2016 October
A 100% Renewable Future isn’t just about Climate
On 18, Oct 2016 | In PEI Blog | By Ethan
By Ethan Heil
The Point Energy team meets with Professor Mark Jacobson at Stanford University. From left to right, Alexis Karolides, Ethan Heil, Jordan Pratt (intern), Mark Jacobson, Derek Felschow and Chris Light.
Renewable energy could save over 5 million lives each year.
That’s the takeaway from a recent meeting among Stanford University Professor, Mark Jacobson and the Point Energy Innovations team.
Jacobson, notably, has led a research effort detailing how 139 countries – representing 95% of all carbon emissions, worldwide – could transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. His research provides a way forward in light of growing international concern over a changing climate and the recent signing of the Paris Agreement – a historic commitment among 195 countries agreeing to limit greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global warming. The keystone component for meeting these ambitious emissions reductions requires a shift away from conventional, carbon-intensive energy sources based on coal, oil and natural gas combustion.
The climate benefits of carbon-free, renewable energy have been well-documented, but Jacobson suggests that the human health benefits are just as great, if not greater than, the far-reaching environmental benefits. The combustion of fossil fuels to power our cars, homes and offices releases particles and pollutants into the atmosphere. These emissions in turn contribute to 5.5 million premature air pollution deaths annually at a cost of $15-25 trillion each year (in addition to the costs associated with climate change).
Recognizing that buildings account for one third of our planet’s energy consumption, Jacobson and the Point Energy team discussed the crucial role of net zero energy buildings in enabling a cleaner, healthier and more renewable future. Net zero energy buildings produce at least as much energy as they consume. Green design practices in conjunction with on-site renewable energy provide an opportunity to convert buildings from a climate liability into a renewable asset. Jacobson’s own house provides a prime example of this opportunity. Pairing energy-efficient design techniques with a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar array allows his newly-constructed home to produce more energy than it consumes – and still have enough left over to charge his electric car. Point Energy Innovations applies similar principles on a larger scale, promoting cost-effective, environmentally sustainable approaches to reduce building energy consumption and integrate on-site renewable generation.
While many of us at Point Energy are familiar with the benefits of renewable energy from a climate and environmental sustainability perspective, our discussions with Jacobson highlighted the inextricable link between energy and human health. With this in mind, the Point Energy team will continue working towards a paradigm shift within the built environment from energy negative to energy positive by promoting the development of innovative, efficient and net zero energy buildings.
Peter Rumsey Wins BOLD Innovator Award
On 10, Oct 2016 | In PEI Blog | By Molly
Brandon Tinianov of View presents the BOLD award to Peter Rumsey at Greenbuild.
Point Energy Innovations founder and CEO Peter Rumsey received a BOLD Innovator Award at the US Green Building Council’s 2016 International conference in Los Angeles.
The Innovator Award recognizes an individual who pioneered unique and creative programs or initiatives with the goal of increasing tenant engagement, satisfaction, and retention, according to the award’s founding partners, Aquicore, Comfy, Enlighted and View.
A team of expert judges from all corners of the industry selected the award winners in four different categories from 100 nominations. The judges recognized Peter for his long history of innovation in systems design that has helped dozens of office buildings data centers and labs reach net zero energy and, in particular, the award honors his recent work on the “Hyperchair,” an office chair that allows the person sitting in it to adjust the temperature of the chair.
When Rocky Mountain Institute settled into its new Basalt, CO Office at the beginning of 2016, Peter’s first major installation of the Hyperchair was keeping each individual staff member comfortable in a building without a central heating system. While avoiding the two biggest, and often simultaneous, complaints in buildings, “I’m too cold!” and “I’m too hot!”, the chairs provide a tiny extra boost of heat (or cooling), fine-tuned to personal needs, for a fraction of the environmental cost of central heating.
To learn more about the BOLD Awards and learn about the other incredible nominees and award winners, visit the BOLD Awards website.
