The Commission’s first assessment of the complete draft National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs) shows strong commitment by EU countries to make buildings more energy efficient and decarbonised. This, in turn, lowers energy bills and makes buildings more liveable, particularly during harsh winter conditions or heatwaves. Buildings account for more than 30% of all energy used in Europe … Continue reading National Building Renovation Plans – the European Commission’s first assessment
EU can reduce risk of international credit shortfalls through centralised purchasing and early planning, find CONCITO and CATF
Under the EU’s revised Climate Law, the bloc can meet up to 5% of its 2040 climate target from 2036 with international carbon credits purchased under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. A new joint analysis from CONCITO and Clean Air Task Force provides recommendations for the European Commission’s forthcoming legal framework, identifying strategies to minimise risks for these … Continue reading EU can reduce risk of international credit shortfalls through centralised purchasing and early planning, find CONCITO and CATF
Building homes for a hotter world
Julia Vergin writes on the Deutsche Welle website about how buildings must adapt to a hotter climate, rather than simply surviving individual heatwaves. The emphasis is on passive cooling, better design, and climate-resilient construction. In Germany, it is time to rethink and rebuild. Many apartments were not designed for heat waves. Fortunately, there are ways … Continue reading Building homes for a hotter world
New ACEEE study: cutting energy waste in the United States could save $4.8 trillion, equal to $31,000 per household
Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry in the United States could save about $4.8 trillion in energy and related costs in the next decades—equivalent to almost $31,000 per household—a new report finds. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) study points to a key opportunity for policymakers as families face challenging home energy bills … Continue reading New ACEEE study: cutting energy waste in the United States could save $4.8 trillion, equal to $31,000 per household
Rotterdam’s net zero dilemma
Anna Holligan writes on the BBC News website the central dilemma facing not only Rotterdam but all industrial ports worldwide: industrial ports worldwide: how to decarbonise economies built on fossil fuels without undermining their competitiveness. The debate is not simply about reducing emissions, but about reconciling climate ambitions with the economic realities of Europe's largest … Continue reading Rotterdam’s net zero dilemma
The end of Europe’s energy label babel
In an article on The Conversation website, Lala Rukh, PhD Candidate, Energy, University of Galway; Atlantic Technological University writes how Europe is dismantling a fragmented system of incompatible building energy labels and replacing it with a common framework. Confused about your building’s energy performance? Here’s how to understand Europe’s new labels Imagine an apartment … Continue reading The end of Europe’s energy label babel
Commercial buildings: the UK’s forgotten energy efficiency challenge
Andrew Warren writes on the Business Green website that the issue is not simply weaker MEES regulations, but government has no discernible strategy for reducing energy demand across the vast majority of non-residential buildings in England and Wales. Andrew Warren chairs the British Energy Efficiency Federation, and is a former special advisor to the House … Continue reading Commercial buildings: the UK’s forgotten energy efficiency challenge
European Commission boosts Europe’s competitiveness, decarbonisation and independence with Electrification Action Plan and ETS review
On July 17th the Commission presented an Electrification Action Plan to make Europe the first electro-powered continent, and a stronger carbon market to support EU's industry in the clean transition and electrification. Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels has repeatedly exposed it to geopolitical shocks. These have driven up energy prices for both households and companies, and dragged down our competitiveness. While … Continue reading European Commission boosts Europe’s competitiveness, decarbonisation and independence with Electrification Action Plan and ETS review
Heatwaves are testing the resilience of our power grids
Natalie Muller writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the immediate problem and the broader policy challenge of modernising electricity networks for a hotter climate. When extreme heat hits, people turn to AC, but what if the grid fails? From France to the US, heat waves are pushing power systems to the limit, raising blackout … Continue reading Heatwaves are testing the resilience of our power grids
This year’s High-Level Political Forum reviews the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The HLPF was established at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012 in its outcome "The Future We Want". The HLPF … Continue reading This year’s High-Level Political Forum reviews the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 