Energy Management Articles
White Paper: The Case for Outsourcing Energy Systems: Velocity, Vector and Virtualization
This white paper, presented by Duke Energy One, notes that the evolution of outsourcing offers companies more opportunities and competitive advantages than ever before. However, the outsourcing of energy systems presents particular challenges.
BNSF Railway reports efficiency progress
BNSF Railway announced its total energy use has been reduced by 5.3% since 2014, with major reductions coming from locomotive diesel consumption. While GHG intensity posted a slight uptick of 0.5% from 2016 to 2017 – attributed to a change in business mix and consumer trends - the company achieved an overall decrease of approximately 3.5% over the past decade.
Sustainable investing assets hit $12 trillion
Sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI) assets now account for $12.0 trillion—or one in four dollars—of the $46.6 trillion in total assets under professional management in the U.S. This represents a 38% increase over 2016.
More cities named to Climate Challenge
A new round of cities has been added to ten previously announced winners of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Cities Climate Challenge. The additions are Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, and St. Louis.
World Trade Center upgrades lighting
The World Trade Center (WTC) will upgrade more than 13,000 lighting fixtures through a $7.9 million energy savings contract with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. These improvements are expected to conserve roughly 6.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity
You’ve set your sustainability goals. Now what?
Reaching corporate sustainability goals can be like running a marathon: the early rush of adrenaline followed by miles of hard work before crossing the finish line. In this column, Daniel Hill of EDF Climate Corps follows the journey of evian and Danone Waters to reduce its carbon footprint and offers advice to those running a similar race towards these goals.
Google and Xcel Energy launch new energy solution
Google and Xcel Energy are collaborating to launch of a new tool featuring a set of voice actions for Google Assistant that allows customers to access information about improving energy efficiency in their homes.
Dayton Children’s Hospital earns energy efficiency rebates
Dayton Children’s Hospital earned $283,393 in rebates through energy-saving measures. The Dayton Power and Light Company (DP&L), a subsidiary of The AES Corporation has recognized Dayton Children’s for earning these rebates as part of a broader corporate energy efficiency project
Smithfield Foods expands biogas projects
Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced it will implement “manure-to-energy” projects across 90% of the company’s hog finishing spaces in North Carolina and Utah, and nearly all similar facilities in Missouri, over the next 10 years.
Better Plants Program Partners save $5.3B in energy costs
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program partners have posted savings of more than $5.3 billion in cumulative energy costs, which represents approximately 12% of the U.S manufacturing energy footprint.
RESF Fall Presentation: Starbucks' Portfolio Approach to RE Strategy & Execution
Starbucks' portfolio approach to RE strategy & execution is the latest in a series of presentations from the Smart Energy Decisions' Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum.
Cinemark signs nine-year wind VPPA
Cinemark USA, Inc. announced on October 29 it has signed a nine-year VPPA with AEP Energy Partners for up to 40 megawatts of renewable energy from AEP’s Trent Mesa wind energy center in Nolan County, Texas.
GM proposes national EV policy
General Motors proposes the establishment of a new National Zero Emissions Vehicle (NZEV) program that has the potential to place more than 7 million long-range EVs on the road by 2030—25% of all new cars— for a cumulative incremental reduction of 375 tons of CO2 emissions
Weekend reads: Arizona's battle for solar energy; Dyson joins the EV market
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
Ameren Missouri approved for largest wind facility in state's history
Ameren Missouri was approved to construct and operate a 400 MW wind farm, known as the High Prairie Wind Farm, which when completed will be the largest wind facility in the state's history.
San Diego offers alternative to traditional power utility
Residents of the city of San Diego may soon have an alternative option to their power utility, San Diego Gas & Electric, when it comes to sourcing their electricity.
Dominon Energy solicits bids for RE projects
A Virginia-based electric utility announced Oct. 25 that it is seeking bids for up to 500 MW of solar and onshore wind generation.
NYSERDA offers $1 million for net zero building design
Large real estate portfolio owners in the state of New York have $1 million available for support with developing energy performance standards and institutional mechanisms to enable the design, construction and operation of net-zero buildings through
Research: SED's 2018 State of Corporate Renewable Energy Sourcing
The second edition of Smart Energy Decisions' Renewable Energy Sourcing Survey, sponsored by ENGIE, is a definitive look at the state of corporate renewable energy sourcing.
Walmart plans 23 MW Illinois solar farm
Walmart plans to install a mix of rooftop and ground-mount solar panels at 19 of its stores and two distributions across Illinois, expected to total approximately 23 MW.
Volvo Cars invests in EV tech
Volvo Cars continued its commitment to the expansion of the electric vehicle market on Oct. 24 when it acquired a stake in a San Fransisco-based electric car charging company.
University of New Mexico engineering center wins efficiency award
The University of New Mexico's Farris Engineering Center won the New Mexico Association of Energy Engineers' Energy Project of the Year award following a $26 million renovation project focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Self-storage facilities switch entire portfolio to LED
National Storage Affiliates Trust plans to convert its entire portfolio of self-storage facilities to LED lighting to cut down energy costs, one of its largest operating expenses, by reducing energy consumption.
RESF Fall Presentation: Shell's Sky Scenario
Smart Energy Decision's Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum featured presentations addressing the theme of creating and executing RE strategies. Here is the first in a series of these presentations, "Shell's Sky Scenario: Meeting the Goals of the Paris Agreement"
Nestle Waters uses wind to power Texas facilities
Nestlé Waters North America will start to power over 50% of its manufacturing and distribution facilities in Texas with clean energy supplied by a local wind farm through a renewable energy agreement signed with ENGIE Resources on Oct. 22.
Amazon UK implements solar, battery storage projects
Amazon is continuing its 100% renewable energy goal by installing large-scale rooftop solar panels on 10 of its UK fulfillment centers alongside rolling out a battery storage installation, the company announced on Oct. 16.
Weekend reads: Google graphs data centers; EVs conquer Antarctica
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
San Diego Zoo Global adds onsite battery storage
San Diego Zoo Global will add a new storage project featuring a 1 MW battery to mitigate spike in usage to lower demand charges. The system will also minimize energy costs by recharging the battery when energy is at its lowest available rates
City of Lincoln retrofits to LED
The City of Lincoln, Neb. will undertake a city-wide street lighting retrofit project that will improve the city’s safety and sustainability efforts while reducing its utility budget by 38%.
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