ENERGY ETNA ECODISTRICT
ENERGY February 2019
ETNA ECODISTRICT Ecodistricts focus on both the hardware or physical systems of places, as well as the software of social and cultural resiliency. The Etna EcoDistrict, along with its Triboro Ecodistrict partners in Millvale and Sharpsburg, is focused on six key areas of planning and strategic action: water, mobility, air, energy, food, and equity.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: References to materials or processes developed by EcoDistricts®, and the Etna EcoDistrict are referred to as “EcoDistrict”, while the term ecodistrict without capitalization is used to refer to other districts, programs, and processes that are not the intellectual property of the EcoDistricts® organization.
Etna’s Energy Vision
Etna is an innovative community that takes collective action to provide smart energy solutions.
4 | Etna EcoDistrict
ETNA’S ENERGY STORY The Pittsburgh region has a history of energy innovation. Western Pennsylvania is home to many firsts and impressive feats related to coal, oil, natural gas, electricity, and nuclear energy. The region is also growing as a leader in renewable and innovative energy sources.
Etna’s energy comes from a variety of sources, but is mostly powered by coal.
77.16% of the energy consumed in Pennsylvania comes from non-renewable sources. However, renewable energy has been increasing every year, and currently accounts for 22.84% of the energy consumed in PA.
Homes, businesses, and industry all use different quantities of energy.
Building size, use, condition, age, design, and other factors all impact how much energy a building consumes.
Our energy choices impact the environment, human health, and the economy.
Renewable and non-renewable energy sources can affect air and water pollution, GHG emissions, ecosystem health, and human health. Energy provides jobs but can also be a financial burden for some families. A community’s energy source can impact it’s ability to be resilient.
Etna Borough has taken significant actions related to energy.
A solar array at the Garden of Etna, a solar co-op, a solar ordinance, and converted streetlights all contribute to improving quality of life in Etna.
Etna residents and Energy Champions are planning for the future.
August 2018 was “Energy Month” in Etna. Residents came together to discuss energy issues and opportunities as well as to develop Etna’s Energy Vision Statement. ENERGY | 5
AUGUST 2018 WAS ENERGY MONTH! The Etna EcoDistrict Education Series focused on a different Quality of Life Issue each month. 6 | Etna EcoDistrict
Etna Energy Education 47 Attendees August 8, 2018 The Etna EcoDistrict Education Series was an opportunity for attendees to develop a shared understanding of “energy”, share information about the Borough’s energy initiatives, and allow residents to provide their own thoughts and opinions regarding energy. The Education Session covered a variety of topics including: •
How has energy changed over time? The evolution of energy sources and their relationship to Pittsburgh’s history.
•
Where does Etna’s energy come from? An overview of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
•
Primary and secondary energy sources, and associated energy generated compared to energy lost.
•
How much energy does Etna use? A breakdown comparing residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation energy use.
•
What are the effects of our energy choices? The impact on the environment, human health, the economy, and resilience.
•
How does Etna use energy? An overview of building energy consumption
and transportation energy consumption. •
Energy partners that can assist in energy conservation and renewable energy.
•
Energy at the Frick Environmental Center - inspiration for Etna.
•
Etna EcoDistrict and the Triboro Ecodistrict’s energy initiatives, including work to decrease energy consumption and increase renewable energy sources.
At the beginning of the session, attendees shared their “Etna Energy Stories”, and several individuals shared their stories with the greater group. Many stories touched on older homes that consume a lot of energy, the need for information about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and funding sources, as well as concern about energy consumption and the associated cost. Following the presentation, attendees wrote their ideas for Etna’s energy future on comment cards.
Photos by evolveEA & Robert Tuñón ENERGY | 7
Etna Energy Champions 12 Attendees August 15, 2018 Following the Education Session, a group of 12 individuals who are particularly passionate about energy attended the Champions Meeting to have a more in-depth conversation about Etna and energy today, and to craft a vision for Etna’s energy future. The Champions Meeting consisted of an in-depth discussion about the following topics: •
The content covered during the Education Session.
•
The Energy Stories, Energy Vision Statements, and general comments from the Education Session attendees regarding Etna’s energy future.
•
Greenhouse gas emissions what they are, the three GHG scopes, how much Etna emits, and how this compares to Sharpsburg and Millvale.
•
How energy microgrids work and what the benefits are.
Following the meeting, three attendees (William Gazica, Veni Mittal, and Kendra Clarke) volunteered to craft Etna’s Energy Vision Statement, informed by the conversation, and present it at the next Education Series meeting. The Champions crafted the vision statement thoughtfully and intentionally. “Innovative” is used because Etna wants to show leadership in renewable energy projects by testing new technologies or implementing more traditional solutions in non-traditional ways. “Collective action” is used because Etna residents know that they will have a greater impact if they work together to learn about energy conservation and implement renewable energy projects. “Smart energy solutions” refers to small actions that have a big impact in reducing the community’s nonrenewable energy consumption. The vision statement they developed is written below.
Following this discussion, the Energy Champions broke up into groups of two to discuss what Etna’s Energy Vision Statement should be. Through the discussion a few themes emerged, including: •
Education about energy and ways to reduce energy consumption.
•
Innovative solutions, including renewable energy and microgrids.
•
Small changes that have big impacts.
•
Working towards big goals, such as a net zero energy community.
ENERGY VISION STATEMENT Etna is an innovative community that takes collective action to provide smart energy solutions.
Photos by evolveEA & Robert Tuñón 8 | Etna EcoDistrict
ENERGY | 9
The ecodistrict process is intended to empower and activate residents by providing them with the information and tools necessary to envision Etna’s future and then to achieve it. For this process to be successful, evolveEA, ECO, Etna Borough, and residents must listen to one another and work together to have open and honest conversations and share knowledge and resources. An essential part of this process is 10 | Etna EcoDistrict
asking for and integrating community thoughts and expertise into the process. The adjacent page shows the results of the Etna Energy Value Statement exercise that informed the Energy Champions’ conversation’, and will ultimately inform the EcoDistrict Protocol Roadmap. Key themes from the community meeting feedback were quantified and will be revisited during Roadmap development.
It is important to me that... 90 responses
Etna Borough or partnering organizations provide financial incentives for me to retrofit my home.
21 I have a low energy bill.
12 Etna contains the infrastructure to be energy self-sufficient (disconnected from the grid).
12 Etna should be known for homes that use renewable energy.
12 My energy comes from renewable sources.
10 My home uses less energy than the average home in Allegheny County.
6 I have somewhere to go to access electricity in times of emergency.
6 Etna residents learn behavioral practices for reducing energy consumption.
6 Etna contains multiple innovative energy technologies, to act as a model for other Boroughs.
5 Photos by evolveEA & Robert Tuùón ENERGY | 11
Coal
Electricity
Natural gas
Oil
Solar
Nuclear
ETNA’S ENERGY CONTEXT The Pittsburgh region has a history of energy innovation. 12 | Etna EcoDistrict
Energy is largely invisible and not often at the forefront of our minds. We don’t often see it, hear it, or smell it, which leads to us often forgetting about it. However, energy is flowing all around us. It makes our cars go, heats our homes, creates light, and produces our goods. It also results in greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and depletes our natural resources. Oftentimes we do not think explicitly about energy unless we are paying our bills or we are experiencing life without it (such as a blackout). Since access to energy is now easier and cheaper than ever before, Americans are no longer as conscious about their energy consumption as generations past. In 2015, the United States accounted for 18% of the world’s total energy consumption - while only containing 4.4% of the world’s population. Energy consumption patterns have changed significantly over time as new energy sources have developed and as uses of energy have changed. Energy use in the United States has increased significantly over time due to population growth, economic growth, larger homes, people and goods traveling farther distances, more consumer goods, lower energy costs, and much more. However, as energy sources and costs continue to evolve, Americans are becoming ever more conscious and knowledgable about energy conservation and renewable energy sources.
The Pittsburgh region has played an important role in the evolution of energy sources over time. Coal. The first mining of bituminous coal in the nation took place on Coal Hill (Mt. Washington) in 1762. Oil. Until the early 1990s, the wells in and around Titusville, PA were responsible for half of the world’s oil production. Natural gas. George Westinghouse’s first venture with natural gas began in 1883 in his home in Point Breeze. Now, Marcellus Shale is the second biggest natural gas field in the world, running through the Pittsburgh region. Electricity. Westinghouse’s alternating current electricity made the production and transmission of electricity possible over vast areas. Nuclear. In 1957, the world’s first atomic power plant went online in Shippingport, PA. Energy innovation. Pittsburgh has found energy in unexpected places and can produce some of its own energy through renewable sources. This includes energy systems like wind energy, hydroelectric energy, and research and implementation of microgrids. Energy production is getting smaller too. Buildings are now being built to produce their own energy, which is demonstrated by several inspiring places in the Pittsburgh area.
Source: EIA, Popular Pittsburgh, Litvak, Anya. “Natural gas, coal have defined Pittsburgh’s history”, Historic Pittsburgh, Popular Pittsburgh, “The History of Standard Oil Company, Westinghouse Memorial, Library of Congress, Westinghouse Nuclear, Silver, PPG, “The Marcellus Boom”, The Vantage Point, Rye Development, Centralia, Pittsburgh Quarterly, Millvale Community Library, Phipps Conservatory, Sports and Exhibition Authority ENERGY | 13
SOLAR
PRIMARY ENERGY
NUCLEAR
0.11%
18.22%
HYDRO
0.55%
WIND
0.75%
GEOTHERMAL 0.05%
NATURAL GAS
27.82%
COAL
23.00%
BIOMASS
PETROLEUM
3.16%
26.34%
ETNA’S ENERGY SOURCES Etna’s energy comes from a variety of renewable and non-renewable sources. 14 | Etna EcoDistrict
SECONDARY ENERGY
PA’s energy consumption by source and sector (2014)
ELECTRICITY GENERATION 49.52%
ELECTRICITY EXPORTS
ENERGY LOST 62.09% RESIDENTIAL 13.87%
END USERS
COMMERCIAL 8.20%
INDUSTRIAL 24.00%
ENERGY USED 37.91%
TRANSPORTATION
20.82%
Pennsylvanians use energy from a variety of sources. The diagram above shows energy sources used in Pennsylvania along the left. These energy sources are referred to as “primary energy”. The diagram illustrates what proportion of
each primary energy source is used to make electricity (this is referred to as “secondary energy”), what proportion is used by the residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors (this is referred to as the “end user”), and what proportion is lost in production, transmission, and delivery.
Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2014, Energy Star ENERGY | 15
Marcellus shale
Natural gas rig
Coal
In Pennsylvania, 77.16% of the energy used comes from non-renewable sources.
In the Pittsburgh area, most of the natural gas comes from Marcellus Shale. Natural gas is the cleanest burning non-renewable energy source.
A non-renewable energy source is one that does not replenish itself at the same rate or faster rate than it is being used. In other words, once it has been used, it cannot be replaced for a very long time.
32% of natural gas consumption in PA goes towards electricity generation, 21% is consumed by homes, 14% by businesses, 30% by the industrial sector, and 3% by transportation.
Natural gas. Natural gas is the product of plants and animals that have been decaying for hundreds of thousands of years. Often found alongside oil reserves, it is produced by drilling deep into the earth’s crust and is brought up to the surface by a well or pump. Once processed, it is sent out through a series of pipelines to end users. 16 | Etna EcoDistrict
Coal. Coal contains the energy stored by plants that lived hundred of millions of years ago in swampy forests. Coal is classified into four main types that indicate the amount of carbon the coal contains and the amount of heat energy the coal can produce. Pennsylvania was the third-largest coal-producing state in the nation
Coal map of Pennsylvania Bituminous fields Anthracite fields
Oil and gas locations
in 2017 and the only state mining anthracite, which has a higher heat value than other types of coal. Bituminous coal is used to generate electricity and is an important fuel and raw material for making iron and steel. 78% of coal consumption in PA goes towards electricity generation, with the remainder consumed by the industrial sector. Crude oil and petroleum. Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that formed from plants and animals over millions of years ago. It exists in liquid form in underground pools or reservoirs. Petroleum products are fuels made from crude oil and other hydrocarbons contained in natural gas. Petroleum
Oil and gas map of Etna and surrounding areas Current or former oil and gas locations
products can also be made from coal, natural gas, and biomass. Pennsylvania contains the site of the first U.S. commercial oil well, founded in 1859. The state is home to nearly half of the East Coast’s refining capacity (spread among four refineries). In addition to local refineries, Pennsylvania receives refined products from Texas and by tanker and rail from the Gulf of Mexico. Petroleum is primarily used for transportation (69% of petroleum consumption in PA), with 9% consumed by homes, 2% by businesses, and 19% by the industrial sector.
Source: EIA, Asher, “The Works”, NRDC, PA Water Science Center, Lancaster Online, PASDA, PA DEP, ENERGY | 17
Solar
Nuclear
In Pennsylvania, 22.84% of the energy used comes from renewable sources. A renewable energy source is one that naturally replenishes itself and is virtually inexhaustible. Solar. Solar photovoltaic (PV) changes sunlight directly into electricity. Solar energy systems do not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide and have minimal effect on the environment. While solar produces less than 1% of Pennsylvania’s net electricity generation, the number of solar installations has increased. In 2017, 80% of the state’s net solar generation came from distributed (customer18 | Etna EcoDistrict
Hydro
sited, small-scale) generating facilities, such as rooftop solar PV, with capacities of less than 1 megawatt. Nuclear. Nuclear energy is energy located in the core of an atom. This energy can be released when the bonds within an atom are broken through nuclear fission. This energy can be used to produce electricity. This reaction is controlled in nuclear power plant reactors to produce a desired amount of heat. Uranium is the fuel most widely used by nuclear plants for nuclear fission. Even though it is commonly found in rocks worldwide, uranium is still considered a non-renewable source. In 2017, nuclear power was the largest electricity generator in the state. PA
PA Nuclear Power Plant locations
Wind
PA Hydroelectric Plant locations
ranks second in the nation for nuclear electricity generating capacity. Hydroelectric. Hydroelectric power is produced from moving water. The volume of the water flow and the change in elevation from one point to another determines the amount of available energy in moving water. In most systems, water flows through a pipe, then pushes against and turns the blades in a turbine to spin a generator to produce electricity. Until recently, most of Pennsylvania’s renewable electricity came from hydroelectric and biomass power plants, but last year wind generation surpassed hydro. Pennsylvania’s hydroelectric facilities are on average nearly 60 years old.
Wind. Wind flows over the blades of a wind turbine creating lift, which causes the blades to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator, which produces electricity. Wind power has grown to provide two-fifths (2/5th) of Pennsylvania’s renewable electricity generation, making it Pennsylvania’s largest renewable energy source. Pennsylvania now has 24 operating wind farms with nearly 1,400 megawatts of capacity. Geothermal and biomass are also renewable energy sources used in PA. Source: EIA, Millvale Community Library, Westinghouse Nuclear, North Country Public Radio, Sierra Club Lehigh ENERGY | 19
The biggest fuel source for electricity in the United States is
NATURAL GAS
Coal 30.4% Nuclear 19.8% Natural Gas 33.8%
The biggest fuel source for electricity in Pennsylvania is
NUCLEAR
Coal 38.0% Nuclear 38.5% Natural Gas 19.0%
The biggest fuel source for electricity in Etna is
COAL
Coal 60.0% Nuclear 25.7% Natural Gas 9.3%
Primary energy sources are used to produce electricity (secondary energy). The energy sources described on pages 14 - 17 are primary energy sources that can be used directly to power our cars, heat our homes, and produce goods. These primary energy sources can also be used to create electricity (secondary energy). 20 | Etna EcoDistrict
The type of primary energy used to create electricity varies depending on your location. The electricity grid does not adhere to municipal boundaries, which explains why Etna’s electricity is generated using a different proportion of primary energy sources than Pennsylvania and the United States. Etna is served by the RFCW (Ohio Valley) regional power grid. In the U.S. there are 26 power grid regions.
In Etna, when we use...
1
1
1
1
unit of NATURAL GAS at home
unit of ELECTRICITY FROM THE GRID at home
unit of SOLAR ELECTRICITY at home
unit of WIND ELECTRICITY at home
It takes this quantity of energy to get there...
1.05 units
3.14 units
1.00 unit
1.00 unit
of energy
of energy
of energy
of energy
This means that...
0.05 units
2.14 units
0 units
0 unit
are lost
are lost
are lost
are lost
In Pennsylvania, 62% of all energy that is generated or extracted is lost. A surprising amount of energy is lost or wasted between the point of extraction or generation and when the energy makes it to your home, business, manufacturer, or your
vehicle. Energy is lost when it is being produced, stored, transported, and delivered. The amount of energy lost compared to the amount of energy that is used by the end user varies depending on the type of primary or secondary energy and the location of the end user and location of extraction or production. Source: EPA Power Profiler, Energy Star, EIA ENERGY | 21
Building Use
ETNA’S ENERGY USE Homes, businesses, industry, and vehicles all use energy in Etna. 22 | Etna EcoDistrict
Building Use Residential Commercial Industrial
Buildings in Etna consume 261,767,273 kBTU annually. Residential
Industrial
Commercial
60%
23%
17%
# of buildings area of buildings 1,417 buildings
129 buildings
5 buildings
2,164,077 ft.2
638,849 ft.2
484,891 ft.2
Buildings in Etna spend $2,951,000 on energy annually. Residential
65%
Commercial
Ind.
29%
6%
$1,507,000
$592,000
$116,000
$420,000
$267,000
$49,000
$ spent on electricity $ spent on nat. gas
Residential buildings in Etna are the biggest consumers of energy compared to commercial and industrial buildings. Building energy consumption in Etna varies based on a number of factors. Etna contains many more residential buildings than commercial or industrial buildings, however, residential buildings typically consume less energy per square foot than commercial or industrial buildings. Building age, condition, and design all have an impact on energy consumption as well.
Residential buildings pay more for energy than commercial or industrial buildings. Energy rates differ by building use. For electricity, residential rates are higher than commercial or industrial rates. However, all electricity rates in Etna are lower than the average for Pennsylvania and for the U.S.. The close proximity to Marcellus Shale keeps natural gas prices low in Etna as well.
Source: Allegheny County, NREL SLED, 2013, CBECS 2012, RBECS 2015. ENERGY | 23
CLEAN ENERGY JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA (2018)
ENERGY COSTS
ETNA’S ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS
On average, Etna residents spend
5.2%
55,400 metric tons total
16 metric tons/person
of their annual household income on energy.
0.11 metric tons/MMBTU
EFFECTS OF OUR ENERGY CHOICES Our energy choices impact the environment, human health, the economy, and resilience. 24 | Etna EcoDistrict
Both non-renewable and renewable energy sources impact the environment and our health. All energy sources affect the environment. Combustion of coal, natural gas, oil, and biomass create air pollution that can have severe health impacts (see the Etna EcoDistrict Air Quality Booklet) and creates greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the acceleration and severity of climate change. The process of coal mining, drilling for natural gas and oil can pollute underground aquifers, affecting both human health and ecosystem health. These practices can also make the ground unstable, leading to earthquakes or building collapses. Drilling or mining for fossil fuels can lead to accidental spills, which depending on the location, can affect waterways, soil, and animals. Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste. Accidents involving nuclear power plants or the disposal of this waste can severely harm humans and animals. Hydroelectric plants can obstruct fish migration, change natural water temperatures and chemistry, and river flow characteristics, having a negative effect on local ecosystems.
The energy industry creates jobs and has a financial impact on families. According to the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Clean Jobs Report (2018), Pennsylvania ranks 11th in clean energy jobs among all 50 states (with 86,285 clean energy jobs in PA). Allegheny County leads the state with 11,720+ clean energy jobs. Even rural areas are seeing job
growth in the clean energy sector. Pennsylvania has 12,000 clean energy jobs located in rural areas. On average, Etna residents spend $1,962 on energy annually, which is 5.2% of the median household income. This compares to the average American, who only spends 3.5% of their household income on energy. Energy costs can be particularly burdensome for renters who pay their own utility bills and live in buildings that are not energy efficient.
