The challenges in improving energy efficiency

Catherine Wolfram does some story telling in the Energy Collective to addressing the challenges we face in improving energy efficiency. An Energy Efficiency Parable Here’s a story that captures a lot of the challenges we face as we try to improve energy efficiency. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t have a happy ending, but I’m holding out … Continue reading The challenges in improving energy efficiency

Lessons for SMEs

Sean Hargrave writes a valuable article in The Guardian about the lessons that small and medium-sized enterprises can learn from larger companies.  Maybe some of these ideas will be discussed at the upcoming eceee industrial summer study. What SMEs can learn about efficiencies from larger companies While large companies have traditionally had advantages in delivering … Continue reading Lessons for SMEs

Australia’s state of Victoria sees priority for energy efficiency waning

Last week EiD focussed on Nova Scotia in Canada and this week the attention is given to the state of Victoria in Australia. Victoria has traditionally been one of the most committed jurisdictions to energy efficiency. Yet, as Tom Arup writes in The Age, the government is starting to draw back.   Government pulls plug … Continue reading Australia’s state of Victoria sees priority for energy efficiency waning

Financing energy-efficient homes

Dan Reicher and Andrew Peterman provide a thoughtful article in The Hill about linking the purchase of energy-efficient homes with better mortgages. Reicher is executive director of Stanford University’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. He was assistant secretary of Energy in the Clinton administration and a member of President Obama’s transition team. Peterman, … Continue reading Financing energy-efficient homes

New IEA manuals on energy efficiency

Claira Lloyd of Energy Global describes two new manuals that the IEA has published that are related to energy efficiency indicators.   Energy efficiency: from words to action Two new guides have been released by the IEA to help countries around the world develop ambitious energy efficiency policies by showing policy makers, analysts and statisticians … Continue reading New IEA manuals on energy efficiency

Concerns about budget for energy efficiency in New Zealand

Voxy.co.nz highlights the concerns of a youth climate change organisation about the cuts in the New Zealand government’s budget for energy efficiency. Budget: 'Lowest investment in energy efficiency since 2008' Analysis by youth climate change organisation Generation Zero shows that government investment in energy efficiency in the 2014 budget has been cut to 12% lower … Continue reading Concerns about budget for energy efficiency in New Zealand

New California plan dealing with energy efficiency programmes and employment issues

The Donald Vial Center on Employment in the Green Economy at the University of California, Berkeley has published a report that provides a plan for California’s utilities related to employment and energy efficiency programmes. This could possibly provide some lessons for other countries and utilities. Workforce Issues and Energy Efficiency Programs: A Plan for California's … Continue reading New California plan dealing with energy efficiency programmes and employment issues

New energy efficiency fund in Ireland

Recently, the Irish government announced a new energy efficiency fund that focuses on commercial buildings. While many news services reported this news, an article by Siliconrepublic.com was particularly good. €70m Irish Energy Efficiency Fund could be leveraged up to €300m A new €70m Energy Efficiency Fund led by Sustainable Development Capital and supported by the … Continue reading New energy efficiency fund in Ireland