Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
GOALS AND STRATEGIES <br /> ft, �, B U I LT E , \ • , 1I <br /> Following transportation, commercial buildings contribute the second <br /> highest emission percentage at 34%. The next greatest contributor is <br /> residential energy which emits 19%of the total. <br /> Buildings offer a unique opportunity to transition to a low carbon future. <br /> Buildings can reduce emissions in two ways. First, the energy efficiency <br /> of buildings can be improved. This reduces the need for carbon emitting <br /> energy from both electricity and natural gas. Second, gas-use equipment <br /> can be switched to electrical in both commercial and residential buildings. <br /> As utilities transition to 100% carbon-free renewable energy sources, <br /> building energy use will gradually become carbon free as a result. <br /> To effectively manage the transition from gas to electric, electricity <br /> demand considerations should be kept in mind. As natural gas powered <br /> equipment is transitioned to electric equipment, the community will <br /> face changing electricity load patterns. These should be monitored, and <br /> planned for. Another consideration relates transportation strategies to <br /> electricity demand. For example, as the County and community transition <br /> their vehicles from internal combustion to all electric (EVs), EV charging C <br /> stations may create spikes in energy usage for commercial and residential <br /> buildings. A concerted effort will need to be made on both the supply <br /> and demand side to ensure the transition to renewables is happening in a <br /> balanced way. <br /> CO-BENEFITS KEY00 @Go <br /> GHG COST COMMUNITY EFFECTS ON ALIGNMENT WITH EQUITY& <br /> REDUCTION EFFECTIVENESS BENEFITS THE ECONOMY STATE/LOCAL CLIMATE JUSTICE <br /> POLICIES <br /> 46 2023 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA <br />