Adding value to a home

It was reported in the Toronto Star recently that the non-profit personal finance web site GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca offers five types of renovation that add value to a home: •Investments in more efficient use of energy (60 per cent recovery rate) •New or improved kitchens and bathrooms (75-100 per cent recovery rate) •Low-cost improvements — painting, wallpaper, … Continue reading Adding value to a home →

Renewables in Bulgaria

A blog by Andrew MacDowall in the Financial Times explains the dilemma facing Bulgaria as the government cut support for renewable energy retroactively. Bulgaria: renewables price cut dispute could spook investors Drastic retroactive cuts in the fees paid to renewable energy producers in Bulgaria has prompted a furious reaction from what was a fast-growing … Continue reading Renewables in Bulgaria →

Retrofitting older homes in Canada

After the second war, there was a big effort in Canada to ensure that returning soldiers and other needy families were provided with basic housing. These wartime houses were built throughout Canada. Unfortunately, while they were built quickly, they were not always the most energy efficient. This is a good article by the Daily Commercial … Continue reading Retrofitting older homes in Canada →

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 →

Saving for a sunny day

Josephine Cumbo for the Financial Times reports of a new solar fund that has opened for pension investors in Britain. Solar fund opens up to pension investors Wealthy individuals wanting to tap into growing demand for renewable energy now have access to a new solar fund, the country’s first to target pension investors. The Solar … Continue reading Saving for a sunny day →

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 →

German bank leads way with major funding for renewable energy

The German state-owned bank, KfW, is highly regarded globally for its support for both energy efficiency and renewable energy. It is often seen as a “best practice” bank that sets the standard, even though few other governments have proven willing to create such an institution. Reuters reports on a new initiative from KfW that will … Continue reading German bank leads way with major funding for renewable energy →

Munich Re will invest several billion euros in green energy

The Swiss news service, Romandie.com, reported that the German reinsurer Munich Re plans to boost the profitability of its financial investments by investing billions of euros in renewable energy sector, according to an interview published Saturday. “We want in the next three to five years to develop our investments totaling 2.5 billion euros in renewable … Continue reading Munich Re will invest several billion euros in green energy →