NetZero Insider Weekly Intelligence Report: Buildings, Land & Industry

This week in buildings, land, and industry decarbonization news, NetZero Insider’s K Kaufmann has the details on $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants from the EPA. The grants go to various projects, including New Haven, Conn.’s request for $9.4 million to set up a geothermal heating system for its train station. Overall, the 25 funded projects would cut 971 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.

CNET released its own survey of Americans’ view on their energy bills, and it found that 78% are stressed about them. The survey says that 32% are leaning on borrowing and payment plans to pay their bills, while 70% are taking steps to become more energy efficient. Some 44% plan on using efficient products, 20% want smart thermostats and 16% want to insulate their homes, CNET found.

Two Senate Democrats have introduced a bill to require utilities around the country to follow an energy efficiency resource standard. Sens. Tina Smith (Minn.) and Peter Welch’s (Vt.) bill would require electric utilities to achieve 22% savings, and natural gas utilities 14%, by 2039.

Nvidia, which makes much of the hardware supporting artificial intelligence, put out a blog post arguing that the technology can help save energy. The firm said the technologies can make computers ran more efficiently than they were previously able to.

Canary Media wrote about the General Services Administration owning and leasing nearly 8,800 buildings that cover 370 million square feet. The agency is working to implement an executive order from President Joe Biden that government buildings all reach net-zero emissions by 2045.

A National Grid program to help make low-income customers’ homes more efficient was so popular that it ran out of money, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported. Massachusetts awarded National Grid $300 million for 2022 to 2024, but now the utility is asking for another $135 million to keep serving customers this year as the initial allocation has been spent.

With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kicking off, The Energyst has a story on how Johnson Controls has helped to make eight of the stadiums hosting the international competition among the most efficient stadiums in Europe.

Read about other buildings, land and industry decarbonization news in this week’s Intelligence Report:

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Building Decarbonization
Industrial Decarbonization

Building Decarbonization

Connecticut

Enhancing Grid Stability with Building Optimization

Details on a VPP pilot program run by Edo (a firm focused on building-to-grid decarbonization) backed by Connecticut's PURA T&D World

U.S.

Measuring Progress: The Building Sector's Response to the Climate Crisis

The built environment, rather than being merely a victim of climate change, is playing a critical role in adapting to and mitigating its most devastating impacts. Several exciting developments illustrate that a sustainable, resilient future is within reach. Common Edge

U.S.

This little-known agency has billions to make federal buildings green

With nearly $3.4 billion from the climate law, the U.S. General Services Administration is working to slash emissions from building operations and construction. Canary Media

Energy Efficiency

International

Deloitte: Retrofit Low Income Housing for Energy Efficiency

Deloitte report offers ways low-income houses on Australian island could save significantly with efficiency and electrification Tasmanian Times

International

How Insulation and Cladding Affects Modern Construction

A look at how insulation and cladding (protective layer on building's exterior) can maximize energy efficiency of newly constructed buildings. Construction Digital

International

Johnson Controls enhances efficiency and sustainability of eight Paris Olympic venues

Johnson Controls' HVAC, automation and other tech are making some of Paris Games' stadiums the most efficient in Europe. Johnson Controls enhances efficiency and sustainability of eight Paris Olympic venues The Energyst The Energyst

Massachusetts

National Grid halting energy savings program. Here's what to know in Worcester

National Grid offering efficiency and electrification program in central Massachusetts territory Worcester Telegram

Missouri

Kansas City home builders push back on energy efficiency rules, blame them for housing crunch

Kansas City Council passed new building codes, construction firms are blaming them for housing crunch mycouriertribune.com

Tennessee

Home efficiency programs are falling short for nearly half of Memphians, data shows

Nearly half of Memphis families face high energy burdens, spending roughly 60 cents of every $10 they earn to keep lights on and climate control running, according to a study released in late June. Tennessee Lookout

U.S.

CNET Survey: 78% of Americans Are Stressed About Rising Energy Bills

Most Americans see high energy bills as a burden, CNET offers ways to save including energy efficiency upgrades. CNET

U.S.

House backs bills to roll back energy efficiency standards for refrigerators, dishwashers

House backs bill to roll back DOE efficiency standards for fridges and dishwashers The Associated Press

U.S.

Slash Your Energy Bills With These Smart Thermostat Settings

CNET article details how thermostat settings can help consumers save money on energy bills CNET

U.S.

The Impact of Water Heaters on Energy Efficiency

Interviews with executives in water heater industry on how the appliances can help efficiency FacilitiesNet

U.S.

US Senators Tina Smith, Peter Welch Introduce Bill to Increase Energy Efficiency Capabilities Across America

Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduce bill to set up national energy efficiency standard Office of Senator Tina Smith

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Industrial Decarbonization

International

AI and energy: Will AI help reduce emissions or increase demand? Here's what to know

Story looks into energy demand from AI and how the technology can also address efficiency World Economic Forum

International

CrowdStrike is grabbing headlines but Luxaviation is busy electrifying airports

A problem with CrowdStrike crippled Microsoft systems and grounded planes at airports around the world last week, but there's good news hiding in airports, too. Luxavation subsidiary ExecuJet is making real progress decarbonizing ground transport. Electrek

International

Sustainable Strides: How AI and Accelerated Computing Are Driving Energy Efficiency

AI hardware manufacturer looks into how AI could save energy, even as it drives up demand for computing power/energy on its own. NVIDIA Blog

U.S.

OPINION: Amazon claims to power all its operations with renewable energy. If only that were true

One problem is that the energy appetite of Amazon's data centers in Virginia far outstrips the output of all of its solar farms here, the Sierra Club's Ivy Main writes. Virginia Mercury

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