Category: buildings

Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process

Paula Kivimaa, from the Sussex Energy Group at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) of University of Sussex explains that we need to rely more on ‘carrot’, ‘sermon’ and voluntary action by a range of actors than regulation to improve the energy performance of buildings. She brings forth some excellent ideas that should give us … Continue reading Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process →

Electrical origami for buildings

Stacey Huang writes on the physics.org website about the latest developments by a university student for an environmentally sustainable building   Self-folding structure could slash energy use in buildings Princeton student Denisa Buzatu's vision for an environmentally sustainable building is a sort of shape-shifting origami façade. For her senior thesis, Buzatu, a civil and environmental … Continue reading Electrical origami for buildings →

‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home

Justin McGar writes a good article on the sourceable.net website about a new technique using water that can build more energy-efficient homes. Do you have any views?   Houses Made of Water Are the Future for Energy Efficiency An increased awareness of energy consumption, and the financial costs involved, is likely to see households continue … Continue reading ‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home →

Addressing the potential for improving the energy performance of buildings in New York City

Elisa Wood writes an important article on the energyefficiencymarkets website about how improving the energy performance of buildings will bring many benefits to energy utilities, such as avoiding building new sub-stations. While there have been endless articles about how energy efficiency is adversely affecting energy companies, the results are not all negative at all.   … Continue reading Addressing the potential for improving the energy performance of buildings in New York City →

Pilot project to sell saved energy

Lisa Weinzimer writes an important article on the GreenBiz website about a pilot project to monetise energy savings. While selling to the grid has been a great advantage for renewable energy technologies, there have been few efforts related to energy efficiency. For reference, the building referred to in the article, the Bullitt Center, was featured … Continue reading Pilot project to sell saved energy →

Solar-battery combinations could be coming to your home system

Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about important developments that will see batteries combined with rooftop solar panels deployed more widely. This could lead to a “load defection” away from the traditional electricity grid.   Experts: Powering your home with batteries is going to get cheaper and cheaper In the past few weeks, there’s … Continue reading Solar-battery combinations could be coming to your home system →

How people interact with buildings impacts on energy use

Understanding consumer behaviour is fundamental if we are going to achieve greater energy savings. Naomi Cole discusses behaviour based energy efficiency in a recent article on the energypriorities website.   Behavior Based Energy Efficiency: The Power of People It’s no secret that buildings have the greatest opportunities for energy savings. To date, this fact has … Continue reading How people interact with buildings impacts on energy use →

Important new paper on Display Energy Certificates

Robert Cohen and Bill Bordass, both loyal readers of EiD, have written an important new report that reviews the history of the Display Energy Certificate and it identifies a number of lessons for improvements to future policy outcomes.   Mandating transparency about building energy performance in use In 2002, the European Union Energy Performance of … Continue reading Important new paper on Display Energy Certificates →

Lessons from retrofitting an historic home

Stephen Hanley writes a good article on the PlanetSave website about the experience a couple in Switzerland had in trying to retrofit their historic home. There are important lessons for all of us.   Making An Energy Efficient Historic Home A Swiss couple has had first hand experience with making an energy efficient historic home. … Continue reading Lessons from retrofitting an historic home →