New blogs to watch out for

The IEA’s Sustainable Building Centre (SBC): First the SBC wins a major global award following the creation of its on-line database, and then it starts its own blog. Readers are encouraged to follow the SBC here. Congratulations to Yamina Saheb and her team. Safe and Sustainable Buildings: Three colleagues from Rockwool International recently started a … Continue reading New blogs to watch out for →

A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year

The fayobserver.com in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the United States reports that North Carolina holds a sales tax holiday on the purchases of certain energy-efficient appliances on the first full weekend of November every year. If the appliances were Energy Star-qualified, met energy-efficiency guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were purchased during … Continue reading A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year →

Creating jobs and boosting the economy

Energy efficiency investment is one of the best ways to boost the economy, new research reveals. GreenWise provides a good review of a new study from Consumer Focus in the UK. The lessons from this, however, go well beyond the UK. Carbon taxes could boost economy and lower energy bills Investing money raised through … Continue reading Creating jobs and boosting the economy →

Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings

The Moscow News recently asked two experts, Sergei Choban and Konstantin Kovalyovabout their views of the state of Russian buildings. Sergei Choban ismanaging partner of the architecture studio SPEECH Choban and Kuznetsov and Konstantin Kovalyov ismanaging partner of the real estate firm Blackwood and vice president of the Russian Union of Engineers. The Moscow News … Continue reading Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings →

Did you know?

There is some good news announced in the past few days: Congratulations to the IEA’s Sustainable Building Centre (SBC). The jury for the 2012 Energy Efficiency Innovator Awards has selected the International Energy Agency’s BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Policies) database as the winner in its “Projects” category. Dr. Yamina Saheb received the award at a … Continue reading Did you know? →

Taking a test drive

The BPIE buildings data hub was launched this week. Having had a small role to play in the data gathering, I was interested to see the results and so spent some time checking it out. The portal lived up to expectations. Users can access country profiles, search specific parameters, generate overviews and graphs as well … Continue reading Taking a test drive →

Two excellent energy efficiency papers

The journal Energy Policy provides two excellent energy efficiency papers on the impact of energy labels and the possible role of how feed-in tariffs can be an option to promote energy saving. The first paper, entitled The impact of energy labels and accessibility on office rents is by Nils Kok from Maastricht University and Maarten … Continue reading Two excellent energy efficiency papers →

More on tackling fuel poverty in the UK

The Green Building Press provides this account of the impact the Green Deal could help householders who are currently considered in fuel poverty. Green refurb at flats has far reaching benefits A study undertaken at a West London estate could provide a blueprint for taking millions of UK householders out of fuel poverty, and … Continue reading More on tackling fuel poverty in the UK →

Concerns about French plans to retrofit homes

Tara Patel of Bloomberg News writes about the controversy in France about the government’s plans to “encourage” homeowners to undertake energy efficiency actions. French plan to reduce energy bills prompts Big Brother outcry Heating a French home could soon require an income tax consultation or even a visit to the doctor under legislation to force … Continue reading Concerns about French plans to retrofit homes →

Are we thinking “deep”? New survey uncovers important findings

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) surveyed real estate and construction executives in the European Union, India, China and the USA commissioned by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). 423 senior executives from the real estate and construction industries. Over half (51%) were C-level executives or above and nearly half (49%) came from organisations with more … Continue reading Are we thinking “deep”? New survey uncovers important findings →