Energy Management Articles
Smithfield Foods harnesses hog power
Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Dominion Energy announced a joint venture called Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)℠ that will capture methane emissions from hog farms and convert them into clean renewable energy for residential home heating and power for local businesses.
Equinix plots energy efficiency for new data center
Equinix announced it will build a new International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center at its Slough campus in London. The data center, called LD7, will provide interconnection and colocation to businesses to support their IT transformation
Canada offers tax write-off for C&I RE
Canada has announced a new policy that offers a full tax write-off to businesses adopting clean energy solutions. The tax break will be counted for the fiscal year in which the renewable energy system is commissioned.
Energy Storage Helps an Ontario Food Manufacturer Take Control of Electricity Costs
This case study, presented by Enel X, breaks down how Algoma Orchards leverages energy storage and DER optimization software to transition its facility’s load on and off the grid automatically and seamlessly—reducing energy spend without disrupting site-level productivity at the facility.
Climate change could cost U.S. economy billions annually
Without substantial and sustained global mitigation and regional adaptation efforts, climate change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth over this century.
Emissions reduced by 98% in Volvo test
Volvo Construction Equipment announced a 98% reduction in carbon emissions, a 70% reduction in energy cost and a 40% reduction in operator cost from its Electric Site research project, which aims to electrify each transport stage in a quarry
Long weekend reads: Energy-saving labs; Turkey poop
We hope you're all enjoying the day relaxing with family and friends and nursing your Turkey hangover. Or you may be busy working, and if so, hats off to you. Either way, here are some energy stories to sink into over the long holiday weekend:
Green Lease Leaders: Using the Lease to Make Buildings More Healthy and Efficient
The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Alliance continues their series of reports with this look at 2018’s Green Lease Leader designees—including Federal Realty, Ivanhoe Cambridge, TD Bank, and The Tower Companies—that have successfully implemented health and wellness strategies into their green leases and overall operations.
Comcast adds solar array, EV charging
Comcast has completed a solar project that includes the addition of solar panels to two carport structures as well as electric vehicle charging stations at its Manchester, N.H. Northeast division office.
Smart buildings drive U.S. investment
Results of the 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator survey revealed that building controls improvements are the most popular investment for the next 12 months among U.S. organizations, cited by 68% of respondents. Building system integration increased by 23% as an investment choice in the past year
Raiders stadium applies to leave NV Energy
LV Stadium Events Co., a subsidiary of the Las Vegas Raiders, filed an application with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission to leave NV Energy. The company issued a request for proposals from service providers and expects to complete the selection process by Dec. 1.
Fort Hood saves with solar
Fort Hood has saved an estimated $5 million over the last 20 months after added a solar plant featuring 65,000 panels.
Bowery Farming to add microgrid
Bowery Farming, an indoor vertical farming company, will add a hybrid microgrid system that includes a rooftop solar array, natural gas generator, and a lithium-ion battery energy storage system at its New Jersey facility.
P&G hits goals, sets new ones
The Procter & Gamble Company announced it has made significant progress against their 2020 goals for climate, water, and waste, and have set new goals for 2030.
Weekend reads: Big data drives green energy; Corporates support climate policy
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
Revisiting 4 corporate sustainability trends all business leaders should be watching in 2018
Daniel Hill, EDF Climate Corps, revisits 4 trends cited earlier this year as those all business leaders should be watching in 2018. Where do they stand six months later?
Archdiocese of New York Launches RE Pilot Program
The Energy Department of the Archdiocese of New York along with five parishes has launched a renewable energy pilot program. Each of the parishes, including three on Staten Island and two in Yonkers, has signed a 20-year PPA with Con Edison Solutions.
OPG and Stem partner for energy storage
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Stem, Inc. announced the launch of a new partnership on advanced energy storage systems that will assist Ontario industrial manufacturers in managing electricity costs.
City of Palo Alto to test microgrid
The City of Palo Alto, Calif., will explore developing a microgrid with VMware, Inc. to test the potential of microgrids to advance resiliency at the corporate and community level. The goal of the partnership is to expand this initial “proof of concept” into a campus-level community microgrid that incorporates renewable power, battery storage and additional controls
ATL upgrades LED
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has completed a retrofit of their existing airport apron lighting with high-mast LED lighting, which will enhance nighttime operations with higher illuminance levels and better light coverage on the apron while reducing lamp replacement and maintenance costs.
RESF Fall Presentation: Kingspan - Our 2020 Vision
"Kingspan - Our 2020 Vision" is the latest in a series of presentations from the Smart Energy Decisions Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum.
UC Santa Cruz plans solar + storage system
The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will develop a 2 MW solar parking canopy structure plus energy storage system via a 20-year PPA with ForeFront Power. The agreement allows for no upfront cost for the University through a streamlined procurement process via SPURR
Newest IKEA to feature rooftop solar and EV charging
IKEA announced on Nov. 13 that its future San Antonio-area store will be equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations when it opens during the winter of 2019 in Live Oak, Texas.
Vail Resorts commits to zero
Vail Resorts, Inc. announced on Nov. 13 a long-term wind VPPA to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 100% of its estimated FY 2019 North American operations by 2020. Achieving zero net emissions by 2030 is one pillar within the company's Commitment to Zero sustainability goal
BBC aims for Greener Broadcasting
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) published on Nov. 12 a new sustainability strategy, "Greener Broadcasting" to promote the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The company had previously announced targets set for 2022 including reducing carbon emissions by 24%
Buying renewable energy should be easy — here’s one way to make it less complex
In this column from Microsoft, the company presents the Volume Firming Agreement (VFA), a new solution to mitigate the risks and simplify the complexities that exist in the current PPA structure that may inhibit their effectiveness as a risk management tool for the corporate procurement market.
Albertsons purchases Tesla tractors
Albertsons Companies announced the purchase of 10 all-electric tractors to service their Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilion stores in Southern California. The vehicles, which will travel 300 to upwards of 500 miles on a single charge, are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to decrease carbon emissions
Mercury Marine heads for 45% energy reduction goal
Mercury Marine, the Fond du Lac, Wisc.-based marine propulsion and technology company, announced it is making progress towards a 2019 goal to reduce annual energy consumption by 45% from a 2005 baseline. In the past year, the company reduced energy consumption by 5%, for a cumulative decline of 38% since 2005.
Weekend reads: Clean energy's election results; The $6 trillion EV barrier
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
Energy storage will attract $620 billion in investments by 2040
The forecast for the energy storage market, including behind-the-meter and grid-scale batteries, is expected to boom in the coming decades as the cost of batteries continues to fall.