Cutting carbon emissions from construction

Building sites produce emissions and air pollution. Cities, developers and construction machinery manufacturers are looking for ways to clean them up. Chermaine Lee discusses in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Green construction: Creating emissions-free building sites The dust, smell, noise and heat from Hong Kong's many construction sites are often "unbearable" for … Continue reading Cutting carbon emissions from construction →

More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient

A news item on the Dutch News website discusses the problems in getting homeowners to take action to make their homes more energy efficient. Are you finding the same problems in your country? More than half of home owners are not boosting energy efficiency More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are … Continue reading More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient →

Efforts underway in Germany to increase the demand for energy-efficient buildings

Alice Boldis and Christian Lütkehaus write on the Pinsent Mason website about recent developments in Germany that should increase the demand for more energy-efficient buildings. What are your views? New carbon price makes energy efficiency in the German building sector even more important Heating oil will soon become more expensive for consumers in Germany … Continue reading Efforts underway in Germany to increase the demand for energy-efficient buildings →

35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave?

I feel like a broken record. Every time I’m with a group related to energy and climate, the discussion obviously gets to meeting our long-term objectives. That is quite understandable. But while we discuss where we want to go in general terms we are much more uncomfortable talking about how to get there. For example, … Continue reading 35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave? →

Don’t scrap Energy Performance Certificates – redesign them like a food label

Elmhurst Energy, the UK's largest accreditation scheme for energy assessors, gives its views on how EPCs should be re-designed in Britain. What are your views? Don’t scrap EPCs, but redesign them to show cost, carbon AND energy metrics, says Elmhurst Energy MPs shouldn’t misunderstand the fundamental value of EPCs But new opportunities could transform … Continue reading Don’t scrap Energy Performance Certificates – redesign them like a food label →

Calls for longer net-zero regulatory roadmap for commercial and industrial buildings in England and Wales

The introduction of new rules in England and Wales on measuring the energy performance of commercial and industrial buildings is a vital step forward. The British Property Federation, however, is calling for a longer net-zero regulatory roadmap beyond 2030, to give the sector more time to make the necessary changes. An article on the Property … Continue reading Calls for longer net-zero regulatory roadmap for commercial and industrial buildings in England and Wales →

The road to climate-neutrality: Are EU national long-term renovation strategies fit for 2050?

With the EU Renovation Wave and European Green Deal, every effort by all member states is so crucial to achieve the long-term climate and energy objectives. This report by BPIE makes one wonder how serious we really are in achieving our long-term goals. Will this be a wake-up call? Hopefully, but it’s not obvious. … Continue reading The road to climate-neutrality: Are EU national long-term renovation strategies fit for 2050? →

Understanding carbon-free construction

Buildings and construction generate nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. As urbanisation skyrockets, the sector needs to find ways to rapidly decarbonise through net-zero building as required under the EU Energy Performance In Buildings Directive and to meet our long-term climate and energy objectives. Stuart Braun provides a good account to understanding carbon-free construction in … Continue reading Understanding carbon-free construction →

Retrofitting buildings starts with what you already have

A good article on the Propmodo website provides a good message about our climate goals and buildings. It says we cannot build our way to meet our sustainability goals. It goes on that there is a growing number of tools to help refurbish and renew existing buildings and cities are paying attention to this. What … Continue reading Retrofitting buildings starts with what you already have →

Many Canadian condominiums opting for geothermal heating and cooling

While most geothermal systems in the past 40 years have been installed in single-family homes, those in the industry say growth in the market is now driven by condominiums. Emily Chung writes on the CBC website about the increasing interest in this technology. What are your views? Why geothermal is a hot trend in … Continue reading Many Canadian condominiums opting for geothermal heating and cooling →