Neighborhood Energy Solutions

How 56,000 Residents Are Rewriting the Heat Pump Playbook 🏡 Quick context: Heat pumps are super-efficient electric heating and cooling systems that can replace gas furnaces and air conditioners. They're crucial for decarbonizing homes and improving energy efficiency. The conventional wisdom says adoption depends on: • Federal tax credits • Utility rebates • Contractor availability • Equipment costs But something fascinating is happening in communities across America... New data from RMI reveals how 12 local programs are cracking the adoption code through an entirely different approach. Here's what they discovered: 1. The Missing Ingredient: Community Leadership Traditional programs focus on: - Marketing utility rebates - Technical education - Contractor training - Individual sales What's actually working: - Local government coordination - Neighborhood champions - Volunteer "heat pump ambassadors" - Community installation tours - Multilingual engagement 2. The Proof Is In The Numbers Real results from these community-led programs: - 56,000+ residents actively engaged - 100+ local contractors brought into network - 3,000+ successful installations - 95% reduction in home fossil fuel use - Materials in 8+ languages - 3,500+ neighbor-to-neighbor conversations in Cincinnati alone 3. The Innovation That's Working These communities succeeded by: - Partnering with BIPOC organizations to ensure equitable program design - Creating qualified local contractor networks (saves homeowners time) - Offering full coverage options for income-qualified residents - Training volunteer ambassadors who speak the community's language - Hosting neighborhood tours so people can see installations firsthand Key insight: While the industry debates technical specs and rebate amounts, these communities are showing that adoption barriers are more social than technical. People trust their neighbors more than utility mailers. For utilities: This is how you build trust and engagement at scale. For contractors: A blueprint for community-led market development. For policy makers: Evidence that local partnerships accelerate adoption. For community organizations: A proven model to lead climate action locally. Question: What other clean energy technologies could benefit from this community-led approach? What are we missing by focusing solely on incentives and technology? #HeatPumpRevolution #CommunityPower #CleanEnergy #LocalLeadership

District Energy: The Subway System for Heating, Cooling, and Power Delivery 🚇❄️🔥⚡ Think about how a subway system transforms a city. Instead of every person driving their own car, causing traffic, pollution, and space issues, a subway uses centralized infrastructure to move thousands efficiently, reliably, & sustainably. Now apply that same logic to how we deliver energy—heating, cooling, and power—to buildings across a city or campus. That’s District Energy & Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). Like subway lines, district energy networks use underground distribution systems to carry hot water, chilled water, steam, and electricity to customer buildings—just like train stations along the route. A central energy plant or distributed generation hubs act like the subway control center, optimizing how energy flows to meet real-time demand for heating, cooling, & power. The benefits are clear: Lower Capital Costs: With district energy, customers avoid large upfront capital investments in boilers, chillers, and backup generators. No need for expensive mechanical systems or fuel storage on site. Economy of Scale: One centralized system serving many customers lowers both capital & operating costs compared to individual building systems. Energy Efficiency: Central plants operate at higher efficiency, often using combined heat and power (CHP) & thermal optimization to deliver heating, cooling, and power more effectively. Lower Carbon Footprint: More efficient generation leads to lower emissions per BTU, ton of cooling, or kWh delivered. Space Savings: Buildings free up valuable real estate by eliminating the need for on-site boilers, chillers, cooling towers, and generator rooms. More space for revenue-generating tenants or amenities. Reliability and Resilience: With built-in redundancy, district energy systems continue delivering heating, cooling, and power even during grid outages or equipment failures. O&M Savings and Reduced Staffing: Building owners no longer need on-site engineering teams to operate and maintain complex HVAC or power equipment. District energy reduces maintenance risk, labor costs, and downtime. Scalability and Flexibility: As neighborhoods grow, the network can easily expand. As customer needs change, system operators adjust delivery accordingly—without disruption. Predictable Long-Term Costs: District energy shifts energy infrastructure risk and capital responsibility away from building owners. Customers benefit from stable, long-term pricing with no upfront capital required. At Cordia Energy, we design, build, finance, own, and operate these energy “subway systems” across North America—for cities, hospitals, universities, data centers, and mixed-use developments. If your project or community wants to lower costs, reduce emissions, free up space, and increase reliability, let’s connect. #DistrictEnergy #Power #EnergyEfficiency #ThermalEnergyNetworks #CHP #Sustainability #SmartCities #EnergyAsAService #Cordia

