The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) commissioned Fraunhofer ISI to investigate the current use of discount rates in energy efficiency policy modelling, with a specific focus put on the building sector. Discount rates are paramount to assess the costs and long-term benefits of different policy scenarios. In any policy discussion in the European Union, there … Continue reading New discussion paper on discount rates
Category: buildings
New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential
Dawn Killough writes a good article on the Planetsave website about a new tool that can gather information about building interiors – the design and exact measurements of a building and that can be carried in a backpack. The tool creates a model of an existing space or building, and also captures existing conditions, creating … Continue reading New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential
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
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 