2026 sustainable landscaping trends
Jim Dunphy’s Landscaping, a company based in Derlan, N.J. with decades of experience serving New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, is
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Newsletter
Newsletter stories for BuilderBytes.com
First community in NorCal to meet IBHS standard
KB Home announced that its new Stone Canyon community meets the home- and neighborhood-level wildfire resilience standards developed by the
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NorCal cities contend with lawsuit over energy codes
On Jan. 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits against two Bay Area cities, Petaluma in Sonoma County
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Green Project of the Week: Davidson Passive House
This project is the first fully certified Passive House in Davidson, N.C. Development of the house started in 2020 by
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USGBC promotes use of sustainably sourced wood
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the recognition of sustainable wood standards in LEED. This allows wood sourced from
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NAHB urges for leaner energy code requirements
On Jan. 22, 2026, Buddy Hughes, chairman of NAHB and a homebuilder and developer from Lexington, N.C., testified at a
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Zone Barriers in Solar Installation
Communities are eager to begin installing solar panels on homes and businesses, offering energy resilience and easing financial burdens. However,
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City of Madison Raises Building Standards
The City of Madison, Wis., raised its green building requirements for all City-owned facilities, now requiring LEED Gold certification for
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R.M. Young Company and Western Weather Group Announce Joint Webinar on Wildfire Forecast Intelligence for Utilities
R.M. Young Company and Western Weather Group will host a joint educational webinar titled “Powering Safer Grids with Wildfire Forecast
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Legislation aims to modernize heat pump permitting
On Jan. 15, 2025, SB 222, the Heat Pump Access Act passed through the Senate Committee on Local Government, after
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USGBC releases updated guide on IRA funding
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced on Jan. 14, 2026, the release of an updated edition of their
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House passes rollback of energy efficient regulations
On Jan. 16, 2026, the House of Representatives passed The Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards (HOMES) Act (HR 5184).
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California builds to the highest efficiency standard nationwide
The 2025 California Energy Code, also known as Title 24 went into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, implementing new efficiency
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Green Project of the Week: Sustainable 9
The team at Sustainable 9 values certifiable sustainability, “Our nine core sustainability principles keep us accountable in every step of
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House SEEC endorses bills to provide climate resilient homes
The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Building Resilient House Task Force announced on Jan. 15, 2026, the endorsement
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2026 program updates for RESNET raters
The U.S. Department of Energy Efficient New Homes Program (ENH) formerly Zero Energy Ready Home, released training requirements for new
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ABC Green Home Launches TerraVerde, the Next Phase of Its Nationally Recognized High-Performance Home Program
Newport Beach, Calif., Jan. 13, 2026 — Builder Media announced today the launch of ABC Green Home 5.0: TerraVerde, the
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Green Project of the week: Bowebird Design LLC
Michael Cockram the principal designer of Bowebird Design LLC initiated the first-ever certified passive house in Arkansas. It was built
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New efficient HVAC tech features solar panels and wind turbines
A new HVAC system is currently being developed by researchers at a university with solar panels, wind turbines and two
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UCLA studies IAQ after wildfires
About one year after the LA wildfires, researchers at UCLA found that Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) still affects homes either
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ENERGY STAR funded through 2026
The ENERGY STAR program, operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to receive funding throughout 2026. A
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EEBA Announces 2026 Board of Directors
The Energy and Environment Building Alliance (EEBA) announced their 2026 Board of Directors. Their leadership continues the organization’s mission to
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LEED v5 Standards
The U.S. Green Building Council’s (UGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is regarded as one of the
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New Colorado law requires efficient technology
Taking into effect on January 1, new residential furnaces and water heaters sold in Colorado are required to emit lower
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Inside California’s Zone Zero plan
Last January, the Eaton and Palisades Fires hit a hard reality for homebuilders in the state, its past due to
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USGBC advocacy and policy highlights: December 2025
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) engages in advocacy across the state, local and federal level for green building initiatives
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Malo Paso hides in Plain Sight
A once in a lifetime opportunity executed with elegance Blending into the hillside in Monterey County, a sprawling custom home,
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It’s Time to Recognize Japanese Building Excellence
Green Home Builder’s Builder of the Year Award recognizes Ichijo USA who brings innovative and efficient design to the United
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Street Lights in California are meeting State Green Building Mandates
California’s strict building and energy codes, including CALGreen, Title 24 Part 6, and local reach standards are pushing developers to
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California provides $865M for green housing and infrastructure
California officials approved more than $865 million in funding for affordable housing, transportation projects and climate resilience efforts. These funds
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Navigating the 2025 NGBS
National Green Building Standard (NGBS) released their most comprehensive update since their debut in 2008, the ICC700-2025. It strengthens energy
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Alexandria’s new Green Building Plan
The city of Alexandria, Va., is looking to adopt a new Green Building Plan, a set of environmental standards for
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DOE rescinds definition of “zero emissions” buildings
A statement from The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation announced the rescission of
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