Alternative Energy

From Edgewater 2020

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Contents 1 Category Administration 2 Definition 2.1 Metrics 2.2 Assumptions 3 Current State and Proposal for Major Initiatives 3.1 Available Data Review 3.2 Additional Data Needs 4 Future State 4.1 Ideal 4.2 Minimum / First Steps 5 Gaps 6 Resources 7 Priorities 8 Implementation Plan

Category Administration

(How are we defining this category/section? What is included and what is NOT included?)

Chair: Nick Custer <nickrcuster@yahoo.com>; Members: Sheli Lulkin; Tom Murphy;Gregory Polites; Rob Rafson; Drew Trammell.

Ad Hoc or Part Time Members: Mike Johnson (former chair), Sandra Bowen, Bill Muehl; Anne Comeau

The Renewable Energy section (formerly identified as Alternative Energy) of the Edgewater 2020 Plan highlights challenges and opportunities related to:

• 1) increasing the use of renewable and district energy in Edgewater in absolute and percentage terms; and
• 2) decreasing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in Edgewater.

As relates to the specific goals set forth in the USGBC's LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) standard, this section addresses:

• 1) on-site energy use (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 12),
• 2) on-site renewable energy sources (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 13) and
• 3) district heating & cooling (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 14)

While renewable energy includes fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, transportation fuels will be addressed separately in the transportation section of this report.

Definition

(How are we defining this category/section? What is included and what is NOT included?)

The Renewable Energy section of the Edgewater 2020 Plan highlights challenges and opportunities related to:

1) increasing the use of renewable and district energy in Edgewater in absolute and percentage terms, and

2) decreasing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in Edgewater.

As relates to the specific goals set forth in the USGBC's LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) standard, this section addresses:

1) on-site energy generation (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 12),

2) on-site renewable energy sources (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 13) and

3) district heating & cooling (LEED-ND Green Construction Credit 14)

The Renewable Energy team will also promote establishing a Community Center in Edgewater which provides information, resources and hands on assistance for residents and businesses to develop green plans as well as adding energy efficiency products and renewable energy devices.

While renewable energy includes fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, transportation fuels will be addressed separately in the transportation section of this report.

Metrics

(What are the key measures that are relevant to this category? What ‘needles’ are we trying to ‘move’?)

For electricity use, kilowatt-hours (kWh) will serve as the basic unit of measurement. For electricity demand, average and coincident peak kilowatts (kW) will serve as the basic unit of measurement. For natural gas, therms will serve as the basic unit of measurement. To the extent available, data from ComEd and Peoples Gas will be used to calculate baseline energy use by type in Edgewater. A baseline year of 2005 is recommended for the purpose of continuity with City and State government greenhouse gas emissions inventories.

Widely accepted multipliers developed by the World Resources Instiute will be used to calculate of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e) generated by Edgewater's energy demand. Specifically, a MAIN-North grid mix emissions factor of 0.68mtCO2e/1000kWh will be applied for electricity use and 0.005311mtCO2e/therm for natural gas will be applied for conventional energy use. For all other forms of generation, the Edgewater 2020 Plan will also apply the appropriate WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol factor.

Assumptions

(What, if any, criteria are fixed/unchangeable or independent from this analysis?)

Unless a site has obtained an appropriate permit to operate an on-site generating facility (i.e. (distributed generation), it is assumed that all conventional energy delivered in Edgewater is delivered through either ComEd or Peoples Energy, given that each is the sole distributor of electricity and natural gas, respectively. Unpermitted distributed generation is considered outside the scope of the study.

Current State and Proposal for Major Initiatives

(Where do we currently stand in this category/section, in terms of the key defining metrics? This section will also encompass proposals for future initiatives)

Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Sustainable Energy for Edgewater

In tandem with energy efficiency measures, wind, solar and geothermal energy can reduce the amount of finite resources to heat and power Edgewater’s homes, businesses and institutions. Specifically, renewable energy can offset natural gas, coal and uranium ore currently used to generate power and heat. In so doing, renewable energy offers promise in mitigating the climate and health impacts of energy use. Aside from environmental and human health benefits, deployment of renewable energy systems can provide long-term energy price and supply security. In terms of economic development, renewable energy deployment can create jobs in architecture, contracting, engineering and finance professions. While renewable energy includes fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, transportation fuels will be addressed separately in the transportation section of this report. Specifically this section is intended to highlight challenges and opportunities related to:

• 1) increasing the use of renewable energy in Edgewater and
• 2) decrease energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in Edgewater.

Supply vs. demand. There are two complimentary means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions: reducing energy demand, through energy efficiency, and reducing carbon intensity of the energy supply, through renewable energy. This section will focus on renewable energy and energy supply. Specifically, this section will explain how an increase the penetration of renewable energy in Edgewater can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, little renewable energy supply exists in Edgewater, despite significant public interest evidenced by a recent DFA renewable energy event at the Edgewater Library. Nevertheless, solar energy systems do exist in Edgewater and zero energy homes are blocks from Edgewater’s border in neighboring Uptown.

Existing conditions. Three solar energy installations in and near Edgewater stand out.

• Chicago Fire Department Engine Company 70 (6030 North Clark), is home to a 10kW thermal solar thermal array and is the first government facility in Edgewater to adopt solar energy.
• Uncommon Ground, at 1401 West Devon, hosts a 5 collector AET-40 solar thermal hot water system. A videography studio on the 5400 block of North Ravenswood also has a PV array of an unspecified capacity.
• Just blocks away at 4895 North Ravenswood, the Yannell home, a USGBC LEED for Homes pilot home, is touted as Chicago’s first zero net energy home. The Yannell home uses evacuated tube construction in its solar thermal array.

These installations illustrate the breadth renewable energy presence across residential, commercial and institutional sectors in and near Edgewater. While renewable energy has arrived in Edgewater, the depth of deployment has been shallow, due to high initial system costs. Deployment has also skewed heavily toward solar thermal, though three different products are used in those thermal applications.

Projects in planning. Two large Sheridan Road condominiums have expressed interest in installing solar energy.

• The Statesman Condominium, at 5601 North Sheridan, received grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Chicago Department of Environment to install a solar thermal system. Unfortunately, the Association has only been able to obtain approval from 61% of owners, while a two-thirds majority is required under State law.
• The Malibu East condominium, at 6007 North Sheridan has assembled a renewable energy committee and is investigating available options.
• Installation of Solar Lights in Edgewater Parks will be requested whenever a new park is installed (two new parks on Sheridan Road are in closing stages of planning); and whenever upgrades are made to an existing park.
• Streetscapes: Specifically one being planned on Granville should include Solar Lighting in its plans.
• The committee will identify barriers to the use of Alternative Energy and determine the best strategy to overcome such barriers. They may include the following: Archaic Regulations or Laws; Infrastructure Issues; Public Education; Entrenched interests; Start Up Costs vs funding options; Lack of Knowledge and so forth

Policy & incentives moving forward. Representative Harry Osterman is sponsoring State legislation to reduce the requisite percentage of owner approval required by law for capital expenditures. This could assist associations like Statesman in seeing projects in planning to fruition. In the meantime, the State legislature has swept $5.5m in funds that capitalize the State’s Renewable Energy Resources Program. The program has been instrumental in providing homeowners and business owners afford solar and small wind energy installation. On the flip side, the Illinois Solar Energy Association is introducing a renewable energy credit aggregation program that could net owners of solar photovoltaic systems up to $0.07 per kilowatt-hour on top of ComEd’s net metering program. Such a program is not available for solar thermal technology, though solar thermal costs are typically lower than those for solar PV per unit of energy output. This could have the effect of moderating the advantage of solar thermal and resulting in more solar PV installations. In other news, the Senate just approved an extension of both the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (PTC), which collectively represent the Federal government’s main renewable energy incentives. Passage by the House is required.

Available Data Review

(What baseline data do we have – or exists elsewhere that we can easily obtain – that can help us create a baseline assessment of where we currently stand?)

'Individuals'

At the direction of the City of Chicago, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), synthesized data requested by the City from ComEd and Peoples Energy to calculate the citywide energy demand and resulting GHG emissions across all sectors. This information could provide meter-level information for residential accounts in Edgewater.

Businesses'

At the direction of the City of Chicago, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), synthesized data requested by the City from ComEd and Peoples Energy to calculate the citywide energy demand and resulting GHG emissions across all sectors. This information could provide meter-level information for commercial accounts in Edgewater.

'Government'

The City government has performed a corporate inventory of its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, but facility-by-facility information is not available. A 10kW thermal solar domestic hot water system was recently installed at a new Chicago Fire Department Engine Company. The facility's energy demand was not included in the City's corporate GHG inventory, because the facility did not exist. Data for the station it replaced should, however, be available as a reference to baseline.

'Institutions'

At the direction of the City of Chicago, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), synthesized data requested by the City from ComEd and Peoples Energy to calculate the citywide energy demand and resulting GHG emissions across all sectors. This information could provide meter-level information for commercial accounts in Edgewater.

Additional Data Needs

(What additional data is needed and how will we be able to address them, e.g., through the Loyola student projects?)

• Loyola Sustainability Class Research on Community Involvement & Understanding of Renewable Energy:

Report & Survey on Alternative Energy

See also the Section on the Current State and Proposal for Major Initiatives.

Future State

(What is our Vision for this category/section? What are our specific goals in terms of key metrics defined above? What implications & benefits will there be at an individual, business, and governmental level?)

Ideal

(What are the key measures that are relevant to this category? What ‘needles’ are we trying to ‘move’?)

See the Section on the Current State and Proposal for Major Initiatives as well as the details listed under the Priorities Section. The ideal will be determined as various proposals are reviewed and implemented. One goal proposed by the 48th Ward Alderman is to search out ways to remove Edgewater from the "Grid".

Minimum / First Steps

(What, if any, criteria are fixed/unchangeable or independent from this analysis?)

The baseline assumption that it is critical for the community and nation to find workable and environmentally friendly alternatives to the current energy production and consumption patterns.

Gaps

(Given available data & analysis, how far apart are key the elements (metrics) of our Current & Future States?)

Currently, there is no economic (or any other) imperative for the majority of residents or businesses to change over to renewable energy sources. Subsidies, rebates and tax credits would need to be more generous and general for most people to consider such a committment.

The city of Chicago has mandated public buildings follow Clean Air and Climate Plan critera. More needs to be done in the legislative and zoning area in order to change the public's mind set and create enough renewable energy development to make it economically beneficial and cost effective.

As part of the Comprehensive Neighborhood Master Plan, the availability and grids for renewable and alternative energy sources will need to be addressed.

Resources

(What kind of resources – time, money, people, agreements/support/relationships – are needed to address each of the gaps described above?)

Lower cost, reliable and practical renewable energy systems need to be established whether it be thermal, solar, wind or a combination of those and any other non climate changing source.

Public Funding, Low interest loans, tax credits for residential and business who convert to renewable energy.

Priorities

(Given the potential impact & benefit and the related costs (resources) required, in what order should we attempt to address/resolve the gaps?)

The following contains the priority listing of the short, medium and long terms goals for the renewal energy plan from the period 2009 through 2020 (ed. 5-09)

Renewable Energy: Short, Medium & Long Term Goals

Conduct ward-wide greenhouse gas inventory and renewable resource inventory

• Determine current energy use and carbon footprint of Edgewater
• Recolo to mentor Loyola students. Will work with ComEd, Peoples and CNT.
• Perform energy intensity per square foot calculations in sample buildings
• Identify priorities and develop pro formas, project portfolio
• Engage finance, contracting and A&E communities

Commercial solar initiative

Consider integrating a solar energy component into the commercial green roofs program. Core objective: Increase renewable energy penetration in Edgewater’s commercial sector, notably in Special Service Area #26

• Many buildings along Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville, between Sheridan and Broadway, have unobstructed roofs aligned on a north-south axis and are highly visible from or near Edgewater’s Red Line ‘L’ stations. These factors imply good insolation and visual interest and could form the basis for a small commercial solar energy initiative in Edgewater. Buildings that house Pause, Flourish, Thorndale Deli and Metropolis Coffee are prime examples. Buildings damaged by fire on Argyle just east of the Argyle ‘L’ station also represent a prime opportunity to rebuild with solar energy in mind.

• The Jewel on Berwyn and Dominick’s on Glenlake/Broadway offer interesting possibilities for near megawatt-class PV installations. Given that each uses as much energy as many high rise residential buildings, supermarkets can be a significant part of greening Edgewater’s energy supply. In fact, Dominick’s parent company, Safeway, has already commissioned PV systems on stores in California. If aggregated in a portfolio with smaller installations, supermarket and large commercial installations could blend down the unit cost of all Edgewater solar installations.

Residential solar/heat pump initiative

• Just as the type of residential construction in Edgewater can be divided into a three zones; high-rise, low/mid-rise and single family, so can its renewable energy prospects. The high rise buildings along Sheridan Road can connect thousands of Edgewater residents to a renewable energy source with little infrastructure. The low-rise and mid-rise multifamily dwellings from Kenmore to Broadway offer a mixed bag of opportunities for solar thermal and solar PV, building integrated wind and ground source heat pumps. Roofs of many single family homes in Lakewood-Balmoral and Edgewater Glen are obscured by tree cover, making solar and wind tenuous propositions. Larger yards, however, could accommodate ground source loops for heating and/or cooling. A program that recognizes these differences and provides choice could be compelling and make significant strides toward increasing the penetration of renewable energy in Edgewater’s households.

Hybrid solar thermal/ground source/lakewater heating/cooling along lakefront

Many of the high-rise condos along Sheridan Road use hydronic systems for heating and cooling. These systems could be connected to form a ‘district energy’ network that would provide heating and cooling from a central plant or hybrid network of distributed plants. Given the population density in Edgewater’s Sheridan Road high-rises, a district heating network could serve thousands of residents and would require a small amount of service pipe to connect. Lake water could be used to temper the system and perform baseload heating and cooling functions, with ground source heat pumps and solar thermal pumps providing peak heating and cooling capacity. The City’s significant right of way in the form of Lincoln Park offers a prime opportunity for development with minimal negotiation with private owners. This would have a strong positive effect on association capital budgets, given that they would effectively obviate or significantly reduce the need for building-operated heating and cooling plant equipment.

Offshore wind

The wind resource on Lake Michigan away from shoreline is among the best in the nation, rivaling sites in the Dakotas and elsewhere in the Great Plains. Utility scale wind turbines placed offshore are among the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy. The technology is well tested and used widely throughout Scandinavia and the North Atlantic. The Lakefront Protection Ordinance and public perception, as was the case with Cape Wind, may pose significant (though not insurmountable) challenges to project development. The interference or ‘roughness’ caused by Sheridan Road high rises might necessitate placement of turbines further offshore, which would likely increase production but also increase transmission cable length and cost of onshore electrical connections.

Implementation Plan

(What are the first/next steps required to address the priority gap areas, secure the required resources, etc.? How will the implementation of priorities in this area be balanced against those of others?)