* According to the US EIA
** According to US Building EE Retrofits by the Rockefeller Foundation and DB
Through an Energy Services Agreement (ESA), savings generated pay for the retrofit investments while building owner continues to pay historical, adjusted baseline energy costs.
Agreement
Investment
Completion
There is no guarantee that these trends will continue or that we will be able to take advantage of them.
The global market for heat-insulated windows and buildings, lighting, and smart electric meters alone is expected to grow to $125B in 2015. (BBC Research)
In New York State alone…
(Based on NY Green Bank Estimates April 2014)
GTM expects 720 MW of cumulative energy storage capacity in the U.S. by 2020
Renewable energy has a much lower impact on the environment than traditional methods of electricity generation. In general, it produces lower levels of air pollutants, waste water, smog, and acid rain, and it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By supporting renewable energy, you can help protect the environment by offsetting the need for more fossil fuel generation. In addition, renewable energy can help reduce our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.
It depends upon the user, but the premium you pay for green power vs. “brown power” has been steadily falling. The average household in Santa Clara using 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power each month will pay an additional cost of $7.50 more for Santa Clara Green Power; less than the cost of two gourmet coffees. Small businesses will pay the same small additional cost as residents for 100 percent of their use. For large businesses, the additional cost begins at fifteen dollars a month for each 1,000 kilowatt-hour block of renewable energy. (Source: Siliconvalleypower.com, 2013)
Some of the world’s largest companies and savviest investors are investing in renewable energy projects.
2013 – Verizon Communications announces plans to invest $100 million in solar and fuel cell power plants.
2013 – Google has invested nearly $1.0 Billion in renewable energy projects to date(2).
2013 – General Electric has invested over $1.4 Billion in renewable energy projects to date(3).
2013 – Apple completed a 20 MW solar power plant (largest privately owned solar plant in U.S.), increased its renewable energy usage to 75% (up from 35% in 2010), targets 100% renewable power use and is currently building second 20 MW power plant in neighboring land.
2013 – IKEA announces plans to double its investment in renewable energy to $4 billion by 2020 in an effort to run 100% of its stores on renewable power.
2013 – Wal-Mart announced its goal of being run on 100% renewable energy.
2012 – Warren Buffet’s MidAmerican Energy, purchased 579-megawatt solar power plant for over $2 billion. According to Warren Buffet, his Mid America Energy subsidiary accounts for 6% of the country’s wind generation capacity and will soon account for 14% of U.S. solar generation capacity.
“Our entire economy depends on the expectation that energy will be plentiful, available, and affordable. Nations like Venezuela and Iran can use oil and gas as political and economic weapons by manipulating the marketplace. Half of our trade deficit goes toward buying oil from abroad, and some of that money ends up in the hands of terrorists.”
General James Jones, retired United States Marine Corps four-star general.
Renewable energy is better for the environment than even the cleanest alternative technologies
1Source: Svsolar.com, 2013: Solar Factoids 2 Source: Energy Justice Network, 2009 3 Source: Sustainable Environmental Technologies, 2013 4 Source: Environment America: Wind Power for a Cleaner America, Nov. 28, 2012
Renewable energy is purchased and used by a wide variety of large and small businesses, local, state, and federal government agencies and a growing number of colleges and universities. You may even be surprised to learn that some of the most well-recognized companies in the world are also some of the biggest users of renewable energy.
Top 10 Users of Renewable Energy (1) |
Annual Power Usage (Megawatt Hours) |
% of Total Electricity Use From Renewable Sources 1 |
Intel Corporation |
3,100,850 |
100% |
Microsoft Corporation |
1,935,637 |
80% |
Kohl’s Department Stores |
1,536,529 |
105% |
Whole Foods Market |
800,258 |
107% |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
751,432 |
4% |
U.S. Department of Energy |
698,489 |
14% |
Staples |
636,079 |
101% |
Starbucks Company-Owned Stores |
592,463 |
70% |
Lockheed Martin Corporation |
546,399 |
30% |
Apple Inc. |
537,394 |
85% |
The buildings of the future will be self-sufficient and energy efficient: