Scotland’s Daily Record news describes efforts underway by the Scottish Government to more effectively address fuel poverty. The article quotes Brenda Boardman, who has championed the cause of tackling fuel poverty. Calls for fuel poverty to be stamped out by improving energy efficiency THE Scottish Government has pledged to ensure that by November 2016, "so … Continue reading Addressing fuel poverty in Scotland
Category: buildings
Promoting energy efficiency in Chicago
Midwest Energy News provides an excellent review by Kari Lydersen of what is going on in Chicago to promote energy efficiency. Importantly, the city is setting up an Infrastructure Trust and it will be important for all to follow how this evolves. The role of cities is becoming more and more important in energy efficiency … Continue reading Promoting energy efficiency in Chicago
Novel way to improve energy performance of buildings
Specificationonline.co.uk has recently described an EU-funded project which has developed a new technology to improve energy performance. It is funded through Framework Programme 7 and a more complete description of the entire project follows the article. Self-learning buildings will increase their energy efficiency The University of Salford is part of a Europe-wide project to … Continue reading Novel way to improve energy performance of buildings
Pushing for deep renovations in Canada
Summer gives EiD some time to look at news items that do not make the traditional press sources. This article by Bill Metcalfe from Nelson, BC in Canada focuses on a consultant who is pushing for even more ambitious goals in his local community. Energy Expert Thinks Nelson’s Ecosave Program Doesn’t Go Far Enough Michael … Continue reading Pushing for deep renovations in Canada
New York City shows way forward in energy efficient retrofits
Jeff Ray of CBS media describes the retrofit of a landmark building in New York City. The entire retrofit took five years to complete which is a sobering thought when we consider retrofitting commercial buildings on a major scale. Sundance Square Making Energy Efficient Push The tallest building in New York City is now the tallest … Continue reading New York City shows way forward in energy efficient retrofits
Commercial sector in UK missed in promoting energy efficiency
The news agency, Reuters, has recently published a column by Gerard Wynn on how the UK’s energy efficiency strategy has by-passed the commercial sector – a sector with significant potential for electricity savings. UK efficiency drive skips commercial sector Britain is missing a huge potential for electricity savings by companies as the government focuses on … Continue reading Commercial sector in UK missed in promoting energy efficiency
Financing retrofits
Improving the energy performance of buildings will require some innovation on financing. Sandra Kwak, an entrepreneur with Powerzoa and D-Light Energy has provided an insightful, detailed article on energy efficiency financing that should be of interest to EiD readers. It makes for more good summer reading. Energy Efficiency Financing: The Absent, Invisible Hand “How … Continue reading Financing retrofits
Does energy efficiency raise house values?
Frequently analysts are asked to know if there is a premium on energy-efficient homes since the change in asset value has an effect on undertaking a retrofit investment or the purchase of a high performing new building. This study, reported in the Washington Post by Kenneth Harney, gives some strong evidence that there is a … Continue reading Does energy efficiency raise house values?
Learning from the past
This report by Matt Fulford, head of buildings at Sustain, in the Guardian, discusses what we can learn today from our heritage buildings. What can heritage buildings teach us about modern energy efficiency? Heritage buildings have, by definition, been around for a long time. With careful management, they are here to stay for hundreds … Continue reading Learning from the past
Air conditioning – part 2
Following last week’s post on air conditioning or not, this is a good overview by Stan Cox for Yale Environment 360 of the global impact of air conditioning. The report was on the Guardian website. Climate risks heat up as world switches on to air conditioning The world is warming, incomes are rising, and smaller … Continue reading Air conditioning – part 2
