Author: Rod Janssen

Focus on buildings

There are some very interesting books that have come out recently on the energy performance of buildings.  Here are some of them: 1 Simply Green This book presents an overview of all main global and some national environmental and energy assessment systems. It discusses six environmental and three purely energy-based certification systems along with fourth … Continue reading Focus on buildings →

Even China is having problems financing energy savings

Charlie Zhu of Reuters news service provides an excellent review of the situation in China today and the effect of the financial credit crunch.  There is a big impact on energy service companies that are used for both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.   Credit crunch stifles Chinese energy savings sector A credit crunch … Continue reading Even China is having problems financing energy savings →

Finally – three cheers for efficient boilers!

Coolproducts, a coalition of NGOs from all across Europe working to ensure ecodesign policy works for Europeans and the environment, finally had something to celebrate this week.  One would not think it would be that difficult to approve minimum energy performance standards for boilers, but it has been a very difficult road, indeed.  In fact, … Continue reading Finally – three cheers for efficient boilers! →

New study on health effects from windfarms

Alison Rourke writes in the Guardian about a new study in Australia that shows that more people have been getting sick in areas where environmentalists are most active.  So, is there a psychological effect?   Windfarm sickness spreads by word of mouth, Australian study finds Health complaints from people living around turbines shown to be … Continue reading New study on health effects from windfarms →

Public consultation launched on linking Australian, EU Emission Trading Systems

Australia's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) have launched an online public consultation on registry options for linking the Australian and European Union emission trading systems. The DCCEE and DG CLIMA jointly authored a consultation paper on “Registry Options to Facilitate Linking of … Continue reading Public consultation launched on linking Australian, EU Emission Trading Systems →

Fracking cultural wars go on and on . . .

On January 18th, EiD provided the last instalment of the fracking cultural wars.  Now Adam Gabbatt writes in the Guardian of celebrities coming together for a new effort.   Yoko Ono and Susan Sarandon star in new anti-fracking music video Celebrities join forces for new rendering of Sean Lennon's Don't Frack My Mother in effort … Continue reading Fracking cultural wars go on and on . . . →

New report on private green investments

The year 2013 promises long strides away from the fossil-fueled Industrial Era as illuminated by the Ethical Markets Green Transition Scoreboard® (GTS) which tracks private investments growing the green economy worldwide since 2007, finding $4.1 trillion invested or committed as of Q4 2012. The year 2012 was an inflection point for the green transition worldwide.  … Continue reading New report on private green investments →

Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities

Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about an interesting development in the US for cities to create municipal utilities, replacing private ones, so that they can take a more active role in addressing climate change, power disruptions and increase the share of renewable energy.   Cities Weigh Taking Electricity Business From Private Utilities … Continue reading Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities →