Presentation at 2016 Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses & Communities Conference

1. SQUEAKY LEAK
CREATING A MOVEMENT TO
REDUCE GAS LEAKS
Audrey Schulman
President, HEET

2. HEETma.org
New England Pipes
• Some pipes date back to 1850s

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New England Pipes
• Old pipes leak and can crack

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Natural Gas Leaks
1. Potentially explosive

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Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
2. Hurt human health

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Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
3. Kill trees

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Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
4. Powerful greenhouse gas
When burned = CO2 NOT burned = methane

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Natural Gas Leaks
• Potentially explosive
• Hurt human health
• Kill trees
• Powerful greenhouse gas
5. Paid for by the ratepayer

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It’s possible to map natural gas leaks

13. 2014 gas law increased transparency

14. • DPU data

15. BU Professor Nathan Phillips

18. • DPU data

21. Back Bay Fens

22. BU Professor Nathan Phillips

23. Boston University 2016 study
• 7% of leaks emit 50% of gas
Fixing these “Gushers”
• 50% of ratepayer savings
• 50% greenhouse gas savings

24. ROI of Fixing Gushers
(<$7 million cost to fix all. Save 50% of all lost gas)
Savings / Year $61 Million (Harvard/
B.U.’s Estimate – 2.7%)
Ratepayer’s ROI 2 months

25. SQUEAKYLEAK.ORG
HEETma.org
Audrey.Schulman@HEETma.org
516 900 HEET