Choices regarding energy can affect community resilience. Resilience is defined as a community’s ability to avoid or bounce back from an adverse event. Adverse events can include shocks (single event disasters), such as blackouts of the electrical grid, extreme weather, or toxic spills; and stresses (factors that put pressure on a city on a daily or reoccurring basis), such as rising costs, climate change, and poverty. A community’s decision about where their energy comes from may determine that community’s ability to thrive during a flood event, where flood waters could put an energy source at risk. Similarly, energy decisions about whether a community should acquire it’s energy from a regional source, or produce it’s own energy locally may affect the community’s ability to thrive during a regional blackout of the electrical grid.
Source: EPA, KEEA, 2018 Clean Jobs Pennsylvania Report, ESRI, Consumer Expenditures Surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013-14, Grosvenor Report, 100 Resilient Cities, NREL SLED
ENERGY | 25
ETNA’S ENERGY INITIATIVES We have done some amazing things with energy in Etna! 26 | Etna EcoDistrict
Garden of Etna Solar Canopy & Solar Tour
Solar Ordinance
A project of the Triboro Ecodistrict, EIS Solar has installed a 7.08 kW array of solar panels that sits on top of a newly constructed carport adjacent to the Garden of Etna. The solar array is estimated to produce 7,602 kWh annually, which is slightly less than what the average American home consumes in one year. The solar array provides electricity to the Garden so that decorative lighting and equipment can be plugged in and on-site cooking demonstrations can be given. The solar array also powers an electric car charging station that is located under the carport. The Garden of Etna participated in PennFuture’s 2018 Solar Tour. This tour was an opportunity to bring people to Etna who are interested in learning about solar energy, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the great work being done at the Garden.
Solar United Neighbors Solar Co-op The Solar Co-op, now being offered in Etna, is an opportunity for Etna residents to purchase solar energy as part of a group. By participating, homeowners can receive a lower cost on their solar panels.
Etna Borough has passed an ordinance that provides regulations for the installation of solar devices for homeowners. The ordinance streamlines the process, making it easier for homeowners and installers.
LED Streetlight Conversion In an effort to save energy and costs, the Borough converted 52 streetlight fixtures from 150 watt high-pressure sodium bulbs to 106 watt LED fixtures. LED fixtures are brighter, cheaper, use less energy, and last longer than typical lightbulbs. The project was implemented as a pilot program through Duquesne Light and will save the Borough $960 annually, not including savings from reduced maintenance and bulb replacement.
Duquesne Light Watt Choices As Duquesne Light customers, Etna residents have access to several free or reduced price programs through Duquesne Light’s Watt Choices program. This includes an online home energy audit, free energy efficiency kit, appliance recycling, and online energy brochure. Visit Duquesne Light’s Watt Choices website for more information.
Source: EIS Solar, Solar United Neighbors, Etna Borough ENERGY | 27
HOW YOU CAN HELP! Here are five things you can do tomorrow... 28 | Etna EcoDistrict
1. Measure your home’s energy consumption.
Track your monthly energy bills to understand how much energy your home is using and how it is using it. This will also help you determine when your home is consuming more energy than is normal, which may be a sign of a problem.
2. Perform a home energy audit.
Local organizations perform energy audits for a fee and Duquesne Light offers an online audit for free. An energy audit will help you determine low and no cost improvements you can make to your home that can decrease energy consumption by up to 30%.
3. Switch to renewable energy.
Engage a local solar installer for a free consultation to determine if your roof is a good candidate for solar. If it is not a good candidate or it is financially out of reach, consider using a website such as Green Mountain Energy to purchase green energy through your existing utility company.
4. Upgrade, tune up, and/or change the filters on your HVAC system.
Ensure that your heating, ventilation, and/or cooling system is working optimally. It will use less energy and provide a more comfortable environment for your family.
5. Weatherize your home.
Older homes can be drafty and expensive to heat and cool. Improve your home’s efficiency for a low cost by insulating your attic, weatherstripping doors, and caulking around windows. ENERGY | 29
ETNA ECODISTRICT Cover Photo: Solar Canopy at Garden of Etna. Photo by Robert Tuñón. Funding provided by Henry L. Hillman Foundation. The Etna EcoDistrict is supported by
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