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 →

New survey on British attitudes on criteria when selecting a new home

A news item on the Property Reporter website discusses the findings of a survey commissioned by the Home Builders Federation on the sentiment among the British public towards more sustainable living, following in the wake of the recent energy crisis and growing general awareness of our individual carbon footprints. Demand for energy efficiency at … Continue reading New survey on British attitudes on criteria when selecting a new home →

Looking at the multiple benefits of green buildings

Md Sazan Rahman, PhD Candidate in Bioresource Engineering at McGill University, in an article on The Conversation website, gives a good account of the range of benefits that come from green buildings. What is your experience? Green buildings can boost productivity, well-being and health of workers Most people now recognize the energy savings benefits of … Continue reading Looking at the multiple benefits of green buildings →

With few carrots and tepid tambourines what is there left to stimulate we donkeys into changing our behaviour?

A market shift is underway in the rental homes sector since UK government legislation mandated that all such properties must have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation discusses how to shift behaviour in an article in the March issue of … Continue reading With few carrots and tepid tambourines what is there left to stimulate we donkeys into changing our behaviour? →

After a decade of market-driven policy failure, Britain remains the ‘cold man of Europe’

Britain has homes that are older, draughtier and harder to heat than anywhere else in western Europe. The poor are paying for the problem that is much older than the current energy crisis. Caroline Molloy discusses in an article on the Open Democracy website. Putin isn’t to blame for fuel poverty in the UK … Continue reading After a decade of market-driven policy failure, Britain remains the ‘cold man of Europe’ →

A better understanding of energy usage helps lead to lower energy bills

David Glew, Head of Energy Efficiency and Policy at Leeds Beckett University in an article on The Conversation website discusses the importance of “energy literacy.” How to lower your bills with a better grasp of home energy use The future does not look bright for energy bills, with fuel poverty set to affect over 6 … Continue reading A better understanding of energy usage helps lead to lower energy bills →

National Heat Study published in Ireland

Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland recently published the National Heat Study, a comprehensive analysis of the options for reaching net zero emissions from the heating sector by 2050. Comprising a series of technical reports analysing heat supply and use across all sectors, the study provides key insights and proposed actions to decarbonise the sector. Crucially it … Continue reading National Heat Study published in Ireland →