Tucson, AZ One Water 2100 Plan supports a multi-faceted approach to water quality and conservation
The plan aims for reliable and high-quality water across all sources used in Tucson. An interactive Responsible Desert Dweller Guide explores the past, present, and future of water stewardship in the region. A toilet rebate program and free water conservation kits distributed WaterSense-approved products to 5,000 households. Tucson City Council also approved an ordinance requiring fixtures with the WaterSense label in new construction projects.
Tucson, AZ
United States
New York, NY lays the groundwork for sustainable building design with the NYC Mass Timber Studio
Design and architecture teams with early-phase mass timber concepts are sought for the nine-month program. Each team receives ongoing guidance from WoodWorks and the city's Department of Buildings. These consultations range from life cycle assessments of building materials to cost-benefit analyses. Selected projects also receive $25,000 grants from the USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Program to turn preliminary ideas into final designs.
New York, NY
United States
Boston, MA Healthy and Green Retrofit Pilot Program seeks decarbonization of owner-occupied rentals
The pilot randomly selects ten qualified applicants for decarbonization retrofit assistance in buildings with two to four units. Qualifications for the program include owner occupancy and pre-1999 construction dates. Customized green energy plans and construction management services guide participants through retrofits. Grants up to $50,000 per unit cover heat pump installation, weatherization, and other improvements.
Boston, MA
United States
London Borough of Haringey, GB uses modular approach to housing the homeless with Olive Morris Court
Borough officials and The Hill Group used volumetric construction to deliver 32 SoloHaus units on a former industrial site. Each one-person unit was built and furnished in a factory with all units installed at Olive Morris Court in a single day. Long-term unhoused residents receive on-site and in-home support from the council's Homeless Health Inclusion Team. SoloHaus homes feature kitchenettes, bathrooms, washing machines, and Secured by Design-compliant doorways.
London Borough of Haringey, GB
United Kingdom
Vancouver, BC opens Canada's first fire station to meet national zero-carbon building standards
The new Firehall 17 eliminates 99.67% of operational emissions created by its predecessor through better design. A draft-free structure, water recovery systems, and ground-source heat pumps improve on the standard firehall. Radio and IT infrastructure within the firehall support its use as a post-disaster communications hub. Vancouver earned LEED Gold and Net Zero Energy certification for the project with Passive House certification in progress.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
Georges River, NSW grades large-scale developments with its Environmental Sustainability Calculator
Applicants use the calculator when seeking approval for high-density developments with floor areas of 1,500 square meters or more. The tool asks for inputs about sustainable features like EV charging capacity, native plant use, and light-reflective or solar roofing. A points-based system determines if an application adheres to the council's Local Environmental Plan standards. Council officials worked with industry representatives on refining the tool prior to its introduction.
Georges River, NSW
Australia
Port Alberni, BC and North Island College train students on sustainable building deconstruction
Port Alberni's 43-acre Somass Lands project will turn a former sawmill into housing and storefronts with abundant green space. Twelve NIC students learn how to salvage materials from the sawmill for new buildings during this program. Hands-on experiences bring lessons on safety protocols, hazardous material handling, and construction tool use to life. Port Alberni, NIC, and Synergy Enterprises received a provincial grant covering the program's costs for students.
Port Alberni, BC
Canada
Chattanooga, TN collaborates with Branch Technology on 3D-printed shelters for unhoused residents
The Chattanooga-based company produced two shelters on a lot donated by Olivet Baptist Church. Both 3D-printed shelters were built in a single day with fire-resistant and waterproof BranchClad panels. Chattanooga funded its portion of the pilot with $19,000 from its innovation fund. Nonprofit Help Right Here operates the site on behalf of the city and connects participants with services. If successful, the shelters will add a cost-effective component to the city's Housing First policy.
Chattanooga, TN
United States
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, GB trains construction workforce at Building Lives Academy
The 11-week training course prepared participants aged 16 to 24 for jobs in construction and logistics. Project partner Willmott Dixon received a social investment lease to use council-owned properties for hands-on learning experiences. Building Lives Academy students completed courses on digital and job-related skills through the London Learning Consortium. Program graduates were ready for full-time employment and apprenticeships integral to the borough's growth.
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, GB
United Kingdom
East Hampshire District Council, GB converts community hall into IOT-connected housing pods
Council officials worked with Velocity RDT on installing 10 pods as temporary accommodations for unhoused residents. Each single occupancy pod includes Wi-Fi connectivity, appliances, a kitchen, and a bedroom. Sustainable features like rooftop solar panels, green roofs, and intelligent heating reduce Pinewood Lodge's carbon footprint. IoT sensors identify maintenance issues through real-time monitoring of air quality, temperature, and sound levels.
East Hampshire District Council, GB
United Kingdom
Vancouver, BC streamlines building permit applications with its Permitting Improvement Program
The PIP reduces time spent by applicants and city planning staff on building permit applications. Vancouver implemented ePlan for entirely online applications and payments for residential permits. This system reduced building plan reviews from 12 weeks to under three weeks. A Tenant Improvement Program offers two-week turnarounds on applications for basic commercial building renovations. City officials are also testing an online permit process for home-based businesses.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
Pittsburgh, PA Downtown Conversion Program incentivizes redevelopment of commercial vacancies
The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority published an RFP for commercial-to-residential conversion projects. Eligible projects involve vacant office spaces in the Central Business District. Developers receive up to $100,000 per unit with a cap of $3,000,000 per project. The incentive amount depends on the percentage of units leased to tenants earning under the area median income (AMI). City officials will emphasize projects serving downtown workers earning less than 60% of AMI.
Pittsburgh, PA
United States