What if your power came from your neighborhood, not a big utility miles away? That’s the idea behind Utility-Lite, and it’s starting to catch on, especially in Hawai‘i. Utility-Lite is a new model where smaller energy providers install and manage local solar, battery, and microgrid systems. Unlike traditional utilities that control generation, transmission, and billing, Utility-Lite groups focus only on what’s needed: powering homes and businesses directly, with less overhead and more flexibility. Hawai‘i is a natural fit. Each island runs its own grid, and importing fuel is expensive. Add in wildfires, storms, and long delays for grid upgrades, and communities are looking for faster, local solutions. Recent policy shifts like Act 197 are helping open the grid to non-utility players for the first time. Imagine a neighborhood that installs its own solar + battery systems, managed by a local nonprofit. They stay connected to the grid, but rely on it less, pay a fixed monthly rate, and keep energy dollars in the community. Could Utility-Lite be the future for more places, especially those underserved or tired of waiting? Curious to hear your thoughts.

Building Simulation cover article Informing electrification strategies of residential neighborhoods with urban building energy modeling Electrifying end uses is a key strategy to reducing GHG emissions in buildings. However, it may increase peak electricity demand that triggers the need to upgrade the existing power distribution system, leading to delays in electrification and needs of significant investment. There is also concern that building electrification may cause an increase of energy costs, leading to further energy burden for low-income communities. This study uses the urban scale building modeling tool CityBES to assess the electrification impacts of more than 43,000 residential buildings in a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, USA. Energy efficiency upgrades were investigated on their potential to mitigate the increase of peak electricity demand and energy burden. Simulation results from the calibrated EnergyPlus models show that electrification with heat pumps for space heating and cooling as well as for domestic water heating can reduce CO2e emissions by 38%, but increase peak electricity demand by about 9% from the baseline building stock. Combining electrification measures and energy efficiency upgrades can reduce CO2e emissions by 48% while reducing peak electricity demand by 6% and saving the median household energy costs by 28%. City and utility decision makers should consider integrating energy efficiency upgrades with electrification measures as an effective residential building electrification strategy, which significantly reduces carbon emissions, caps or even decreases peak demand while reducing energy burden of residents. Details of the research can be found at https://lnkd.in/gSCi-W3k The article is co-authored by Tianzhen Hong, Sang Hoon Lee, Wanni Zhang, Han Li, Kaiyu Sun & Joshua Kace             #BuildingSimulation #CityBES #decarbonization #electrification #cover

Last night there were 100,000 homes without electricity in Puerto Rico, and tonight it's the same prediction. Why are we having so many blackouts at night? Part of the problem is that until now we have only been able to use the 600MW of available solar energy (200MW of utility-scale, and 400MW spread across 75,000 homes and businesses) during daylight hours, when the sun is shining. So when the sun goes down, we lose that 600MW of power. But it doesn't have to be this way. Essentially all of the 75,000 Puerto Rican homes with solar panels also have batteries. This is unique to Puerto Rico. Did you know that all these batteries can be activated simultaneously to prevent blackouts? It's called "Demand Response", and it's similar to having access to a big 400MW power plant. Blackouts are costly. From damaged appliances to the paralysis of the island's commercial activity, to lives threatened by non-functioning dialyses machines, oxygen generators and other medical devices. Avoiding blackouts must be a central priority of our society. One resource we have available right now to help with this is the batteries in over 75,000 homes & businesses that can be activated to prevent blackouts. The Energy Bureau has ordered the creation of a voluntary program to compensate those who own batteries, to allow the utility to access those batteries to prevent blackouts. The idea is that customers with batteries in their home or business will have the choice to participate in the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program and get paid to let the utility access a portion of their battery in order to help prevent blackouts for everyone, or they can choose to not participate in the VPP program and leave their batteries 100% charged up just to be dedicated to power their own home or business during blackouts. If you already have or are thinking of installing batteries, it is likely that this year the Energy Bureau's order will result in an offer to discharge part of your battery at times of probable blackouts. Installing solar panels and batteries will not only ensure that you keep the lights on in your home, but you could also be paid to help prevent blackouts in your neighborhood too. The electrical grid of the future is one where each home plays a part in the energy symphony, and that future is much closer than you think. Stay tuned! To see Puerto Rico's power situation and forecast right now, go to LUMA's main website, https://lnkd.in/eN4W23qU, and click on "Generation Details".

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 ? ☀️   In a spatial analysis project using 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗼, I worked on evaluating the 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 potential of building rooftops — and the results were very promising!   Here’s a breakdown of the workflow:   🔹 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐒𝐌 data to assess 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, and 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻   🔹 Identified suitable 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 based on three main criteria: • 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲 ≤ 𝟰𝟱° • 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ≥ 𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝗸𝗪𝗵/𝗺² • 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵-𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀)   🔹 Calculated the 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 per building using actual solar 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 and 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼 .   🔹 Filtered out buildings with less than 𝟯𝟬 𝗺² of usable 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮, 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 .   𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 ? Estimate the 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 of each building — and the entire neighborhood — if equipped with solar panels. This method is 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, as long as you have 𝗟𝗶𝗗𝗔𝗥 and 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 🛰️   𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩? Because it helps : • Promote sustainable 𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠   • Enable 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 investment in renewables   • Empower communities with 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻, 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆   𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 transformation doesn’t always need new inventions — just smarter use of existing 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮.  𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝑻𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 : https://lnkd.in/dtx-zXmX #GIS #ESRI #SolarEnergy #ArcGISPro #SmartCities #Sustainability #RemoteSensing #UrbanAnalytics #RenewableEnergy #DigitalTransformation

Very happy to share our latest research on the optimal design of distributed multi-energy systems, where we investigate the tradeoffs between #affordability, #sustainability, and #reliability. 🌍 🧑💻 We build upon the state of the art by modeling conversion and storage technologies under both normal and failure conditions, and we identify optimal system designs to meet energy needs while minimizing carbon emissions and energy not supplied. ⚖️ The case study of a Swiss neighborhood shows that - already today - local multi-energy systems can reduce costs by 15%, while lower emissions by 64%, and increasing reliability by 80% compared to conventional designs. 🔥 Heating is key. Optimal tradeoffs are achieved by integrating heat pumps and thermal storage, with a focus on reducing system failures and maintaining energy supply during grid interruptions. 🔋 Interestingly, whereas combined heat and power (CHP) is preferred for looser emission targets, solar PV and batteries are better suited for strict emission reductions. This highlights the importance of tailoring energy systems to specific goals, especially in low-emission grids. ✨ The work was a great and very fun research effort led by Arvind Srinivasan and supported by Giovanni Sansavini at ETH Zürich. You can find the work open-source here and in the comments below. ⬇️ #EnergySystems #Optimization #SystemDesign #EnergyCommunities

In Edmonton’s Blatchford neighbourhood, 100 townhomes are part of one of Canada’s first Virtual Power Plants (VPPs, networks of solar panels and home batteries that work together like a traditional power plant. For families like the Calders, this means more than just lower bills: Their home stays powered through blackouts. Their battery lets them run appliances at night with stored solar. They earn credits on their utility bill (up to $60/month in summer). But the benefits go far beyond one family. By connecting hundreds (or thousands) of homes together, VPPs can: - Stabilize the grid during peak demand. - Reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. - Allow more wind and solar to be added to the grid by filling in gaps when it’s not sunny or windy. As Brent Harris of Decentralized Energy Canada explains: “We need to get more out of the grid we already have.” With demand for electricity soaring — from EV adoption to data centres — VPPs offer a cost-effective way to grow capacity without billion-dollar upgrades. Globally, VPPs are scaling fast. In Germany, Statkraft already operates a 12 GW virtual power plant, linking more than 1,400 installations. In the U.S., utilities are connecting thousands of home batteries into flexible power plants. For Canada, projects like Blatchford are just the beginning. Regulations will need to evolve, but the potential is clear: Homes are no longer just consumers of energy. They’re producers, storage hubs, and active contributors to the grid. As Rebecca Calder, a Blatchford resident, put it: “The big thing for me is we produce power, we use our own power, we save our power and we give back power. That is fantastic.” . . https://lnkd.in/g3vkqqsP . . #SolarEnergy #CleanEnergy #VirtualPowerPlant #RenewableEnergy #EnergyInnovation #GridResilience #Ottawa

🔋 The Apagón: How Sustainability Can Protect Us in Uncertain Times This Monday, Spain and Portugal experienced a major blackout (apagón) that paralyzed key infrastructure: 🚆 Trains came to a halt ✈️ Airports closed temporarily 🏥 Hospitals switched to emergency generators 🏘️ Millions were left without basic services The causes are still under investigation but beyond headlines and conspiracy theories, one thing is clear: ➡️ Our energy infrastructure is fragile — and resilience must become a priority. How can sustainable solutions help? ✅ Decentralized renewable energy: Local solar panels and wind turbines reduce dependency on vulnerable centralized systems. ✅ Energy storage systems: Batteries at home, in businesses, and at grid scale help maintain supply during outages. ✅ Smart grids: Intelligent networks detect and correct problems dynamically. ✅ Local energy communities: Municipalities and neighborhoods producing their own energy create stronger, more resilient ecosystems. ✅ Diversified energy sources: A broad mix (solar, wind, hydro, biogas) reduces systemic risk. Other countries are facing similar challenges: 🌍 In the U.S., Texas blackouts showed the limits of a centralized, isolated grid. 🌍 In Australia, community solar and storage projects are helping towns stay powered during storms. 🌍 In Germany, local microgrids are strengthening energy autonomy and flexibility. The apagón was not just a technical failure. It was a wake-up call ! Sustainability is no longer a "nice-to-have." It’s an investment in resilience, adaptability, and security — essential in the uncertain times we live in. 📚 Recommended reading => For those who want to dive deeper into the link between sustainability, energy law, and resilience, I highly recommend Anatole Boute’s book: "Energy Dependence and Supply Security: Energy Law in the New Geopolitical Reality" (Oxford University Press, 2023). It offers a powerful analysis of how clean energy, decentralization, and legal reforms are crucial to secure our future energy systems. 💬 How is your country preparing for these risks? 💡 What sustainable solutions do you think are most promising? 👉 Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments — let’s learn from each other! #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #Resilience #Apagón #RenewableEnergy #SmartGrids #ClimateAdaptation #EnergySecurity

Exciting news for sustainable community development in Lakeland, Florida! A new 77-home subdivision, Myrtlebrook, is set to include a pioneering $4.2 million microgrid project, marking a significant leap in residential sustainable living. This forward-thinking project involves a collaboration with Tampa-based BlockEnergy to install 77 solar arrays, forming an interconnected community microgrid. This system not only promises localized backup power but also ensures resilience against power outages, a frequent concern in hurricane-prone Florida. The community's design targets a remarkable 77% self-sufficiency rate, potentially exceeding expectations as seen in BlockEnergy's similar 37-home community in Wimauma, Florida, which achieved an impressive 93% independence. Each home in the community will be equipped with an 8 kW solar array, and every two homes will share a 43 kWh battery, forming the innovative "BlockLoop" microgrid. This setup aligns with emerging technological trends, as highlighted by Mike Dammer of Lakeland Electric, who sees this project as a disruptive shift towards new energy solutions. The community, which is poised to break ground in 2024, is a collaborative effort with home developer Highland Homes, aiming for completion between late 2025 and early 2026. This project is not just a housing development; it represents a commitment to resource efficiency and sustainable living. Studies, like the one from the University of Otago, have shown that solar-battery aggregations significantly enhance resource efficiency, reducing infrastructure buildout and energy load demands. Lakeland Electric, the owner-operator of the solar and storage assets, is seeking federal tax incentives to offset $1.1 million in project costs. This initiative isn't just a technological leap; it's a community-driven approach to sustainable living. Dammer emphasizes this, stating, "This is a system that is designed to be built with and for the community. It is part of the community, not an add-on or retrofit. This community is a solar community". As we move into an era of heightened environmental awareness and the need for sustainable solutions, projects like Myrtlebrook are leading the way. They demonstrate a viable path for integrating renewable energy into everyday living, setting a benchmark for future community developments. Find the full article I've summarized here at: https://lnkd.in/gwad7m9b #floridarealestate #floridaliving #renewableenergy #microgrid