How human heat can best be used to warm buildings

Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems at Nottingham Trent University, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses how human body heat can be used to adjust temperatures. He said we can develop “smart buildings” able to adjust their heating based on the number of people in a room and the expected resulting increase … Continue reading How human heat can best be used to warm buildings →

New EEA briefing on carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats

What is the carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats? A first scoping analysis, published recently by the European Environment Agency (EEA), found that forests and wetlands can play an important role in storing carbon but doing so should take account of potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats →

The New Zealand government releases plans to prepare the country for the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis: sea level rise, floods, massive storms and wildfires

Tess McClure writes on The Guardian website about the government’s proposals to prepare the country for more floods, massive storms and wildfires include building away from high-risk areas and protecting cultural sites. New Zealand unveils plan to tackle climate crisis by adapting cities to survive rising seas The New Zealand government has released new … Continue reading The New Zealand government releases plans to prepare the country for the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis: sea level rise, floods, massive storms and wildfires →

“At Cop27, it is incumbent upon all states and non-state actors to demonstrate a united world that faces climate change challenges through urgent, ambitious, and transformative agenda”

The latest IPCC report and Ukraine crisis show the urgency of phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewables and developing sustainable agriculture. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the Egyptian UN Climate Change high-level champion and the UN special envoy on financing the 2030 sustainable development agenda writes on the Climate Change News website about some of his views … Continue reading “At Cop27, it is incumbent upon all states and non-state actors to demonstrate a united world that faces climate change challenges through urgent, ambitious, and transformative agenda” →

Japan beefing up its building codes

Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) guidelines will be used to enforce the revised building codes according to a news item on the Rethink Tokyo website. They will come into effect after 2025. Energy conservation architecture to be mandatory for Japan real estate from 2025 On April 22nd, the Cabinet of … Continue reading Japan beefing up its building codes →

If the world’s energy consumption grows at the pre-COVID rate, technological change alone will not be enough to halve global CO₂ emissions by 2030

Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney explains in an article on The Conversation website that we may need to take reducing energy consumption more seriously. Technology alone is not the answer. What are your views? Net zero by 2050 will hit a major timing problem technology can’t solve. We need to talk … Continue reading If the world’s energy consumption grows at the pre-COVID rate, technological change alone will not be enough to halve global CO₂ emissions by 2030 →

Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) can help to implement energy efficiency worldwide

In an article on the Sustainability Times website, April Miller discusses the energy efficiency gap and how EaaS can help close the gap. What are your views? EaaS solutions can address the energy efficiency gap The energy sector helps the world go round, but that heavy power usage takes a toll on the planet. … Continue reading Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) can help to implement energy efficiency worldwide →

New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions

Saphora Smith writes on the Independent website about a new UN group set up to tackle greenwashing. The chair of the new group, Catherine McKenna, says: ‘I believe that most people want to do the right thing but they have to pushed.’ Hopefully this group will have some real impact. ‘Transparency is the best … Continue reading New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions →

Calling for greater energy efficiency to reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels

Initiatives to improve energy efficiency can reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. They can also help increase the union’s influence in the global south. Mats Engstrom discusses the issues in an article on the European Council on Foreign Relations website. Efficient influence: Energy initiatives for a geopolitical Europe Russia’s brutal war on … Continue reading Calling for greater energy efficiency to reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels →

New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling

The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to halve the amount of municipal waste in the EU that is not recycled by 2030. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, achieving this target requires both reducing waste generation and considerably increasing recycling, possibly even beyond the binding recycling target … Continue reading New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling →