Page 20 - Climate Control News Magazine July 2021

Building Automation
Roadmap to net zero
PROVIDERS OF BUILDING management sys- tems and energy efficiency software have wel- comed a new White House initiative to modern- ise buildings across America in a bid to reduce emissions and reach net zero by 2050.
The Biden administration is investing in new initiatives including an interactive efficient buildings “roadmap” that includes recommenda- tions to integrate buildings with solar and wind power through demand management and stor- age. The agency estimates such buildings could create savings up to $200 billion through 2040.
The government will invest $30 million into workforce initiatives designed to train people to construct and maintain high-performance buildings that utilize renewables, efficient lighting and energy demand management, among other clean energy technologies.
New building performance standards were also announced by the White House along with the Better Buildings Pro-
NET ZERO TARGET: US president,
Joe Biden.
gress Report.
According to the re-
port the federal govern- ment is the single largest energy consumer in the US and its more than 360,000 buildings repre- sent almost 60 per cent of its energy use.
More than 85 per cent of the grants were allocated to regional hotels.
Grants to undertake energy upgrades
Much of the Biden ad- ministration's focus on decarbonization has so far revolved around electrifying the transporta- tion sector, but last month officials said build- ings would ultimately be key to addressing the
impacts of climate change.
“It will be impossible to halve US greenhouse
gas emissions reduced by 2030 without rapid decarbonization of the building sector," accord- ing to Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) president Paula Glover.
“This is exactly the kind of action needed," she said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is planning to create new partnerships to “kick- start demand for high-performance buildings.”
Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm said the initiatives will help unlock new innovation for cleaner buildings.
She said the plan is to work with the private sector, unions, building and home owners, and manufacturers to "electrify and modernize" both new and existing buildings.
DOE is working with the housing department on a low-carbon pilot which includes increasing market adoption of grid-connected heat pump water heaters.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has provided grants to hotels, motels and serviced apartments in regional Australia to undertake energy effi- ciency upgrades.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said $10.2 million has been made available to fund projects that will provide last- ing energy savings.
He said 443 facilities had been given the green light for up to $25,000 in grants.
"This will help lower their energy bills by up- grading to more energy efficient air-condition- ing, refrigeration and equipment,”
Taylor said.
“They can improve the building through double glazing and insula- tion, carry out energy audits or in- stall energy monitoring equipment.”
More than 85 per cent of the grants have been allocated to hotels in regional or remote Australia.
Hotels, motels and serviced apartments with up to 99 rooms were eligible to receive grants un- der the program.
Taylor also pointed out electricity prices are at their lowest since 2012.
“Prices falling to nine-year lows is an out- standing result and demonstrates how effective the government’s actions have been,” he said.
“We have seen 19 straight months of wholesale price reductions.”
Australian Hotels Association CEO, Stephen Fer- guson, said the grants would help struggling busi- nesses trying to recover from the worst
15 months the industry has ever seen. "Energy costs are an on-going ex- pense for many hotels and the bills keep coming, even when a hotel has its doors shut during a lockdown," he said.
LEFT: Minister for Energy, Angus Taylor
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