Author: Rod Janssen

World Trade Organisation about to re-start negotiations on green goods

After the failure of the Doha Round, the WTO was paralysed for a considerable period. Now the new head of the WTO is trying to get the ball rolling again, according to Shawn Donnan in the Financial Times. Green goods trade talks set to start The world’s leading economies are due on Tuesday to launch … Continue reading World Trade Organisation about to re-start negotiations on green goods →

Saving energy not a consumer priority in Armenia

After Armenia became independent I worked there on an emergency programme to revamp the entire energy system, including making energy efficiency a priority. We worked with up to four hours of electricity a day in unheated offices and horrendous conditions. The number of people dying from cold was staggering. It was discouraging to read this … Continue reading Saving energy not a consumer priority in Armenia →

Looking at Europe’s shale gas efforts from abroad

Eric Reguly writes in Canada’s Globe and Mail about his concerns for the future of the shale gas industry in Europe. Europe’s shale gas backers are living in a fantasy world The Ukraine crisis has come as a godsend to the shale gas cheerleaders in Europe. Russian natural gas exports to Western and Central Europe, … Continue reading Looking at Europe’s shale gas efforts from abroad →

Estimating what customers are saving

Both customers and analysts are always trying to determine what are the savings from energy efficiency programmes. According to Renew Grid, one utility in Detroit has made such estimates and given customers a pleasant surprise. Understandably, such estimates have often been undertaken; yet, these positive results are impressive. Utilities Reveal Just How Much Customers Are … Continue reading Estimating what customers are saving →

Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings

Vicky Ellis writes in EnergyLive News about a new database entitled Energy Efficiency Performance of Properties Analysis. This effort is certainly welcome.   Craning to see which are the most efficient buildings in Europe? Ever wondered which continental country has the most energy efficient buildings? Or how your building squares up to one in Germany … Continue reading Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings →

Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy

While many of the headlines concerning Ukraine and Russia have included the problems over natural gas, Ukraine has to take a more balanced approach and address how it uses energy. Christian Oliver and Roman Olearchyk provide a good article in the Financial Times, explaining many of the problems. The article describes the support from the … Continue reading Ukraine must tackle how it uses energy →

For China, the existential question remains whether it can simultaneously decarbonise and grow

EiD has had several posts on China and understandably it is necessary to follow what they are doing because of the global impact of their emissions. Eduardo Porter writes in the New York Times about the efforts underway, yet the balancing of growth versus climate action remains a concern.   China’s Hurdle to Fast Action … Continue reading For China, the existential question remains whether it can simultaneously decarbonise and grow →

The world needs a game changer

In April this year, John Llewellyn wrote an excellent column for eceee on Formula 1 and the need for incentives to encourage innovation. For the Financial Times, John continues talking about vehicles and the need for encouraging inventiveness, possible through some “incentive.” As John says, “It should not take fear to make us motivate talents … Continue reading The world needs a game changer →