Microgrids Are Changing the Energy Game for More Property Owners

Presented by Thalo Labs

Propmodo Technology

By Franco Faraudo · November 11, 2024

Greetings,

This week, Propmodo Technology is diving into facility management tech with the help of our friends at Thalo Labs. Learn how Thalo Labs' advanced sensing technology can help you detect HVAC issues early, prevent downtime, and save over $60,000 annually.

Well, the election is behind us now and the unexpected outcome has left some big question marks when it comes to the future of facilities management. Previously the focus of the industry had been on decarbonization, spurred by local mandates, federal incentives, and new SEC reporting requirements. But now a Trump Whitehouse will have different priorities than the Biden administration and could cause some real estate owners to pause on their facility upgrades…at least until they know what the new president’s priorities will be.

Local mandates, particularly in states run by Democrats, are unlikely to be rolled back as Republicans have historically given states more authority to regulate their own businesses. But any Federal regulations are almost certainly going to change come January. Trump has already promised to take back the money that has been put behind Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, much of which is earmarked for energy and carbon reduction retrofits.

Some states are even going as far as to pass bills that preempt any local bans on natural gas usage. A recent study published in Nature tracks where and when these rules get passed and they seem to be correlated with support for President Elect Trump, “Looking at results from the 2020 presidential election, 22 of the 26 states that passed preemption laws voted in the majority for Donald Trump in the 2020 election.”

Manufacturers and installers of heat pumps have been one of the largest benefactors of the Inflation Reduction Act. Ending the incentive will slow down the booming industry but in the short term the possible termination of the subsidies could push more property owners to take advantage of the program while there is still time.

Energy transition and reduction efforts might also be slowed down with a Trump presidency. Citi forecasts a drop in oil and natural gas prices due to an increase in national production and Trump’s favorable relationship with OPEC nations such as Russia. Cheaper natural gas would make it less economically viable to replace gas powered boilers and furnaces and might significantly slow down building electrification.

Even if fossil fuels are still used in large buildings, there are still ways to keep the carbon that they produce out of the atmosphere. Other industries have already been experimenting in carbon capture technology and advances, like new solvents, are providing hope that there could be a way to decarbonize our buildings even without more renewable energy production.

Here are some of the most important stories around facility management technology.

Let’s go!

Presented by Thalo Labs

Advanced Sensing is Changing the Game for HVAC Equipment Management

Facilities Managers are under increasing pressure to reduce costs, meet emissions regulations, and keep HVAC systems running efficiently. Yet, without proactive insights, maintenance issues often go unnoticed until they escalate, wasting energy and driving up repair costs.

Today’s advanced sensing technology is changing that, allowing Facilities Managers to catch refrigerant leaks and performance issues before they affect operations. Thalo Labs is at the forefront of this innovation, offering non-invasive, NASA-grade sensing and analytics technology that detects leaks early and monitors core HVAC performance in real time. In a recent deployment, Thalo’s advanced sensing helped prevent downtime and is projected to save over $60,000 in annual energy costs.

Curious about your own potential savings? Try Thalo’s savings calculator to see the impact proactive HVAC management could have on your facility.

Bytes

Standing on standards
The U.S. Green Building Council has released a statement about the results of the election. The organization hopes that businesses will now take the lead in demonstrating leadership on climate change and their new LEED standards remain focused on carbon reduction an adopt a more holistic view that incorporates things like sustainable transportation solutions and circular economy principles.

Looking older every day
A new nano-optical sensors has been able to detect deterioration in structures by the coloration of the building materials alone, eliminating the need for specialized tests, according to a new study.

More Propmodo Technology

Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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