Energy Management Articles
Target’s light bulb moment
Target Corporation announced that more than 2 million LED fixtures are currently in place across nearly all 1,800-plus Target stores nationwide and that these fixtures will now be added to every new store opened by the company, which expects this strategy to reduce energy use at their stores by 10% annually.
University of Georgia purchases 20 e-buses
The University of Georgia will purchase up to 20 Proterra Catalyst E2 electric buses, calling the move a significant step forward in reducing carbon emissions and increasing alternative transportation options for the UGA campus transit system, one of the largest of its kind in the country.
H&M cuts emissions, sets new goals
The H&M Group announced an 11% reduction in CO2 emissions from its operations in 2018. The company also set new goals to reduce the absolute GHG-emissions in the company's own operations by another 40% by 2030.
Newark plans 17-building upgrade project
The City of Newark, New Jersey announced an energy savings improvement project that includes upgrading building infrastructure in 17 facilities, from City Hall to Symphony Hall, that will cut the city’s annual energy operating costs by an estimated 36% with potential savings of nearly $1 million a year.
SC Johnson shifts to geothermal power at Wisc. HQ
SC Johnson announced its intention to use geothermal energy to power its Racine, Wisconsin headquarters, a move the company says will greatly reduce their environmental footprint and position the company as a leader in the private sector in the transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources.
REI's net zero distribution center
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized Better Buildings Alliance partner REI for the energy productivity advances made in its Arizona distribution center located in Goodyear, Arizona. The center has achieved an annual energy savings of 18% and annual cost savings of $170,000 from the baseline in the first two years of operation. The goal is to have the facility be net-zero energy. How was this accomplished?
Denver lights up 44,000 LEDs
The City of Denver will install about 44,000 LED to outdoor fixtures that will emit a neutral, whiter light and save the city some $844,000 a year on their energy bill.
Weekend reads: The Shell switch; the Renewables race
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:
Michigan State's long-term view on renewable energy
With students and faculty pushing for environmentally friendly programs and a longer life span than most corporations, universities have special advantages and challenges when it comes to implementing renewable energy programs. In this presentation from a recent Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum, Dr. Wolfgang Bauer of Michigan State University explores higher ed's approach to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
City of Medford to add solar + storage microgrid
The City of Medford will install a microgrid energy management system at the city’s Department of Public Works. The system includes a 235kW PV solar array, which has already been installed, a 100kW/255kWh NEC Distributed Storage Solution (DSS), and an emergency generator.
Missoula goes green at new airport terminal
The Missoula International Airport is adding energy efficiency and emission reductions to its plans for a new terminal. Airport officials from Montana will meet this week with the FAA to pursue a Voluntary Airport Low Emissions grant to provide funding for equipment to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint.
Facebook, Google, GM, Walmart and more to drive 60 gigawatts of corporate renewables
Google, Facebook, General Motors and Walmart are among a group of more than 300 companies who joined to launch the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), the largest group of corporate renewable energy buyers in the U.S. The group announced a target to add more than 60 gigawatts of new corporate renewables online by 2025.
BP commits $100 million for emissions reductions
BP announced that it has established a $100 million fund for projects that will deliver new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in its Upstream oil and gas operations. The new Upstream Carbon Fund will support BP’s efforts to achieve targets set in 2018.
Innovation Summit Presentation: Collaboration Enables Merck to Take a Huge, Sustainable Leap Forward
The Smart Energy Decisions 2019 Innovation Summit opened on a high note with a team from Merck discussing how their usually conservative company set a strategy of aggressive environmental sustainability goals and how they plan to reach these targets.
The Wonderful Company aims for 100%
The Wonderful Company announced it will use 100% renewable electricity across all its U.S. operations by 2025 and globally by 2040.
Target announces supply chain GHG reduction goals
Target announced on March 27 a new reduction goal for themselves and their entire supply chain. The company will reduce its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2017 levels by 2030. The company is also committing that 80% of its suppliers will set science-based reduction targets on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2023.
Hawaiian Airlines pilots clean energy project
Hawaiian Airlines is launching a two-month energy efficiency pilot program at its Airport Center building in Honolulu. The program includes the collection and analysis of data to model energy scenarios and optimize existing equipment to arrive at the most financially beneficial and eco-friendly solutions for the building.
Fordham University adds more solar
Fordham University has completed the installation of a 963-kilowatt solar panel array atop a five-story parking garage on its Rose Hill campus. The array is expected to be operational in April, continuing Fordham’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint through the use of renewable energy.
Innovation Summit Wrap-up: The Future of Energy Management
Now in its third year, Smart Energy Decisions’ Innovation Summit continues its focus on strategies related to energy life-cycle management in order to showcase exclusive customer presentations and forward-looking work being done by leading industry suppliers in both supply and demand management. The Summit, which took place March 11-13 at the Houstonian in Houston, hosted energy and sustainability executives from more than 70 companies and organizations, as well as representatives from more than 35 suppliers, to explore The Future of Energy Management.
Bloomberg plans Decarbonization Tracker for utilities
Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, announced plans for a new Decarbonization Tracker for utilities. It will track the progress made by utility companies transitioning away from fossil fuels, as part of the larger global effort to reduce carbon emissions to levels in line with those established by the Paris Agreement.
Weekend reads: Are we done with fossil fuels?; IKEA's Innovation Lab
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:
Energy and facility managers deserve access to modern technology
Why is it that many C&I energy or facility managers who want to find simple answers from their data seemingly can’t? In this column, Sukhjinder Singh of Pear.ai discusses how even hard-to-manage energy data can be tamed and optimized to provide the insights companies need to make informed energy decisions.
GM allocates $300 million for new electric vehicle
General Motors is investing $300 million to produce a new Chevrolet electric vehicle at its assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. The investment is part of GM’s total commitment of $1.8 billion towards its U.S. manufacturing operations, creating 700 jobs and supporting 28,000 jobs across six states.
II‐VI Incorporated deploys microgrid for NJ plant
II‐VI Incorporated, a manufacturer of engineered materials and optoelectronic components, is lowering its carbon footprint, reducing water use and improving air quality with a new microgrid at its Warren, New Jersey manufacturing facility.
Whole Foods adds storage, benefits from DRAM
Whole Foods Market will employ energy storage in three of its northern California grocery stores to reduce energy consumption. The plan will allow the company to benefit from participation in the state’s Demand Response Auction Mechanism (DRAM) market.
Javits Center to add NYC’s largest rooftop solar
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today plans to install up to 1.4 megawatts of solar renewable energy on the green rooftop of the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side, which will become New York City's largest rooftop solar generation project to date.
Smithfield Foods adds 50+ wind turbines in Colo.
Smithfield Foods Inc., a global food company, signed an agreement to power dozens of the company’s hog farms in Colorado with on-site wind energy. The deal will provide Smithfield with long-term renewable energy for its agricultural operations
EPA awards Energy Star to 100 plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 100 manufacturing plants earned ENERGY STAR certification for their superior energy performance in 2018. Together, these plants reduced their energy bills by more than $400 million.
FCA drives down lighting energy costs
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has lowered lighting energy costs by more than 50% at more than 50 FCA US LLC facilities and dealerships in North America. Working with Current, powered by GE, the largest impact to-date has come from 18 FCA US manufacturing sites.
A Comparison of Fuel Choice for Backup Generators
With increasing severe weather events and disasters triggering greater numbers of costly power outages, there is a growing interest in generators for reliable backup power. As businesses consider backup generators and systems, this research, sponsored by Enchanted Rock, discusses the costs and benefits of various configurations.
