Regulators in Maryland order electric utilities to give greater effort on energy savings

Timothy Wheeler writes in the Baltimore Sun about recent orders from the state regulator to increase its effort on energy savings, with a special target on low-income consumers Utilities ordered to boost energy-saving efforts Maryland regulators ordered the state's electric utilities to boost their efforts to reduce power consumption, setting one of the most … Continue reading Regulators in Maryland order electric utilities to give greater effort on energy savings →

This week’s briefs

There are a couple of good briefs this week. • WSED Young Researchers Conference The annual World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria has grown from strength to strength over recent years. The World Sustainable Energy Days are organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband, the energy agency of Upper Austria with the mission of promoting … Continue reading This week’s briefs →

Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine

There has not been a lot of good news coming out of Ukraine. Mark Rachkevych writes on the Kyiv Post website about important new developments in energy-efficient housing. One developer's solution to energy efficient houses Some 20 kilometers northwest of Kyiv stands a 129-square meter, single-family country home that is as green as it … Continue reading Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine →

Do you know how to use your thermostat?

Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post about how programmable thermostats in our homes are being misused. Many people have no idea how to use their thermostats — and it’s costing them With Americans cranking up their air conditioning to bear the summer heat, it’s time to talk about those confusing … Continue reading Do you know how to use your thermostat? →

UK position on energy efficiency getting clearer but not good

Florian Kern, co-Director of the Sussex Energy Group, a Research Fellow working on a project on ‘policy synergies and trade offs for low energy innovation‘ at the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand, and a Senior Lecturer at SPRU-Science Policy Research Unit, writes about another about face for the UK government. This blog is on … Continue reading UK position on energy efficiency getting clearer but not good →

Great expectations but . . .

Implementing energy efficiency policies and programmes is complex and quite unlike anything on the energy supply side. The stakeholders are different, the data required for monitoring are different, and the beneficiaries are different. Countries have been encouraged to establish units within their ministries responsible for energy or at least specialised institutions that have close links … Continue reading Great expectations but . . . →

Plans for next year’s Young Researchers Conference

The annual World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria has grown from strength to strength over recent years. The World Sustainable Energy Days are organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband, the energy agency of Upper Austria with the mission of promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. WSED includes thematic conferences, a trade show and technical … Continue reading Plans for next year’s Young Researchers Conference →

Have your say . . .

Silvia Zinetti was well known to many of us who were working in and around Brussels. Last year she moved to the US but has continued to work in the field of sustainable energy. She has written an excellent post about her first experience of the political scene in Washington, D.C. Washington D.C. from … Continue reading Have your say . . . →

Calls for new car CO2 emissions goals set the scene for another battle over fuel efficiency regulations in the EU

In an article in the Guardian by Arthur Neslen, ministers from the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Finland say new CO2 goals would reduce motoring costs and aid the transition to zero-emission vehicles. EU states call for tough new car fuel efficiency targets The EU should set challenging new fuel efficiency targets for new cars … Continue reading Calls for new car CO2 emissions goals set the scene for another battle over fuel efficiency regulations in the EU →

British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes

Philip Oldfield writes in the Guardian about the government decision to axe plans to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016. This has raised much criticism. What the article does not mention is how the government will now meet its related obligations for nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive. … Continue reading British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes →