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Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) was named global certification provider by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its EDGE green building certification system. This partnership will help jumpstart mass market transformation to green buildings in nearly 100 developing countries across the world, in a fast, simple and affordable way

A Georgia real estate investor pleaded guilty today for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Fulton and DeKalb counties, Georgia. Morris Podber admitted that he conspired with others not to bid against one another at public real estate foreclosure auctions on selected properties.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today that it has provided a bridge loan in the amount of $12.7 million to refinance and re-position Winding Trails Apartments, a multifamily property located in Houston, Texas

Governor Cuomo announced the approval of two North Country energy projects that will help improve the reliability of electricity transmission in the region and throughout the state. The actions call for the replacement of an aging cable between New York and Vermont that travels under Lake Champlain, and funding to license and design the rebuild of the 85-mile Moses-Adirondack transmission lines, which are more than 70 years old.

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp joined a bipartisan group of Senators in pressing the Administration to release critical federal funds for home heating assistance as soon as possible to help low-income families, Native American tribes, and seniors keep their homes heated during the coming winter months.

The Metro North Georgia Water Planning District (The Metro Water District) was named a winner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2015 WaterSense Excellence Award for Outreach and Education during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference today in Las Vegas, Nev. The Metro Water District received this national recognition for making a difference through water efficiency innovation and WaterSense promotion in 2014.

Standing at Tioga Opportunities Inc. in Owego, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately provide New York the maximum amount of funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Schumer said this critical home heating assistance program is vital for the Southern Tier’s most vulnerable seniors and families, who depend on this money due to the rising cost of home heating.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, announces a grant of over $12 million in federal funds to improve an existing storm water detention basin and provide for the construction of a new storm water detention basin. The project when completed will lower flood water surface elevations and reduce structure flooding. This action also includes stream improvement and activities to accommodate flow into and out of the proposed storm water detention basins

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) today announced the completion of the Woodrow Wilson Townhomes rehabilitation project in the City of Amsterdam. The state-of-the art modern upgrades and repairs to the100-unit Mitchell-Lama development will keep the apartments affordable for another 40 years. Woodrow Wilson Townhomes is one of the first Mitchell Lama renovation projects completed as part of the Governor’s $1 billion House New York plan to create and preserve more than 14,300 affordable homes across the State

Gov. Peter Shumlin has joined eight Governors from across the country in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging an end to current trade sanctions imposed against Cuba by the United States. Ending those restrictions could open up an 11 million person market for many Vermont industries, including dairy, renewable energy, consumer and manufactured goods, technology, tourism and others

Twenty nonprofit community development organizations were recognized today for their excellence in sustainable business and housing practices by NeighborWorks America. To date, 81 network members – or nearly one-third of all organizations in the network - have earned the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation.

As the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its centennial next year, a large and diverse collection of 83 conservation, health, and public interest organizations called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today to strengthen the rule that protects air quality in national parks.

The Community Home Lenders Association (CHLA) today released an Action Plan that lays out transitional steps to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, preserve a government guarantee, and protect taxpayers. The Plan was released in response to concerns that some aspects of pending Congressional GSE proposals could promote market concentration and a return of Big Bank practices that contributed to the 2008 housing crisis

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a nationwide stay (link is external) of the new federal regulation redefining “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) for the purposes of the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed and then finalized the new regulation in an effort to clarify the scope of the statute’s requirements

As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to protecting America’s energy critical infrastructure, the Energy Department (DOE) today announced more than $34 million for two projects that will improve the protection of the U.S. electric grid and oil and natural gas infrastructure from cyber threats.The University of Arkansas and the University of Illinois will assemble teams with expertise in power systems engineering and the computer science of cybersecurity to develop new technologies that will help protect energy delivery systems which control the physical processes that result in the delivery of continuous and reliable power

Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Sally Bagshaw issued the following statement today on the Seattle Landmark Board's decision to nominate the Wayne Apartments at 2224 2nd Avenue as an historic landmark

The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a nationwide stay of the Obama Administration’s drastic new rule that gives an open-ended definition to the “waters of the United States” subject to federal control and regulation under the Clean Water Act. The rule was issued June 29, 2015, and was immediately challenged in ten different suits involving more than 30 states and scores of private parties.

U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) today supported the Gold Star Fathers Act, which extends the federal hiring preference available to mothers of servicemembers who are killed in action or permanently and totally disabled to the fathers of these servicemembers. The bill passed the House unanimously.

Green Building Japan (GBJ) and USGBC announced a collaboration that is designed to further accelerate the adoption of LEED v4, the latest version of the LEED building program, in Japan LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Creating cloud.gov has had a tremendous effect for 18F by allowing the infrastructure team to provide spot support and consultancy when needed, then use what was learned to increase cloud.gov’s capabilities. Meanwhile, the development teams can incorporate advanced operational capabilities without focusing a big portion of their efforts on them. This results in a feedback loop where the infrastructure team improves cloud.gov based on user-centered need, one of the main tenets of 18F’s mission.