Reducing Your Carbon Emissions: Venting
For the next edition of our series discussing ways you can reduce your carbon emissions, we will examine venting of a steam heating system.
When your boiler is off, the pipes in the system fill with air. When the boiler starts, it produces steam that must travel through those pipes to reach the radiators throughout the building. As the steam moves forward, it pushes the air ahead of it. If that air isn’t vented out quickly and properly, it has nowhere to go and will block the steam from entering the pipes and radiators.
This will cause your building to heat slower, resulting in inefficiencies that will both overwork the boiler and inflate heating costs. Another issue that can arise is uneven heating because the radiators furthest from the steam source can take a long time to heat up, jeopardizing comfort of occupants.
To solve this problem, master vents are strategically placed at the ends of long steam mains and the highest points of riser lines to allow the trapped air to be released, thereby clearing a path for the steam. In two-pipe systems, steam traps are located on each radiator to release air and condensate while keeping the steam in.
The lifespan of your vents and traps depends on the quality of the equipment, how clean the system is, and how often maintenance is performed. In general, steam traps typically need to be replaced within about 10 years, while master vents may last a bit longer.
Once your steam system’s venting begins to fail, repair or replacement is recommended. Because venting performance has a major impact on system efficiency, the return on investment (ROI) for these improvements is typically very strong. In addition to lowering your heating fuel costs, proper venting can significantly reduce your carbon emissions and help limit your exposure to Local Law 97 penalties.
It is a proven energy efficiency measure, which is why the Department of Buildings (DOB) included steam traps and master venting as two of the 13 required energy-conservation measures for affordable Article 321 buildings. They are also commonly found as required retro-commissioning measures in LL87 energy audits.
If your building is due for LL87 in the next few years or has recently completed its energy audit, contact your Aurora account executive. We can assist with the audit process and help coordinate qualified vendors to complete these required measures.
Market Analysis
Natural Gas
Continuing the upward trend from last month, the NYMEX settlement for December closed at $4.424/MMBtu. This is roughly 50% higher than the settlements from earlier this fall and 13% above the 10-year trailing average for December. The natural gas commodity has been hit with a double whammy heading into this winter: (i) cold weather arrived early, with forecasts calling for more of the same, and (ii) LNG exports to Europe and Asia are at record highs. These factors are sending demand soaring, though healthy production and storage levels may help prevent a significant market imbalance.
Electricity
Colder winter weather and elevated natural gas prices are typically associated with higher NYISO commodity pricing. In November, New York City’s Zone J averaged $0.06 per kWh, which is 34% above the trailing three-year average for the month. While La Niña conditions may shift temperatures in the New York region to warmer levels later this winter, offering some potential pricing relief, heightened volatility should be expected in the near term. It may not be long before NYISO prices reach double digits per kWh for extended periods.
Crude Oil
Crude oil began and ended November at approximately $60 per barrel, with minimal movement throughout the month. OPEC has indicated that global oil supply is expected to align with demand in 2026, marking a shift from earlier projections of a supply deficit. While various factors could alter this outlook, the current assessment suggests a favorable backdrop for oil market stability heading into the new year.
💡 Mitchell’s Tip: Invest in energy efficiency projects.
