It was reported in the Toronto Star recently that the non-profit personal finance web site GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca offers five types of renovation that add value to a home: •Investments in more efficient use of energy (60 per cent recovery rate) •New or improved kitchens and bathrooms (75-100 per cent recovery rate) •Low-cost improvements — painting, wallpaper, … Continue reading Adding value to a home
Author: Rod Janssen
Ireland should give priority to energy efficiency
Harry McGee of The Irish Times reported of a report that is being prepared by the National Economic and Social Council to provide analysis to inform the development of Irish climate change policy. The work was commissioned by the Minister of Environment. An interim report is out and the final report is due by the … Continue reading Ireland should give priority to energy efficiency
IEA Sustainable Buildings Centre launches interactive database
EiD is pleased to see that the IEA Sustainable Buildings Centre has recently launched its interactive and user-friendly BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Policies) database. The BEEP database is a global one-stop shop for building energy codes, labelling and incentive schemes implemented in the 28 IEA member countries, the BRICS countries (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South … Continue reading IEA Sustainable Buildings Centre launches interactive database
New report on decarbonising industry in Sweden
A new report on decarbonising industry up to 2050 has been published by the Department of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies at Lund University in Sweden. The report has a Swedish focus but the solutions and technologies are relevant for all. Technical opportunities for a complete decarbonisation of the basic material industry by 2050 are … Continue reading New report on decarbonising industry in Sweden
Biking in Italy
In Italy we once had to watch out for cars and scooters but now, since the financial crisis has taken hold, bicycles are increasingly being used. In fact, according to Nick Squires of The Telegraph, more bikes were sold than cars last year. More bikes sold than cars in Italy for first time since … Continue reading Biking in Italy
Retrofitting Spain’s hotels
EurActiv recently published a report on how Spain’s hotels are getting support from an EU-funded project to help them improve the energy performance of their buildings. Spanish hotels to get energy-efficiency revamp Spanish hoteliers can now give their buildings an energy-efficient revamp with the help of an online tool calculating their needs, costs and investment … Continue reading Retrofitting Spain’s hotels
The difficult road to a renewable energy world
Guest blogger, Kurt Cobb, recently wrote in the Christian Science Monitor about the difficulties there will be in transforming away from a fossil-fuel-based world. This is an excellent article that should not be missed. The clunky, lagging transition to renewable energy History suggests that it can take up to 50 years to replace an … Continue reading The difficult road to a renewable energy world
Energy efficiency and buildings
Allison Asplin of Bloomberg News Energy Finance wrote the following post for Banking Energy. IT is an excellent article outlining the issues concerning the real estate industry and energy efficiency. This report was commissioned by Banking Energy, part of Consumer Energy Report. Why Energy Efficiency and Buildings Don’t Mix How does the real estate industry … Continue reading Energy efficiency and buildings
How shale gas is affecting energy efficiency discussions
John Funk of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on the discussions underway at an energy efficiency conference at the end of September. What it shows is that there are many who are now questioning the focus on energy efficiency when such cheap energy supply is available. Shale gas dominates energy efficiency conference The steady … Continue reading How shale gas is affecting energy efficiency discussions
Renewables in Bulgaria
A blog by Andrew MacDowall in the Financial Times explains the dilemma facing Bulgaria as the government cut support for renewable energy retroactively. Bulgaria: renewables price cut dispute could spook investors Drastic retroactive cuts in the fees paid to renewable energy producers in Bulgaria has prompted a furious reaction from what was a fast-growing … Continue reading Renewables in Bulgaria
