Energy in Demand News, April 27-28, 2025

This is the week that many of the world’s institutions received a lecture from the new US administration on changes that should be made. The Financial Times reports: “US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent has accused the IMF and World Bank of “mission creep”, calling for them to step back from “their sprawling and unfocused agendas” … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 27-28, 2025 →

Revisiting the benefits of appliance efficiency standards

David J. Vogel, Professor Emeritus of Business Ethics and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley explains why energy efficiency standards for appliances are important in an article on The Conversation website. Interestingly, the first appliance standards were issued over 50 years ago in California and yet, with all the benefits that have been derived from … Continue reading Revisiting the benefits of appliance efficiency standards →

Energy in Demand News, March 30, 2025

The latest Eurobarometer survey (the European Parliament Winter 2025 Survey), published this week, shows that Europeans “have high expectations from the EU in its role to protect them against global challenges and security risks. Large majorities are looking for an EU that protects them by focussing on security, defence, and the economy. There is wide … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 30, 2025 →

US Department of Energy has scrapped key energy efficiency standards

A news item on the Energy Live News website discusses the latest moves in Washington to dismantle environmental policies and reduce government intervention. Fans, dehumidifiers and motors are now free from energy efficiency standards. What’s next? Trump slashes energy efficiency rules The US Department of Energy (DOE) has scrapped key energy efficiency standards, rolling … Continue reading US Department of Energy has scrapped key energy efficiency standards →

Energy in Demand News, February 16-17, 2025

It is encouraging that institutional investors with $1.5 trillion in funds have told asset managers to step up on climate action or risk being dumped, according to the Financial Times (behind a paywall). “A group of 26 financial institutions and pension funds from Australia to the US, including Scottish Widows, the People’s Partnership and Brunel … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 16-17, 2025 →

New US government destroying electricity efficiency standards

President Trump has wasted no time in his second term to unravel appliance efficiency standards and take up the cause of the fossil fuel industry. In a column on the Energy in the February issue of Buildings & Industry magazine, Andrew Warren, Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, highlights some of Trump’s latest efforts … Continue reading New US government destroying electricity efficiency standards →

New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans

Extending product lifespans helps reduce demand for new products and their related environmental impacts. This briefing aims to improve our understanding and provide novel insights on trends in product lifespans in Europe. This assessment is based on seven indicators developed specifically for the EEA’s Circularity Metrics Lab’s thematic module on product lifespans. Product lifespans — monitoring trends … Continue reading New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans →

The latest victims of the culture wars in America: woke white goods

Emma Beddington writes on the Guardian website about the latest victim of cultural wars in America. Apparently, energy efficiency and lower electricity bills are unAmerican. What are your views? Free the fridges! Make dishwashers great again! US conservatives have odd priorities If you’ve ever wished your dishwasher used more water, or found your fridge … Continue reading The latest victims of the culture wars in America: woke white goods →

Impact of extreme heat on our machines

Higher temperatures, either from the weather or the excess heat radiated from machinery, can cause materials in machinery to deform. In an article on The Conversation website, Srinivas Garimella, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Matthew T. Hughes, Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discuss the impact … Continue reading Impact of extreme heat on our machines →

While household air conditioning is one of the “most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related mortality and morbidity,” it can also be an unsustainable and problematic solution to extreme heat

Emily Chung writes on the CBC News website about the benefits and costs of air conditioning in extreme heat. Passive cooling, greenery, behaviour changes are more sustainable, researchers say. Why air conditioners can be a problematic solution to extreme heat As extreme heat hits many parts of the world amid a warming climate, millions … Continue reading While household air conditioning is one of the “most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related mortality and morbidity,” it can also be an unsustainable and problematic solution to extreme heat →