If it heats up, we want to cool off

David Unger writes in the Christian Science Monitor about warming climates and rising incomes leading to a surge in cooling-related energy use, according to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It's one of several ways global warming is set to alter global energy supply and demand. IPCC global warming report: why … Continue reading If it heats up, we want to cool off →

New energy efficiency standards in the US approved

Andrew Gaven writes in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine about new standards for commercial refrigeration. The new standards replace earlier standards that had been in place since 2009. US introduces new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration Updated standards will cut energy use by 30 per cent and save business $12 billion, news … Continue reading New energy efficiency standards in the US approved →

Discussion paper on developing measurement methods for EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures

This week CLASP, the international not-for-profit organisation that globally promotes energy efficiency standards and labels (S&L) for appliances, lighting, and equipment has just published a discussion paper on standardisation, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policy in Europe. Developing standards to measure the energy performance of products is fundamental to delivering the energy saving potential from setting … Continue reading Discussion paper on developing measurement methods for EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures →

Trial in UK to have appliance labels show electricity costs

Rebecca Smithers writes in the Guardian about a new appliance label that is being tested at the UK department store, John Lewis. This is a trial, sponsored by the UK government, that will last for six months. The label includes the lifetime electricity costs. It will be interesting to see how consumers react to it. … Continue reading Trial in UK to have appliance labels show electricity costs →

Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body raises concerns about estimates on cost savings from energy-efficient products

Andrew Oxlade writes in The Telegraph about a report from Consumer Futures that questions official estimates on cost savings of energy-efficient products. Green measures will only save £31 by 2020, says official consumer protection body Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body, today warned the Government its estimates of savings from encouraging consumers to use … Continue reading Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body raises concerns about estimates on cost savings from energy-efficient products →

Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report

CLASP, the Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program, has published a report that gives us insight into how consumers are understanding the newly designed energy labels In 2010, the original Energy Labelling Directive was recast. Its scope of applicability was broadened, and many existing labels – specifically those applying to refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, … Continue reading Assessing how consumers understand the EU energy label – new report →

Will energy labels work for vacuum cleaners

James Dyson, the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner technology and founder of the Dyson Company, provides his views on the proposed energy labels for vacuum cleaners in an article for EurActiv. Energy labels for vacuum cleaners won’t do the job Like legislation on light bulbs, the EU’s bright environmental goals for vacuum … Continue reading Will energy labels work for vacuum cleaners →

Two important new reports

Estimating potential additional energy savings from upcoming revisions to existing regulations under the ecodesign and energy labelling directives, by CLASP and eceee In the new discussion paper, CLASP has identified an additional 40-70 TWh per annum by 2030 from eleven existing ecodesign and energy labelling regulations covering seven product groups. All eleven regulations are scheduled … Continue reading Two important new reports →

Positive impact from home air conditioning

Juliet Eilperin recently wrote in the Washington Post about a new study that has analysed the impact of deploying air conditioning on a wide scale to reduce deaths from excessive heat. While this is interesting indeed, it does not mention that maybe houses should be better built to integrate passive heating and cooling in order … Continue reading Positive impact from home air conditioning →

New article on energy efficiency product standards

Now that the Commission has published the Ecodesign working document for 2012-2014, our minds should be focussing more on how products can become more energy efficient. Noah Sachs recently published an article in Vanderbilt Law Review entitled “Can We Regulate Our Way to Energy Efficiency? Product Standards as Climate Policy.” In the United States, regulation … Continue reading New article on energy efficiency product standards →