New DOE Building Guidance Sidelines Natural Gas
For decades we’ve relied on natural gas to fuel our homes, businesses and other buildings that support our everyday lives. It’s also clear Americans view natural gas as a vital energy source. Nonetheless, federal regulators continue to encumber its use, limiting reliable energy options for consumers and businesses. To effectively and efficiently reduce GHG emissions, the U.S. construction sector and its stakeholders must have reliable, resilient and cost-effective consumer energy choices.
The latest attempt to move away from natural gas comes in the form of a new “National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building” from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Unfortunately, the new definition, which would prohibit the onsite combustion of fuels in all future commercial or residential building construction that adopts DOE’s definition of zero-emissions, would in turn preclude the use of the very fuels that will continue to help our nation achieve its energy and environment goals. This step, focused on energy source rather than emissions, will prohibit use of some of the most promising decarbonization technologies available to us today, things like renewable natural gas, green hydrogen, or other zero-carbon fuels. and New “zero-emissions” buildings can only meet the definition’s requirements using all-electric applications.
By limiting commercial and residential fuel choices, DOE is leaving valuable decarbonization tools on the table. Limiting natural gas usage will also threaten the resilience of hospitals, which often rely on natural gas combined heat and power generators for emergencies, and critical defense infrastructure.
Current research demonstrates the critical long-term role of natural gas and other fuels in achieving U.S. environmental goals, including decarbonization and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Last year’s GTI Energy’s ‘Designs for Net-Zero Energy Systems’ report concluded that natural gas and liquids remain integral in all building sector scenarios to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
While this definition is intended to be guidance, not a rule, stakeholders may choose to adopt and incorporate this definition into their building codes. As a result, the building sector will be forced to rely on electricity, which is more expensive for consumers and less reliable for industry. Natural gas has been one of the most significant drivers in bringing down emissions for our nation. Continuing on that path is important, but any effort to do so should be driven by data versus the political motivations with this move to drive electrification, and in turn higher consumer costs without the environmental gain. T
DOE’s arguments in support of the new definition fall flat. Natural gas utilities are working to implement ambitious emissions reductions goals, saving 1.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency programs in 2020. Since 1990, emissions from natural gas distribution systems have decreased by 70% and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are at a 40-year low. Today, Energy Star natural gas households can have a carbon footprint that is 16% lower than an Energy Star heat pump and 28% lower emissions compared to an electrical resistance furnace. Attempting to force customers away from natural gas is a setback for decarbonization.
Nonetheless, while natural gas continues to play a vital role in advancing U.S. climate and energy security goals, attempts to curb the use of this reliable, affordable fuel source through any means possible mount without acknowledgement of the potential fallbacks.
To effectively and efficiently reduce GHG emissions, the U.S. construction sector and its stakeholders must have reliable, resilient and cost-effective consumer energy choices. If American consumers are forced to rely only on electricity to meet their energy needs, net-zero emissions goals risk being pushed out of reach.
Limiting access to this critical fuel source, whether through a regulation, proposed rule, legislation or even a definition, is counterproductive to our shared emissions reductions goals, and would raise costs for consumers while compromising reliability. DOE should focus on ensuring the U.S. construction sector and its stakeholders have access to reliable, resilient and cost-effective consumer energy choices as we work towards a net-zero future.