CCS: Sitting on the wrong side of innovation

This is a valuable article by Matthew Ulterino, an independent consultant from London and a colleague of EiD. This is an excerpt from his article in Energy and Environment, Volume 23 No. 2&3, 2012. This is a debate that is going to continue for some time. Carbon Capture and Storage: Sitting on the Wrong … Continue reading CCS: Sitting on the wrong side of innovation →

Discussing Germany’s nuclear exit

This is an important article by Damian Carrington of the Guardian on the costs of Germany’s phase out of nuclear. This is important because there is so much mis-information around. For all countries, watching this “experiment” in Germany and learning lessons from it will be essential. There is a need for more than just a … Continue reading Discussing Germany’s nuclear exit →

Geneva: owners required to improve energy efficiency

In Geneva, the results of an aerial thermography targeting all the cantonal territory roofs are available on the Internet. Homeowners can benefit from expert advice for data interpretation and diagnosis of their building energy. "More than 35,000 buildings consume half the energy used in the township," said Isabel Friday Rochat, head of the Department of … Continue reading Geneva: owners required to improve energy efficiency →

EBRD announces new energy efficiency phase of its Sustainable Energy Initiative

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on May 18th that it is stepping up investments to improve energy efficiency and address climate change via new investment in projects worth up to €25 billion over the next three years, under the new phase of the Bank’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI). Building on the … Continue reading EBRD announces new energy efficiency phase of its Sustainable Energy Initiative →

Southern Voices on climate policy choices

This report from the Southern Voices programme provides an analysis of the tools and tactics advocacy groups use to influence policy responses to climate change at international, regional, national and sub-national levels. More than 20 climate networks and their member organisations contributed to the report with their experiences of advocacy on climate change, including over … Continue reading Southern Voices on climate policy choices →

Short Takes

Important Comment On May 15th, at an event on Energy Efficient Buildings and Districts: Research to Accelerate Innovation at the European Economic and Social Committee, Ms. Silvia-Adriana, MEP and former rapporteur for the recast of the buildings directive said: “Energy efficiency is important for each household and not just for the European Union. We need … Continue reading Short Takes →

May Day . . . May Day . . . is complexity killing caring?

In the words of Bill Gates, “ The barrier to change is not too little caring; it is too much complexity.” They are words that ring true in Europe in the context of approval of a new Energy Efficiency Directive. There is no doubt that Europeans care about climate change and improving energy efficiency. But … Continue reading May Day . . . May Day . . . is complexity killing caring? →

Reports from the European Environment Agency

The European Environment Agency has come out with a couple of very interesting and important reports recently. * Do we live in a 'green economy'? New report assesses progress in Europe Despite progress in some areas, Europe must do more to create the 'green economy' needed for the continent to become sustainable, according to … Continue reading Reports from the European Environment Agency →

Congratulations to EEIP

EiD would like to congratulate our colleagues at Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes for being shortlisted for the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2012 category for communicating: http://www.eusew.eu/awards-competition. EEIP is just over one year old and already has over 10,000 following them on various social networking platforms. EEIP has free membership and unique balance of B2B … Continue reading Congratulations to EEIP →

Balancing the promotion of sustainable energy with government revenue

While this article by Gwyn Topham from the Guardian is on the UK, it is an important issue for all countries. Governments are caught between promoting sustainable energy and taxes they gain from “conventional” practices. Green cars will lead to fall in motoring revenue for Treasury, says study The drive to promote greener, more … Continue reading Balancing the promotion of sustainable energy with government revenue →