fighting to save property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing programs by urging Congress to pass legislation that would remedy the recent attacks from a trio of national powerhouses -- the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac along with their regulating entity the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

One of the most efficient and economical means of energy conservation and lowering utility bills is weatherization. Properly protecting a home and its interior from the elements can reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency year round.

Energy-efficient homes have significantly lower default and delinquency rates than typical homes, according to an internal analysis conducted for a major financial institution last year. Here's yet another reason why it makes no sense that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have effectively killed Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), a financing tool that has helped make efficiency improvements affordable for thousands of American homeowners.

A little friendly competition never hurt anybody. In fact, in the City of Chicago, a competition among the offices of the Central Business District has resulted in a whole lot of environmentally friendly changes in the way Chicago does business. Dubbed the Chicago Green Office Challenge, it was a race to see which offices and buildings could green their operations the most.

Sustainable design includes considering not just how buildings and the surrounding site are constructed, but also where they are constructed. EPA has many resources for local governments and the real estate industry on smart growth: compact, walkable, mixed-use development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure and protects critical natural lands.

A Lower Manhattan neighborhood built on an environmentally incorrect landfill in the Hudson River is fast becoming the home of one of the nation's greenest residential communities.

The emergence of green building codes and standards... is an important next step for the green building movement.

First of its kind collaboration designed to boost critical green building practices across the country

An Interview with Dave Walls, Executive Director of California's Building Standards Commission

Sierra Club, USGBC Volunteers Lead ‘Green Building for Cool Cities’ Project

Boston Housing Authority project will make units energy efficient

Innovative program being adopted by four new local governments

A panel of experts issued more than 100 recommendations to make New York City’s building codes more environmentally sound

Ordinance will help identify energy-wasting buildings

Cities boldly embracing innovations and new opportunities

“Solid State Lighting: Benchmarking Report” concludes that LEDs offer compelling payback periods

Extensive adoption of green roofs in a million-person city could capture 55,000 tons of CO2 annually

New York seeks to train 1,000 building superintendents to be more energy efficient in managing sites.

Revolving loan program key to energy efficient pitch

Municipalities are launching programs to helping residents make energy efficiency affordable

The city of Portland and Multnomah County plan to start providing low-cost financing to homeowners this summer for energy efficiency and weatherization improvements.

New program to provide 5,000 home-energy audits to Seattle City Light customers over the next 18 months for $95 apiece -- a $505 discount.

Comprehensive package of legislation would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing government, commercial, and residential buildings.

New $25 million building is first in city to feature mounted wind turbines

A $500 million retrofit of the NYC landmark will reduce energy use 38 percent

Funding for SF Energy Watch to increase by nearly $4 million

The Oakland Green Jobs Corp will train at-risk youth in green construction, solar installation, and other green job skills

A new program in Annapolis, Md., will offer tax-exempt, low-interest loans to property owners who install energy-efficient equipment.

Chicago leads the nation with five Green Seal certified hotels

Houston is the first U.S. city to retrofit municipal buildings to reduce energy and water consumption as part of the Clinton Climate Initiative.

The country’s largest “green” shopping center benefits from historic and LEED designations

Town breaks ground on Infrastructure Services Building that will anchor eco-industrial park.

Public-private partnership that provides energy saving advice, free home energy audits, and financing.

New Program to Calculate Building’s Carbon Emissions

DC Passes Energy Star Benchmarking Law

US Conference of Mayors Adopts Resolution Supporting 30% Solution

Savannah’s New Affordable Housing, Mixed-Use Development

Portland: Considering a “feebate”

Washington, DC: Free home energy audits

Berkeley: Financing Initiative for Solar and Renewable Technology (FIRST) Program

Using shipping containers as housing units

Zoning changes for height & density bonus.

First LEED Gold requirements for municipal buildings.

Fast tracking for LEED Silver development.

City expands green building requirements to private sector.