Most of the 10 states that rely the most on natural gas or propane for heating and cooking have ambitious climate goals.
Some aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as an 80% by 2050. “Combustion emissions produced within these jurisdictions suggest it will not be possible to meet climate goals without immediate and durable action on building fossil fuel use,” according to an article by the Rocky Mountain Institute.
Natural gas along with smaller amounts of oil and propane in buildings accounts for 10% of total US economy-wide emissions. Just 10 large states—most of which are in the Northeast— are responsible for 56% of those emissions.
Switching from fuel oil to gas reduces a home or business’s emissions by about 27%, or around 16% for propane. That’s not enough to reach carbon emission reduction goals. That means homes and businesses will have to switch to electric heat pump technology powered by electricity from renewable sources if states’ climate goals are to be met.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 2, 2018
Energy Department releases Updated EnergyPlus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools
The tools can now accept input in epJSON format.
Codes and Standards | May 1, 2018
ASHRAE publishes new energy simulation-aided design standard
Requires building energy modeling during schematic design.
Codes and Standards | Apr 30, 2018
CALGreen projects pre-approved for streamlined LEED v4 requirements
Reduces need to run additional energy models.
Codes and Standards | Apr 26, 2018
New standard supports community resilience
ASTM International guidance supports cost-effective ways to withstand and recover from disasters.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2018
Lessons learned from decades of Superfund cleanups guide contaminated land reuse
Sites repurposed for residential, commercial use, and solar energy generation.
Codes and Standards | Apr 24, 2018
Vibrant downtown core the key for urban multifamily development
Nighttime activity makes the difference.
Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2018
ILFI launches new Zero Carbon Certification
Offers greater flexibility around project fuel types and offsetting renewables.
Codes and Standards | Apr 18, 2018
New Green Globe pilot program launched
Precursor to revised Green Globes Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings.
Codes and Standards | Apr 17, 2018
Contractor charged with fraud in winning $200 million in federal contracts
Accused of falsely claiming veteran- and minority-owned business status.
Codes and Standards | Apr 16, 2018
Wide variations in adoption of National Electric Code could jeopardize safety
An NFPA report found that code adoption is under heavier political scrutiny, leading to delays and decisions motivated by factors other than safety concerns.