Irish government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme

The Irish government recently approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in … Continue reading Irish government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme →

The British energy rating scheme, recognised in law, offers a distinctly cold shoulder to the installation of heat pumps

Andrew Warren, who chairs the British Energy Efficiency Federation, warns in an articel on the Business Green website the already considerable challenge of reducing the cost of heat pumps is being complicated by the inability of Energy Performance Certificate surveyors to recommend a switch to greener heating systems EPCs don't like heat pumps - … Continue reading The British energy rating scheme, recognised in law, offers a distinctly cold shoulder to the installation of heat pumps →

Blog from Jane Marsh: Why We Need More Green Buildings for Combatting Emissions

Since the United Nations established the Paris Agreement, countries have recognized the importance of climate-protection regulations. Many nations independently developed environmental policies that target greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are generally areas of concern for ecologists when it comes to shrinking countries’ carbon footprints. Urban areas produce more atmospheric pollution from transportation, energy production, and buildings. … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: Why We Need More Green Buildings for Combatting Emissions →

New EEA briefing on role of environmental taxation in supporting Europe’s sustainability transitions

The European Green Deal acknowledges the crucial role of taxation in Europe’s sustainability transition. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, shows that revenues from environmental taxes can support transition investments but future revenue streams from these taxes will erode as European Union (EU) environmental and climate policy objectives are achieved. The … Continue reading New EEA briefing on role of environmental taxation in supporting Europe’s sustainability transitions →

The price of European carbon allowances (EUAs) is not yet high enough to drive structural decarbonisation

With high energy prices dominating the political agenda and politicians in certain EU member states training their sights on the bloc's carbon market, there is one salient fact being missed in all the hubbub: ETS emissions likely increased by 6% in 2021, and are set to rise further again this year. Self-evidently, this means that … Continue reading The price of European carbon allowances (EUAs) is not yet high enough to drive structural decarbonisation →

A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman

Research led by Dr Maryam Zuhair Al Lawati, from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, discovered a new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman. A Times News Service article on the Times of Oman website discusses the new research. Research finds new … Continue reading A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman →

Energy bills in the UK are nearly £2.5bn higher than they would have been if climate policies had not been scrapped over the past decade

Everyone is coping with rising energy prices, but recent research shows that scrapped climate policies over the past decade have had costly consequences. Tom Brook discusses in an article on the techradar website. Cutting green initiatives has added £2.5bn to UK energy bills Previous efforts to slash climate policies are now costing the average … Continue reading Energy bills in the UK are nearly £2.5bn higher than they would have been if climate policies had not been scrapped over the past decade →

New Dutch government puts green hydrogen front and centre as part of its climate policy

Mirela Petkova writes on the Energy Monitor website about the priorities for the new government in the Netherlands. On the supply side, the focus will be on green hydrogen and possibly on nuclear power as well. The report does not discuss developments on energy demand. If any readers have insight into what is going on … Continue reading New Dutch government puts green hydrogen front and centre as part of its climate policy →

New McKinsey report says reaching net zero is vital to avoiding the most catastrophic impacts of global heating and the transformation becomes more expensive the longer action is delayed

In a new report by McKinsey, the global management consulting company, they look at the economic transformation that a transition to net-zero emissions would entail—a transformation that would affect all countries and all sectors of the economy, either directly or indirectly. Damian Carrington discusses the report in an article on The Guardian website. McKinsey: … Continue reading New McKinsey report says reaching net zero is vital to avoiding the most catastrophic impacts of global heating and the transformation becomes more expensive the longer action is delayed →

The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed

In a recent event for the World Economic Forum, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA and Björn Rosengren, CEO of sustainability technology company ABB, discuss what needs to happen to improve energy efficiency and reach net zero. Their discussion is in an article on the European Sting website by Kate Whiting. Energy efficiency … Continue reading The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed →