The biggest stories shaping sustainable building this week: In this episode of This Week’s Sustainable Building News, Cati O’Keefe breaks down a new report on green building news, housing policy, energy codes, Editors’ Product Pick, calendar of events for the building industry, and more. 

This week’s stories include:

NAR’s report on green shift in housing on MLS

Kansas City, MO City Council walks back their own progressive energy code

Illinois: Solar on Balconies

Rising Insurance Costs

Geothermal Legislation by Sens. Hickenlooper and Daines

Austin Turns Closed School Into Affordable Housing

The Impact Series: Deirdre Irwin, Water Conservation Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District

Editors’ Product Pick of the Week: Solar Charging Umbrella

COGNITION Weekly Hot Take

Calendar: 

• Free Webinar: Time to Scale Offsite Construction
• Virtual Designing for Efficiency: Envelope Considerations in Energy Codes
• The National Home Performance Conference
• Dallas BUILD Expo 2026
• California Green Building Conference 2026
• Trellis Impact 2026