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 →

Shipping set to boost climate targets

Matt McGrath and Malcolm Senior write on the BBC News website about an important summit underway in London that will hopefully lead to more ambitious climate targets for the maritime industry. Why shipping faces a showdown over greenhouse gas Ships crisscrossing our oceans give off as much planet-warming carbon through their smokestacks in a … Continue reading Shipping set to boost climate targets →

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 →

The challenges to reduce the carbon footprint of the cement industry

The cement industry is responsible for 8 percent of global carbon emissions -- triple the emissions of the aviation industry yet reducing its carbon footprint is proving difficult. Shannon Osaka discusses in an article on the Washington Post website. Cement emits as much CO2 as India. Why is it so hard to fix? Let’s … Continue reading The challenges to reduce the carbon footprint of the cement industry →

Wildfires are not just a symptom of the worsening climate catastrophe, they are also a source that amplifies ongoing warming

Drew Shindell, Professor of Climate Sciences at Duke University writes on The Conversation website about the wildfires in Canada, the growing problem of air quality and what some of the solutions are. Wildfire smoke and dirty air are also climate change problems: Solutions for a world on fire As the eastern U.S. and Canada … Continue reading Wildfires are not just a symptom of the worsening climate catastrophe, they are also a source that amplifies ongoing warming →

Advanced insulation materials for energy efficiency

Lawrence Webb writes on the Energy Portal website about the critical role advanced insulation materials are playing in enhancing energy efficiency in buildings. What are your views? Exploring Advanced Insulation Materials for Enhanced Energy Efficiency in Buildings Advanced insulation materials are playing a critical role in enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, thereby reducing energy … Continue reading Advanced insulation materials for energy efficiency →

Important role for industrial automation in addressing climate change

An article on the economist impact website highlights the importance of industrial automation in achieving net zero emissions. The article refers to the recent IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency held in Versailles. Industrial automation is the key to addressing the energy and climate crises Industry is responsible for 32% of the world's CO2 … Continue reading Important role for industrial automation in addressing climate change →

The challenges of financing the climate crisis that the upcoming Paris summit is trying to address

Foreign debt cripples countries vulnerable to extreme weather events, hindering climate change resilience. Reforming financial systems could help them combat climate change. Tim Schauenberg, in an article on the Deutsche Welle website, looks into many of the issues that need to be addressed at the upcoming Paris summit. Climate crisis and debt trap: Paris … Continue reading The challenges of financing the climate crisis that the upcoming Paris summit is trying to address →

France will reach the level of electricity consumption expected in 2050 as early as 2030-2035

Assuming France achieves its decarbonisation and reindustrialisation targets, electricity consumption could rise to 580-640 TWh by 2035, equivalent to what the grid operator had forecasted for 2050 in its “Future Energy 2050” report published at the end of 2021. In an article on the EURACTIV website, Paul Messad discusses the recent report from France’s electricity … Continue reading France will reach the level of electricity consumption expected in 2050 as early as 2030-2035 →