Category: energy efficiency

Low-income housing not benefiting from energy efficiency schemes

Jacob Barker writes an important article on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website about the dilemma facing regulators. Those in need are not benefiting from energy efficiency incentives. In fact, this lack of benefit is more of a penalty which simply should not be the case.   Energy efficiency savings not reaching low-income households The people … Continue reading Low-income housing not benefiting from energy efficiency schemes →

The energy transition and the greater effect on the electricity system – renewables or efficiency?

John Farrell writes a good article on the CleanTechnica website arguing that, while renewable energy leads in the news, energy efficiency may be the more persistent threat to electric utilities in the 21st century. Do you have a view?   Is Energy Efficiency The More Persistent Threat To Utilities? While local renewable energy and energy … Continue reading The energy transition and the greater effect on the electricity system – renewables or efficiency? →

New report on the key to reducing cities’ emissions

A report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that transitioning to modern district energy systems could reduce primary energy consumption by up to 50%. The resulting emission reductions could amount to 60% of those required of the energy sector by 2050 to keep average temperature rise below 2°C, according to the report, titled … Continue reading New report on the key to reducing cities’ emissions →

The urgent need to raise Australia’s productivity through ‘energy opportunities’

Keith Orchison writes in Australia’s Business Spectator about the almost totally ignored opportunities to increase the country’s productivity, that lags significantly below the OECD average. This is a good article that brings lessons to all of us.   The deafening silence on energy efficiency At a point where teeth-grinding over energy policy (or the lack … Continue reading The urgent need to raise Australia’s productivity through ‘energy opportunities’ →

Display energy certificates on trial

The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive gives considerable importance to consumers and the general public in knowing and understanding the energy performance of buildings. For public buildings, the idea was to have Display Energy Certificates (DECs) that would allow the public know the performance of buildings that were deemed part of the public space. … Continue reading Display energy certificates on trial →

Buildings coming up to measure . . .

George Putic writes a very interesting article on the Voice of America website about how new technology is dealing with energy simulation, thermo-modeling or architectural design. He argues that what is needed in designing many retrofits is precise configuration of buildings, something that has been very difficult to obtain without great expense. Now a new … Continue reading Buildings coming up to measure . . . →

Focus on financing energy efficiency

When we are discussing the EU’s energy efficiency strategy, the elephant in the room is money: where does the funding come from and will there be enough to meet investment needs. On the one hand, most energy efficiency measures are considered to be cost effective and thus it is in the interest of consumers to … Continue reading Focus on financing energy efficiency →