1. How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Totally Replace Gas Stations?

Learning: "As a result of the early efforts to make the switch to EVs, the US currently has 188,600 public and private charging ports, and 67,900 charging stations, according to data collected by the US Department of Energy—figures that have more than doubled since 2020. Another 240 stations are currently planned. Compare that to today’s gas infrastructure: The country has about 145,000 gas fueling stations, according to the American Petroleum Institute."

Implication: " The nation needs to build lots and lots more chargers before it gets to full electrification, a point experts suggest should come in the 2040s. But the task may not be as insurmountable as it looks.

The number of public chargers will have to grow by a factor of six."

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2. Airbnb hosts get EV charger discounts

Learning: "Airbnb and electric vehicle infrastructure company ChargePoint are teaming up to give hosts discounts on charging tech."

Implication: "As EVs slowly but steadily grow more popular, demand for charging is increasing in kind — and Airbnb hosts who offer it may get a leg up on their local rivals...

Airbnb hosts will get up to 36% off certain ChargePoint EV chargers and $100 off on installation

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3. Electrifying U.S. Homes Can Save $96 Billion in Energy Costs

Learning: "Residential electrification can save American households $96 billion through reduced energy costs if lower-income households electrify alongside higher-income ones, according to a new American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) report."

Implication: "If policymakers do not invest in helping low- and moderate-income (LMI) households electrify and they are left behind in the energy transition, these households could face increased costs, the study finds."

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4. Batteries saved $683M for users in Texas winter freeze

Learning: "As electricity demand grows in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas footprint, so will the region’s need for flexible power sources — and by 2035, the grid operator could utilize about 20 GW of battery energy storage, according to new research from Aurora Energy Research.

The report was commissioned by Eolian, a battery developer operating in Texas."

Implication: "There are about 4 GW of energy storage in the ERCOT region, but that figure could grow to 6.4 GW to 8.4 GW by the end of the year, according to Aurora. While growth in battery resources is nascent — in 2020, Texas had almost no storage capacity — already they are helping to more efficiently manage the grid, the report concluded."

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5. Reducing carbon emissions at home

Learning: "While there is no single culprit, the built environment — the places where we live and work — is a significant contributor to climate change, estimated to make up about 40% of annual CO2 emissions. This figure presents both a challenge and an obligation for the design industry as we help to lead the fight against an ever-escalating climate crisis."

Implication: "Here and now, there is a free solution for reducing carbon emissions: behavioral change... setting back the home when it is unoccupied. (Gensler) identified two forms of setbacks: a mild setback that reduces emissions by 30%, and an aggressive setback that reduces emissions by 60%. Through simple behavioral shifts, like adjusting thermostats, lighting, and appliance use, we can eliminate an incredible portion of a city’s daily carbon emissions.

These setbacks are most effective when the home is unoccupied. So, are that many homes empty during the day? Gensler’s City Pulse 2023 data estimates that approximately one-third of homes could be vacant during a given workday, presenting incredible opportunities for at-home energy use setbacks."