Closely examining the story behind setting the EU’s 2030 target for energy savings

Many were surprised that the European Council lowered the 2030 target for energy savings that had been proposed by the European Commission. Andrew Warren, honorary President of the UK’s Association for the Conservation of Energy, explains in an article for the Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine what happened behind the scenes. The UK’s … Continue reading Closely examining the story behind setting the EU’s 2030 target for energy savings →

Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK

The UK is requiring landlords to have their buildings meet a minimum performance level as of 2018. While the initial reaction was muted, now the real estate industry is realising the implications. Aliya Ram and Kate Allen write a good article in the Financial Times about recent developments. Let’s hope the government is not pressured … Continue reading Potential impact of new minimum performance standards for rental buildings in the UK →

Assessing the cost of energy efficiency

Merriam Borgeson writes an excellent blog for Switchboard, Natural Resources Defense Counsel Staff Blog, on a recent study comparing the cost of energy efficiency and the cost of building coal power plants. New Analysis: The Cost of Energy Efficiency is Under Half the Cost of Building Dirty Coal Power Plants After mining the results … Continue reading Assessing the cost of energy efficiency →

The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives

Mat Hope writes on the Carbon Brief website about the latest Emissions Gap report of the United Nations Environment Programme and the growing awareness that improved energy efficiency must play a more important role. Alas, it is unfortunate that the European Council did not understand this when it downplayed the role improved energy efficiency would … Continue reading The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives →

Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs

It is long overdue that size matters when it comes to improving energy efficiency. Arthur Neslen writes an important article on the European Commission’s planning to address mega-TVs. It reminds EiD of the effort made by the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) several years ago to address whether efficient is sufficient. Hopefully … Continue reading Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs →

India shows its commitment to energy efficiency

Last week G20 members endorsed the G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan. While being a voluntary initiative, it should raise the profile of energy efficiency globally. Urmi Goswami writes in the Economic Times that India has welcomed the initiative. This is important because it shows India’s commitment to both improved energy efficiency and addressing climate change. … Continue reading India shows its commitment to energy efficiency →

From iPod to smart household appliances

Shane Hickey writes in The Guardian about a former Apple employee, who led the team that developed the iPod, and his interest in designing many of the latest ecological and technical devices found in new homes. Tony Fadell at California-based Nest has been smartening up once-dull household appliances to save households time and money. … Continue reading From iPod to smart household appliances →

Energy efficiency seen as a priority for Class B office buildings in New York City

One seldom hears about Class B buildings but cities have many of them. C. J. Hughes writes a good article in the New York Times about the efforts underway to ensure that their energy performance is improved. This is a good initiative that hopefully will be replicated elsewhere. Manhattan’s Second-Tier Office Buildings Make Energy … Continue reading Energy efficiency seen as a priority for Class B office buildings in New York City →

The deadly effects of fuel poverty in the UK

Simon Read writes a sobering article in The Independent that each winter, one older person dies every seven minutes from cold weather. Even with a fuel poverty strategy that includes a winter fuel allowance, we are still seeing an impact that is surely unacceptable. Fuel poverty crisis leave one in three pensioners in turmoil … Continue reading The deadly effects of fuel poverty in the UK →

Energy-efficient technologies need good installation to ensure potential impact is achieved

Mark Bello writes a good article on the Phys.org website about the importance of proper installation. Unfortunately, the majority of air-conditioning equipment evaluated in the field in the US performed below rated energy-efficiency levels due to one or more installation faults. Energy efficiency of HVAC equipment suffers due to poor installation The push for … Continue reading Energy-efficient technologies need good installation to ensure potential impact is achieved →