Mary Wambui’s Post

Solving climate change means we have the opportunity to rebuild smarter and more equitably. Imagine if the U.S. gov't used part of the subsidies it pays fossil fuel companies (conservative estimate is $20.5B annually) to help lower-income families electrify their homes, taking part in an estimated $96B in reduced energy costs for Americans. Savings in health and climate costs TBD. Read the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) report for more insights. #climate #electrify #sustainablenergy #environmentaljustice #climatechange #sustainability #electrification

📣 Together with 17 organisations we ask the EU's Commissioners for Energy, the Green Deal, and Climate Action to prioritise the decarbonisation of heating and cooling in the upcoming post-2030 framework. 🏘 Heating & cooling represents 80% of our building's energy consumption, yet it still runs on dirty fuels and is too expensive to afford for too many citizens. A robust post-2030 framework to decarbonise heating is a "must" solution, and citizen's energy communities can play a key role. 🌍 Climate change affects us all, so we all need to act together to create a more energy-efficient, circular society that combats energy poverty, and scales up renewable energy communities and their heating and cooling projects. Read our statement 👉 https://bit.ly/3IALVon #Heatmatters

A report from Deloitte showed how distributed energy resources (DER) can help the U.S. meet its climate goals while improving the functionality of the grid. #Markets #MarketsPolicy #Deloitte

As the urgency to address climate change and its risks increases, the power sector must play a vital role in facilitating the transition to clean energy. With the Inflation Reduction Act spurring private sector investment of $464 billion in clean energy projects, it is the right time for utilities to take a bigger leadership role in moving the country towards a sustainable, efficient, and equitable energy future. How do you predict the next 10 years of the energy transition will play out?

As the urgency to address climate change and its risks increases, the power sector must play a vital role in facilitating the transition to clean energy. With the Inflation Reduction Act spurring private sector investment of $464 billion in clean energy projects, it is the right time for utilities to take a bigger leadership role in moving the country towards a sustainable, efficient, and equitable energy future. How do you predict the next 10 years of the energy transition will play out?

MASS SAVE AND THE CLEAN HEAT STANDARD. Why isn't the State Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Draft Plan for 2025-2027 providing information and practical steps for how it expects to interact with the Clean Heat Standard? Where is this public conversation happening?  It is evident that integration and coordination play a critical role in ensuring equitable decarbonization. If we consider climate change as a crisis, then why isn't Massachusetts combining all its resources to prioritize the decarbonization of the most vulnerable population? Equity is being overlooked at every step in the implementation of Massachusetts' CECP goals. "Just because the word 'equity' is included in every presentation, it does not necessarily translate into action for those who are still struggling to keep up with the rest of the Commonwealth. While the Commonwealth boasts about its progressive actions towards climate change, those who are left behind cannot simply join in the celebration. For instance, if I am hungry and my neighbor is enjoying a satisfying meal, I cannot pretend that I am also full and content. Mass Save, with the State's oversight, has proposed a draft plan that does not explore alternative ways, such as CHS, that could offer a more equitable approach to decarbonization. The Commonwealth has a great chance to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions for LMI households but lacks transformational leadership on this issue! For more on CHS and Mass Save planning, check out Larry Chretien's article here: https://lnkd.in/e6hEjH5a.

As the urgency to address climate change and its risks increases, the power sector must play a vital role in facilitating the transition to clean energy. With the Inflation Reduction Act spurring private sector investment of $464 billion in clean energy projects, it is the right time for utilities to take a bigger leadership role in moving the country towards a sustainable, efficient, and equitable energy future. How do you predict the next 10 years of the energy transition will play out?

I found Dr. Kimberley O'Sullivan's latest research on managing summer heat in Aotearoa New Zealand fascinating. According to her study, as she mentioned in RNZ’s Nine to Noon, six of New Zealand's ten warmest years occurred between 2010 and 2019, leading to a greater reliance on mechanical cooling in homes. Conducted by the Royal Society of New Zealand, this three-year study analyzed survey data, interviews, and energy use to provide recommendations for sustainable summer heat management and emission reduction. A postal survey from summer 2021/2022 revealed that nearly three-quarters of homes in hot regions experience overheating. While many residents use passive cooling methods, about 75% turn to electric active cooling, with 72% of heat pump owners using them for this purpose. This shift towards energy-intensive cooling raises concerns about increasing summer energy demand and emissions, underscoring the need for better thermal performance in homes and a focus on passive cooling strategies. https://lnkd.in/gwyMSMcX. During the same program, Mark Byron Todoroff, an energy demand forecaster at TESLA Forecasting, highlighted a steady increase in summer power demand linked to the use of heat pumps for cooling and the rising adoption of electric vehicles. He explained, "In winter, peak demand reaches just over 7 gigawatts, while in summer it’s around 5.5 gigawatts. However, we’re seeing that summer demand is now much more sensitive to weather conditions than it has been historically, largely due to the heat pumps." Transpower New Zealand says high demand during the summer period could leave lakes depleted by the middle of next year, when demand increases further as temperatures drop. The most effective way to tackle summer electricity shortages is by installing rooftop solar on residential homes, a solution that Mike Casey and Rewiring Aotearoa have long championed. In contrast to winter, when energy demand aligns with limited sunlight, summer presents the highest electricity requirements for air conditioning during peak sunlight hours. By harnessing solar power on-site, we can alleviate pressure on the grid and minimize the need for homeowners to sell excess PV electricity back to it. By implementing an affordable, intelligent energy management system, households can optimize cooling based on occupancy. Additionally, integrating a hot water heat pump can further improve system efficiency and lower costs for homeowners. To meet our climate goals, we should focus on investing in domestic projects rather than sending money overseas for climate mitigation. A great starting point would be to utilize the rooftops of over a million homes in New Zealand for power generation, maximizing on-site consumption of the electricity produced. https://lnkd.in/gXAnBvtb

As the urgency to address climate change and its risks increases, the power sector must play a vital role in facilitating the transition to clean energy. With the Inflation Reduction Act spurring private sector investment of $464 billion in clean energy projects, it is the right time for utilities to take a bigger leadership role in moving the country towards a sustainable, efficient, and equitable energy future. How do you predict the next 10 years of the energy transition will play out?

#DYK that the world adds the equivalent of a new Paris every five days? That is 6 billion square meters of new floor area every year! 💡In the global fight against #climatechange, buildings stand as both a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and a promising solution. Learn more in this insightful blog by our Business Ready (B-READY) colleagues. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5gD3T23