New market analysis on energy efficient buildings in Europe

The azocleantech website reviews a new report by Navigant Research on the state of play in improving energy efficiency of buildings in Europe and in assessing the cumulative spending to improve their performance.   New Forecast Report on Cumulative Spending on Energy Efficient Buildings in Europe Buildings account for 40 percent of Europe’s final energy … Continue reading New market analysis on energy efficient buildings in Europe

Promoting demand response in Chicago

Karan Gupta, an EDF Climate Corps Fellow at Jones Lang Lasalle, the Chicago-based professional services and investment management company specialising in real estate, writes on The Energy Collective website about how they are using demand response to promote energy savings.   Demand Response at the Core of Energy Savings for Large Office Building in Chicago … Continue reading Promoting demand response in Chicago

Support to renovate Ukraine’s buildings

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been developing energy efficiency financing facilities in many of its countries of operation. Now Interfax Natural Gas Daily writes that the EBRD is considering a similar arrangement for Ukraine.   EBRD working on Ukrainian energy efficiency funding package The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) … Continue reading Support to renovate Ukraine’s buildings

Results from a net-zero energy test house in the US

Mark Bello writes on the National Institute of Standards and Technology website about the results of a test house in the suburbs of Washington D.C.   NIST Test House Exceeds Goal; Ends Year with Energy to Spare The net-zero energy test house at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in suburban Washington, D.C., … Continue reading Results from a net-zero energy test house in the US

UK’s programmes for buildings retrofits not living up to promises

Fiona Harvey writes in The Guardian about the poor results from the two programmes in the UK that are designed to help finance building retrofits. UK on track to miss carbon targets, climate change advisers warn The coalition’s flagship insulation programmes have failed to put the UK on the right track to meet its commitments … Continue reading UK’s programmes for buildings retrofits not living up to promises

Two member states failing to fully implement the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Priyanka Shrestha writes in Energy Live News about the failure of Austria and Poland to fully meet their obligations under the EU Directive. Poland and Austria referred to court over energy efficiency law The European Commission is referring Poland and Austria to the EU Court of Justice for failing to enact the energy efficiency buildings … Continue reading Two member states failing to fully implement the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings

Vicky Ellis writes in EnergyLive News about a new database entitled Energy Efficiency Performance of Properties Analysis. This effort is certainly welcome.   Craning to see which are the most efficient buildings in Europe? Ever wondered which continental country has the most energy efficient buildings? Or how your building squares up to one in Germany … Continue reading Planning for new energy performance database on Europe’s buildings

Reviewing the new report – Climate Change: Implications for Buildings

Those working globally, regionally or nationally to improve the energy performance of buildings have recognised and tried to explain to a wider audience the importance of having an ambitious approach to such improvements for both new and existing buildings. While one can go on and on about one energy supply source after another, what it … Continue reading Reviewing the new report – Climate Change: Implications for Buildings

Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern?

It would be good to get readers’ views on the “lock in effect” related to the renovation of buildings. The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive from 2012 requires member states to prepare long-term renovation strategies. In the recital to the Directive it states: Bearing in mind that the Council conclusions of 10 June 2011 on the … Continue reading Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern?