Energy use drops in Irish homes

Build.ie, Ireland’s Construction Directory, recently published the results of new data from the national energy agency on residential energy consumption. The report states that the new building regulations were an important factor. Energy Efficiency Improves In Irish Homes Energy use per household fell by 18% between 2006 and 2011 according to a new report Residential … Continue reading Energy use drops in Irish homes →

Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe

Heat Recovery in Energy Intensive Industries (H-REII) is a project supported by the EU LIFE Programme. Energy intensive industrial processes (iron, steel and cement production, glass making, etc.) emit heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. Technological and non-technological barriers have negatively influenced the introduction of more energy efficient systems that are able to … Continue reading Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe →

Trial in UK to have appliance labels show electricity costs

Rebecca Smithers writes in the Guardian about a new appliance label that is being tested at the UK department store, John Lewis. This is a trial, sponsored by the UK government, that will last for six months. The label includes the lifetime electricity costs. It will be interesting to see how consumers react to it. … Continue reading Trial in UK to have appliance labels show electricity costs →

First fund for SME energy efficiency projects launches

Ilaria Bertini writes in Blue & Green Tomorrow about a new fund for energy efficiency and renewable energy that has just been launched in the UK Energy efficiency fund launched for green businesses ReEnergise Finance has created a dedicated fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) wanting to invest in energy efficiency or renewable energy. … Continue reading First fund for SME energy efficiency projects launches →

New paper: fuel poverty and energy efficiency obligations – a critical view

Jan Rosenow, a Senior Consultant in Energy and Climate Policy at Ricardo-AEA, a global consulting firm, has teamed up with Reg Platt (Institute for Public Policy Research) and Brooke Flanagan (Future Climate) and produced a paper critically examining the tensions created by using energy efficiency obligations for fuel poverty alleviation. While the energy efficiency obligations … Continue reading New paper: fuel poverty and energy efficiency obligations – a critical view →

Britain’s homes under the microscope

John Kemp, a market analyst for the Reuters news service, provides an excellent article on the dynamics of energy consumption in the housing sector in Britain. It would be good to know how this compares with other European countries. Britain's quiet home energy revolution Britain's homes are in the midst of an energy-efficiency revolution, though … Continue reading Britain’s homes under the microscope →

The impact of the new generation of smart windows

RTCC (Responding to Climate Change) assesses the important energy savings that are available from new materials that are being developed to significantly increase the efficiency of windows. Smart windows could spark energy efficiency revolution Window coating can stop around 50% of heat and 70% of visible light, generating huge energy savings A window spray … Continue reading The impact of the new generation of smart windows →

Energy saving becomes a higher priority in China

Jennifer Duggan writes in the China Blog for the Guardian about the plans to make energy efficiency a higher priority. The main driver appears to be tackling the worsening pollution problems that are plaguing the country China to invest in energy saving industries to tackle pollution China's State Council announces plans to make green industries … Continue reading Energy saving becomes a higher priority in China →

Will new building standards make it harder for the small builder?

Louise Bateman writes in Green Building News about the problems small and medium-sized construction companies will face in the UK when new energy efficiency building standards come into force in 2014. Warning for construction SMEs over new energy efficiency building standards Small and medium-sized companies operating in the construction sector are being warned they could … Continue reading Will new building standards make it harder for the small builder? →

Jevons meets the Undercover Economist

The Undercover Economist, Tim Harford, writes an excellent piece in the Financial Times on the age old issue of the rebound effect from energy efficiency. Energy efficiency gives us money to burn Is it possible to enjoy the benefits of fuel-saving devices without using more energy? William Stanley Jevons was born in Liverpool in … Continue reading Jevons meets the Undercover Economist →