Hot off the press

There are several new publications that should be of interest to EiD readers The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a Guide to Developing Strategies for Building Energy Renovation. This template was prepared to help EU member states develop the first version of their renovation strategies that are due by April 30th 2014. It … Continue reading Hot off the press →

The rising priority for energy efficiency in buildings

Richard Matthews writes in theenergycollective.com about the benefits from improving the energy efficiency of new buildings. While the report is about the United States and it admits that the US has lagged behind many other nations, it refers to a recent United Nations study and has important lessons for Europeans. Growth of Energy Efficient Buildings … Continue reading The rising priority for energy efficiency in buildings →

More on UK’s VAT issue with European Commission

In the recent post on Britain's taxing issue, EiD quoted Andrew Warren, Director of the UK Association for the Conservation of Energy. Following other comments that EiD has received, Andrew has kindly provided the following extended note. As all Europeans are trying to address how to finance energy efficiency investments, this is an important issue … Continue reading More on UK’s VAT issue with European Commission →

A taxing issue

The European Commission’s press release this week was quite stark in its announcement: . . . The European Commission has decided to refer the United Kingdom to the EU Court of Justice for its reduced VAT rate on the supply and installation of energy-saving materials. This measure goes beyond what is allowed under the VAT … Continue reading A taxing issue →

Launch of new buildings network website

The Global Buildings Performance Network based in Paris has revamped its entire website and launched its participative global Knowledge Platform advancing best practice policies in building energy performance. The new GBPN web-based tool, will stimulate collective research and analysis from experts worldwide to promote better decision-making and help the building sector effectively reduce its impact … Continue reading Launch of new buildings network website →

Congratulations

EiD would like to congratulate Sergio Tirado-Herrero from the Central European University in Budapest for successfully defending his doctoral dissertation (summa cum laude) on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. His dissertation was: Fuel poverty alleviation as a co-benefit of climate investments: Evidence of Hungary. Sergio recently spoke at an IEA event that addressed the multiple-benefits of … Continue reading Congratulations →

Is efficient sufficient? revisited

Stephen Lacy for Greentech efficiency raises important points about our energy use in houses. In Europe, the eceee had an excellent workshop on this a few years ago, and it needs to be discussed even more. These trends in America are, one suspects, that are also true for Europe. Maybe they will be discussed at … Continue reading Is efficient sufficient? revisited →

Can energy efficiency be easy?

Walter Frick provides a very interesting post in Cleantech and Firstfuel about the importance of making operational changes in commercial buildings. This is important because, when it comes to buildings, too often our first reaction is to undertake a major retrofit. Maybe there is some merit in taking a different view. What if Energy Efficiency … Continue reading Can energy efficiency be easy? →

Even five star hotels need help

The Middle East business intelligence website, Zawya, provides information on upgrading one of Paris’ hotel gems, the Four Seasons George V. Four Seasons George V looks to Energy Efficiency Group for Energy Efficiency advice EEG (Energy Efficiency Group), an energy services provider (an ESCO) in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, continues to … Continue reading Even five star hotels need help →

Union for Concerned Scientists push for greater energy efficiency

The Union of Concerned Scientists have reacted to the decision by Duke Energy in the US to close a nuclear power plant and its consideration to replace it with a natural gas-fired plant. The UCS have a report that there are many more sustainable approaches that should be considered first. Report Shows Energy Efficiency and … Continue reading Union for Concerned Scientists push for greater energy efficiency →