Monthly Archives: June 2020

White House Issues Executive Orders to Bypass Env. Rules to Aid Economic Recovery

In May and June, President Trump issued several Executive Orders (one: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/eo-accelerating-nations-economic-recovery-covid-19-emergency-expediting-infrastructure-investments-activities/) to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on certain infrastructure, transportation, and civil works projects. The Orders are intended to expedite infrastructure projects by requiring agencies to take “all reasonable measures to speed infrastructure investments”, including exercising the emergency statutory provisions of various federal environmental regulations in order to bypass their procedural requirements. These apply to projects undertaken and managed by federal agencies, such as the Dept of Transportation, Dept of the Interior, Dept of Energy, Defense Dept, and Army Corps of Engineers.

Citing the state of emergency as a result of the pandemic, the Executive Orders also direct federal agencies to invoke specific emergency authorities found in federal environmental rules, such as NEPA, ESA, CWA, CAA, and others to shorten or eliminate environmental regulatory procedures to hasten projects to better expedite an economic recovery.

For example, the Order encourages agencies to utilize the emergency regulations and procedures under NEPA by allowing agencies to consult with the White House-based Council on Environmental Quality to develop “alternative arrangements” in emergency circumstances. These include statutory exemptions and categorical exclusions.

The Order calls on agencies to review and exercise all opportunities and guidance documents that may provide waivers, exemptions, or other streamlining with regard to agency actions on infrastructure, energy, environmental, or natural resources matters.

Agencies are also directed to:
• identify rules that may slow economic recovery and take legal actions to rescind, modify, or waive them;
• grant extensions of time in enforceable agreements that may harm recovery;
• use, if possible, any emergency authorities available to support economic growth.

Given it is likely that these Orders will be challenged in court, businesses should not believe that environmental rules will go away for them. The Orders may not offer a permanent waiver of legal requirements under federal environmental rules for a project. Therefore, the principals of any project may be subject to future challenges should it skirt established environmental standards.

CCES has the experts to provide technical assistance on compliance with federal and state environmental rules for any proposed project (Please consult legal counsel for determination of legal compliance). Our experts have decades of experience helping diverse processes comply with such air pollution rules. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

Reducing Energy Usage of Data Centers

One study estimated that in 2018 global data centers consumed around 200 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, about 1% of the world’s electricity consumption. This percentage has stayed flat for nearly a decade. While this appears to be a low figure, it still makes data centers a large consumer of energy. Certainly for individual businesses, data centers can contribute a considerable percentage of their electric costs.

Here are several trends concerning energy usage by data centers worldwide.

Improve energy efficiency. Given its growing need and use, any way an operator can use data centers more efficiently will save significant costs and equipment wear and tear. One such focus is IT infrastructure. Converged infrastructure (CI) is building blocks of functionalities physically combined in a turnkey product, including software for more efficient computing and storage and networking functionalities. This makes the data center more compact and functionally efficient, reducing electricity needs. In addition, ENERGY STAR recommends server brands that use less electricity than conventional ones. Simple upgrades like placement of equipment and sharing of information can improve electric efficiency, too.

Energy efficiency of IT systems is often measured by power usage effectiveness (PUE), the ratio of total energy used by a data center to that used by computing equipment. PUE has improved from 2.5 in 2007 to 1.67 in 2019, indicating reduced energy contribution from non-IT areas, such as cooling and lighting in energy consumption. Modern data servers are available that can function well at temperatures up to about 100⁰F, reducing cooling needs. Less energy intensive alternatives to air conditioning, such as using cool ambient air or chilled water from a nearby source can work to cool a center.

Increase in on-site energy generation. Data centers need a reliable grid as their source of electricity. But large centers put stress on the existing local grid infrastructure potentially causing instability, and outpacing grid infrastructure capability. Therefore, more data center operators are using on-site power generation from natural gas generators and fuel cells, known distributed energy resources (DER) or microgrid.

On-site power generation may work as a supplement or back up to the grid or be totally independent. Either way, the operator can plan operations based on needs over time. This goes hand in hand with energy efficiency which can minimize on-site power needs.

Focus on Climate Change Goals. Many companies are focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, therefore, reducing energy usage for functions, such as data centers. As a large user of electricity, data center sources of electricity vary, but most are fossil-fuel based.

