Eurovision – how energy efficiency became a showstopper

This week Europe is enjoying three evenings of the Eurovision Song Contest, two semi-finals and the final on Saturday evening. This has been a wonderful way of bringing Europeans together to watch some great entertaining acts. Watching this week’s first semi-final, it was obvious how great the lighting was. The Eurovision Song Contest website lists … Continue reading Eurovision – how energy efficiency became a showstopper →

Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court

The proposed 2030 climate change targets for Germany are a "gigantic" task that will push the export-reliant economy to hasten its phase-out of coal-fired power plants and cars that run on fossil fuels. Ajit Niranjan discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Germany's more ambitious climate goals pressure industry to … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court →

Building smart solar developments on canals in California could bring many benefits

While there have been solar panels installed over canals before in other countries, two academics explain how they could provide many benefits to California’s climate change objectives. Roger Bales, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced and Brandi McKuin, Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Studies, at the University of California, Santa Cruz discuss the benefits … Continue reading Building smart solar developments on canals in California could bring many benefits →

Scotland’s energy transition: concerns over “dangerous distraction” of carbon capture and storage

Friends of the Earth Scotland said that the ambition to make Peterhead power station greener was just delaying its “inevitable closure”. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Carbon capture ‘just delays pulling plug’ on gas plant Plans to capture carbon emissions from what has been called Scotland’s most … Continue reading Scotland’s energy transition: concerns over “dangerous distraction” of carbon capture and storage →

Ignore hype over hydrogen heating, UK government told

Hydrogen power should be reserved for powering aircraft and large factories, say experts, dashing hopes gas industry could pivot to piping hydrogen into homes. Madeleine Cuff discusses latest developments in an article on the inews website. End of the road for gas boilers? Researchers give thumbs down to hydrogen heating New research has poured … Continue reading Ignore hype over hydrogen heating, UK government told →

The International Passive House Institute has a new campaign to promote energy efficient buildings

Lloyd Alter writes on the Treehugger website about the new campaign by iPHA to promote energy-efficient buildings. What are your views? Efficiency: The First Renewable Energy The International Passive House Association (iPHA) launched a campaign—"Efficiency: The First Renewable Energy"—with the goal "to raise awareness for the vital role energy efficiency in buildings plays in … Continue reading The International Passive House Institute has a new campaign to promote energy efficient buildings →

It’s time for another generation of cooling equipment that is much gentler on the climate system

Scott Denning, Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University writes on The Conversation website about efforts in the US to eliminate hydrofluorocarbons used as coolants in refrigerators, air conditioners and heat pumps. How cleaning up coolants can cool the climate – why HFCs are getting phased out from refrigerators and air conditioners The U.S. … Continue reading It’s time for another generation of cooling equipment that is much gentler on the climate system →

Bold new initiative from European Commission to address carbon emissions

Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation writes about a bold initiative to meet head on the inherent trade incompatibility caused by unpriced emissions from companies outside Europe. The column was in the May 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. The EU’s new tool to create a level playing field … Continue reading Bold new initiative from European Commission to address carbon emissions →

“We should get net zero right – not get rid”

There have been lots of discussions recently about the concept of net zero emissions. Some have been criticised for misinterpreting it. Some feel it is not a good concept at all. Richard Black, Honorary Research Fellow, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London; Steve Smith, Executive Director, Oxford Net Zero, University of Oxford; and Thomas Hale, Associate … Continue reading “We should get net zero right – not get rid” →

Upcoming events in June

Here are three important not-to-be-missed events in June. eceee summer study – June 7-11 eceee’s bi-annual summer study is coming June 7-11, this year as a virtual event. The theme is “A New Reality” which definitely seems appropriate in this pandemic environment. There is an increasingly urgent climate crisis, and we simply can’t go … Continue reading Upcoming events in June →