Texans are increasingly adopting microgrids as a solution to frequent winter power outages, driven by extreme weather events and grid reliability concerns. Unlike generators, micr
Thermal Energy Networks Are the Next Big Thing
Thermal energy networks, or neighborhood-wide ground-source heat pump systems, are emerging as a revolutionary approach to decarbonizing heating and cooling. These systems use interconnected geothermal loops to distribute heating and cooling more efficiently than individual systems, providing savings and grid stability. HEET’s Zeyneb Magavi and Eversource’s Eric Bosworth discussed Massachusetts’ pilot projects, highlighting benefits like energy efficiency, local energy independence, and reduced carbon emissions. The concept allows natural gas utilities to transition into thermal utilities, leveraging existing expertise and infrastructure. Early pilots show promise, with systems operating at a COP of 5+, doubling efficiency compared to air-source heat pumps. Expansion hurdles include high upfront costs, regulatory barriers, and workforce development. However, with supportive legislation in eight states and growing interest nationwide, thermal energy networks could play a crucial role in sustainable urban energy solutions.
Chicago’s municipal buildings, including airports and water treatment plants, now run entirely on renewable energy, powered by the new Double Black Diamond Solar Farm in Illinois.
In Mexico, extreme heat disproportionately affects young people, with workers aged 18–34 and children under 5 facing the highest heat-related mortality rates. A study analyzing 73
Thermal energy networks, or neighborhood-wide ground-source heat pump systems, are emerging as a revolutionary approach to decarbonizing heating and cooling. These systems use int
Texas’s rapid population growth and infrastructure demands pose challenges for equitable development. With $104 billion allocated in the 2025 United Transportation Program, the Te
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act, requiring fossil fuel companies to pay $75 billion over 25 years for climate damage repair and resilience p
Battery storage for clean energy surged in 2024, with U.S. capacity increasing by 71% to 24 gigawatt-hours. Batteries help reduce reliance on polluting "peaker" plants by storing
Brooklyn homeowners in historically disinvested neighborhoods are benefitting from EnergyFit, a program retrofitting two- and three-family homes with energy-efficient upgrades.
A new study in *Nature Cities* highlights a worsening water crisis in U.S. urban centers, where over 500,000 households lack running water due to "plumbing poverty." Factors inclu
A growing number of houses of worship in Southern California are installing solar panels to reduce energy costs and promote environmental stewardship. Facilities like Temple Emanu
Plans for the largest U.S. trash incinerator in Miami-Dade County face backlash from civil rights and environmental groups. Protesters argue that proposed sites disproportionately
President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees signal a sharp turn toward fossil fuel expansion and climate deregulation. Key figures, including fracking executive Chris Wright f
A $200 billion surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects could release greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of all global coal plants, raising significa
During his final overseas trip as president, Joe Biden highlighted the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile U.S.-funded railway project in Angola connecting critical mineral-rich regions
Startups like Still Bright, Ceibo, and Jetti Resources are developing cleaner copper extraction technologies to meet surging demand driven by the energy transition. Innovations in