Buildings Blueprint (1st Quarter)
By Elizabeth Willis
Buildings Blueprint January – March 2025
Welcome to SEEA’s Buildings Blueprint where we provide updates and resources on buildings and energy codes in the Southeast and U.S. Islands.
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Upcoming Events
As demand for sustainable building solutions continues to rise, so does the need for a trained workforce. In collaboration with SEEA and AZS Consulting, Inc., Viridiant has developed a series of practical training videos as part of the Advanced Ready Workforce Southeast initiative. These courses are designed to empower business owners, installers, and professionals to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving energy efficiency market!
Ready to upskill and meet tomorrow’s energy demands?
Upcoming Trainings:
🗓️ May 6 at 10:00 AM & May 7 at 1:00 PM – Building Professional Training (Virtual)
A two-part virtual training offering 6 AIA credits. Sessions will cover topics related to sustainable building materials, practices, and project management.
More info & registration →
🗓️ May 20 at 8:30 AM – In-Person: 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code Updates
Location: 1601 Rolling Hills Drive, Richmond, VA
Covers updates to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code taking effect January 2025.
More info & registration →
🗓️ May 21 at 12:00 PM – Webinar: 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code Updates
A virtual option covering the same code updates for those unable to attend in person.
More info & registration →
Resources
Shape the Future of Energy Workforce Training!
Help SEEA and our industry partners level up the future of energy workforce training! NREL is conducting a national survey of residential trade allies to understand how they view hiring, training, and workforce development opportunities. The goal of this survey is to understand better ways that federal and state programs can effectively support companies and their workforce through training, education, and other resources.
The 10-minute survey is for contractors involved in improving the energy performance of residential buildings, including single-family, manufactured housing, and multifamily dwellings. This includes business owners, individual workers, managers, hiring managers, and other personnel who impact homes!
Click here to complete the survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8191134/SEEA-Outreach-Workforce-Innovation-Lab-Hiring-Training-Survey
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Regional News
Columbus, Georgia is getting a major transportation upgrade with a new Multimodal Center designed to bring bikes, buses, and rideshares all under one roof. Located across from the city’s main bus station and a park-and-ride lot, the space will feature secure bike storage and easy access for taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, encouraging locals to mix and match how they move around. What makes the project even more notable is that it’ll be the first mass timber building in Columbus, using locally sourced Southern yellow pine for a lower carbon footprint. The idea has been in the works since 2012, transforming a lot that’s sat empty since the ’90s into a sustainable mobility hub. Learn more about the project here!
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In Portsmouth, Virginia, a historic church building is being repurposed in the face of growing climate-related crises. Local nonprofits and community leaders are working to turn New Bethel Baptist Church into a resilience hub, a space that not only serves parishioners but also supports the broader community during climate-related emergencies. Plans include a solar-powered microgrid with battery storage, enabling the church to act as a refuge during power outages and extreme weather events. The initiative intends to assist vulnerable residents, while offering education on localized climate resilience strategies. It’s an innovative model for how existing community buildings can be reimagined into community assets – learn more about it here.
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As Virginia works toward the Clean Economy Act’s goal of a carbon-free power grid by 2050, rural Virginia communities are pushing back against the growing number of large-scale solar farms. Many view these projects as unsightly developments that disrupt the natural landscape, especially as rural land is increasingly used to generate power that is exported for urban Northern Virginia. Rooftop solar has been suggested as an alternative, but experts say it falls far short of meeting utility-scale demand, especially with power needs projected to triple by 2040 due to data center growth. A more viable solution may lie in solar canopies over parking lots. Cities like Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach devote up to 36% of their land to parking, offering untapped potential for solar generation without sacrificing farmland or forests. A proposed bill encouraging this approach could help ease the burden on rural communities and rebalance how the state meets its clean energy goals. Learn more here.
