Toronto uses Lake Ontario for its cooling network

Abdul Matin Sarfraz writes on the National Observer website about the world’s largest deep lake water cooling network. While more than 100 buildings are connected, two hospitals are saving 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power more than 1,300 homes by parting with older chillers and rooftop towers that consume far more … Continue reading Toronto uses Lake Ontario for its cooling network →

The benefits of AI audits of published scientific research

In an article on The Conversation website, Alexander Kaurov, PhD Candidate in Science and Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University ask what AI audits of published research will mean for public trust in science. What are your views? AI will … Continue reading The benefits of AI audits of published scientific research →

America’s climate transition: a moment of crisis for the environmental community

As President Trump dismantles the country’s efforts to fight climate change, environmental groups are back on their heels. In an article on the New York Times website, David Gelles, Claire Brown and Karen Zraick discuss latest developments. While not mentioned, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) … Continue reading America’s climate transition: a moment of crisis for the environmental community →

Opportunity to create a new form of infrastructure: capturing, storing and sharing the massive amounts of heat lost from industry, electricity generation and communities

James (Jim) S. Cotton, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University in Canada and Caleb Duffield, PhD Candidate in Political Science, McMaster University write on The Conversation website about how Canada’s infrastructure could be used as a major energy source. Canada could use thermal infrastructure to turn wasted heat emissions into energy Buildings are the third-largest … Continue reading Opportunity to create a new form of infrastructure: capturing, storing and sharing the massive amounts of heat lost from industry, electricity generation and communities →

Greenpeace report: in Europe, the train remains significantly more expensive than the plane

According to a study conducted by Greenpeace Europe and published Thursday, August 21, nearly 60% of the hundred or so European journeys compared are cheaper by plane than by train, a means of transport that emits significantly less carbon dioxide. The prices for each route were analysed over nine separate days, divided into three booking … Continue reading Greenpeace report: in Europe, the train remains significantly more expensive than the plane →

The EU’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations relating to sustainability have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live

In an article on The Conversation website, Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute discusses the impact of the EU’s NFR regulations, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. … Continue reading The EU’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations relating to sustainability have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live →

Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025

It was certainly disappointing that the UN negotiations for a global treaty on plastics pollution collapsed without an agreement. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and a number of other petrostates would not budge from their long-standing refusal to agree measures that address the production of plastic, agreeing only to waste management. It is not clear when negotiations … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025 →

Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week

In an article on The Conversation website, Melanie MacGregor, ARC Future Fellow and Matthew Flinders Fellow in Chemistry, Flinders University gives her views on what happened in Geneva the last two weeks. The global plastics treaty process has fallen flat. Here’s what went wrong, and how you can help Progress towards a legally binding … Continue reading Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week →

An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method

In Tübingen, Germany, TriqBriq is creating eco‑friendly homes from modular wooden blocks made with recycled materials, offering a low‑carbon alternative to concrete. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Julia Mielke discusses the scheme. Eco-friendly homes from wooden building blocks A German city is building an eco-friendly public housing scheme using an innovative … Continue reading An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method →

The benefits of improved energy efficiency for the nonprofit sector

Tina Bennett, CEO of Power Options, writes on the facilitiesnet website about the benefits of improved energy efficiency for nonprofits. By taking a proactive approach to energy management, nonprofits can continue fulfilling their missions, even in uncertain financial environments. Energy should no longer be treated as a fixed cost, but as a variable that should … Continue reading The benefits of improved energy efficiency for the nonprofit sector →