Category: energy efficiency

New discussion paper on discount rates

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) commissioned Fraunhofer ISI to investigate the current use of discount rates in energy efficiency policy modelling, with a specific focus put on the building sector. Discount rates are paramount to assess the costs and long-term benefits of different policy scenarios. In any policy discussion in the European Union, there … Continue reading New discussion paper on discount rates →

New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential

Dawn Killough writes a good article on the Planetsave website about a new tool that can gather information about building interiors – the design and exact measurements of a building and that can be carried in a backpack. The tool creates a model of an existing space or building, and also captures existing conditions, creating … Continue reading New portable tool helps map buildings’ energy efficiency potential →

Short briefs on small and medium-sized companies

This week there were two good articles on SMEs and energy efficiency in the UK. The first is by Ben Lobel for the smallbusiness website. The second is by Lucinda Borrell for the smeweb website in the UK.   • SMEs mindful of environment in energy efficiency drive Small businesses are placing the environment on … Continue reading Short briefs on small and medium-sized companies →

Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process

Paula Kivimaa, from the Sussex Energy Group at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) of University of Sussex explains that we need to rely more on ‘carrot’, ‘sermon’ and voluntary action by a range of actors than regulation to improve the energy performance of buildings. She brings forth some excellent ideas that should give us … Continue reading Improving the energy performance of buildings by using intermediaries in the innovation process →

Update on energy efficiency programmes of US utilities

Dylan Sullivan, a staff scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) writes an excellent account of utility efforts on energy efficiency in the US on the NRDC blog site.   Utility investment in energy efficiency programs continues to increase, but we need more Energy efficiency programs - rebates, information, and market development efforts that … Continue reading Update on energy efficiency programmes of US utilities →

Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (the CRC, formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is a mandatory carbon emissions reduction scheme in the UK that applies to large non-energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. The CRC was first announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper following a lengthy consultation for the scheme to be mandatory, … Continue reading Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme →

‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home

Justin McGar writes a good article on the sourceable.net website about a new technique using water that can build more energy-efficient homes. Do you have any views?   Houses Made of Water Are the Future for Energy Efficiency An increased awareness of energy consumption, and the financial costs involved, is likely to see households continue … Continue reading ‘Liquid engineering’ provides an answer to a more energy efficient home →

Addressing the potential for improving the energy performance of buildings in New York City

Elisa Wood writes an important article on the energyefficiencymarkets website about how improving the energy performance of buildings will bring many benefits to energy utilities, such as avoiding building new sub-stations. While there have been endless articles about how energy efficiency is adversely affecting energy companies, the results are not all negative at all.   … Continue reading Addressing the potential for improving the energy performance of buildings in New York City →

Latest developments to see energy efficiency as a resource

In 2013 the International Energy Agency dubbed energy efficiency as the world’s First Fuel. Since then, we are seeing more and more treating energy efficiency positively that way. Elisa Wood writes a good article on the Energy Efficiency Markets website on why policymakers should look upon energy efficiency as a resource.   A Changing Landscape: … Continue reading Latest developments to see energy efficiency as a resource →