A NAIOP event held at Goulston & Storrs recently focused on big changes coming to the Massachusetts Brownfields regulations, also known as the MCP. Retailers should take note of these regulations. They are directly relevant if you own or lease real estate in Massachusetts at which environmental contamination issues are (or were previously) present because… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Environmental
Subscribe to Environmental RSS FeedNew Energy Efficiency Requirements in Store for Commercial Buildings in Massachusetts
Posted in Compliance, Environmental, Green, RetailOwners, managers, and developers of commercial buildings in Massachusetts need to be alert for impending updates to the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency standards. In addition to adopting mandatory changes to the State Building Code, regulators may also update the Stretch Energy Code. Although some transition period will likely be provided, the new standards will soon take… Continue Reading
Is Your Product Really “Green”? Marketing Environmentally Friendly Products under the FTC “Green Guides”
Posted in Environmental, Green, RetailRetailers that market their products as environmentally friendly or “green” should take note of the latest updates to the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides. The Green Guides are intended to protect consumers from misleading claims in advertisements, labeling, promotional materials and all other forms of marketing. Marketers are expected to use clear language and to… Continue Reading
Municipal Shopping Bag Bans, Fees & Taxes – A Growing Trend?
Posted in Environmental, Green, RetailWith November upon us and the holiday season just around the corner, shoppers in some U.S. cities will need to remember to bring their own reusable bags on holiday shopping excursions. Over the last several years, a growing number of U.S. cities have passed municipal bans on single-use plastic shopping bags and imposed fees for… Continue Reading
Wal-Mart Goes Solar
Posted in Environmental, Green, RetailIn a recent press release, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced plans to install solar panels at its Massachusetts-based stores, and that it had already begun acting on plans to install solar panels at its other stores in other states, including California. Wal-Mart officials estimate that the panels will generate between 10-to-15 percent of each store’s energy… Continue Reading
Run Your Meter Backwards: Net Metering and Other Opportunities For Retailers
Posted in Environmental, Green, RetailDue to recent regulatory and market changes, owners and managers of large retail facilities can feasibly generate a larger share of their own energy on-site from alternative and renewable energy sources (including solar, small wind, and other “distributed generation” technologies), as well as become eligible to receive credits from their local distribution utility for excess… Continue Reading
Do You Have A Dry Cleaner In Your Shopping Center? (In Other Words, Why Does Vapor Intrusion Matter To You?)
Posted in Environmental, GreenVapor intrusion is an indoor air quality issue that recently is getting much more attention from state and federal regulators. Massachusetts is an example of a state that has been very active in this area In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will publish final guidelines on vapor intrusion later this… Continue Reading
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