Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
USGBC Expands LEED for Cities and Communities Program with New Grant
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has announced that it will expand its LEED for Cities and Communities program thanks to a new $500,000 grant from Bank of America.
The program helps local governments pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and provides access to educational resources and technical support. With this new funding, USGBC will assist 20 new city and county recipients in pursuing LEED certification, addressing climate change, resilience, and social equity challenges in their region.
"Local governments see the on-the-ground effects of a changing climate and how it impacts people, businesses, and communities. They also understand that taking action can lead to a stronger economy and better quality of life for their residents," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC.
"More than 160 cities and communities around the world are participating in LEED for Cities and Communities outside of the grant program and thanks to our partners at Bank of America, we are able to welcome even more into the LEED family."
Read more to learn what cities and counties were selected to benefit from this grant.
Free ECCMA White Paper Gives Background on ISO 8000 Standard for Data Quality
ECCMA, an ANSI member, offers all interested stakeholders a white paper on ISO 8000, Data Quality, for download at no cost.
"The Guide to ISO 8000" is a comprehensive document on the history and development of the standard, explaining its fundamental parts. The paper also provides proven case studies on how the standard has been implemented successfully, tangibly achieving required goals related to data quality.
Visit ECCMA's website to download the white paper.
ITI Report Scores Ease of Doing Business for ICT Companies
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), an ANSI member, has released a new report ranking 38 countries on where information and communication technologies (ICT) companies can do business most easily, evaluating requirements for ICT product safety regulations, regulatory practices, and impediments to trade, manufacturing, and supply chain operations.
The report found that markets with increased transparency, incorporation of international standards, and acceptance of international test reports foster an ideal environment for ICT companies, allowing them to do business, spur growth, and drive innovation. Many countries in Africa scored highly for these reasons, including Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Other countries had leading scores for safety requirements for a narrow scope of ICT equipment (for example, requirements specific to AC adaptors or power cords only): Australia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore.
"ITI's report aims to help policymakers and regulators reap the full benefits of trade and investment in IT innovations and to better understand the impacts of their technical regulatory requirements on business operations," said ITI president and CEO Jason Oxman. "Improving the ease of doing business supports a stable, global regulatory environment, and creates new societal and economic growth opportunities for their companies and citizens who adopt and leverage the innovations created by the tech sector."
Learn more and access the full report on ITI's website.
EEI Brochure Suggests 100 Ways to Improve Electric Bill
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), an ANSI member, released a brochure suggesting dozens of ways that homeowners can lower their electricity costs by making changes throughout their home.
"More Than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill" divides its suggestions into several categories: air filtration, heating and cooling, refrigeration, cooking, water heating, lighting, laundry, dishwashing, and other electronics and appliances. Tips range from simple behavioral switches, like keeping doors to unused rooms closed, to more involved actions, like installing thermal insulation.
Learn about the more than 100 energy saving tips in EEI's brochure.