An efficient EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive must look out for the reduction of ‘whole life carbon emissions’ in order to achieve Europe’s climate goals, writes Zsolt Toth from BPIE in an article on the EURACTIV website. Just published is a PhD thesis by Jane Anderson on on 'Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built … Continue reading The need for addressing embodied carbon in our buildings
Category: European energy policies
For Europe’s mayors it’s the Green Deal or bust, and it’s time everyone put their cards on the table
Burkhard Jung, president of Eurocities and mayor of Leipzig, Germany, in an article on the Politico website, explains the important role cities are playing in the implementation of the EU European Green Deal. Europe’s mayors are looking forward to a sustainable future, but, as Mr Jung explains, some governments seem ready to backtrack and there … Continue reading For Europe’s mayors it’s the Green Deal or bust, and it’s time everyone put their cards on the table
What engineers – and others – need to know about the EU Ecodesign Regulation
The second phase of the EU’s Ecodesign Regulation raises the bar for electric motor energy efficiency – and the rest of the world is sure to follow. Daniel Eberli from ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, discusses ecodesign in an article on the Engineer Live website. Energy efficiency with ecodesign Energy efficiency … Continue reading What engineers – and others – need to know about the EU Ecodesign Regulation
European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions
As the center right changes tack on climate, the bloc’s climate coalition is crumbling. It is hard to imagine, given current climate disasters, that there is so much resistance to ramping up ambition to cut GHG emissions even faster. Zia Weise discusses latest developments in an article on the Politico website. Political backing for … Continue reading European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions
Lessons learned from an energy project on SMEs
Having attended a conference this week in Brussels on the EU-funded LEAP4SME project, it was timely to see a blog by the Energy Saving Trust, one of the partners in the project. LEAP4SME aims to support establish or improve effective policies for SMEs to undergo energy audits and implement cost-effective, recommended energy-saving measures through identifying … Continue reading Lessons learned from an energy project on SMEs
New Joint Research Centre report on role of heat pumps in our energy transition
Replacing about a third of EU’s 86 million residential fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps could cut those households’ final energy consumption by 36% and their CO2 emissions by 28%. Heating of buildings accounts for almost 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of energy-related GHG emissions in the EU. Within these, residential buildings account … Continue reading New Joint Research Centre report on role of heat pumps in our energy transition
New EEA briefing on the human element for investing in energy renovations
A better understanding is needed of how owners, construction contractors and installers interact and perceive possible advantages of renovating their houses, apartments and other buildings to improve energy efficiency. This would help bolster European policies to shift the building sector to a carbon-neutral future. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week explores the … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the human element for investing in energy renovations
Europe’s energy and climate transition – how 2040 targets should be met
The EU’s climate advisory board has recommended the bloc adopt ambitious targets for 2040. Researchers say there are multiple options to slash emissions, with plenty of political wiggle room. An article on the Deutsche Welle website describes how the targets for 2040 will be met. How will the EU reach its 2040 climate targets? … Continue reading Europe’s energy and climate transition – how 2040 targets should be met
Better understanding of energy sufficiency
France has made energy sufficiency – the deliberate reduction of energy consumption – one of the three pillars of its decarbonisation strategy, alongside nuclear and renewables. However, Brussels and other European capitals have yet to fully embrace the approach. Paul Messad discusses the French approach in an article on the EURACTIV website. Energy sufficiency, … Continue reading Better understanding of energy sufficiency
Important Infographic: Buildings in the Fit for 55
EuroACE recently updated their infographic "Buildings in the Fit for 55 Package for a Climate Neutral Economy in 2050". This is a useful overview that you should find very useful. It takes into account the final version of five different files plus the Commission's proposal on EPBD. The infographic provides a detailed overview of where the energy performance … Continue reading Important Infographic: Buildings in the Fit for 55
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 