——————————————————————————————————————————- The University of South Carolina has completed energy efficiency upgrades in five of its most energy-intensive campus buildings, in partnership with Siemens, aimed at cutting energy use and costs. Renovations began in Spring 2024 beginning with the Thomas Cooper Library, Jones Physical Science Center, Swearingen Engineering Center, the Close-Hipp Building, and 1600 Hampton Street.
Upgrades included improvements to HVAC and temperature control systems, lighting, and insulation. These changes are projected to save the university more than $8 million over the next 15 years.
Most of the work was completed without disrupting campus operations, and the changes – while largely invisible to students and visitors – are already improving building comfort and functionality. Siemens will continue monitoring the buildings over the next 15 years to verify performance and ensure energy savings targets are met. If they aren’t, Siemens is contractually required to cover the shortfall, making the project low-risk and high-impact for the university. Click here to learn how USC is cutting energy costs and building a more sustainable campus – one upgrade at a time.
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A massive new data center campus, Project West, has been proposed just outside LaGrange, Georgia, promising a $10 billion investment and nearly 600 new jobs over the next decade. Spanning over 500 acres near I-85, the development would include six 250,000-square-foot facilities powered by 600 megawatts of electricity.
Backers say the project could deliver an estimated $762 million in net economic benefit to the city and county, with job salaries averaging $80,000. But as data centers spread beyond metro Atlanta into new communities, concerns are growing over their social, economic, and environmental impacts. Click here to learn more about what’s next for Project West, and what it could mean for the future of rural data infrastructure in Georgia.
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What SEEA Staff is Reading
South Florida’s luxury towers are sinking, and not just from sea level rise. A new study from the University of Miami has found that nearly three dozen high-rise condos and hotels along a 12-mile stretch of South Florida’s coastline are sinking or settling by as much as 3 inches in some areas. Many of the affected buildings are less than 10 years old and shifting ground conditions tied to nearby construction and the region’s porous limestone base may be to blame. The findings raise serious concerns about long-term safety, especially as similar patterns may be emerging farther north in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Click here to explore the study and what it could mean for coastal development and structural resilience in South Florida.
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The clean energy workforce is growing, but where are the workers? Residential decarbonization is creating big opportunities for job growth, but a shortage of skilled, trained workers is slowing progress. A new report from ACEEE breaks down the most pressing workforce challenges, from lack of awareness and training gaps to inconsistent contractor licensing. It also offers practical solutions: outreach to underrepresented communities, standardized training programs, partnerships with community orgs, and better support for contractors. Click here to read the full report and explore how we can build the workforce needed to power the clean energy transition.
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Thanks to a partnership between the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Sustainability Institute, Ms. Gloria Daniels of North Charleston, SC has received a full home energy upgrade – including efficiency improvements and a new solar system. This will drop her average monthly energy bills from about $350 to just about $90, a 72% savings. This project is part of a broader effort to show how energy efficiency and renewable energy can deliver real, life-changing results for local residents. Click here to read how one home makeover is powering affordability – and what it means for the future of energy in the South.
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Tennessee has cheap electricity but high power bills, report finds. A new report from Nashville-based think tank ThinkTennessee highlights a hidden cost in the state’s low energy rates: high usage. Despite ranking among the top 10 for cheapest electricity, Tennesseans still face average monthly bills of nearly $135, largely because they use 30% more power than the national average. The reason? Outdated building codes and inefficient homes that require more energy to power and stay comfortable. The report calls for updated energy codes, expanded efficiency incentives, and grid upgrades that would help lower bills and improve housing affordability statewide. Click here to see how building codes could deliver big savings for Tennessee families.
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SEEA is Hiring!
SEEA is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and success. As the face of SEEA, the ED will drive the strategic vision, inspire action, and build strong coalitions with diverse partners. The ED will set a professional tone, ensuring continued organizational progress and positive change. A proactive communicator and fundraiser, the ED will secure financial support from a variety of sources. This leader will embody SEEA’s mission, demonstrate a passion for energy efficiency, and stay ahead of emerging trends to maintain SEEA’s leadership in the field.
Learn more and apply here: Executive Director – DSG Global
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Thank you for reading!
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