NetZero Insider Weekly Intelligence Report: Buildings, Land & Industry

This week in buildings, land and industry decarbonization news, NetZero Insider’s K Kaufmann has a story on a Schneider Electric report arguing that efforts to cut industrial emissions should start with those that are easiest to do. When it comes to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, getting emissions down quickly is of a greater value than those can be cut in the future, the report said.

The policy debate over residential use of natural gas continues, with Canary Media publishing a column arguing that it makes sense for consumers to move beyond natural gas stoves because of their health and safety issues alone, regardless of their impact on climate change. Gas appliances can leak their fuel, methane, which has its own health impacts, but even burning it can produce harmful pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. Gas stoves have a big impact on NO2 levels because they are typically not required to be vented outside.

The Cool Down covered a recent scientific study on natural gas stoves that found that the gas inside usually contains the carcinogen benzene. The article also dives into legal actions against the gas utility industry trying to tie them to the health impacts from such in-home pollutants.

CNBC posted an article highlighting that more states are set to roll out energy-efficiency rebates funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, joining New York, which was the first out of the gate. The law earmarked $8.8 billion for consumers in two rebate programs, and so far 17 states have applied for the funding; the Energy Department expects to approve several programs before September.

The Guardian highlights a shortfall in the U.K.’s efforts to fight climate change: expanding insulation to homes that currently waste energy. The country has an election on July 4, and instead of focusing on rehabbing homes with better insulation, the party with a major lead in polls — Labour — has focused on a plan to establish “Great British Energy.” The government-owned investment vehicle would work alongside and often in partnership with existing suppliers in the U.K.’s restructured power market, using the government’s balance sheet to help build clean energy projects. The column argues that the supply side is not everything and that the lack of properly insulated housing stock represents a “national infrastructure emergency.”

Read all that and more in this week’s Intelligence Report:

Jump To

Agriculture & Land Use
Building Decarbonization
Industrial Decarbonization

Agriculture & Land Use

Land Use

Wisconsin

UW study mapped abandoned farmland. It could hold clean energy answer.

Technological advances allowed the team to go through a large amount of satellite images of U.S. cropland between 1986 and 2018, identifying down to the acre which lands were no longer in production. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Building Decarbonization

California

Electrifying neighborhoods could save California billions on gas line replacements

Utilities could save around $20 billion over the next two decades in gas pipeline replacement costs by electrifying groups of buildings where technically feasible in California rather than replacing the aging gas pipelines that serve those buildings, finds a new analysis prepared for the Natural Resources Defense Council by consultancy Energy and Environmental Economics. Smart Cities Dive

California

Tax on gas-powered large buildings will go to voters in Berkeley, California

Voters in Berkeley, Calif., will decide this November whether the city should tax large buildings that use natural gas after community organizers collected enough signatures to get a measure on the ballot. Smart Cities Dive

Colorado

Sierra Club and Coalition Seek to Defend Colorado Building Performance Standards in Court

The Sierra Club joined NRDC, the Colorado Solar and Storage Association, and the Coalition for Community Solar Access in seeking to defend Colorado's building performance standards in a legal challenge brought by groups representing corporate landlords this June. Sierra Club

Massachusetts

OPINION: The transition away from natural gas has to get started

The time is now for the Legislature to eliminate the legal barriers preventing gas companies from evolving into clean heat providers and to protect ratepayers, write Mark Sandeen, a member of the Lexington Select Board, and Hessann Farooqi, the executive director of the Boston Climate Action Network. Commonwealth Beacon

Massachusetts

The secret to decarbonizing buildings might be right under your feet

At the start of June, Eversource Energy commissioned the United States' first networked geothermal neighborhood operated by a utility, in Framingham, Massachusetts. Grist

Cooking

U.S.

Just how bad are gas appliances for your health?

It's not all about the climate. There are loads of reasons to ditch gas stoves and appliances -- and health concerns may be at the top of the list. Canary Media

Energy Efficiency

International

In the race for new energy strategies, why does home insulation always lag behind?

UK's housing stock is among least efficient in Europe and better insulation would help, article looks at why that is not being tackled despite its upcoming elections The Guardian

Michigan

Michigan Senate Approves Bill for Energy Conservation

Michigan legislation would prevent homeowner associations from banning things like solar, EV plugs, etc. Microgrid Media

Minnesota

In Twin Cities and beyond, district energy systems see pressure to cut carbon emissions

The mostly hidden networks of insulated pipes connected to centralized heating and cooling equipment have long been championed for their efficiency, but government and corporate climate goals are forcing operators to look for ways to transition to clean energy. Energy News Network

U.S.

More states expected to roll out Inflation Reduction Act energy-efficiency rebates this summer

Update on roll out of IRA building retrofit rebates, notes more states expected to start programs soon. So far just NY has. CNBC

U.S.

To efficiently electrify everything, utilities will need a better customer IT stack

Across the country, utilities are investing in new technologies to proactively direct new electrification loads to precise times and locations where the grid can cheaply serve them -- all in pursuit of achieving meaningful electrification-era investment efficiency. Utility Dive

Virginia

Nearly $1M EPA grant to fund efficiency upgrades in disadvantaged parts of Arlington

EPA grant helping Arlington Va. low-income residents to upgrade their homes' energy efficiency - program run by county ARLnow

Natural Gas

Illinois

OPINION: Chicago must eliminate gas stoves in new buildings for healthier indoor air

Op-ed argues in favor of Chicago banning new natural gas stoves Chicago Tribune

U.S.

New study uncovers updated health risks of benzene in natural gas -- and its lead author says one factor is 'especially concerning'

Details of new scientific study that found benzene, a carcinogen, in most samples taken from gas stoves in homes. Yahoo! Voices

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Industrial Decarbonization

International

How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky

A century-old Scottish distillery has halved its CO2 emissions with waste-heat recovery tech. Others could follow suit -- if regulations and economics align. Canary Media

International

Three steps to accelerate the path to net zero aluminium

Traditional aluminium production is energy intensive and high in carbon emissions, contributing 2% to annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Now, the industry is grappling with how to meet its net zero targets by 2050. World Economic Forum

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