Green Building

Two-story home or multifamily housing with large windows under construction in front of mature green trees.

New HUD guidelines call for nixing green building requirements

The newly released 'best practices' advise local governments to streamline permitting processes, cap permitting fees and encourage by-right development of single-family homes.

May 26, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Colorful murals on exterior of Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California against night sky.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools

The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

March 31, 2025 - Los Angeles County Office of Education

Construction workers on a suspended platform are installing thermal insulation on the facade of a modern apartment building, improving energy efficiency and reducing heat loss during cold weather.

Affordable Housing Renovations Halt Mid-Air Amidst DOGE Clawbacks

HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.

March 28, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Installation of external wall thermal insulation with rock wool on Passive House residential building.

‘Passive House’ Standard Gaining Ground in Multifamily Housing

Developers in Chicago and around the country are taking notice of a design standard that encourages energy efficiency and sustainable materials.

August 9, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

Looking up at modernist/brutalist Boston City Hall building bathed in golden hour light

Boston Eliminates Fossil Fuels in New City-Owned Buildings

Mayor Michelle Wu said the new rule will help boost demand for green materials and create new jobs in the green building sector.

August 9, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

View looking up at multi-story building on commercial street in Bethesda, Maryland

Montgomery County To Require Decarbonized New Construction

Under a new bill, most new buildings will be banned from using natural gas in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to all-electric power.

December 1, 2022 - DCist

Solar panels on a rooftop with two workers in hard hats and safety vests walking between panels

How Buildings Can Lead the Way to a Decarbonized Future

A public utilities building in Santa Rosa shows how innovations in architecture and grid management can reduce energy use and prepare buildings for a more sustainable energy future.

November 1, 2022 - Next City

Boston Aerial

Boston Plans To Restrict Fossil Fuel Use in Buildings

As part of the city’s broader climate goals, Mayor Michelle Wu wants to require all new buildings to eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

August 18, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Modern Passive House Exterior. Modern energy efficiency house with skylight windows and solar panels on the roof top.

Sustainable and Affordable Housing Is No Longer a Pipe Dream

Fresh interest in green building among investors, new incentives, and stricter building codes are making it more possible to include green building practices in affordable housing production.

April 26, 2022 - Wealth Management

Green Buildings

Fighting Climate Change With Green Building Standards

Localities in Canada's Durham Region are implementing green building regulations to promote sustainable development and reduce resource use.

November 24, 2021 - durhamregion.com

Sustainability Leadership and ESG Commitments

Lendlease’s new head of sustainability in the Americas, Sara Neff, describes the advantages of the Australian company’s global integrated business model and leadership in sustainable buildings.

November 3, 2021 - The Planning Report

Boston Aerial

Big Boston Buildings Must Be Carbon Neutral by 2050

The Boston City Council approved a new ordinance would eliminate emissions from the 4 percent of the buildings responsible for 60 percent of the city's building emissions.

October 4, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Building

Sustainable Real Estate Investments Are No Longer Optional

Greenwashing won't cut it anymore, and investors are increasingly demanding that all real estate developments and existing assets be assessed in the most holistic way possible.

September 12, 2021 - Breana Wheeler

Texas Capitol Building

Preemption of Green Cities in Red States

State legislatures, frequently acting on behalf of corporate interests, are preempting local reforms and regulations necessary to limit the emissions that cause climate change.

September 7, 2021 - Joan Fitzgerald

Free Street

On Rent Control and a Green New Deal, Portland, Maine Voters Go Where Others Don't Dare

Rent control was dealt another high-profile setback in California, and the Green New Deal is a hot button issue stuck in limbo in Congress. Both efforts got the go-ahead from voters in Portland, Maine in November.

December 1, 2020 - Next City

George Floyd

From Eco-Districts to Green Justice Zones

A great challenge facing urban planning in the short- and long-term future is how to complete green infrastructure and development without spurring gentrification and displacement.

October 27, 2020 - Joan Fitzgerald

Philadelphia City Hall

Building Energy Efficiency Program Approved in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has renewed its efforts to improve energy efficiency in non-residential building to contribute to its Paris Climate Agreement commitment.

December 13, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Buildings

Building Green for Quality of Life Improvements

The quality of life or residents might be the best way to measure the benefits of green building programs, according to the president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council.

November 30, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Rooftop Solar

Big Box Stores Leading the Shift to Renewable Energy

The cheap price of solar and wind energy have corporations "falling all over themselves" to embrace renewable, according to this article. Target and Wal-Mart lead the green arms race.

November 1, 2019 - The New York Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.