How Vicinity Drives Sustainability in the Local Community Transitioning to this renewable source will cut emissions by an additional 12K tons of carbon annually and recycle 600,000 gallons of waste oil that would otherwise go to a landfill or clog up city sewers. Vicinity announced in early 2022 that its leveraging biogenic fuel created from waste vegetable oil and fats from the local food service industry in its operations. As Vicinity’s Environment, Health and Safety and Green Solutions Manager Jessica Hartley explains, “we’re already a green energy provider and plan to get greener as part of our Clean Energy Future plan, including integrating renewable heating oil into our operations last year and exploring electrification of the district energy system.”Īlthough district energy systems often run on natural gas, more and more are transitioning to take advantage of lower-carbon alternatives, including local renewable fuels and power sources. The system currently reduces the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 300,000 tons annually – the equivalent of taking 65,000 cars off the road. Locally, Vicinity has invested $300 million in its district energy infrastructure. With a Philadelphia location at 2600 Christian Street, Vicinity centrally produces and distributes steam and chilled water to over 100 million square feet in the City of Brotherly love. Like the City of Philadelphia, Vicinity Energy also has a zero-carbon emissions goal by 2050. What is district energy? District energy consists of a network of robust underground pipes that deliver thermal energy – steam, hot or chilled water – from a central facility to multiple buildings, often in a downtown “district.” Rather than have commercial buildings rely on their boiler and chiller plants, this hidden underground energy resource improves overall energy efficiency, lowers the carbon footprint, and increases reliability. Philadelphia is home to one of the largest district energy systems in the country and plays a significant role in delivering clean energy and carbon reductions in the City. How will the City reach its carbon neutrality goal? You may be familiar with wind and solar energy as a clean energy source, but you might not know about district energy. District Energy: Using Restaurant Waste Cooking Oil to Heat the City
Since 70% of Philadelphia’s carbon footprint is from buildings (especially the HVAC & lighting), that means it’s essential to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. Philadelphia kicked off the Hunting Park “ Beat the Heat” plan in 2018 for this very reason: to help residents cope with already-hotter temperatures. Increased carbon emissions is also a climate justice issue: low-income and communities of color are the most impacted by climate stressors like hotter temperatures and health problems.
Here’s how one company is working alongsize the cityĬarbon reduction is vital in the City to meet the Paris Climate agreement and lessen the impacts of climate change in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has an ambitious goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
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