GHG Emissions | Page 301

Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC) announced its commitment to achieving carbon neutral operations by year end 2020. Through programs instituted by the company, KRC will reach Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon neutrality, exceeding its goals previously validated by Science-Based Targets.

United Airlines announced on Sept. 13 a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 from a 2005 baseline, the equivalent of removing 4.5 million vehicles from the road each year.

The J.M. Smucker Company announced a 9.9% decline in absolute GHG emissions in 2017 from a 2014 baseline, while GHG emissions intensity was reduced by 7%.

Kaiser Permanente announced on September 10 that it will become the largest renewable energy purchaser in the U.S. healthcare sector with the signing of a PPA for 180 MW of clean energy. The purchase will also enable the company to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral in 2020.

Ingersoll Rand new solar array is now online at its 430,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Trenton, N.J. The 1,990 kW GE Solar PV power system will provide 49M kWh of power and is expected to reduce nearly 35,600 metric tons of GHG emissions over the 20-year lifespan of the system.

Facebook has committed to a 2020 deadline for reducing its GHG emissions by 75% and powering its global operation with 100% renewable energy. The company’s earlier goal of supporting 50% of its facilities with RE by 2018, set in 2015, was achieved one year early at 51% in 2017.

The University of Richmond (UR) announced on August 27 that it will become the first institution of higher learning in the southeast to match 100% of its electricity needs with solar energy thanks to a PPA for a 20-megawatt solar energy facility known as Spider Solar, named for the school’s mascot.

Mayors from 19 cities around the world signed a pledge to enact regulations and/or planning policy to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 and all buildings by 2050. The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration is an initiative of C40 Cities.

New artificial intelligence software being implemented at Google data centers is expected to not only reduce the need for human monitoring of its cooling systems but also to increase the energy efficiency of these sites.