British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes

Philip Oldfield writes in the Guardian about the government decision to axe plans to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016. This has raised much criticism. What the article does not mention is how the government will now meet its related obligations for nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive. … Continue reading British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes →

Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money

While another post this week detailed that the UK’s domestic energy efficiency programmes are off track, Rebecca McAdam writes on the 24dash.com website that the Climate Change Committee, that provides independent, evidence-based advice to the UK Government and Parliament, stresses that the government must provide more adequate and effective resources. CCC urges increased investment … Continue reading Britain’s domestic energy efficiency strategy needs more money →

Raising concern about UK government’s approach to wind power

Following premature cutbacks to onshore wind farms the UK's energy security will increasingly depend on large scale offshore wind power, write Ian Broadbent & Peter Strachan in an excellent blog on The Ecologist website. All at sea? Government's strong talk on offshore wind masks feeble ambition Onshore wind is potentially Britain's lowest cost electricity … Continue reading Raising concern about UK government’s approach to wind power →

There are growing concerns that the UK Green Deal is struggling to deliver large scale improvements and the ECO scheme has been effectively watered down

Will Nichols writes on the BusinessGreen website about a new government report that provides disturbing, but not surprising, news from the UK on the current state of affairs of its domestic energy efficiency programmes. Government energy efficiency plans 'off-track', official review warns The government's household energy efficiency programme is veering off track, according to … Continue reading There are growing concerns that the UK Green Deal is struggling to deliver large scale improvements and the ECO scheme has been effectively watered down →

Legal push to increase the ambition to reduce GHG emissions

Arthur Neslen writes in the Guardian about the recent court decision in the Netherlands to force the government to have a more ambitious target to reduce GHG emissions. The Dutch court ordered the state to reduce emissions by 25% within five years to protect its citizens from climate change in world’s first climate liability suit. … Continue reading Legal push to increase the ambition to reduce GHG emissions →

Germany’s energy transition facing ‘dangerous errors’ in addressing energy efficiency

EiD has been following Germany’s energy transition with great interest. Seldom, however, do we see articles on the progress made on energy efficiency. Eric Marx writes on the ClimateWire website about serious criticism of the approach being taken. This is an important read. Germany, home of the 'energy revolution,' is flubbing energy efficiency Few … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition facing ‘dangerous errors’ in addressing energy efficiency →

Business raises its voice to endorse new legislation on industrial energy efficiency

A bill before Congress would make industrial energy efficiency — including combined heat and power — eligible for federal investment tax credits. Phyllis Cuttino, of The Pew Charitable Trusts, explains the legislation’s importance on the energyefficiencymarkets website. Industrial Energy Efficiency Bill Gets Key Business Backing It is often said that efficiency is the first … Continue reading Business raises its voice to endorse new legislation on industrial energy efficiency →

The Irish realise that improved energy efficiency will bring many benefits

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has recently announced a new report on energy efficiency that should be read by all EiD readers. Let us know your views. Cutting Energy Waste Will Save €1.8 Billion Annually Accelerated Action Will Create 2,000 Jobs and Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency Households and businesses could save €1.8 … Continue reading The Irish realise that improved energy efficiency will bring many benefits →

Moving in the right direction in addressing fuel poverty in England

The 2013 annual fuel poverty report for England was released last week. The report analyses data from English Housing Survey to measure the impact of fuel poverty in England. A combination of rising incomes and energy efficiency improvements in low income households has seen a decrease in the fuel poverty gap from £909 million in … Continue reading Moving in the right direction in addressing fuel poverty in England →

Saudi Arabia making good strides forward in promoting energy efficiency

While we know of Saudi Arabia as one of the major oil producers globally, it is also taking energy efficiency seriously. The government efforts through “the Saudi Programme for Energy Efficiency”, seeks to put an end to the growing electric power consumption in the kingdom, through designed programmes and by updating the standard specifications for … Continue reading Saudi Arabia making good strides forward in promoting energy efficiency →