Europe’s building renovation divide

In an article on the Euronews website, Alessio Dell'Anna writes about Europe's uneven progress on building renovation. Energy efficiency levels are rising, but not quickly enough, according to Brussels, which has launched an infringement procedure against all EU member states. Green homes: which countries are making their buildings more energy efficient? Last week, the … Continue reading Europe’s building renovation divide →

National Building Renovation Plans – the European Commission’s first assessment

The Commission’s first assessment of the complete draft National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs) shows strong commitment by EU countries to make buildings more energy efficient and decarbonised. This, in turn, lowers energy bills and makes buildings more liveable, particularly during harsh winter conditions or heatwaves. Buildings account for more than 30% of all energy used in Europe … Continue reading National Building Renovation Plans – the European Commission’s first assessment →

The end of Europe’s energy label babel

In an article on The Conversation website, Lala Rukh, PhD Candidate, Energy, University of Galway; Atlantic Technological University writes how Europe is dismantling a fragmented system of incompatible building energy labels and replacing it with a common framework. Confused about your building’s energy performance? Here’s how to understand Europe’s new labels Imagine an apartment … Continue reading The end of Europe’s energy label babel →

Commercial buildings: the UK’s forgotten energy efficiency challenge

Andrew Warren writes on the Business Green website that the issue is not simply weaker MEES regulations, but government has no discernible strategy for reducing energy demand across the vast majority of non-residential buildings in England and Wales. Andrew Warren chairs the British Energy Efficiency Federation, and is a former special advisor to the House … Continue reading Commercial buildings: the UK’s forgotten energy efficiency challenge →

From energy efficiency to energy sovereignty: the role of better building data

Andrés Jonathan Guízar Dena, Researcher and PhD student | BIM Modeler and Building Energy Design and Management Specialist, Universidad de Navarra writes on The Conversation website about the need for better data if we are to predict how well energy-saving measures will work. The blind spot in Europe’s energy strategy: almost all of its … Continue reading From energy efficiency to energy sovereignty: the role of better building data →

Why much of London’s office market could become unlettable

Large swathes of London’s office property risk becoming stranded assets as landlords run out of time to embark on major upgrades needed to meet new energy efficiency standards. Olivia Rudgard from Bloomberg News discusses latest developments in an article on the Financial Post website. Thousands of London Offices 'Risk Obsolescence' Under New Energy Efficiency … Continue reading Why much of London’s office market could become unlettable →

Energy rules are redefining hotel values

Mohamed Dabo writes for GlobalData on the yahoo/finance website that hotels are increasingly at the centre of building decarbonisation policies. Hotel industry caught in the global push for energy efficiency Rising energy costs and tightening climate rules are pushing hotel operators into a new phase of regulatory pressure, as governments across major markets accelerate … Continue reading Energy rules are redefining hotel values →

Kicked down the road: Britain’s £12bn energy efficiency delay

Despite promises to the contrary, the government continues to delay raising EPC standards for non-residential buildings. In a column in the February issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, shares his frustrations about the cost of inaction and highlights some of the other potential health and … Continue reading Kicked down the road: Britain’s £12bn energy efficiency delay →

From Warm Front to cold comfort: the decline of Britain’s insulation efforts

Insufficient vetting and monitoring have enabled some unscrupulous operators to take advantage of the government-funded home insulation upgrade schemes, but in an article in the November/December issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, argues that these failings could easily have been avoided. Confidence in home … Continue reading From Warm Front to cold comfort: the decline of Britain’s insulation efforts →

European Commission advances in the completion of the Common Charger initiative

Each year over 400 million external power supplies (EPS) are sold in the EU. To increase consumer convenience as well as resource and energy efficiency, the Commission has revised today the ecodesign requirements for these devices. Manufacturers will have 3 years to prepare for the changes. The rules cover EPS which charge or supply electricity to devices … Continue reading European Commission advances in the completion of the Common Charger initiative →