Commercial, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  September 23, 2023

Weekend Reads: Remote Work Slashes Emissions; Exploring Geologic Hydrogen

It’s the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:

Top carbon offset projects may not cut planet-heating emissions (The Guardian)  The vast majority of the environmental projects most frequently used to offset greenhouse gas emissions appear to have fundamental failings suggesting they cannot be relied upon to cut planet-heating emissions, according to a new analysis. In a new investigation, the Guardian and researchers from Corporate Accountability, a non-profit, transnational corporate watchdog, analyzed the top 50 emission offset projects, those that have sold the most carbon credits in the global market.

Full-time remote workers slash their greenhouse gas emissions by half (Entrepreneur)  A recent study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that those who work from home full-time generate less than half the greenhouse gas emissions than their office-based counterparts. Employees working exclusively from home in the U.S. were estimated to reduce their emissions by 54%, the study found.

WEBINAR: Overcoming the biggest hurdle in decarbonizing buildings (TRANE)  When it comes to decarbonizing buildings, one of the biggest roadblocks is simply getting started. Understanding how to fund an energy services project and how to set measurable goals is critical to success. From rebates to incentives to determining the appropriate financing structure (on- or off-balance sheet) for a program, get practical tips on ways companies can get out of the starting gate to do what’s right for their business and the climate. REGISTER HERE

As federal money flows to carbon capture and storage, Texas bets on an undersea bonanza (Texas Tribune)  Over the last century, the state of Texas has reaped billions of dollars by allowing companies to burrow into the floor of the Gulf of Mexico to extract oil and gas. Now, the General Land Office — the state agency tasked with protecting the vulnerable Texas shoreline and other natural resources — is eyeing carbon sequestration as the next industry to develop in the Gulf.

Biden is unveiling the American Climate Corps (NPR)  The White House on Wednesday unveiled a new climate jobs training program that it says could put 20,000 people to work in its first year on projects like restoring land, improving communities' resilience to natural disasters and deploying clean energy. The American Climate Corps is modeled after a program that put millions to work during the Great Depression. 

Can rocks produce abundant clean energy? (University of Colorado Boulder)  The next green energy revolution may begin below our feet. That’s the idea behind a new CU Boulder effort that will explore the possibility of coaxing hydrogen from rocks to provide clean energy around the globe. The three-year project is supported by a new grant from the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. Researchers will drill into the Earth to kick-start the production of a commodity known as “geologic” hydrogen, a potential source for sustainable power.

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