Monthly Archives: November 2018

Not Too Far In The Future: Portable Air Monitors

In recent years there has been growth in the development and availability of small, hand-held air quality monitoring devices or air sensors; even some that can be drone-mounted. The US EPA already has standards for bigger, traditional monitors. But such smaller devices can determine air quality in indoor space or the contributions of different sources to small areas of outdoor space. One area holding back this technology from even greater use and growth is the lack acceptable standards by the US EPA for using such equipment and the handling of its data. Companies, groups, etc. are reluctant to purchase and use such units if the data from them may not be accepted or trusted.

When will the US EPA develop such standards? The US EPA has had a number of in-house meetings and workshops with manufacturers and potential users to understand the use of indoor and outdoor air sensors. The US EPA needs to establish uniform standards to address issues for small air monitors for equipment design, usage, and maintenance and for data quality, interpretation, and management. The US EPA has been asked by facilities, public groups, and state agencies to develop policy on the use of air sensor data, such as for compliance with the federal government’s own NAAQS.

The US EPA is considering development of a certification program for air sensors. The agency recently produced a report evaluating peer-reviewed literature and other sources of information on a variety of sensors to identify criteria needed to make these policy decisions about appropriate techniques for operation and treatment of data collected See peer_review_and_supporting_literature_review_of_air_sensor_technology_performance_targets.pdf are appropriate for the intended application. The American Society for Testing and Material International (ASTM), which has done much work on establishing stack testing standards is involved with small air quality monitoring units, too.

We are in the midst of an information revolution. Nearly everybody has their own mobile phone, which does much more than call somebody, but is a repository of much information. It is easy to imagine a time – maybe relatively soon – when most offices, homes, retailers, gyms, etc. will have their own air sensors and be able to know the air quality of their spaces. With this data, people can change conditions to improve worker productivity, comfort of shoppers, and the health of residents or patients. Sensors can produce actual data that determine the air quality impacts of behaviors like cooking, barbequing, smoking, cleaning, and burning candles.

But first we need to have standards on how to use and maintain the equipment and manage and analyze the data. And for this, we are awaiting US EPA guidelines or rules.

CCES can help your entity evaluate your air quality and perform the technical tasks to determine whether emissions comply with current federal and state laws and to improve the quality. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

EIA Report on 2017 CO2 Emissions

On October 31, 2018, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its report on US greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions in 2017. See: https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/state/

US energy-related CO2 emissions fell in 2017 to 5.14 billion metric tons, a drop of 0.9% from 2016 levels. Energy-related CO2 emissions dropped 14% (861 million metric tons) since 2005, and in 7 of the previous 10 years. Most of this year’s decline was due to continued reduction in coal combustion by fuel and in electric power by sector. CO2 emissions from the transportation sector rose slightly in 2017, exceeding those from the electric power industry sector for the first time since estimations began. Please note that before one celebrates too much, the electric power segment decline in CO2 emissions in 2017 were caused, in part, by a slightly milder summer nationwide (and lower demand for space cooling) compared to 2016.

In the longer term, from 2005 to 2017, the US economy grew by 20%, while US energy consumption fell by 2% and energy-related CO2 emissions decreased by 14%. Therefore, US economic growth in 2017 was 29% less carbon-intensive, and energy consumption was 12% less carbon-intensive.
Looking ahead, EIA projects that US energy-related CO2 emissions will rise by 1.8% (nearly 100 million metric tons) in 2018, then remain virtually unchanged in 2019.

While US energy-related CO2 emissions declined in recent years, the EIA estimates that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 21% (6,040 million metric tons) from 2005 to 2017. This rise in emissions was led by China, India, and other Asian nations, which collectively increased by slightly more than this amount. EIA projects that the rate of global growth of energy-related CO2 emissions will slow to 1% in 2018 and remain essentially flat in 2019.

The EIA estimates that the 4 states that emit the most energy-related CO2 emissions per capita (in order) are Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Alaska. All of these states did reduce per capita CO2 emissions in the last decade, Alaska by 32%.

CCES has the experts to help you determine your company’s carbon footprint and recommend strategies to reduce it that will also save you costs and improve worker efficiency. A win-win: a better environmental footprint and many financial benefits, too. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or 914-584-6720.

Clean Energy Is Growing, But Maybe Not Enough

Usually around this time, I do some research for a blog article I write most Decembers summarizing the year and forecasting where energy and environmental items may go in the future. In November, a very well-written article came out in the NY Times that essentially did the job for me. Here is a link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/climate/global-energy-forecast.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage

Despite the US government being antagonistic to renewable power and trying to favor traditional “dirty” fuels, such as coal, the world’s markets have spoken and clean energy is competitive with traditional power plants worldwide. Coal is declining in its biggest user country, China, and in the US, too, despite government efforts to the contrary. Over the past 5 years, the average cost of solar power has declined 65% and onshore wind by 15%, with further declines predicted in the future. For many locations and situations, it is now cheaper to build and operate a solar or wind farm than a fossil fuel-driven power plant.

But there is a problem: The International Energy Agency recently published its annual World Energy Outlook (https://webstore.iea.org/world-energy-outlook-2018) which has forecast that despite robust growth of clean energy, it will not meet the GHG emission reduction goals scientists developed to reduce the grave physical threats of climate change. While the agency predicts that by 2040 renewable power will supply 40% of the world’s electricity and China will be close to abandoning coal combustion, the decrease in GHG emissions will not be sufficient to prevent the temperature rise that is likely to result in great damage. Many coal and oil-fired power plants are fairly young and not likely to be replaced by solar until the utilities have gotten their share of the investment.

Similarly, GHG emissions from the transportation sector is predicted to peak in the mid-2020’s as countries strengthen fuel-economy standards and electric vehicles become more acceptable. However, oil use, a large GHG emitter, will still be high as it will continue to be used for space heating and manufacturing plastics and other chemicals.

However, with all these projected gains, the report predicts that GHG emissions will not decline, but continue to rise slowly until 2040. Projected population and economic growth will simply mean more vehicles on the road, plastics in use, etc.

The paper indicates that governments will need to play a key role to bring down GHG emissions. The report notes that the world invests $2 trillion annually in energy infrastructure. Incentives to develop and/or implement clean energy in place of coal and oil will need to expand beyond this to prevent catastrophic effects of climate change.

CCES has the expertise to help your firm or entity evaluate ways to benefit from converting to clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency to improve your climate change or sustainability program and bring many financial benefits. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

Can California Become Carbon Negative?

On September 10, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown set California on an ambitious clean energy path signing Senate Bill 100 (SB 100), which requires that by 2045, 100% of California’s electricity be generated from carbon-free sources. In addition, Governor Brown signed off of a new statewide goal to reduce California’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2045 and then go negative thereafter. SB 100 also requires that its implementation does not increase carbon emissions elsewhere in the western grid and does not permit resource shuffling, a limitation that effectively prevents California from relying on fossil fuel generation from outside the state to serve the state’s electricity needs.

SB 100 makes California the world’s largest economy to commit to generating 100% of its power from clean energy. California has been steadily increasing its renewable portfolio standards, from an initial goal of 20% by 2017 to 60% by 2030, to the 100% by 2045. SB 100 does give California some flexibility. While hydropower and nuclear power do not qualify as renewable energy under renewable portfolio standards, these likely will qualify under SB 100, as they are “zero-carbon”. SB 100 also leaves open the possibility for other carbon-reducing innovations such as carbon capture and sequestration technology should it ever become practical.
SB 100 requires all California state agencies to incorporate this policy into all relevant planning and to issue joint report to the California legislature by January 1, 2021, and every four years thereafter discussing progress toward the goals.

Many opponents of the bill do not believe California can meet these goals unless it joins a larger regional market to have access to carbon-free energy from outside the state. This will mean entering into agreements with these other neighboring states to develop their own large renewable energy projects from which California can use the energy in its grid. It may be difficult to convince some of these states to replace traditional fossil fuel plants with more renewable power. If they can do so, then California may be able to reach a goal of negative carbon emissions in the future.

CCES can help your firm understand your electric bill and your sources of electricity to enable you to be most economic in your energy use and most efficient. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.