Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post on our energy waste because we simply cannot (or do not) turn off energy-consuming devices. Many of you will be pleased to see that Alan Meier, a friend of EiD and many of us throughout Europe, gives his explanation. Alan is also a member of … Continue reading 24/7 for many of our appliances and what it costs us
Category: appliances
Even the common kettle can become more efficient
Shane Hickey provides an interesting article in The Guardian on the redesigned kettle. Two designers are convinced their new kettle will revolutionise the way we heat food and drastically reduce energy consumption. Boiling point: redesigning the kettle for the 21st century When Nils Chudy came up with the idea of redesigning the domestic kettle … Continue reading Even the common kettle can become more efficient
Impact of energy efficiency standards in the US
Donald Elliott from Covington & Burling LLP writes an informative article on The National Law Review website about the quiet success of energy efficiency standards. It would be good to see an equivalent article on the success of the Ecodesign Directive in Europe. Energy Efficiency Standards A Quiet Success Electricity consumption in the United … Continue reading Impact of energy efficiency standards in the US
Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator?
The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, provides a new briefing report on Ecodesign in the form of a question and answer entitled Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator? It is a valuable briefing note because it reviews what Ecodesign is and … Continue reading Ecodesign – European Commission land grab or market facilitator?
Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
It is long overdue that size matters when it comes to improving energy efficiency. Arthur Neslen writes an important article on the European Commission’s planning to address mega-TVs. It reminds EiD of the effort made by the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) several years ago to address whether efficient is sufficient. Hopefully … Continue reading Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
From iPod to smart household appliances
Shane Hickey writes in The Guardian about a former Apple employee, who led the team that developed the iPod, and his interest in designing many of the latest ecological and technical devices found in new homes. Tony Fadell at California-based Nest has been smartening up once-dull household appliances to save households time and money. … Continue reading From iPod to smart household appliances
The need to shift to energy-efficient appliances
While the Climate Summit was held this week, focus was on the range of ways to address climate change. Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) provided the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) with a guest article on the importance of shifting to energy-efficient appliances. It is well worth reading. Following its publication, … Continue reading The need to shift to energy-efficient appliances
Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances
Turkey does not implement all the EU energy efficiency directives, but it does implement those for Ecodesign (energy-efficient appliances) and for energy labelling. This article in the Daily Sabah shows what is happening with respect to refrigerators. While Turkey follows the Ecodesign directive, it has a special consumption tax which is actually lower for the … Continue reading Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances
Taking energy efficiency to the cleaners
Some media have been outraged by the decision of the EU’s Ecodesign programme to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for vacuum cleaners. This has meant that some of the most highly powered (but not necessarily efficient) appliances will have to be taken off the market. John Vidal tries to allay the hysteria by arguing of … Continue reading Taking energy efficiency to the cleaners
Energy Star products and class-action legal suits
Consumers in the US are raising their concerns when they feel that products do not meet the standards under Energy Star. Matthew L. Wald writes in the New York Times about one major manufacturer that is trying to prevent class-action lawsuits. Could something like this happen in Europe? Whirlpool Wants Congress to Ban Class-Action … Continue reading Energy Star products and class-action legal suits
