Month: June 2013

Loopholes in the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive

Diarmaid William writes for Power Engineering International about how the UK is trying to avoid having to implement some of the main elements of the recently approved Energy Efficiency Directive.  So far the UK has not succeeded but there are concerns that loopholes still exist and there is every chance that some EU member states … Continue reading Loopholes in the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive →

Promoting energy efficiency in older buildings in Seattle

Felicity Barringer writes in the New York Times about a programme in Seattle to help improve the energy performance of older buildings through an innovative approach to sell energy savings to the local electricity company.   Making Energy Efficiency Attractive for Owners of Older Seattle Buildings A program under way at Seattle’s ambitious Bullitt Center … Continue reading Promoting energy efficiency in older buildings in Seattle →

China taking more action to address air pollution

Keith Bradsher reports in the New York Times that the Chinese cabinet recently approved new measures to tackle the increasing problem of air pollution.   China Sets New Rules Aimed at Curbing Air Pollution China’s cabinet has adopted 10 measures to improve air quality in the latest move aimed at responding to the dense smog … Continue reading China taking more action to address air pollution →

Need to reconsider our use of coal

We know that coal is not a sustainable energy source but it is still widely used, even in Europe.  John Vidal writes in the Guardian about the serious impact coal pollution is having on health today in Europe.  Interestingly, the Toronto Star reports that Ontario coal plants emit arsenic and chromium (which cause cancer); sulphur … Continue reading Need to reconsider our use of coal →

Negawatts gains acceptability in the United Kingdom

SustainableBuilding reports that the UK government is going to include “negawatts” into their energy bill.  Negawatts is a term coined by the chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute and environmentalist Amory Lovins in 1989, who recently spoke at the eceee summer study. Government puts ‘negawatts’ in Energy Bill The Government included the ‘negawatts not … Continue reading Negawatts gains acceptability in the United Kingdom →

Reports you shouldn’t miss

The following reports are must reads.The sister publications, Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2013, the sixth edition of the Frankfurt School-UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Centre/Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) report, and the REN21 Renewables 2013 Global Status Report, a reference report on renewable energy market, industry and policy developments, were launched. The reports indicate that, for … Continue reading Reports you shouldn’t miss →

Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013)

  Matthew Ulterino attended the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference that was held recently.  These are his impressions from the plenary session followed by a summary and abstract of the paper he delivered. Plenary Session – Liberalisation and Decarbonisation: Roadmap or Roadblock? One of the main conference highlights was a plenary panel that was assembled … Continue reading Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013) →

Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities

Geert De Clercq and Vera Eckert write for Reuter’s news service and published by The Guardian ask an important question about whether energy utilities look for a profitable way to help consumers save energy or whether they try to defend their traditional business model.  The jury is still out but some utilities have understood it … Continue reading Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities →