The buildings sector is reputed to have the highest potential for energy efficiency improvements but everyone realises the problems to get owners and occupiers to improve energy performance. Merrill Kramer and Joshua Sturtevant from Sullivan & Worcester LLP in the US write on the lexology website about how attitudes of owners are changing. Property … Continue reading Positive developments in getting property owners to appreciate benefits of energy efficiency
Category: buildings
Some British social landlords learning lessons from the Netherlands on energy efficiency
Inside Housing reports on a new technique borrowed from the Dutch to retrofit a house in 10 days to a ‘zero-energy’ standard. Does anyone have more information on this? Landlords pilot Dutch energy efficiency model A consortium of social landlords has formed a company to pilot a new construction technique that pays for itself … Continue reading Some British social landlords learning lessons from the Netherlands on energy efficiency
Re-thinking how we keep cool
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer is soon to leave us but there are still warm days that make us reach for air conditioning. Elizabeth Shockman writes about the increased interest in air conditioning in emerging economies on the Public Radio International (PRI) website. She assesses some innovative ways that will be less costly and have … Continue reading Re-thinking how we keep cool
Demand flexibility
Chris Mooney writes a good article in the Washington Post about what the Rocky Mountain Institute calls ‘demand flexibility’ or ‘flexiwatts.’ Is this the way of the future? There’s a big change coming to how we power our homes — and it isn’t about solar or batteries Earlier this year, home energy received its … Continue reading Demand flexibility
Balancing energy supply and energy demand priorities
Barbara Lewis writes a good article on the Reuters news service website about the benefits of energy efficient homes in Europe. Low-energy, healthy homes: Europe's answer to shale gas? With street names such as Temperance and Hygiene and plenty of green open spaces, the 1920s Bon Air (Good Air) housing estate in a working-class … Continue reading Balancing energy supply and energy demand priorities
Zero-net-energy buildings gaining wide attention in the US
Brittany Patterson writes a good article on the E&E News website about the growing interest for zero-net-energy buildings in the US, with California leading the way. Will zero-net-energy homes be the wave of the future? Marisol Sanabria points to a small white device about the size of her palm encased in a hard clear … Continue reading Zero-net-energy buildings gaining wide attention in the US
Latest developments in changes to building regulations in Australia
There has not been much good news on sustainable energy issues coming out of Australia recently. So it continues, according to an article by Damon Kitney on The Australian website. There are growing concerns about proposed federal government changes to building regulations. Builders oppose Canberra’s energy efficiency changes Some of the biggest names in … Continue reading Latest developments in changes to building regulations in Australia
Identifying the potential for energy savings in buildings
The Intelligent Utility website provides a good article on where to improve the energy performance of buildings. Do you agree? The Key to Dramatically Reducing Overall Energy Use? Solve the Problem of Moving Air The largest energy consumers in the world are big buildings. Think of the abundance of lighting fixtures, heating/cooling systems, water … Continue reading Identifying the potential for energy savings in buildings
Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine
There has not been a lot of good news coming out of Ukraine. Mark Rachkevych writes on the Kyiv Post website about important new developments in energy-efficient housing. One developer's solution to energy efficient houses Some 20 kilometers northwest of Kyiv stands a 129-square meter, single-family country home that is as green as it … Continue reading Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine
Do you know how to use your thermostat?
Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post about how programmable thermostats in our homes are being misused. Many people have no idea how to use their thermostats — and it’s costing them With Americans cranking up their air conditioning to bear the summer heat, it’s time to talk about those confusing … Continue reading Do you know how to use your thermostat?
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 