Volume 15, Issue 81 | September 10, 2018

Back to (an Energy Efficient) School

Achieving Zero Energy in the Classroom

Back-to-school season is upon us. Teachers and students are preparing to enter a new classroom and in some cases, a zero energy school building. A zero energy school operates on energy that is less than or equal to the onsite renewable energy produced.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the K-12 sector in the United States spends $6 billion annually on energy bills, which is more than textbooks and computers combined. Zero energy design and construction provides an opportunity to decrease spending on operation and maintenance of facilities, which can provide savings for reinvestment in the classroom.

The Department of Energy is working with K-12 schools to create facilities run on renewable energy while providing a comfortable and inspiring learning environment for teachers and students. The DOE’s Zero Energy Schools Accelerator, for example, provides school districts with resources on how to achieve zero energy within the construction budget of a conventional school. The Technical Feasibility Study for Zero Energy K-12 Schools shows how all schools across the country can achieve zero energy with today’s technologies, regardless of climate zone. 

Zero energy design and construction strategies serve as an opportunity for to school districts to promote fiscal responsibility while redirecting saved tax dollars to improvements that benefit students, teachers, and the districts as a whole.

For information on how WGL Energy can help your school become more energy efficient, click here or call us at 1-844-4ASK-WGL. 

Editor's Note

Temperatures Expected to Remain Above Normal

Weekly review for September 02, 2018 – September 8, 2018

On Thursday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported working gas in storage as of Friday, August 31, 2018 was 2,568 BCF. This is an increase of 63 BCF from the previous week. Inventories are currently 643 BCF lower than last year during the same period and 590 BCF below the 5-year average of 3,158 BCF.  

Temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout the 14-day forecast period, potentially perpetuating the anemic gas storage situation as fuel is routed to supply generation.

Forward markets decreased this week as the PJM West Hub 12-month curve dropped 1.1% and the NYMEX natural gas 12-month curve fell 3.7%.      

The following table shows the highest peak loads recorded for the summer through September 5, per PJM’s preliminary estimates:

This past week's market information is provided as a courtesy to our customers and is not indicative of, nor should be relied upon, as representative of future transactions.

Energy Management

WGL Energy Issues Notices Regarding Peak Electricity Usage

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, WGL Energy Services, Inc. (WGL Energy) issued an important notice to customers recommending they reduce electricity usage on Tuesday during the afternoon hours between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 5 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is the thirteenth advisory issued by WGL Energy this summer, and is intended to alert customers of potential peak load periods.

High temperatures can impact the cost of your Capacity Peak Load Contribution (PLC). Your PLC can influence 10-30% of your electricity bill, so by lowering your PLC this summer you will be able to reduce your PLC and overall electricity costs for a full 12-month period starting next summer (June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020).

A copy of this notice is included below. If you did not receive your email copy, please contact your business development manager and ask to be included in the distribution of future notices. For a summary of notices issued during 2018, please visit our website.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Electricity Use Reduction Recommendation

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - From 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 - From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5 – High temperatures could impact your Capacity Peak Load Contribution (PLC) and future electricity costs. There is a likelihood that an hour between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4 and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5 will end up as one or more of the five highest peak loads of the year.

About PLC

Effective June 1 of every year, each building is assigned a PLC number by its utility. This number is based on the peak usage, which is calculated using five hours from the prior year with the highest system demand, excluding holiday weekdays and weekends. (Note: The selected hours come from five different 24-hour periods.) Peak usage generally occurs on the five hottest days of the year – and this summer's usage will affect the PLC for next summer.

Our Recommendation

We recommend that, whenever possible, you reduce your electricity usage from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4 and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5. Your PLC can influence 10-30% of your electricity bill, so by lowering your PLC this summer you will be able to reduce your PLC and overall electricity costs for a full twelve-month period starting next summer (June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020).

If you have any questions, please contact your business development manager. 

These conditions change periodically and we will send updates as information becomes available.

Weather

Local Cooling Degree Days*

*Cooling degree days are calculated by comparing the day’s average temperature to a 65 degree baseline.  If the day’s average temperature is below 65, there are no cooling degree days that day.  If the average temperature is greater than 65 degrees, then subtract 65 from the average temperature to find the number of cooling degree days.