A team of researchers led by Kathryn McKain of Harvard University has recently discovered that approximately three percent of the natural gas delivered to Boston leaks directly into the atmosphere, taking with it a heavy load of methane, a known greenhouse gas. Their study doesn’t just have significant environmental implications: It’s estimated that the city is losing around $90 million to leaks every year. Correcting leaks is a relatively straightforward task, though it would require some investment in natural gas infrastructure and consumer education. However, these costs would be mitigated by the substantial savings offered if Boston was able to cut down on its methane problem.
Methane contributes to smog and warming trends over time. Cities like Boston often struggle with poor air, especially in the summers, when smog can be intense — and this study indicates that as much as 3.3 percent of the methane in the air over Boston could be coming from leaks in natural gas pipelines. This echoes the findings of a cooperative study in 2013 that teamed up the resources of Google and the Environmental Defense Fund to conduct a survey of Boston’s streets in search of natural gas leaks. The study used sensors to focus specifically on gas pipelines and determined that many of Boston’s aging pipelines were not providing secure transport for natural gas (for those with safety concerns, all leaks were reported to Boston’s energy companies).
In Boston, the wasted natural gas being vented into the atmosphere could fuel 200,000 homes for a year — this in a city where cold conditions over the winter can place a heavy load on heating systems. The majority of the energy loss appears to come from pipeline leaks, indicating that at least some portions of the city’s aging gas infrastructure need to be inspected and replaced. Some come from improperly piped and vented gas appliances, an issue that needs to be addressed by energy companies, plumbers and maintenance personnel who deal directly with natural gas-powered equipment. Finally, some emissions may be the result of appliances that are not set correctly, requiring an inspection by a repairperson to confirm that they’re set up for maximum efficiency.
The research shows that it’s time to take a look at other urban areas to assess their natural gas infrastructure as well. These energy audits, as it were, can be used to direct funding most appropriately to the U.S. cities that need to address natural gas leaks so the nation can do its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
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Pipeline image via Shutterstock.