New study on the use of financial instruments to retrofit buildings in Europe

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe has come out with a new report reviewing the use of financial instruments in the European Union. The paper presents an overview of the various financial schemes in place dedicated to the energy efficient renovation of buildings in 2011. It makes a quantitative analysis of the different financing mechanisms and … Continue reading New study on the use of financial instruments to retrofit buildings in Europe →

German bank helps India finance the retrofit of houses

Rashme Sehgal of the news service deccanchronical.com provides details of support by the state-owned German bank, KfW providing a loan to an Indian bank to finance retrofitting houses in India. German bank push for energy efficient homes In a strong bid to promote energy conservation in the residential sector, German KfW Development Bank is … Continue reading German bank helps India finance the retrofit of houses →

European Investment Bank supports the retrofit of schools in France

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a loan agreement with the Languedoc-Roussillon Region to enable it to build and refurbish secondary schools to a high energy efficiency standard, meeting Europe 2020 environmental norms. A first EUR 100 million instalment was put in place on 7 September 2012 by the President of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region, … Continue reading European Investment Bank supports the retrofit of schools in France →

VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects

The UK government is to fight an EU ruling that the UK must raise VAT on energy efficiency products from 5% to 20%. VAT was reduced to 5% on energy efficiency products in the UK because government wants to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and create jobs. Andrew Warren of the Association for the … Continue reading VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects →

Berlin is waiting

On October 24th and 25th, the EEIP (Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes) will hold its bi-annual congress in Berlin in co-operation with Deneff, the GermanBusiness Initiative for Energy Efficiency. The EEIP Congress 24-25 October brings forth the three main elements of EEIP work: energy recovery, financing and energy management systems. With the focus on industrial … Continue reading Berlin is waiting →

Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013

The next WSED conference will present the work and achievements of young researchers in the field of biomass and in the field of energy efficiency. It will be held as one of the conferences of the World Sustainable Energy Days 2013 from 27 February - 1 March 2013 in Wels/Austria. With more than 800 participants every year, the World … Continue reading Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013 →

Energy efficient commercial buildings in the news

Joao Peixe for Oilprice.com provides a report on a building in Stockholm that is purported to be the most energy efficient in the world. The report does not provide details on its actual energy performance and EiD encourages any of its Swedish readers to come forward with more information. If it truly is the most … Continue reading Energy efficient commercial buildings in the news →

Survey: Employees ‘passing the buck’ on energy saving

BusinessGreen describes a survey undertaken of staff in small and medium sized companies. The survey was undertaken for the energy company, E.ON. The lack of interest or commitment on the part of employees to do even the least action is important to better understand. The question is how managers can turn this attitude around and … Continue reading Survey: Employees ‘passing the buck’ on energy saving →

More on the rebound effect

On October 4th, abstracts are due at the eceee for its June 2013 summer study. Recently, EiD has seen several studies concerning consumer behaviour and much of it related to the rebound effect. This blog by William M. Brown, Professor of Public Administration and Urban Studies at Cleveland State University, should give aspiring authors some … Continue reading More on the rebound effect →

Addressing fuel poverty in Scotland

Scotland’s Daily Record news describes efforts underway by the Scottish Government to more effectively address fuel poverty. The article quotes Brenda Boardman, who has championed the cause of tackling fuel poverty. Calls for fuel poverty to be stamped out by improving energy efficiency THE Scottish Government has pledged to ensure that by November 2016, "so … Continue reading Addressing fuel poverty in Scotland →