Recent foodborne illness outbreaks at Chipotle despite use of ingredients that are “organic, responsibly raised meats, pasture raised dairy,” and “non GMO” have left consumers looking for better and other standards for agricultural products. Almost on cue (despite being in the works for more than ...

It is not that a LEED certified building has an increased likelihood of liability arising from Zika, but rather it is that any building owner with an announced insect management plan may trigger liability. Moreover, without taking a position on whether aedes mosquitoes should be wiped off the face of the Earth with only their DNA kept for future research, building owners can do the right thing in protecting building occupants by applying mosquito killing insecticides.

A great deal of attention has been paid in recent days to a 5 year old Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, “Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change,” which seeks to provide transparency to investors on the material risks posed by climate change. Recently ...

The current abstract impressionism of a regulatory scheme exits because of the perception that TSCA is no longer an adequate tool for providing protection against chemical risks, includes a patchwork of state laws that vary from the restrictive Washington state Children's Safe Products Reporting Rule to no regulation in some states, is made more complicated by non governmental programs like the USGBC’s LEED green building rating system that incorporates Materials & Resources credits including building product and material ingredient disclosure and optimization.

In spite of the speculation over whether Uber means more car miles or less and what impact Zipcar and other car sharing programs will have, off street parking will still be required. Green Garage Certification will go a long way toward resolving the debate of whether off street parking can be sustainable.

What may be most telling about this enactment is that before the change in law the USGBC listed Rockville as having more LEED projects than any U.S. city with a population below 100,000.

Property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs, where payments for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy improvements to commercial real estate are made through a building owner’s property tax bill are beginning to hit their stride.