The State of Rhode Island is taking significant steps to address greenhouse gas emissions from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. As the climate deadline approaches, state officials are developing a strategy to reduce emissions from the sector that ranks second in emissions, only behind transportation. The Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4), comprising 13 state agencies, is set to publish a report detailing strategies to curb building emissions on February 15th.
The Scope of Building Emissions
Understanding the Emissions Landscape
While it may not be immediately evident to individuals that their homes or local businesses contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, buildings collectively represent 29.5% of Rhode Island’s emissions. Additionally, industrial buildings contribute another 5.7%. This substantial output of emissions is primarily due to the use of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, heating oil, and propane, for heating, cooling, and other necessary processes in buildings. Recognizing and addressing these emissions is paramount for the state to achieve its climate goals and ensure a reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Given the significant contribution of buildings to the state’s overall emissions, crafting an effective strategy to curb these emissions is crucial. Unlike the transportation sector, which has a clear strategy for phasing out gas-powered cars, the building sector has lacked a comprehensive plan until now. Recently, during a listening session on the EC4’s building decarbonization plan, Jack Green, a U.S. Department of Energy Fellow at the Office of Energy Resources (OER), emphasized the enormous effort required to develop a practical and thorough plan. He underscored the importance of building energy benchmarking and the integration of performance standards to meet emission reduction goals.
Targeting Large Buildings
Focus on Buildings Over 25,000 Square Feet
The EC4’s new report is primarily targeting the largest buildings in the state, specifically those exceeding 25,000 square feet. Although these large buildings represent only 35% of all structures in southern New England, they are responsible for a staggering 75% of the region’s building emissions. In Rhode Island, buildings over 25,000 square feet account for 20% of all emissions and 10% of all buildings statewide. This highlights the significant opportunity to achieve meaningful reductions in emissions by focusing efforts on these larger structures, rather than dispersing resources across smaller buildings with comparatively minimal impact.
The report estimates that there are at least 2,320 buildings in Rhode Island that fall into the over 25,000 square feet category. The majority of these buildings are industrial, multi-family, office, or retail structures. Approximately half of these buildings use electricity as their primary energy source, while the remaining half rely on natural gas, oil, or steam. Many state-owned buildings, in particular, are served by steam heating systems. The strategic emphasis on large buildings aims to maximize emissions reductions efficiently, leveraging resource allocation effectively to target the most significant sources of building-related emissions in the state.
Legislative and Municipal Efforts
Legislative Joint Resolution and Providence’s Benchmarking Program
The state’s endeavor to reduce building emissions is founded on a legislative joint resolution passed last year, which reflects similar movements at the municipal level, such as those in Providence. The City of Providence uniquely positions itself as a leader in this effort, having implemented an energy benchmarking program for its largest buildings to meet its climate goals by 2050. This program includes comprehensive energy reporting requirements that will expand to private buildings over the next few years, providing specific and structured deadlines for compliance with energy benchmarks.
In Providence, K-12 school buildings contribute notably to the city’s overall energy use. These older buildings, while sometimes performing well in energy metrics, often lack modern air conditioning and ventilation systems, presenting challenges to health and comfort. Despite these challenges, the city remains dedicated to reducing emissions from its school buildings. Efforts are underway to renovate or replace these structures to align with new energy standards, demonstrating a broader commitment to upgrading infrastructure and enhancing energy efficiency.
Data Gaps and Implementation Challenges
The Need for Comprehensive Data
A critical challenge faced by both state and city initiatives in reducing building emissions is the lack of comprehensive data on energy use within these structures. Developing a statewide benchmarking program requires significant time and resources, beginning with the creation of a thorough database of large buildings. According to Jack Green, launching this program could take at least 18 months and would necessitate establishing rules and regulations for phased energy reporting, leading ultimately to the enforcement of energy standards within a decade.
Resource Allocation and Timeline Balancing
Implementing the state-level energy benchmarking program requires minimal additional resources, including one new full-time position within the Office of Energy Resources (OER), as suggested by Governor Dan McKee’s recent budget proposal. Jack Green emphasizes the pressing need for further emissions reductions to meet the targets set forth in the state’s Act on Climate initiative by 2030. He highlights the importance of benchmarking and performance standards, noting that their successful implementation hinges on effectively balancing timelines and allocating resources appropriately to sustain long-term efforts.
Pathways to Emission Reductions
Strategic Steps and Future Efforts
The State of Rhode Island is making notable efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions originating from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. With the climate deadline looming, state officials are focusing on formulating a comprehensive strategy to lessen emissions from the building sector, which ranks as the second-largest source of emissions, just after transportation. The coordination of this plan is spearheaded by the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4), a coalition of 13 state agencies dedicated to environmental goals. As part of their initiative, EC4 is preparing to release a detailed report on February 15th outlining the strategies and measures that will be implemented to address building emissions. This report will be crucial in guiding the state’s actions to meet their environmental targets and contribute to broader climate change mitigation efforts. Rhode Island’s proactive measures aim to pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.