Deaths and health impacts from air pollution cost advanced economies, together with China and India, US$3.5 trillion annually, according to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, 'The Cost of Air Pollution: Health Impacts of Road Transport.' Air pollution and its impacts on human health cost society an estimated US$1.7 trillion per year … Continue reading OECD finds air pollution from road transport costs member states US$1.7 trillion annually
Author: Rod Janssen
Insuring our future
While EiD has had other posts discussing insurance against climate change, this post by world renown economist from Yale University, Robert J. Shiller, in the New York Times provides an excellent analysis why global warming needs to be addressed by the private institutions of risk management, such as insurance and securitization. Buying Insurance Against … Continue reading Insuring our future
How political experience can be used to promote renewables
It is difficult for small “green” electricity companies to make gains in the market. Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about one former political operative and his move to break into the market. Applying the Lessons of Politics to Green Power Over the years, Tom Matzzie — by working as a political … Continue reading How political experience can be used to promote renewables
Trying to change attitudes towards fracking
Damian Carrington has an excellent blog in the Guardian about what won’t work to convince the British of the need and benefits of fracking. It is definitely going to take a lot of convincing. Fracking: shock and awe will not win the battle of Britain Removing the ability of people to block shale exploration under … Continue reading Trying to change attitudes towards fracking
Canada re-thinking its approach to climate change
Canada has been in the global doghouse concerning climate change ever since it decided to walk out of the Kyoto Protocol. Yes, it did make some half-hearted commitment at the climate conference in Copenhagen several years ago. The priority has been on resource development – mainly tar sands – but now Josh Wingrove writes in … Continue reading Canada re-thinking its approach to climate change
New communication on energy security from the European Commission
It is good to see that the European Commission has come out with its new communication on energy security. Energy security certainly needs to be given higher priority. It is good to see that energy efficiency is mentioned first. When the Commission first proposed its non-binding target for energy efficiency, there were many complaints that … Continue reading New communication on energy security from the European Commission
New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU
The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a new report that should be mandatory reading for all EiD followers. While the topic comes up regularly, we are getting nowhere to resolving the issue of fuel poverty. As the new BPIE report explains, fuel poverty is a major problem in and for Europe. In 2012, … Continue reading New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU
This week’s briefs
There are a couple of good briefs this week. • eceee industrial summer study As reported in EiD several times, the eceee industrial summer study is soon upon us. The theme this year is retool for a competitive and sustainable industry. Undoubtedly, with the slow European economy, retooling for a sustainable and competitive industry … Continue reading This week’s briefs
The challenges in improving energy efficiency
Catherine Wolfram does some story telling in the Energy Collective to addressing the challenges we face in improving energy efficiency. An Energy Efficiency Parable Here’s a story that captures a lot of the challenges we face as we try to improve energy efficiency. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t have a happy ending, but I’m holding out … Continue reading The challenges in improving energy efficiency
Lessons for SMEs
Sean Hargrave writes a valuable article in The Guardian about the lessons that small and medium-sized enterprises can learn from larger companies. Maybe some of these ideas will be discussed at the upcoming eceee industrial summer study. What SMEs can learn about efficiencies from larger companies While large companies have traditionally had advantages in delivering … Continue reading Lessons for SMEs
