New report from European Environment Agency

The European Environment Agency shows that the energy transition is well underway in Europe in the deployment of renewable energy. Renewables assuming greater role in the EU energy mix, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions The EEA report ‘Renewable energy in Europe 2017,’ shows that renewables have become a major contributor to the energy … Continue reading New report from European Environment Agency →

Blog from Louise Sunderland – We have a choice: more of the same for consumers, or a chance at really raising the building renovation rate

Having avidly read the Commission’s clean energy package documents at the end of last year (OK, so I admit, not every page but all of the important stuff from a buildings perspective) I am now reading the briefings and recommendations on changes to the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive … Continue reading Blog from Louise Sunderland – We have a choice: more of the same for consumers, or a chance at really raising the building renovation rate →

EU energy efficiency policies under fire in Ireland

One of the main elements of the 2012 EU Energy Efficiency Directive is a requirement to have energy distribution and retail companies provide measures to consumers that achieve quite ambitious targets. Member states are allowed alternative measures but not all have opted for that. The Irish Times had a news item this week stating that … Continue reading EU energy efficiency policies under fire in Ireland →

Britain’s sustainable energy transition

This coming week, the UK will be formally notifying the EU of its decision to leave. The “divorce” is not simple, there has been much hostility raised about the “interference” of EU directives, and there are many issues about what energy efficiency legislation makes sense to retain. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency … Continue reading Britain’s sustainable energy transition →

The Brussels Winter Package whirlwind

The European Commission’s clean energy - or 'winter' - package is producing a whirlwind of activity in its approval process. I have seen it at first hand over the past few weeks, at meetings, workshops and conferences reviewing impact assessments, addressing energy efficiency financing, and discussing the central role of consumers in the winter package. … Continue reading The Brussels Winter Package whirlwind →

New report by BPIE assesses readiness of EU countries in their transition to smart buildings

Europe is gripped in the trend towards improving our buildings and infrastructure through “smart” techniques. The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has recently published a report assessing how prepared EU member states are for this transition. European countries are missing smart buildings opportunities Analysis by the on the readiness of EU countries to transition … Continue reading New report by BPIE assesses readiness of EU countries in their transition to smart buildings →

European Commission’s latest proposals for improving energy efficiency policies seems to be incurring the ire of the departing Brits

Fourteen months ago, there was global agreement to raise the ambition of our energy and climate policies in order to significantly reduce the impact of climate change. Improved energy efficiency was seen as a major element in meeting those goals. That was before Britain voted to leave the European Union. Now, Andrew Warren, Chairman of … Continue reading European Commission’s latest proposals for improving energy efficiency policies seems to be incurring the ire of the departing Brits →

Report on state of Energy Union provides a little gem on energy storage

On 25 February 2015, the European Commission adopted "A Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy". Since then, the concept of the Energy Union has gained currency and plays a major role in bringing all the elements of energy policy together into a neat package. This week, the Commission … Continue reading Report on state of Energy Union provides a little gem on energy storage →

Energy advice update

Consumers should be at the centre of EU energy in buildings policy. Active and engaged consumers are essential for Europe to achieve its ambition to move to a low carbon, secure and competitive economy. The EU policy package to date barely provides for consumer support for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments, in the form … Continue reading Energy advice update →

Wake up call to take our energy efficiency policies seriously

As always, Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, makes us think. The EU is revising its energy efficiency directives at a time when his country is in the midst of leaving the EU. But leaving the EU does not mean leaving the policies that matter to people, the environment and other economic … Continue reading Wake up call to take our energy efficiency policies seriously →