A review of recent studies has ruled out hydrogen playing a major role in the heating of buildings

Investigations repeatedly find that H2 will prove to be too expensive and inefficient compared to other clean alternatives such as heat pumps. In an article on the RECHARGE website, Leigh Collins discusses the findings of a total of 18 independent studies. Revealed | What 18 independent studies all concluded about the use of hydrogen … Continue reading A review of recent studies has ruled out hydrogen playing a major role in the heating of buildings →

Landlords in UK face challenge to upgrade their properties

Three million buy-to-let landlords will have to pay thousands to upgrade homes. Owners will have to pay to upgrade their properties to meet a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of "band C". The planned deadline for newly let properties is 2025. For all existing lets, the deadline will be 2028. Of the 5.6 million rental … Continue reading Landlords in UK face challenge to upgrade their properties →

Without adequate funding, meeting Britain’s net zero target is doomed

In an article on The Conversation website, Keith Baker, Researcher in Fuel Poverty and Energy Policy, Built Environment Asset Management (BEAM) Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University argues why the UK government needs to come up with a clear funding plan if long-term climate and energy objectives are to be met. This is not just a … Continue reading Without adequate funding, meeting Britain’s net zero target is doomed →

We know how to mobilise consumers to take action to deliver energy efficiency, now let’s do it

Minimum energy consumption standards for products and rented homes have galvanised improvements in energy efficiency in recent years, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in an article on the Business Green website. Why the government should stick with sticks to deliver energy efficiency Effective energy saving programmes need three mutually … Continue reading We know how to mobilise consumers to take action to deliver energy efficiency, now let’s do it →

Blog from Catrin Maby: How can we regulate for energy efficiency in owner occupied homes? Scotland steps forward

The sharp rise in energy prices this winter has added to the cost of living struggle that many households were already facing across the UK. Our housing is particularly old and thermally inefficient, and the levels of fuel poverty are on the rise again. At the same time, we are painfully aware of the impact … Continue reading Blog from Catrin Maby: How can we regulate for energy efficiency in owner occupied homes? Scotland steps forward →

Japan beefing up its building codes

Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) guidelines will be used to enforce the revised building codes according to a news item on the Rethink Tokyo website. They will come into effect after 2025. Energy conservation architecture to be mandatory for Japan real estate from 2025 On April 22nd, the Cabinet of … Continue reading Japan beefing up its building codes →

Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada

The project team for the 18-story high-rise for seniors slashed the building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 94 percent and its heating energy demand by 91 percent. Robert Cassidy discusses the retrofit in an article on the Building Design + Construction website. Ken Soble Tower becomes world’s largest residential Passive House retrofit Ken Soble Tower, … Continue reading Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada →

Building materials have a heavy carbon footprint and present a concrete challenge to the climate

We need to rethink the way we construct our buildings in order to reduce embodied carbon. The strategies to reduce embodied carbon already exist – from building smarter to decarbonising building materials. To shine a light on these solutions, the Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) recently published a working paper presenting key facts … Continue reading Building materials have a heavy carbon footprint and present a concrete challenge to the climate →

Because “British people are no-nonsense pragmatists who can make decisions based on the information” the government will not “impose” measures to improve energy efficiency

The UK has some of the least energy-efficient homes in Europe, with 19 million houses and flats needing extra insulation. In February the national Climate Change Committee said the government’s policy on insulation was ‘very poor’ and a lot more needed to be done. However, the government, with its new Energy Security Strategy, will not … Continue reading Because “British people are no-nonsense pragmatists who can make decisions based on the information” the government will not “impose” measures to improve energy efficiency →

New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions

Accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and sometimes up to 70% in large cities, buildings are central to the low-carbon transition. Decarbonising buildings, especially older stock, through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy use not only reduces carbon emissions, but also generates co-benefits in health, energy affordability and the labour market. … Continue reading New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions →