{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"geography":["Ithaca"]},"warnings":[]},"total":{"value":6,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?geography=Ithaca","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"rmi-000698","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/rmi-000698","title":"How “Digital Twins” Are Enabling City-Wide Electrification","publisher":{"name":"RMI","organization":"rmi"},"document_type":"case study","language":"en","date_published":"2024-09-27","source_url":"https://rmi.org/resources/how-digital-twins-are-enabling-city-wide-electrification/","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The City of Ithaca collaborated with Cornell University and RMI to model 5,468 buildings using a combination of the Urban Building Energy Model (UBEM) and the Green Upgrade Calculator (GUC). The analysis found that combining air-source heat pumps with envelope improvements and rooftop solar significantly reduces operating costs and electricity demand. The study identifies residential homes in low-income communities and certain downtown commercial buildings as high-priority targets for cost-effective decarbonization.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000698#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Prioritizing building envelope improvements (such as insulation and window upgrades) before or alongside the installation of air-source heat pumps (ASHP) is essential for cost-effectiveness in cold climates like Ithaca. Without envelope improvements, monthly energy costs for commercial and residential buildings are modeled to increase by an average of $43; however, combining ASHP with envelope improvements reduces monthly operating expenses by an average of $330.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000698#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Improving the building envelope reduces the required size of heating equipment from an average of 3.5 tons to 2 tons and limits the increase in community-wide electricity demand in an all-electric scenario to approximately 13%, compared to an increase of over 33% if no insulation improvements are made.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000698#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Integrating rooftop solar with ASHP and envelope improvements significantly increases annual savings for property owners. For a pre-1980 townhome heated by natural gas, adding ASHP and envelope improvements saves $45 annually, but adding solar panels to that combination increases annual energy cost savings to approximately $1,742.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000698#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The analysis identifies two primary high-priority building types for decarbonization: residential homes in low-to-moderate-income (LMI) communities, which offer high cost-benefit ratios due to the potential for complementary funding and the high impact of envelope improvements in older homes, and certain commercial buildings in the downtown area that offer high emissions reduction opportunities due to their large floor areas and high energy consumption.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"rmi-000698#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Building electrification","decarbonization","energy efficiency","building envelope","rooftop photovoltaic system","commercial building"],"geography_discussed":["United States","New York"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study","energy modeling"]},{"id":"earjust-002397","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/earjust-002397","title":"TESTIMONY OF EARTHJUSTICE BEFORE THE JOINT HEARING OF THE SENATE FINANCE AND ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY BUDGET PROPOSALS","publisher":{"name":"Earthjustice","organization":"earthjustice"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2024-02-07","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2.7.24earthjusticebudgettestimony.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"Earthjustice urges New York State to increase funding for water infrastructure and environmental protection while accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to electricity. The testimony specifically advocates for the NY HEAT Act to downsize the gas system, the RAPID Act to speed up electric transmission, and the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill to electrify bus fleets. It also calls for urgent action on childhood lead poisoning and the reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while opposing 'false solutions' like hydrogen and renewable natural gas.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Earthjustice argues that the Governor's proposed $250 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA) is insufficient, calling for a minimum of $600 million to address over $80 billion in water infrastructure needs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The testimony advocates for the NY HEAT Act to align gas utility regulations with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), specifically by eliminating the \"100-foot rule\" which costs ratepayers an estimated $200 million annually.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice identifies a critical need for $100 million for the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, noting that the program has not distributed new grants since 2019 and that there are at least 500,000 lead service lines statewide.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document supports the RAPID Act to accelerate electric transmission siting, which is described as essential for meeting the state's goal of 70% renewable electricity by 2030.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice opposes the use of hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG) as climate solutions, labeling them \"false solutions\" due to high emissions and inefficiency; for instance, hydrogen combustion can produce NOx emissions at six times the rate of methane.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The testimony calls for the passage of the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill to phase out new fossil fuel transit bus purchases starting in 2029 to achieve a zero-emissions fleet.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The document highlights that agriculture is responsible for 6% of New York's total greenhouse gas emissions, with 92% of those emissions coming from livestock.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice opposes proposed changes to greenhouse gas accounting that would shift methane emission tracking from a 20-year to a 100-year timeframe, arguing this would undercount methane's climate impacts.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The testimony urges the adoption of the Clean Deliveries Act to regulate emissions from e-commerce mega-warehouses, noting that 25% of New Yorkers live within 0.5 miles of such a facility.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Earthjustice recommends maintaining the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) at $400 million and rejecting a proposal to offload $25 million for agency staffing costs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"earjust-002397#insight-10","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["greenhouse gas emissions","energy transition","Building electrification","natural gas","electric power transmission","renewable energy","zero-emissions vehicle","hydrogen","renewable natural gas","water distribution system","environmental justice","climate finance"],"geography_discussed":["New York City","Buffalo","Long Island","Troy","Newburgh","Ilion","Ithaca","New Paltz","Lockport"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","budgetary recommendation"]},{"id":"seforall-000326","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/seforall-000326","title":"MAKING ‘24/7 CARBON-FREE ENERGY’ A REALITY","publisher":{"name":"Sustainable Energy for All","organization":"sustainable-energy-for-all"},"document_type":"case study","language":"en","date_published":"2023-04","source_url":"https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2023-06/rm-case-study-carbon-free-energy-005_0.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (24/7 CFE) Compact, launched in September 2021 at the United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Energy, aims to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels by moving beyond annual renewable energy matching to hourly, real-time matching of demand and carbon-free supply. Coordinated by SEforALL with support from Google, the Compact has grown to over 120 signatories, including governments, private companies, and academic institutions. The initiative supports a technology-inclusive approach, prioritizing storage, demand-side management, and the development of Granular Certificates to drive investment. Current and future efforts include a global study on policy and regulatory reforms to empower consumers and a working group exploring the role of green hydrogen in achieving 24/7 CFE.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (24/7 CFE) approach differs from traditional renewable energy procurement by matching demand with carbon-free power sources in real time—every hour, day, and location—rather than relying on annual demand matching, which can still leave room for fossil fuel-based power when hourly demand exceeds supply.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Launched in September 2021 at the United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Energy, the 24/7 CFE Compact has expanded to over 120 signatories. Founding members included the government of Iceland, the US cities of Des Moines and Ithaca, and companies such as Google, Microsoft, AES Corporation, EDP, Eurelectric, Orsted, and Statkraft; recent additions include the governments of Panama and Vanuatu and Stanford University.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The Compact utilizes a technology-inclusive platform that supports all energy sources without direct carbon emissions, alongside smart grid and metering solutions. To maximize system impact, the initiative prioritizes demand-side management, storage, and the procurement of clean energy on the same grids where consumption occurs to address the 'dirtiest' hours of electricity use.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"SEforALL, acting as the Secretariat with support from Google, is pursuing several next steps: launching a global study on policy and regulatory reforms to increase energy efficiency and consumer data access, and establishing a working group with Princeton University, Energy Tag, and the Natural Resources Defense Council to investigate the role of green hydrogen in 24/7 CFE.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The initiative aims to use Granular Certificates as tradeable instruments to create price signals that drive investment into the technologies required for 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"seforall-000326#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Grid decarbonization","power purchase agreement","smart grid","energy storage","demand-side management","green hydrogen","energy efficiency"],"geography_discussed":["Iceland","Des Moines","Ithaca","Panama","Vanuatu","Scotland"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["case study"]},{"id":"climcent-000312","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/climcent-000312","title":"CLIMATE CENTRAL SOLUTIONS BRIEF: CLIMATE-FRIENDLY HOMES","publisher":{"name":"Climate Central","organization":"climate-central"},"document_type":"briefing","language":"en","date_published":"2021-11-17","source_url":"https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/3yGpe3Ig4qRJBtLlFk9pSl/4fe232569a5b527c41a21664f8789084/Climate_Central_Solutions_Brief_Climate-friendly_Homes.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document argues that electrifying homes and businesses is a critical pathway to net-zero emissions, noting that these buildings account for 13% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights high-efficiency heat pumps, smart thermostats, and weatherization as key upgrades that can reduce emissions and lower utility bills. The brief emphasizes that while individual actions are important, systemic support through government incentives, building codes, and financing is necessary to overcome barriers, particularly for low-income households and renters in multifamily housing.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Commercial and residential buildings in the U.S. were responsible for 13% of total heat-trapping emissions in 2019, with on-site emissions increasing by 8% since 1990.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Within the residential sector, space heating and cooling are the largest sources of CO2 emissions at 38%, followed by cooking, appliances, electronics, and lighting at 24%, and water heating at 15%.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Adopting cost-effective efficiency measures in single-family homes could save 22% of their electricity use (approximately 6% of total U.S. energy use) and reduce their annual carbon emissions by 24%, or 291 million metric tons of CO2e.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"High-efficiency heat pumps are identified as a primary solution for decarbonization; air-source models can reduce electricity use by 50% compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters, while a study in California showed they can reduce lifetime GHG emissions by 46-54% over natural gas alternatives.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Smart thermostats could potentially avoid 7.0–7.4 gigatons of CO2 emissions if adoption grew from 3% to 60% of internet-connected U.S. households by 2050, with some users seeing energy bill drops of 10-12% for heating and 15% for cooling.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Electrification and efficiency improvements provide significant health benefits by reducing indoor pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2); for example, children in homes with gas stoves have a 42% higher risk of asthma symptoms.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Multifamily housing presents a significant opportunity for energy reduction, as efficiency measures could cut electricity use by at least 15% and provide up to $8 billion in savings, though renters face barriers due to the lack of landlord incentives.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The U.S. government has provided financial support for these transitions, including $3.5 billion for low-income home weatherization and over $1 billion for building energy codes and worker training via a November 2021 infrastructure bill.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"climcent-000312#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Building electrification","energy efficiency","greenhouse gas emissions","heat pump","carbon neutrality","renewable energy","indoor air quality","climate finance","building code","multifamily residential","energy poverty"],"geography_discussed":["Florida","Vermont","Maine","California","Texas","Ithaca"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["policy analysis","technological assessment"]},{"id":"eesi-000194","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/eesi-000194","title":"What is District Energy?","publisher":{"name":"Environmental and Energy Study Institute","organization":"environmental-and-energy-study-institute"},"document_type":"fact sheet","language":"en","date_published":"2011-09","source_url":"https://www.eesi.org/files/district_energy_factsheet_092311.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"District energy systems provide centralized heating and cooling to multiple buildings via underground pipes, utilizing sources such as combined heat and power (CHP) plants, waste heat, and renewables. In the United States, over 700 such systems exist, offering benefits like reduced fuel consumption, lower peak electrical demand, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. While high upfront infrastructure costs can be a barrier, examples from universities and city centers demonstrate significant energy savings and carbon reductions.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"District energy systems centralize heating and cooling for multiple buildings using underground pipes to distribute steam, hot water, or chilled water, which is more efficient than installing separate systems in every building.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Combined heat and power (CHP) plants, also known as cogeneration plants, are common energy sources for these systems and can achieve energy efficiencies exceeding 80 percent, significantly outperforming conventional power-only plants.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Beyond CHP, district energy can be powered by industrial waste heat, fossil-fuel boilers, and various renewables including geothermal, hydrothermal, solar thermal, biogas, and biomass.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There are more than 700 district energy systems in the United States, spanning every state, with some dating back to the 1800s.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"District cooling helps stabilize the electrical grid by reducing peak demand during late afternoon periods, which avoids expensive peak power costs.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Despite long-term environmental and energy savings, the high initial cost of constructing the necessary underground pipe infrastructure can deter developers.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"eesi-000194#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["district heating","renewable energy","biomass","geothermal energy","waste heat recovery","greenhouse gas emissions","energy efficiency","landfill gas"],"geography_discussed":["Saint Paul","Houston","Boston","Detroit","Ithaca","Princeton","Austin","New Orleans","Battle Creek","Cleveland","Seattle","Fairbanks","Muncie","Iowa City","Albuquerque","Columbia","Los Angeles","OECD country"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["descriptive","case study"]},{"id":"wri-001164","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wri-001164","title":"24/7 CFE Analysis: Data Sourcing and Collection Process","publisher":{"name":"World Resources Institute","organization":"world-resources-institute"},"document_type":"guide","language":"en","date_published":null,"source_url":"https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2022-10/24-7-cfe-analysis-data-sourcing-and-collection-process.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The document outlines a data-intensive process for local governments to match electricity demand with carbon-free energy resources on an hourly basis. It identifies three essential datasets: hourly load data, hourly grid mix and emissions data, and hourly generation data from additional energy procurements. The guide details four methods for obtaining load data—ranging from actual meter readings to machine learning models—and directs users to resources like the EIA and NREL for grid and emissions information.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001164#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"A baseline 24/7 CFE analysis requires three primary datasets: hourly load data (either municipal or community-wide), hourly generation mix and grid emissions data for the relevant grid region, and hourly generation data for any on-site generation or energy purchases made outside of normal supply.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001164#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Hourly load data is identified as the most difficult component to collect, with four available options depending on resource capacity: collecting actual hourly data from meters, scaling up data from representative buildings, combining monthly loads with standard NREL hourly load curves, or using modeled data from third parties using machine learning.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001164#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Grid mix and emissions data can be sourced from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) for hourly generation data by balancing authority or region, while emissions intensity factors can be found via electricityMap documentation.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001164#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"To move beyond a baseline analysis and assess the impact of demand reduction, fleet electrification, or future procurement, local governments can use historical growth rates, planning documents, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Cambium tool for projected grid mix and emissions data.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wri-001164#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["electric energy consumption","emission intensity","power purchase agreement","Building electrification","vehicle electrification"],"geography_discussed":["Cambridge","South Lake Tahoe","Ithaca","Ann Arbor MI","Iowa City","De Moines, IA","Waterloo","Washington, D.C.","Salt Lake City"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["methodological guide"]}]}