Sustainability Weekly — CTA Architects P.C.

**Fridays are for…**

Earth Month, Composting, Tidal Energy, and more!

by Alli DiGiacomo

Happy Friday and first week of April AKA Earth Month! Earth day is on April 22nd, but there are also so many exciting events happening throughout the month, including CTA’s own Earth Week events such as our AIA Architecture and Climate Change Private Boat Tour! Stay tuned for an official CTA Earth Week 2025 Schedule coming soon.

Earthday.org has officially declared the theme of Earth Day 2025 to be OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, “inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030” by “encouraging all to take action—educate, advocate, and mobilize.” The power of collective action is more important than ever!

P.S.- Check out this website for the best places to see the cherry blossoms popping up all over NYC this weekend!

Keep reading for sustainability news…

T H I S W E E K ’ S T O P S T O R I E S

NYC COMPOSTING CRACKDOWN BEGINS THIS WEEK

As of April 1, 2025, NYC has begun enforcing its mandatory composting law, ending the grace period that followed its initial rollout in October 2024. Under the rules, residents and landlords must separate food waste, yard waste, and food-soiled paper from regular trash, or face fines ranging from $25-$300 (dependent on building size). Although the composting requirement has been in place since October, city data shows that less than 5% of household organic waste is currently being diverted from landfills. Participation has been especially low in densely populated areas, where large buildings often lack compost collection infrastructure and residents are not always informed about the rules. City officials hope that active enforcement and continued public education will drive up compliance over time, similar to the recycling initiatives. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has clarified that acceptable compost items include fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, dairy, prepared foods, napkins, pizza boxes, and certified compostable products. These items must be placed in designated compost bins on recycling day. More items are accepted than our in-office commercial compost bin.

See a full list of what to compost/not compost here.

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL UNDERWATER TIDE TURBINE GETS FUNDING

France is developing one of its first commercial-scale tidal energy projects, NH1, off the coast of Normandy. The project is funded by €31.3 million in EU Innovation Fund grants, which receives revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), requiring polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions. NH1 will use four powerful underwater turbines to harness the tidal current. When it’s operational by 2028, the project is expected to generate 34 GWh annually, enough to power 15,000 homes, and expected to save nearly 58,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 80% of the project will be produced locally in France, creating around 400 jobs. Environmental studies predict minimal disruption to marine life, combined with evidence from similar projects and even showing potential for biodiversity enhancement, on top of it being visually unobtrusive. In the long term, France plans to expand deployment to 85 turbines per year, creating 6,000 jobs by 2030. The project supports France’s 2030 renewable energy goals and is part of a larger movement toward reliable, predictable energy sources like tidal power, which complements the variability of solar and wind.

NYC GAS BAN FOR NEW BUILDINGS WAS UPHELD IN FEDERAL COURT

A federal judge has upheld NYC’s ban on natural gas in new buildings, a big legal win for local climate policy. This contrasts with a 2023 decision that struck down a similar ban in Berkeley, California. NYC’s Local Law 154 of 2021 sets a carbon emissions limit for new building combustion (technically doesn’t outright ban gas hookups), phasing out fossil fuels in new construction. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, rejected industry arguments that the law violated the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), stating it regulated fuel types, not appliance performance standards, and did not interfere with national energy regulations. Abrams warned that accepting the preemption argument could undermine other local safety codes. Some legal experts believe the ruling could inspire other cities to revive or pursue building electrification plans.

MORE IN SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

Designing for Wellness: The Rise of Spaces That Nurture. Home design is evolving to prioritize well-being—integrating nature, wellness-driven materials, innovative technologies, and more.
A Florida village’s composting program will reduce waste, fertilize a Native tribe’s community garden, and restore the Everglades. The “Everglades Earth Cycle” program in the village of Pinecrest is the first in the county to be sponsored by the local government, and it has already collected 90,000 pounds of food waste in just one year.
A new first-of-its-kind map of the London Underground helps cyclists discover the city’s green spaces.
The Climate Museum has found a permanent home in NYC.
A massive Attack concert broke the record for the lowest carbon emissions ever produced by a music event. The concert slashed energy-related emissions by 98% compared to similar shows by being 100% battery-powered, selling 100% vegan food, and the performers opting for low-carbon transport.
A couple’s ‘fully regenerative’ tiny home includes secondhand building materials and a lush food forest — and they pay in “land hours” instead of rent.
The dirtiest US coal power plant (Montana’s Colstrip), which produces more fine particulate emissions than any other coal-burning plant in the US, has asked Trump for an exemption from the EPA’s air pollution standards.
What shopping bags should I use? All bags are not created equal when it comes to the environment.
First Solar, the largest U.S. solar panel manufacturer, was one of the only renewables companies to see its stock prices rise Thursday, while power generators largely saw stocks sink.
How seed banks are helping Central American farmers adapt to climate change (and preserve their history) by preserving heirloom crops and saving farmers money.