Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, explores the potential future for building Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as the UK shifts towards lower carbon home heating in an article first published on the Business Green website. What role could EPCs play in the crucial shift towards low carbon home heating? The days … Continue reading The important role energy performance certificates can play to encourage low carbon home heating
Category: buildings
New analysis by European Environmental Bureau – EU governments keep fueling dirty heating
New analysis shows that 16 out of 27 member states are still financing fossil fuel heating, despite calls to phase out gas boilers by 2025 to achieve EU climate neutrality goals. These dirty subsidies cripple the deployment of clean heating technologies such as heat pumps and solar thermal devices. This year, only seven countries – Croatia, … Continue reading New analysis by European Environmental Bureau – EU governments keep fueling dirty heating
New book on thermal design of buildings
The way we heat, cool and ventilate our buildings is central to many of today’s concerns, including providing comfortable, healthy and productive environments, using energy and materials efficiently, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As we drive towards a zero-carbon society, design solutions that combine architecture, engineering and the needs of the individual are increasingly being … Continue reading New book on thermal design of buildings
Are we fit for 55?
We have all been figuring out how to meet our Paris climate commitments. The European Union has been ramping up its level of ambition as well as the means to achieving those targets. This week the European Commission adopted a package of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies … Continue reading Are we fit for 55?
A policy paper for fossil-free districts and cities from Energy Cities now available
A new report by Energy Cities details the key drivers and solutions to ensure that cities can deliver heat planning if required and drive the transition toward a fossil-free future. Good practices that cities are already implementing to phase out natural gas are also showcased. Why and how fossil fuels in buildings will be … Continue reading A policy paper for fossil-free districts and cities from Energy Cities now available
Impact of climate change on our buildings
Ran Boydell, Visiting Lecturer in Sustainable Development at Heriot-Watt University discusses in an article on The Conversation website about the fragility of our existing buildings as we cope with significant climate changes. Most buildings were designed for an earlier climate – here’s what will happen as global warming accelerates Climate change will affect every aspect … Continue reading Impact of climate change on our buildings
Need to improve energy performance certificates for buildings
Freya Wise, PhD Candidate in Sustainability and the Built Environment at The Open University in the UK writes on The Conversation website about the shortcomings of energy performance certificates (EPCs) and the need to improve them, especially for pre-1945 homes in Britain. What is the experience in your country? How we measure energy efficiency in … Continue reading Need to improve energy performance certificates for buildings
Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE
A new assessment of national nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) standards, released this week by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), finds a wide degree of disparity in how these are implemented across the EU-27, highlighting a misalignment with EU climate targets. Since the beginning of 2021, all new buildings constructed in the EU must be nZEBs, … Continue reading Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE
COVID-19 crisis shows the need to optimise the hygiene, safety and energy efficiency of buildings
Education facilities have had to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis with a combination of on-site and study from home. Making buildings smart allows this flexibility – whether from the perspective of hot-desking, agile changes of use, security and safety, or enhanced ability to morph to volatile circumstances. Mark McLoughlin discusses the benefits of going smaart … Continue reading COVID-19 crisis shows the need to optimise the hygiene, safety and energy efficiency of buildings
How can historic buildings become more energy efficient while conserving their heritage values?
Renovating to improve energy efficiency of historic buildings while also preserving them for the future is not easy. Petra Eriksson in a collaboration between the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University did her doctoral thesis presented a method taking a holistic approach to the assessment of both potential energy savings and management of the buildings' … Continue reading How can historic buildings become more energy efficient while conserving their heritage values?
