Month: June 2012

Quote of the week

The European Council met in Brussels June 28th and 29th and formally approved the Energy Efficiency Directive.  The Communiqué states: Following the formal adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive, Member States must rapidly implement it, making full use of its provisions in order to exploit the significant potential for job creation in this sector. Council … Continue reading Quote of the week →

Energy Saving Trust: stand-by mode wastes £1.3bn on household appliances

A study by the Energy Saving Trust in the UK of energy wasted from stand-by use provides important lessons for all countries.  Even though there have been campaigns and energy performance standards to reduce stand-by consumption, the total impact is still a major concern.   Energy Saving Trust: households waste £1.3bn for leaving gadget switched … Continue reading Energy Saving Trust: stand-by mode wastes £1.3bn on household appliances →

Supreme Court Justice says courts are crucial to environmental protection

Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill, a justice of the UK supreme court, writes in the Guardian of the missed opportunity at Rio+20 to emphasise how people can effect real change through the courts:   Judges for the environment: we have a crucial role to play While politicians may have failed to agree any headline-grabbing commitments … Continue reading Supreme Court Justice says courts are crucial to environmental protection →

EU holds out hope for UK’s green goods tax break

BusinessGreen reports (below) that the European Commission recently ordered the UK government to repeal a law that allows reduced rates of VAT on insulation materials and solar panels, on the grounds that it fails to comply with the EU's VAT Directive. In a bizarre move, the European Commission suggests a defence that the UK can … Continue reading EU holds out hope for UK’s green goods tax break →

MPs have no idea how to meet the ‘carbon’ target they voted for

When readers asked their MPs to explain how the UK would cut CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, the answers made worrying reading.  This is an important article from Britain's Sunday Telegraph.   MPs have no idea how to meet the 'carbon' target they voted for by Christopher Booker The Sunday Telegraph The great global … Continue reading MPs have no idea how to meet the ‘carbon’ target they voted for →

Indian researcher says Japan is lagging on energy efficiency

This article from Japan’s newservice, Asahi Shimbun, highlights some disturbing news if Japan is to fully transform its energy sector, following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.   RIO+20: Indian researcher says Japan is lagging on energy efficiency June 20, 2012 By LOUIS TEMPLADO/ Staff Writer For a few months last summer, Japan looked with unclouded eyes … Continue reading Indian researcher says Japan is lagging on energy efficiency →

Climate change will reduce renewable energy capacity

We seldom think that climate change will actually affect renewable energy production.  This article from the Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development was released before the Rio + 20 Conference. Climate change will reduce renewable energy capacity, warn scientists Scientists fear climate change impacts will reduce Latin America's capacity to produce renewable … Continue reading Climate change will reduce renewable energy capacity →

Historic house now a big energy saver

All countries struggle to improve the energy performance of historic buildings.  This is an excellent example from Maine in the US.  EiD welcomes more such examples. Historic house now a big energy saver FREEPORT -- A major energy-saving renovation of the historic Mallett House at 57 Depot St. is complete, and it's drawing attention from … Continue reading Historic house now a big energy saver →