Latest news with #retrofitting
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Sen. Schiff demands reversal to FEMA cuts to California's earthquake retrofitting
As lawmakers in Washington D.C. battle over potential cuts to federal programs, one Senator from California is calling for millions of dollars to be reinstated into the budget for earthquake retrofitting. On Wednesday, Sen. Adam Schiff wrote an open letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Senior Official Performing the Duties of Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator, David Richardson, urging them to restore $33 million in canceled funding that would have gone to earthquake retrofitting in California. "In California, earthquakes are not a question of if, but when," he wrote in part. "This funding is essential to the state's ability to adequately prepare for when the next major earthquake hits." The cuts are part of a larger plan to restructure FEMA; President Donald Trump has suggested outright scrapping of the agency, or making it a support agency, as he believes the states should be in charge of funding at times of emergency. While speaking to KCAL News' Amy Johnson on Thursday, Schiff said the cuts put Californians directly at risk. "For example, if your building has a carport in it, that is often not particularly safe during an earthquake," Schiff said. "That means that hundreds and hundreds of these homes won't be retrofit." Schiff also pointed to cuts to flood prevention by the Trump administration. Schiff, alongside fellow Senator from California Alex Padilla, claims that those cuts to the Army Corps of Engineers singled out blue states, and is "blatantly political." "It's as awful, as politically blatant as that. The president doesn't believe citizens in blue states should be as protected as citizens in red states," Schiff said on KCAL News on Thursday. The Trump administration has said the funds are allocated based on need. Austin Turner Austin Turner is a web producer at CBS Los Angeles. An Inland Empire native, Austin earned a degree in journalism from San Jose State University in 2020. Before joining CBS in 2025, he worked at KTLA, the San Jose Mercury News, the Sedona Red Rock News and various freelance outlets as a sports reporter. contributed to this report.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Hefty retrofit bill likely as Enwave plans shut down of more London steam lines
Moving impacted city buildings off steam heat comes with likely $5M price tag: report Image | London District Energy says portions of their steam system thst serve London's downtown core will be decommissioned. Caption: London District Energy says portions of their steam system that serves London's downtown core will be decommissioned. (Andrew Lupton/CBC) The City of London will likely face millions in retrofitting costs as Enwave looks to decommission more of its downtown steam infrastructure, including a line which heats city hall. Enwave, which owns London District Energy (LDE), told the municipality at the end of April that it would shut down most of its medium-pressure steam lines downtown by Oct. 31, 2026. In a report to next week's infrastructure and corporate services committee meeting, city staff said the reason was that sections of the line were becoming increasingly unreliable despite regular maintenance and "could present safety concerns in the future." City councillors will vote to receive the report for information. The move will impact four city properties, including City Hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, and Museum London, the report said. Twelve customers overall will be affected, Enwave said on its website. The Centennial House apartment building will also be impacted. This follows the company's announcement last year that it will decommission a separate low-pressure steam line in the core. It's set to shut down by the end of this month, impacting 17 customers, including the Grand Theatre and the city-owned J. Allyn Taylor building at 267 Dundas St. Converting just the J. Allyn Taylor building from steam to in-building boilers cost at least $810,000, the city said. The Grand Theatre faced a similar estimate, and council voted in August to give the venue $400,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax fund to help offset the cost. "Based on our experience, it is likely the total cost to address this issue will exceed $5 million for all affected buildings," city staff write in the report. "As the work to provide an alternative to steam heating is unplanned and not included as part of the adopted 2024-2027 multi-year budget, a source of financing will need to be identified for council approval to support the cost of this work." Converting city hall from steam to hot water heating, or hydronic heating, would be difficult, the report says. Doing the same to Centennial Hall would be very difficult, as steam is used directly in the building's heating coils. City staff say Enwave is assessing the installation of temporary boilers during the notice period until October 2026. One could be located on the west side of city hall, which sits near the end of a steam line branch. Feasible options, timelines, and cost estimates will come after a detailed impact assessment. CBC News reached out to Enwave for comment but did not receive a response before publishing. Jones Entertainment Group, which manages Centennial Hall, referred questions to the city. In a statement on the LDE website, the company says it will work with impacted customers to assist in switching to alternative heating sources. The decommissioning process, it adds, will be structured to minimize customer inconvenience and maintain continuity of service. "We have made sure to provide impacted customers within each respective zone with ample notice to switch to alternative heating systems before the onset of the upcoming winter seasons," the statement says. The company says it's completing an analysis of the remainder of the network. "If our assessments highlight areas that pose safety and/or reliability risks, we will take the necessary actions to either upgrade or decommission those sections to uphold the safety, integrity and efficiency of our service delivery to customers," the LDE website reads. No members of city administration were available to comment Wednesday. "There's a high-pressure line. I do not necessarily foresee anything coming up in the future from that, from what Enwave has informed us," Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira said Wednesday. He hesitated to comment further, as the city is still assessing impacts. Enwave and LDE provides chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to city hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, Museum London, RBC Place and the J. Allyn Taylor Building. The current service contract between the city and company dates to 1992. Previous figures on Enwave's website say it serves at least 60 customers, including St. Joseph's Hospital and University Hospital, and operates 10 kilometres of steam pipes. It also operates three kilometres of chilled water pipes, which will not be impacted.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Hefty retrofit bill likely as Enwave plans shut down of more London steam lines
The City of London will likely face millions in retrofitting costs as Enwave looks to decommission more of its downtown steam infrastructure, including a line which heats city hall. Enwave, which owns London District Energy (LDE), told the municipality at the end of April that it would shut down most of its medium-pressure steam lines downtown by Oct. 31, 2026. In a report to next week's infrastructure and corporate services committee meeting, city staff said the reason was that sections of the line were becoming increasingly unreliable despite regular maintenance and "could present safety concerns in the future." City councillors will vote to receive the report for information. The move will impact four city properties, including City Hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, and Museum London, the report said. Twelve customers overall will be affected, Enwave said on its website. The Centennial House apartment building will also be impacted. This follows the company's announcement last year that it will decommission a separate low-pressure steam line in the core. It's set to shut down by the end of this month, impacting 17 customers, including the Grand Theatre and the city-owned J. Allyn Taylor building at 267 Dundas St. Converting just the J. Allyn Taylor building from steam to in-building boilers cost at least $810,000, the city said. The Grand Theatre faced a similar estimate, and council voted in August to give the venue $400,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax fund to help offset the cost. "Based on our experience, it is likely the total cost to address this issue will exceed $5 million for all affected buildings," city staff write in the report. "As the work to provide an alternative to steam heating is unplanned and not included as part of the adopted 2024-2027 multi-year budget, a source of financing will need to be identified for council approval to support the cost of this work." Converting city hall from steam to hot water heating, or hydronic heating, would be difficult, the report says. Doing the same to Centennial Hall would be very difficult, as steam is used directly in the building's heating coils. City staff say Enwave is assessing the installation of temporary boilers during the notice period until October 2026. One could be located on the west side of city hall, which sits near the end of a steam line branch. Feasible options, timelines, and cost estimates will come after a detailed impact assessment. CBC News reached out to Enwave for comment but did not receive a response before publishing. Jones Entertainment Group, which manages Centennial Hall, referred questions to the city. In a statement on the LDE website, the company says it will work with impacted customers to assist in switching to alternative heating sources. The decommissioning process, it adds, will be structured to minimize customer inconvenience and maintain continuity of service. "We have made sure to provide impacted customers within each respective zone with ample notice to switch to alternative heating systems before the onset of the upcoming winter seasons," the statement says. The company says it's completing an analysis of the remainder of the network. "If our assessments highlight areas that pose safety and/or reliability risks, we will take the necessary actions to either upgrade or decommission those sections to uphold the safety, integrity and efficiency of our service delivery to customers," the LDE website reads. No members of city administration were available to comment Wednesday. "There's a high-pressure line. I do not necessarily foresee anything coming up in the future from that, from what Enwave has informed us," Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira said Wednesday. He hesitated to comment further, as the city is still assessing impacts. Enwave and LDE provides chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to city hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, Museum London, RBC Place and the J. Allyn Taylor Building. The current service contract between the city and company dates to 1992. Previous figures on Enwave's website say it serves at least 60 customers, including St. Joseph's Hospital and University Hospital, and operates 10 kilometres of steam pipes. It also operates three kilometres of chilled water pipes, which will not be impacted.
CNN
14-05-2025
- CNN
Plane Expensive - Anderson Cooper 360 - Podcast on CNN Audio
Anderson Cooper 360 47 mins Breaking news on that free plane from Qatar. It may cost three-quarters of a billion dollars or more, to retrofit it for the President. Plus, what a Los Angeles judge ruled in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are seeking freedom decades after they were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
How does retrofitting your house pay off?
Is retrofitting your home worth the money? Many people may be more concerned about the cost of it all and the payback it delivers than the environmental benefits. If you can afford to do it, investing in a retrofit could leave you quids in, data published last month shows. Energy-efficient homes sell for more than €100,000 more, according to data technology company Geowox, which specialises in home valuations . Homes with an A or B energy rating achieved a median sale price of €445,000 compared with €340,000 for less energy-efficient homes, according to the data for the first quarter of this year. The energy-based comparison includes all entries in the Irish residential property price register in the period, but excludes new homes to gain a more precise understanding of the energy-efficiency premium. READ MORE Energy-efficient homes commanded a 30.8 per cent sales premium, with growing demand of 15.7 per cent. That kind of uplift to the value of your home is pretty decent. Bringing your home up to an A or B rating can be pricey, however, so you'll want to know the benefits to you are worth the cost. [ Radical overhaul of retrofit grants under consideration Opens in new window ] Insulating your home, making it airtight, installing a heat pump and new windows and doors, for example, can cost anywhere between €25,000 to €75,000, depending on factors including the size of your home, whether it's terraced or detached, and what general condition it's in. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants can cover up to 50 per cent of the cost, but you'll have to pay the rest. That's a lot of money, even if it does add value to your home in the long run. The SEAI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme offers rates through the main banks of about 3 per cent. This type of Government-backed loan offers a far more competitive rate than a regular home improvement loan. It enables those availing of SEAI grants in order to improve the Ber rating of their home to borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 over one to 10 years. The money is unsecured – which means, unlike as with a mortgage, the lender has no security, such as your home, against the loan. The loan must be used for retrofit works only, which must be carried out by an SEAI-registered provider. Bank of Ireland is offering this Home Energy Upgrade Loan at a variable rate of 3 per cent annual percentage rate (APR). A loan of €20,000 over five years with that bank will mean monthly instalments of about €360. The total cost of the credit is €1,532.20. Seven credit unions dotted around the country have been approved to offer these loans too, at rates from 2.9 per cent, depending on the lender. So what about the payback? Factors such as better attic and wall insulation and less draughty windows and doors mean your house is going to lose less heat, and what heat it does retain it will do for longer. [ Q&A: Do I need planning permission for my home energy upgrades? Opens in new window ] A more energy-efficient home and heating system will be cheaper to run too, so you'll save on your utility bills. A retrofit is unlikely to save you €360 a month on utility bills, the loan repayment in my example – but it can save you some money, and your home will be warmer and more comfortable at the same time. So, you don't have to sell your house to feel the benefits of retrofitting, but if you do sell, your house should achieve a 30 per cent higher value than a neighbour who didn't retrofit, according to the Geowox data. That advantage will certainly help some householders warm up to the idea of retrofitting.
