SoCalGas praises US Green Building Council for incorporating RNG in rating system
SoCalGas has praised the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for including the use of RNG in the latest beta version of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system.
LEED, a certification programme created by USGBC, provides a framework for healthy, highly-efficient, and cost-saving green building.
With the new system, a project may utilise RNG to earn LEED points by capturing and using biogas on-site, sourcing biogas from a third party, or purchasing biogas to store in the project’s own storage system.
The RNG can be used for heating, hot water, and cooking in commercial buildings, and for stoves, dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, and heating in homes. The number of LEED points determines the level of LEED certification the project can achieve.
“RNG is the only renewable energy source that can be carbon-negative and can be used in all the same ways as traditional natural gas,” said SoCalGas’ vice-president of strategy and sustainability, and chief environmental officer, Jawaad Malik.
“RNG essentially recycles waste, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions produced by that waste, and putting it to good use.
“RNG is a highly efficient way to decarbonise buildings and allows home and commercial building owners to use a green fuel while still using gas appliances, which is often the preferred solution.
“SoCalGas’ investment in both RNG and hydrogen will play a key role in helping California meet its environmental goals.”
Julia Levin, executive director of the Bioenergy Association of California, said: “We are very pleased that the U.S. Building Council has recognised RNG in its latest LEED green building standards.
“RNG can provide the lowest carbon fuel of any kind; it can replace diesel in backup generators, and it makes local communities more resilient since RNG is available even when the electricity grid is down.”
LEED, a certification programme created by USGBC, provides a framework for healthy, highly-efficient, and cost-saving green building.
With the new system, a project may utilise RNG to earn LEED points by capturing and using biogas on-site, sourcing biogas from a third party, or purchasing biogas to store in the project’s own storage system.
The RNG can be used for heating, hot water, and cooking in commercial buildings, and for stoves, dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, and heating in homes. The number of LEED points determines the level of LEED certification the project can achieve.
“RNG is the only renewable energy source that can be carbon-negative and can be used in all the same ways as traditional natural gas,” said SoCalGas’ vice-president of strategy and sustainability, and chief environmental officer, Jawaad Malik.
“RNG essentially recycles waste, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions produced by that waste, and putting it to good use.
“RNG is a highly efficient way to decarbonise buildings and allows home and commercial building owners to use a green fuel while still using gas appliances, which is often the preferred solution.
“SoCalGas’ investment in both RNG and hydrogen will play a key role in helping California meet its environmental goals.”
Julia Levin, executive director of the Bioenergy Association of California, said: “We are very pleased that the U.S. Building Council has recognised RNG in its latest LEED green building standards.
“RNG can provide the lowest carbon fuel of any kind; it can replace diesel in backup generators, and it makes local communities more resilient since RNG is available even when the electricity grid is down.”
