Briefly speaking . . .

China increase in energy consumption Bloomberg News reports that China's energy use rose at the fastest pace in four years in 2011, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Consumption climbed 7 % to 3.48 billion metric tons of standard coal equivalent. That was the fastest rate since 2007, when it grew 7.8 %. However, … Continue reading Briefly speaking . . . →

IEA Energy Policy Review of Denmark

The International Energy Agency recently published a report on Danish energy policies. The IEA in-depth review opens: “Denmark is a leader among OECD member countries in terms of renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change policies.” This is obviously a winning combination. The report sets the scene by stating that Denmark has a long history … Continue reading IEA Energy Policy Review of Denmark →

IEA Energy Policy Review of Slovak Republic

In early February, the International Energy Agency published its in-depth review of Slovak energy policies with important findings on sustainable energy. The key objectives of Slovak energy policy include energy efficiency, reducing energy intensity, reducing dependence on energy imports, expanding the use of nuclear power, increasing the share of renewables and supporting the use of … Continue reading IEA Energy Policy Review of Slovak Republic →

Creating jobs in the energy efficiency field – not an easy job, but worth it

Energy efficiency initiatives create jobs, and normally very good jobs. Recent analysis shows that between 17 and 19 net jobs can be created for every million euros spent. That is a million euros from all sources. And since the analysis shows that energy efficiency activities are more labour-intensive than manufacturing, decision-makers should pay close attention. … Continue reading Creating jobs in the energy efficiency field – not an easy job, but worth it →

Financing energy efficiency

It is well known that most energy efficiency measures are cost-effective in meeting energy policy and climate objectives but initial costs are often a barrier for consumers. When an energy company experiences major initial costs, for example in building a thermal power plant, banks will usually provide the necessary financing. It is much different for … Continue reading Financing energy efficiency →