Therefore, as companies build larger data centers that are often their own facilities, they have the opportunity to directly use renewable energy to power them. For example, Google is building 2 huge data center campuses, in Tennessee and in Alabama, getting about 72% of their power from devoted solar farms, producing as much as 300 MW of power. While ideally all electricity for such a campus should come from solar, data centers need ready electricity 24/7 which is currently not available from solar farms whose output is intermittent based on the sun. Google is looking into energy storage options to be able to use more renewable power. Some facilities alternatively purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) for renewable sources far away.

CCES has the experts to help you evaluate and implement strategies to reduce energy usage of data centers, as well as other functions of your facility. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Major Changes to Building Energy Code Are Coming

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) was all but finalized recently as members voted to go forward to finalize proposed changes to the energy code standards. The draft standards will be published shortly, followed by an opportunity for feedback and revisions before the final standards will be released, probably in late 2020. These standards are often used as a model for new laws and standards for new building design in many municipalities, states, and nations, saving energy usage and costs and cutting air toxic and greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings.

Buildings (residential and commercial) are responsible for about 40% of US energy usage and GHG emissions. Based on the probable final 2021 IECC standards, new buildings will reduce covered energy usage by over 10% on average compared to buildings meeting the 2018 IECC, and by more than 1/3 compared to the 2009 code.

IECC members voted late last year overwhelmingly in support of a number of proposals to strengthen energy efficiency requirements, such as requiring high-efficiency water heating; electric upgrades to allow easier future conversions to electrified equipment; increased installation of electric vehicle charging stations; and an optional pathway for municipalities to encourage construction of Net Zero or ultra-energy efficient buildings that meet their remaining energy needs with renewable energy.
One additional probable change compared to the 2018 IECC is that this edition will likely give building owners flexibility to meet standards in different, science-based, but non-prescriptive ways.

Some critics have complained that the IECC changes too often, every 3 years, and that adversely affects planning. On the other hand, technologies improve so quickly. Also, of course, when a building is built new, it will stay in existence and function (and use excess energy and emit greenhouse and air toxic gases) for decades. One does not want to “miss the boat” of having buildings incorporate proven, improved design or technology to lock in GHG emission reductions.

Speaking of energy codes, ASHRAE’s code, 90.1, was last revised in 2019. ASHRAE is already researching changes to their code that will be published in 2022.

CCES has the experts to help provide technical assistance to help you meet IECC, ASHRAE and other energy standards to minimize your usage and GHG emissions of existing or new buildings. We can help you economically reduce energy usage that not only save significant costs but enhance worker productivity and reduce O&M costs and effort. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Re-Opening Commercial Office Space For Viral Safety

More and more regions are allowing businesses to re-open despite a very contagious virus to offset the mounting financial losses of tenant companies, building owners, and employees. The intention, of course, is to allow commerce and other activities, while minimizing any new increase in COVID-19 cases or at least being better prepared to handle a spike in hospital admissions. This balance is the “new normal”.
But even with more businesses opening, the public is wary. Will they have the confidence to come out to shop, eat, work, etc. in your building? It is impossible to bring the risk of infection within a space to zero. But what can building managers do to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection of staff and customers?

Low-cost building upgrades and policies.

1. Communication. Signage, messages of CDC guidelines for people to see

2. Show safe movement. Map travel patterns within tenant, common space

3. Personal limits. Limit capacity of key places, such as conference rooms, kitchenettes

4. Change cleaning procedures. Increase disinfection frequency of high-touch surfaces

5. Provide personal disinfectants. Wipes and hand sanitizer stations

6. New seating arrangements, including installing shields between open desks

7. Automatic, non-touch equipment in restrooms.

8. Take temperature of all employees daily and of guests.

Technical guidance on changes to HVAC systems

Currently, information from major professional organizations focuses on person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus as the primary public health concern, ahead of HVAC operation, where airborne transmission is possible, but not considered high risk. However, changes in HVAC operations can reduce the risk of potential virus exposure. ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force recommends:

1. Increase outdoor ventilation (as much as possible) by enabling outside air economizers more often and by opening dampers.

2. Improve filtration to MERV-13 or highest efficiency level feasible. Often not noted is the importance of sealing filters properly to prevent bypass.

3. Provide additional outside air both before and after occupancy daily.

Of course, these changes to the HVAC system comes at a cost: increased energy usage and cost. An evaluation of additional energy use of extending HVAC use hours, upgrading to MERV 13 from MERV 8 filters, and letting in an additional 50% outside air above minimum found that overall these changes together would cause an increase of 3-5% in building energy usage for a typical office building, depending on climate region.

CCES has the experts to help your firm plan for your re-entry into your facility and do so in a safe and economical way. Be safe and do the right thing. We can help. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.