Major reduction in US carbon emissions since 2010

The website Process, solutions for the process industries, describes the reduction in carbon emissions from large facilities that have taken place in the US since 2010. Are their comparable data for other countries? US carbon emissions down 10% since 2010 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released data showing that the amount of greenhouse … Continue reading Major reduction in US carbon emissions since 2010 →

Energy use drops in Irish homes

Build.ie, Ireland’s Construction Directory, recently published the results of new data from the national energy agency on residential energy consumption. The report states that the new building regulations were an important factor. Energy Efficiency Improves In Irish Homes Energy use per household fell by 18% between 2006 and 2011 according to a new report Residential … Continue reading Energy use drops in Irish homes →

Wind farms bring unexpected benefits to German coasts

This article by Madeline Chambers of Reuters explains some of the unexpected non-energy benefits to Germany’s North Sea coasts. It would be interesting to know what other non-energy benefits are coming from renewable energy projects. Wind farms to lure back German lobsters decimated by WW2 New wind farms off Germany's North Sea coast will … Continue reading Wind farms bring unexpected benefits to German coasts →

Vulnerability to climate change is not only in developing countries

John Broder explains in the New York Times about some of the breakdowns that can be expected in the energy system as a result of the impact of changing climate. Climate Change Will Cause More Energy Breakdowns, U.S. Warns The nation’s entire energy system is vulnerable to increasingly severe and costly weather events driven … Continue reading Vulnerability to climate change is not only in developing countries →

Impact of air pollution

Sarah Boseley wrote recently in The Guardian about two studies that show the effects on health of long- and short-term exposure to pollutants from traffic and industry. Air pollution linked to higher risk of lung cancer and heart failure Air pollution, chiefly from traffic exhaust fumes in cities, is having a serious and sometimes … Continue reading Impact of air pollution →

The health and wealth of cities

Tim Smedley writes in the Guardian about a new report by the Carbon Disclosure Project that discusses the positive impact of climate change on cities. It will be interesting to see how this is received by the environmental community. Is climate change making cities wealthier and healthier? A new report on climate change action … Continue reading The health and wealth of cities →

Doctors get their views across on renewable energy

The Canadian Association of Doctors for the Environment has come out strongly in support for renewable energy in order to mitigate the harmful health effects from conventional energy. This article from the Toronto Star was written by three association members: Dr. David Colby, Dr. Rosana Pellizzari and Gideon Forman. It would be interesting if there … Continue reading Doctors get their views across on renewable energy →

Need to reconsider our use of coal

We know that coal is not a sustainable energy source but it is still widely used, even in Europe. John Vidal writes in the Guardian about the serious impact coal pollution is having on health today in Europe. Interestingly, the Toronto Star reports that Ontario coal plants emit arsenic and chromium (which cause cancer); sulphur … Continue reading Need to reconsider our use of coal →

Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body raises concerns about estimates on cost savings from energy-efficient products

Andrew Oxlade writes in The Telegraph about a report from Consumer Futures that questions official estimates on cost savings of energy-efficient products. Green measures will only save £31 by 2020, says official consumer protection body Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body, today warned the Government its estimates of savings from encouraging consumers to use … Continue reading Consumer Futures, the official UK protection body raises concerns about estimates on cost savings from energy-efficient products →

Benefits of energy efficient homes

Andy Warren, President of Maracay Homes in Arizona, writes for the Explorer news about a new study that quantified the link between energy-efficient homes and mortgage risks. Separately, NV Energy in Nevada spent $267 million on energy efficiency programmes during 2007-12. This led to savings of 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours per year, the amount of savings … Continue reading Benefits of energy efficient homes →