When I worked at the International Energy Agency in the 1980s, we were discussing how Britain had to give more attention to improving the energy performance of its building stock, given how poor quality they were overall. In 1990, the then Department of Environment even published an excellent report of a survey on “Attitudes to … Continue reading What does it take to improve the energy performance of Britain’s homes?
Category: energy efficiency
New JRC report on progress of member states in implementing the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
With a new draft proposal for revising the EPBD coming soon, it is timely that the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has published Progress of the Member States in implementing the Energy Performance of Building Directive. Overall, the EPBD policy framework laid down the foundation for: i) setting cost-optimal minimum energy performance standards in new … Continue reading New JRC report on progress of member states in implementing the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
While the decarbonisation challenges for buildings are significant, so are the opportunities
There are four crucial trends driving zero carbon buildings: decarbonisation, electrification, efficiency and digitalisation. Efficient, zero carbon buildings take advantage of available, cost-effective technology to reduce emissions while increasing health, equity and economic prosperity in local communities, thus presenting many opportunities. Clay Nesler, Global Lead, Buildings and Energy at the World Resources Institute; Khee Poh … Continue reading While the decarbonisation challenges for buildings are significant, so are the opportunities
UNECE helps Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Moldova scale up cost-effective climate action by improving buildings’ energy efficiency
Improving energy efficiency is a cost-effective means to support economic development while contributing to climate action. On a national scale, energy efficiency helps strengthen energy security, reduce energy expenditure, slow down energy demand growth, reduce investment needs for new generation capacities, and creates green jobs. Out of all sectors of economic activity, in many countries, the buildings sector has the largest potential for cost-effective improvement in energy efficiency and emissions reductions. To help capitalise … Continue reading UNECE helps Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Moldova scale up cost-effective climate action by improving buildings’ energy efficiency
Good EPC ratings have little impact on house prices in Britain
Rozi Jones writes on the Financial Reporter website that analysis from Nationwide shows limited impact on house prices of improvements in energy performance of buildings. There is a 1.7% house price premium for an owner-occupier property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B, compared to a D-rated home, according to data … Continue reading Good EPC ratings have little impact on house prices in Britain
New report from BPIE flags ‘make-or-break’ opportunity for climate-neutral buildings in Europe
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is the next of the EU’s energy efficiency directives to be revised this year as part of the European Green Deal, the “Fit for 55” package and the Renovation Wave initiative. The new report, The make or break decade: Making the EPBD fit for 2030, from the Buildings Performance Institute … Continue reading New report from BPIE flags ‘make-or-break’ opportunity for climate-neutral buildings in Europe
Industry and Europe’s “Fit for 55” package
In July the European Commission adopted a package of proposals – called the Fit for 55 package – to make the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. As the Commission states, achieving these emission reductions in … Continue reading Industry and Europe’s “Fit for 55” package
New white paper for an ‘energy responsible’ cannabis market
The cannabis industry isn’t world-wide but it is growing. Javier Hasse discusses a white paper linking energy efficiency with the cannabis market in an article on the yahoo!finance website. Cannabis And Energy Efficiency: New White Paper Features Key Recommendations New York’s Castetter Cannabis Group, a cannabis expert policy consultancy, released an industry white paper … Continue reading New white paper for an ‘energy responsible’ cannabis market
West Africa needs infrastructure and expertise to exploit hydropower capacity to ensure electricity efficiency
Innocent Odoh writes on the Leadership website about efforts to put its energy system on a more sustainable footing. ECOWAS Quest For Energy Efficiency Amid Challenges West Africa has large energy resources, which accounts for about one-third of African gas and oil reserves and over 23,000 Megawatt (MW) of technically exploitable hydropower capacity according … Continue reading West Africa needs infrastructure and expertise to exploit hydropower capacity to ensure electricity efficiency
Making buildings greener — both in their construction and their running — could significantly affect the impact cities have on climate change
Cities are needing more buildings than ever. But buildings produce a third of global carbon emissions and the climate emergency demands a swift transition to green buildings. Energy-saving green tech and design can help a building run efficiently, but upfront emissions from construction must be considered too. Teh Shi Ning discusses the developments in Singapore … Continue reading Making buildings greener — both in their construction and their running — could significantly affect the impact cities have on climate change
