Energy Management Articles
3M flips the switch to 100% RE
3M announced its commitment to move to 100% renewable electricity in all its facilities around the work, beginning with its St. Paul headquarters, a 409-acre campus with some 12,000 employees across 30 buildings and research labs.
Barrette Outdoor Living takes first solar step
Barrette Outdoor Living (BOL) has completed the installation of a rooftop solar array on their 400,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Galloway, N.J., making it one of the area's largest solar projects. This is the company’s first plant to undergo the transition; plans call for this program to be extended throughout BOL’s eight other North American manufacturing plants in North America
Solarize Philly hits Phase 3
The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) has reached Phase 3 of Solarize Philly, a group-buying program to promote residential solar. The PEA has issued an RFP to solicit business information and pricing proposals from solar PV installers that are interested in delivering cost-competitive rooftop solar installations to Philadelphia homeowners in 2019, on the basis of which it expects to select multiple installers.
Google uses AI to predict wind output
Google has partnered with DeepMind to apply machine learning algorithms to 700 megawatts of wind power capacity in the central U.S. that are part of Google’s global fleet of renewable energy projects, with the goal of strengthening the business case for wind power and driving further adoption of carbon-free energy on electric grids worldwide.
GM partners for wind energy in Michigan
General Motors announced an agreement to purchase 300,000 megawatt hours of wind energy through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program. The energy sourced will be enough to power 100% of GM’s global technical center in Warren and their Detroit-based operations at the Renaissance Center.
Bonduelle Fresh Americas to add cogeneration system
Bonduelle Fresh Americas, formerly Ready Pac Foods, today announced investment in and installation of an energy-efficient cogeneration system at the company's Irwindale, Calif. production plant. This integrated system, which will be completed by the end of this year, will simultaneously supply the plant with electricity while using the waste heat to provide chilled water to the facility through an absorption chiller.
Can We Talk? Changing the Sustainability Conversation Between Investors and Companies
Many companies portray sustainability issues as good public relations — even as evidence is growing that they are material to strong financial performance. This column from Ceres shows that these failures to communicate the financial value of sustainability have real costs.
Iron Mountain targets 20% GHG cut
Iron Mountain Incorporated announced its intention to reduce absolute GHG emissions 20% by 2025 from a 2016 baseline, including Score 1, 2, and 3. Including the effects of expected business growth, achieving this goal will require a reduction of more than 50% of normal, "business as usual" carbon usage by the target year.
FSU to run all-electric bus fleet
StarMetro, the city of Tallahassee's public transit system, has agreed to purchase 22 electric buses to service Florida State University (FSU), bringing the StarMetro fleet to a total of 27. FSU is one of the first universities in the nation to decommission its entire fossil-fuel powered fleet and upgrade it to a 100% percent battery-electric fleet.
Weekend reads: RE vs. Polar Vortex; Solar from space
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read articles from around the web:
Ford signs green tariff for locally-sourced wind
Ford Motor Company will soon power several of its Michigan facilities with 100% locally sourced renewable energy. The company also plans to announce a new Global Carbon Reduction Strategy, which will focus on renewable energy in conjunction with the launch of the company’s 20th annual Sustainability Report in June.
Disney World premieres 2nd solar project
Walt Disney World Resort's new 270-acre, 50-megawatt solar facility is officially online. The project, which began construction in October 2018, is expected to generate enough power to operate two of our four theme parks in Central Florida annually.
U of Hawaiʻi creates energy-smart university
The University of Hawaiʻi has completed the installation of an Energy Internet of Things (IoT) platform across the institution’s 10 campuses. The project helps advance the university’s strategic sustainability priorities, which focuses on energy data management, energy efficiency, and expanding its renewable energy portfolio.
Hoboken goes (renewable) electric
Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced the City of Hoboken will begin purchasing 100% clean, renewable electricity for municipal facilities starting in April of 2019, making Hoboken one of the first municipalities in New Jersey to adopt 100% renewable electricity in municipal buildings.
Heineken reports progress on Dropping the C
Heineken reported a 47% decrease in carbon emissions from production since 2008, putting the company even further ahead of its 2020 commitment of 40%, which was initially reached last year.
Amazon to deliver Shipment Zero
Amazon announced a new goal to reach 50% of all company shipments with net zero carbon by 2030. The company also announced that they plan to share Amazon’s company-wide carbon footprint, along with related goals and programs, later this year.
Audi Hungaria to install Europe’s biggest rooftop PV
Audi announced it will build a solar energy park on the roofs of the two logistics centers of its plant in Győr, Hungary. Covering about 160,000 square meters, this will create Europe’s largest photovoltaic system.
Establishment Labs Deploys Microgrid to Maintain Manufacturing Operations During Grid Outages
As part of Costa Rica’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2021, its electric grid has experienced frequent outages as it transitions to renewable generation. This case study, presented by Enel X, spotlights the path of Establishment Labs, a medical manufacturer looking to integrate solar-plus-storage to power critical equipment when the grid goes down.
Annaly implements energy audit
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. announced a series of corporate responsibility initiatives and enhancements, including an internal Company-wide campaign to raise awareness and engagement with employees around sustainability and conserving resources at its corporate headquarters.
HanesBrands heads for 2020 targets
HanesBrands has reduced energy consumption by more than 21% percent since 2007, and shifted 33% of the energy the company does use to renewable resources, on its way to reaching the company’s 2020 environmental objectives, which include a 40% reduction of both energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Weekend reads: Can big oil ride RE & EV waves?; The unsexy part of climate policy
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
EV100 Progress and Insights Annual Report
More companies than ever are switching to electric vehicles, helping to combat air pollution in cities, lower business risk and future proof their operations as low emission zones are introduced globally. EV100's first Progress and Insights Annual Report shines a light on companies’ fleet and charging commitments including key drivers and challenges.
Walgreens Boots boosts energy efficiency in 2500 stores
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBBA) invested more than $115 million in energy efficiency programs, including projects in approximately 2,500 stores during fiscal 2018. These upgrades included replacing HVAC units and converting to LED exterior and interior lighting.
Carolina Panthers add solar to stadium
Installation will begin within the next few weeks to add solar panels on the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, home of the Carolina Panthers. The panels are being added to reduce energy costs as well as the stadium's carbon footprint.
UVM adds solar to rooftop
The University of Vermont Medical Center has begun generating solar power via a 198-kilowattpeak (kWp) solar array on the roof of Its facility in Williston, VT. UVM Medical Center will receive net metering credits at a discount
Engaging Franchisees in Energy Management & Benchmarking
Wendy's Smart Family of Designs 2.0 promotes energy efficiency while targeting significant savings in development costs. This column from Better Buildings shares efforts made by the energy team at Wendy's to provide coaching on understanding potential costs and potential return on investments from energy upgrades.
The Home Depot announces new targets and RE initiatives
The Home Depot has declared new emissions targets, along with commitments to wind and solar projects in 2019. The announcement came as CDP, an environmental impact non-profit, named the company to its Climate Change “A” list for its actions to cut carbon emissions and mitigate climate risks.
Citi goes green in Texas with RECs
Citi announced the purchase of renewable energy credits from the 163 MW Midway Wind Project in San Patricio County, Texas. Citi will acquire 64% of the RECs generated by the project, which is being developed by Sammons Renewable Energy and is expected to be operations in the first half of 2019.
Power sector efficiency up despite emissions increase
The electricity sector continued to improve its carbon intensity in 2018 due to increased renewable energy and natural gas power generation and investments in energy efficiency, even as a stronger economy and volatile weather boosted energy demand and contributed to a rise in economy-wide carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Comcast adds carport to call center
Comcast announced the completion of a 1,170-panel carport solar installation that will help power its regional call center in Plymouth, Mass. The system will generate enough onsite clean energy to offset more than 95% of the facility's annual energy consumption.
