This report was originally prepared for and published by NEEA. Condensing rooftop units (C-RTUs) have been identified as an efficient natural gas technology with energy savings potential in Northwest commercial buildings. C-RTUs face several challenges in becoming a widespread technology, including higher upfront cost, added complexity managing condensate, contractor unfamiliarity with the technology, and limited … Read more
Written by Ryan Pollin, ERS for Zondits, June 11, 2018 A new Rocky Mountain Institute report, “The Economics of Clean Energy Portfolios,” considers four proposed gas plants in different areas of the United States, comparing the cost of their construction and operation to a locale-appropriate mix of clean energy resources – solar, wind, storage, and … Read more
Beer Maker Sierra Nevada Lauded for Energy Efficiency Energy Manager Today, January 19, 2018 Beer giant Sierra Nevada runs its massive brewing operations with energy from a $4 million unit that delivers solar energy and natural gas, with a slight draw from utility reserves. According to chicoer.com, the Chico, California-based company made its mark when it installed … Read more
New England grid operator warns of rolling blackouts without new pipelines Telegram, Janurary 19, 2018 THE ISSUE: While New England has become increasingly reliant on natural gas to produce electricity, some say pipeline capacity hasn’t kept pace with demand. THE IMPACT: Grid operator ISO New England warns that fuel insecurity could lead to rolling blackouts … Read more
Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits Currently, 90% of the homes in Amsterdam use natural gas to provide heat. City Lab takes a look at how the Netherlands’ capital is planning on moving away from natural gas as a heat source. The city is planning on switching buildings over to a district heating system, starting with … Read more
U.S. Natural Gas Electricity Efficiency is Always Improving Forbes, April 10, 2016. Image credit: anita_starzycka For electricity, the lifeblood of our modern world, efficiency has been installed as the 1st choice to reduce energy usage and related GHG emissions. Although renewables are ranked 2nd in this critical “loading order,” 3rd ranked natural gas often gets deployed 1st because … Read more