There is a relatively new infrastructure sustainability rating tool that has been released by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) called Envision. The rating system was released in January, 2012 and started accepting ISI certification applications in September, 2012. Unlike most rating systems that are specific to buildings and transportation systems, the Envision Sustainability Rating Program has been developed to integrate sustainability into all types of infrastructure projects such as airports, pipelines, drainage projects, land developments, mining operations, etc. (except buildings). The Envision Rating Program has a unique rating system that is a holistic-systems-based approach that rates and scores projects in terms of “levels of achievement” toward obtaining resource enhancement and restoration (highest levels), as oppose to the simplistic yes/no rating system checklist used by other sustainability rating systems. Read More

Global warming comes with a big price tag for every country in the world. The 80 percent reduction in U.S. emissions needed to stop climate change may not come cheaply, but the cost of failing to act will be much greater. New research shows that if present trends continue, the total cost of global warming will be as high as 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Four global warming impacts alone -- hurricane damage, real estate losses, energy costs, and water costs -- will come with a price tag of 1.8 percent of U.S. GDP, or almost $1.9 trillion annually (in today's dollars) by 2100 (1).  Read More