Widespread power outages in Texas during a severe cold blast have caused some to question whether banning fossil fuels from new buildings makes sense.
Most homes with gas space heating went cold because most gas-powered heating systems require electricity to operate. But, after the lights went out, gas stoves allowed residents to boil water and cook food while electric appliances were useless.
The reductions in carbon emissions resulting from all-electric buildings supplied by clean power sources are still compelling, and there are ways to make the grid and individual buildings more resilient to power outages. For instance, attaching a small battery backup to a gas heating system enables it to run when the grid fails.
Solar panels with battery storage could also keep both electric stoves and electric heating systems running during grid outages. Batteries in electric vehicles could someday be tapped as a source of backup energy.
There are strategies that can make the grid more resilient, as well. Texas could winterize its electrical system, for starters. Also, microgrids at the building-level or community-level can generate and store their own electricity, relieving pressure on the grid, and may be able to continue providing power during regional outages.
Related Stories
| Sep 15, 2011
New Federal Law Limits Amount of Formaldehyde in Wood
President Obama signed into law legislation that limits the amount of formaldehyde in wood. The new measure will impact particle board and other composite wood products .
| Sep 12, 2011
Living Buildings: Are AEC Firms up to the Challenge?
Modular Architecture > You’ve done a LEED Gold or two, maybe even a LEED Platinum. But are you and your firm ready to take on the Living Building Challenge? Think twice before you say yes.
| Sep 8, 2011
OSHA issues alert on incorrectly rebuilt circuit breakers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a hazard alert, warning workers and employers of certain Eaton/Cutler-Hammer molded-case circuit breakers that were incorrectly rebuilt.
| Sep 8, 2011
USGBC Streamlines LEED EB: O&M
The Council has reorganized the prerequisite and credit structure of LEED EB: O&M.
| Sep 8, 2011
USGBC: 30 Legislative ‘Wins For Green Building’ So Far In 2011
A mid-year report by the U.S. Green Building Council says that there have been “30 legislative wins for green building” across 22 states in 2011.
| Sep 8, 2011
Revised Building Codes Adopted After WTC Attacks Being Implemented
U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) code revision recommendations in the wake of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks are being implemented in new high-rise construction including One World Trade Center, the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex.
| Sep 8, 2011
New Sustainability Standard Addresses Disaster Resistance
To aid local governments to adopt high-performance green building codes, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability 2.0.
| Sep 8, 2011
Pilot ISO 50001 Implementations Report Big Energy Savings
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published ISO 50001 to provide a recognized framework for integrating energy performance into management practices.
| Sep 8, 2011
USGBC Revises Energy Demand Response Credit
Originally launched in 2010, the revised and enhanced Demand Response Pilot Credit establishes guidelines that are anticipated to increase participation in automated energy demand response programs.
| Sep 8, 2011
Water Safety in Buildings Guide Published by World Health Organization (WHO)
This WHO book provides guidance for managing water supplies in buildings where people may drink water, use water for food preparation, wash, shower, swim or use water for other recreational activities or be exposed to aerosols produced by water-using devices, such as cooling towers.