Energy Management Articles
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.
University of Illinois plans 2nd solar farm
The University of Illinois has proposed adding a second solar farm to its campus that would roughly triple the size of its current 21-acre campus installation in Savoy, Ill.
Nestlé Waters premiers third wind turbine in Calif.
Nestlé Waters North America announced on Nov. 8 the commencement of operation of a third wind turbine at its water bottling facility in Cabazon, California. This week also marks the six anniversary of the groundbreaking of the first two turbines at this location.
Apple reasserts environmental commitments
Speaking at the recent Web Summit in Lisbon, Lisa Jackson, Apple’s head of environmental, policy and social initiatives said, “At Apple, we supported and we continue to support the Paris climate agreement.”
RESF Fall presentation: Kohler's journey in RE sourcing
"Kohler's journey in RE sourcing" is the latest in a series of presentations from the Smart Energy Decisions Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum.
Volvo Trucks deploys its first EVs
Volvo Trucks will deploy its first electrified trucks in North American out of warehouses in Southern California.
Washburn U. signs 20-year wind PPA
Washburn University has signed a 20-year wind PPA with Westar Energy to purchase 4 MW of energy from a new 300 MW wind farm in northeast Kansas.
Bronx hospital plans energy efficiency project
Jacobi Medical Center, part of NYC’s Health + Hospitals Corporation, will implement an $11 million energy efficiency project that includes road lighting operated on solar-and wind-generated batteries that are completely off the power grid.
L.A. retail mall premieres solar array
The Westfield Topanga & The Village, a leading retail destination in California’s San Fernando Valley, now features more than 4 megawatts of solar capacity from nearly 15,000 panels, projected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 4,900 metric tons in its first year of operation.
Facebook to power Ala. data center via two solar facilities
Facebook’s new data center, currently under construction in Huntsville, Alabama, will be powered with 100% renewable energy via the combined 377-megawatt output from two solar installations to be built in Tennessee and Alabama as the largest in each state.
Hotel Indigo goes green
Hotel Indigo, located in downtown Rochester, MN, will receive $2.5 million in C-PACE funding from CleanFund to include green attributes as part of a redesign, including energy-efficient HVAC, upgraded windows for efficiency and soundproofing, and LED lighting along with low-flow water fixtures.
Weekend reads: Heavyweight fight in NV; Rickshaws lead the e-revolution
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read articles from around the web:
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.
