Category: energy efficiency

A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year

The fayobserver.com in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the United States reports that North Carolina holds a sales tax holiday on the purchases of certain energy-efficient appliances on the first full weekend of November every year. If the appliances were Energy Star-qualified, met energy-efficiency guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were purchased during … Continue reading A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year →

First leasing loan under EBRD Russian energy efficiency programme

Recognising the role played by the leasing sector in funding the acquisition of energy efficient equipment, the EBRD has provided a 400 million rouble loan (€9.94 million) to promote energy savings by the small and medium sized business clients of a Russian leasing company. The four-year loan to Russia’s BOT Lease (Eurasia) LLC, an affiliate … Continue reading First leasing loan under EBRD Russian energy efficiency programme →

Creating jobs and boosting the economy

Energy efficiency investment is one of the best ways to boost the economy, new research reveals.  GreenWise provides a good review of a new study from Consumer Focus in the UK.  The lessons from this, however, go well beyond the UK.   Carbon taxes could boost economy and lower energy bills Investing money raised through … Continue reading Creating jobs and boosting the economy →

Re-thinking energy efficiency strategies

James Murray has an excellent blog in Green Business.  While the example is about the UK, there are lessons for all of Europe.  Murray raises the issue of why politicians are so reluctant to support standards-based policies such as minimum energy performance standards and labelling.  Unfortunately, he does not mention that most of those standards … Continue reading Re-thinking energy efficiency strategies →

What the IEA’s World Energy Outlook says about energy efficiency

This week, the International Energy Agency published its 2012 version of its World Energy Outlook.  There was considerable attention given to energy efficiency.  It is instructive to read some excerpts on energy efficiency from the executive summary. Our Efficient World Scenario shows how tackling the barriers to energy efficiency investment can unleash this potential and … Continue reading What the IEA’s World Energy Outlook says about energy efficiency →

Comments in the Independent newspaper on November 12th from newspaper reader to complaints about planned fuel price rise in the UK

These are very good comments by a Mr. Fox in the Independent. "If fuel costs were really too high then you would expect there to have been a change in driver behaviour to reflect that fact. But most drivers still appear to exceed statutory speed limits on motorways or drive close to them; many overtake … Continue reading Comments in the Independent newspaper on November 12th from newspaper reader to complaints about planned fuel price rise in the UK →

Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings

The Moscow News recently asked two experts, Sergei Choban and Konstantin Kovalyovabout their views of the state of Russian buildings.  Sergei Choban ismanaging partner of the architecture studio SPEECH Choban and Kuznetsov and Konstantin Kovalyov ismanaging partner of the real estate firm Blackwood and vice president of the Russian Union of Engineers.  The Moscow News … Continue reading Comments by experts on the energy performance of Russian buildings →

Reaction to use of LED lighting for streetlights

Kale Roberts reports in Mother Earth News on a recent survey taken of the reaction to the use of LED lighting in US cities. Energy Efficient LED Lighting Hits the Streets:  95 Percent of Cities Satisfied There are more than 50 million streetlights in the United States. From parking lots to park trails to bridges, … Continue reading Reaction to use of LED lighting for streetlights →