Issues that need addressing before full roll out of electric cars

Increasingly we are reading about the bright future for electric cars. Electric vehicles have only a tiny market share, but the auto industry is betting billions that they will soon be as cheap as conventional cars. Jack Ewing gives a good account in the New York Times of the next steps that are needed. … Continue reading Issues that need addressing before full roll out of electric cars →

This week’s briefs

There is important news from the IEA Demand Side Management Task 24, from Poland about renewable energy support, from important energy efficiency results in India, and concern over poor energy savings results in Ireland. • News from IEA Demand Side Management Task 24 Task 24 on Behaviour Change in DSM just published a valuable … Continue reading This week’s briefs →

Testing times to understand the hazards of climate disasters

Insurance companies and many others are trying to better understand the implications of the increasing frequency of climate disasters. Hiroko Tabuchi writes in the New York Times about what companies are doing to better understand the hazards. To Test for Climate Disasters: Break, Burn and Throw Stuff In the backwoods of Rhode Island, a … Continue reading Testing times to understand the hazards of climate disasters →

A Blockchain platform is being developed to support renewable energy co-ops

The energy transition is bringing forward some interesting developments. The Pylon Network has created its own cryptocurrency for use on the solar energy exchange. Anca Voinea explains on the Co-op News website. Blockchain technology to give a competitive advantage to renewable energy co-ops A team of Spanish engineers is developing a Blockchain platform to … Continue reading A Blockchain platform is being developed to support renewable energy co-ops →

Aviation and the energy transition

While we are starting to see some technical advances, aviation is still a major concern as we look for every opportunity to reduce GHG emissions. Ryan Katz-Rosene, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies writes a good article in the Policy Options website about the policy dilemma. The policy dilemma … Continue reading Aviation and the energy transition →

Utility programmes in Michigan disproportionately benefit wealthier customers

We have had utility programmes for decades and the EU even has specific obligations under the Energy Efficiency Directive. It is interesting to see this article by Andy Balaskovitz in the Midwest Energy News website. Have any of you had similar findings? In Michigan, study shows utility energy savings mostly benefit wealthier customers Michigan … Continue reading Utility programmes in Michigan disproportionately benefit wealthier customers →

The challenge to increase the number of electric vehicles

There certainly is a lot written about the age of the electric vehicle. Yet, they still represent such a small share of total cars sold. That does not come as a surprise, given the charging infrastructure needed and the continuing developments of the vehicles and batteries. Jonn Axsen, Associate Professor of Sustainable Transportation at Simon … Continue reading The challenge to increase the number of electric vehicles →

Belgium is a leader in light pollution, easily identifiable from space

Amazingly, Belgium keeps nearly all of its 2.2 million streetlights on through the night. Even with Belgium in the midst of a low-carbon energy transition, this remains a challenge, if they are determined to keep them lit. Milan Schreuer explains in an article in the New York Times. Belgium’s Lavish Energy Use Sheds Light … Continue reading Belgium is a leader in light pollution, easily identifiable from space →

Latest update on climate finance institutions

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the November update on global developments on climate finance institutions. Climate Finance Institutional Update: Adaptation Finance in the Spotlight During the month of November, the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 23) generated numerous activities … Continue reading Latest update on climate finance institutions →

History shows there are lessons about living in harmony with nature without great dependence on technology

Mili Majumdar, Green Business Certification, Inc. in India, reviews several historical buildings in India on the Business World website. Her analysis shows that urban planners and architects need to go back to the drawing board and history books to take a lesson or two on how to design green buildings and create sustainable cities … Continue reading History shows there are lessons about living in harmony with nature without great dependence on technology →